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Maryland to host 19th Telugu Association conference and youth convention
During the event, the American Telugu Association will recognize and celebrate outstanding achievements in arts, culture, literature, business, science, and technology.
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Staff Reporter - Sun, 24, May 2026
- 00:07 EDT
- 26
A poster of the event (left) and 19th ATA Conference Secretary Raju Kakkerla / ATA
The American Telugu Association will be organizing its 19th biennial conference and a youth convention in Baltimore, Maryland from July 31 to Aug. 2.
The event seeks to spotlight Telugu culture and traditions while instilling these cultural practices within the next generation.
This year's conference will place a special emphasis on youth participation, featuring programs designed to engage and empower the next generation, according to the President of American Telugu Association, Jayanth Challa.
The cultural lineup will showcase the talent of Telugu Americans across diverse formats, classical, Bollywood, and Tollywood, culminating in a musical extravaganza featuring artists from the US and India.
The ATA will also recognize and celebrate outstanding achievements in arts, culture, literature, business, science, and technology.
The American Telugu Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 1990 to serve and connect Telugu-speaking communities across the United States and North America through cultural, educational, literary, and charitable initiatives.
ALSO READ: Ugadi: A nostalgic New Year for Telugu Indians abroad
Talking about the organization, Raju Kakkerla, a member of the ATA Board of Directors and the 19th ATA Conference Secretary, said, "ATA is a cultural and Seva organization. So we see what kind of cultural events we do and how we can help the people in India and also the USA."
He continued, "We discuss there and also about the activities and along with what we can do, all the stuff we do in the conference."
Kakkerla was born in Warangal, Telangana, in a farming family and moved to the United States in 2004 and went on to establish his own IT consultancy services company.
Kakkerla, during his interview, also talked about the major issues affecting the Telugu community in the United States. He believes that the two most significant issues facing the community are the new challenges associated with immigration policies of the administration and the Decline in new students coming from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
He spotlighted concerns regarding changes to H-1B visa policy and OPT (Optional Practical Training) policy, while also highlighting the parallel issue of youngsters not willing to come to the United States due to uncertain job markets in the U.S., better job opportunities emerging in India and immigration uncertainties.
Highlighting his vision for the ATA, the entrepreneur noted, "The vision of American Telugu Association is the Telugu culture and the awareness, tradition, continue the tradition, Telugu tradition, like our festivals or our tradition, whatever it happens, right? That's what we want to continue. Because our kids won't know. [sic]"
He continued, "Our festivals, like Ugadi or Dasara, whatever the festival. If you are not celebrating, they don't know. So, in the future, they will completely forget it. So, our vision is to, along with the tradition, you know, continuing the tradition, the culture, we also help the people in the Seva. [sic]"
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