Washington, DC, February 1, 2022. For Immediate Release

The ASPIRA Association today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed John Villamil-Casanova as President/Chief Executive Officer after the passing of Ronald Blackburn-Moreno. Villamil-Casanova previously held the position of Executive Vice President of the ASPIRA Association from 1995 until 2015. Founded in 1961, ASPIRA is the nation’s largest Latino organization devoted to the development of Latino and disadvantaged youth which has help over 1 million alumni (students) realize their full potential.

“During this time of transformation, there is no better person to lead ASPIRA than John Villamil-Casanova,” said Alfonso L. Davila Chairman and Member of the Board of Directors. “John is a proven community leader with leadership and communications skills, business vision and the ability to bring people together. His vision how to transform communities will be used and his experience in organizational development, his experience in K-18 education and strategic thinking is exactly what ASPIRA needs as the association enters its next chapter of expanded Latino youth development through family involvement, educational innovation and growth.”

Since joining the association in 1995, John has spearheaded major strategy, instructional, programs and technical shifts across the association’s portfolio of programs and services, most notably the introduction of information, supporting the development of charter and alternative schools and communication technologies into community development and the design and implementation of one of the nation’s most comprehensive financial literacy approaches for Latino communities.

“ASPIRA is one of those national organizations to have truly changed the education of Latinos in the nation through the challenge of school districts to incorporate bilingual education and equity for Latino and other disadvantaged students, and I couldn’t be more honored to have been chosen to lead the association and continue the legacy of our founder Dr. Antonia Pantoja,” John said. “The Latino community needs are enormous and the opportunity ahead for ASPIRA is vast, but to seize it, we must focus clearly, move faster and continue to transform. A big part of my job is to accelerate our ability to bring innovative quality schools, family support and youth leadership programs and opportunities throughout Latino communities around the nation and Puerto Rico.”

“Having worked with him for more than 20 years, I know that John is the right leader at the right time for ASPIRA,” said Hilda Crespo, Vice President for Public Policy at ASPIRA. “I’ve had the distinct privilege of working with the most talented employees and senior leadership team in the association, and I know their passion and hunger for excellence in community service will only grow stronger under John’s leadership.”

“John is clearly the right to lead ASPIRA, and he has the support of our Board,” Davila said. “During the selection process, the Board took the thoughtful approach that our shareholders, constituents, partners and employees expected and deserved as we selected John as our new association leader after the passing of Blackburn-Moreno.”

Contact info:

Name:  Hilda Crespo, VP for Public Policy

Organization: The ASPIRA Association, Inc.

Company URL: www.aspira.org

Address: 1220 L St., NW Suite 701, Washington, DC 20005

Phone: +1-202-841-0497