My name is Kostas Kambouris, and I’m honored to write to you as your PYA President for the 2025-2027 term.

I grew up as a proud member of the Minotavros Youth in Salt Lake City, Utah. I have served as the PYA cultural chair for two terms, one of which was as co-chair alongside Antoni Katsanevas. During my tenure, I attended many conferences, one convention, and our Cretan Excursions in 2022, where my efforts led to creating a PYA dance group for the excursion. I loved every minute of my time as cultural chair and learned a lot about our organization from the many mentors I’ve worked with on the PYA board and alongside on the PAA board.

Beyond my board experience in the PYA, the memories, friends, and relationships I have from the organization and our beautiful culture are something I will treasure for the rest of my life. Thank you for trusting me with this position. Outside the PYA, I’m a Ph.D. student at the University of Utah studying international studies. Alongside this, I work as a teaching assistant in the political science department, teaching introduction to international relations courses. In my spare time, I like listening to music, cooking/eating, watching NBA basketball, and reading.

The incoming PYA board is dedicated to contributing to the PYA legacy through one set of values for the 2025-2027 term: M.E.R.A.K.I. Meraki (Μεράκι) means the soul, creativity, and love put into something, the essence of yourself, that is put into your culture or what you do. It is a word I believe we all carry with us when we engage with our Cretan culture, and something that all members and soon-to-be members bring to the PYA to make it what it is. Here is what M.E.R.A.K.I. means to me:

Mission: Our mission is rooted in honoring the legacy of the PYA. This legacy is to preserve Cretan heritage in diaspora, foster camaraderie among Cretan-American youth, and serve both our American and Greek communities with purpose and pride.

Education: Learning about our culture in the past, present, and future is at the heart of our organization. This term, we plan to continue this learning by promoting our great scholarships, connecting members with mentorship, and conducting cultural events that engage in our island's music, dance, history, language, and traditions.

Relationships: From lifelong friendships formed at conferences to bonds built across chapters, relationships are the soul of the PYA. We grow stronger through connection and collaboration together.

Appreciation: To appreciate our organization comes in two ways. First, we respect our culture and continually learning about what it is. Second, appreciating is about reflecting upon the legacy that this organization has built.

Kefi (Κεφι): This one is something that the board doesn’t have to take the initiative in, because the members already do. The joy, passion, and energy that we bring to every event are something we hope to keep strong this term. Whether connecting in Crete, dancing until the sun rises, or participating in events, bringing our whole selves to everything we do must be treasured.

Inclusion: Inspired by the Cretan tradition of warm hospitality, we welcome all with open arms. Every member and future member, regardless of age or location, has a voice and a place in our community. Inclusion is not just something that sounds good, it is the way our hospitable culture operates. Please reach out if you are interested in getting more involved. If you are already involved, think about ways in which we can make more Cretan-Americans welcome to our mission.

As we start this new term, I hope that Μεράκι can be more than just a word, but a way in which our organization is run. I speak for the rest of the newly elected PYA board, we are eager and excited to work and get to know everyone.

The next PYA event will be hosted in New York City with hard work by the Labrys Youth Chapter. I hope to see you all then, if not sooner.

Thanks for reading,

Kostas