Demetrius Amparan Named Executive Director of Young Chicago Authors
July 20, 2021
The Young Chicago Authors (YCA) Board of Directors is proud to announce that Demetrius Amparan has been named Executive Director. “After launching a national search, we couldn’t be more thrilled that our ideal candidate was right under our noses,” said Jennifer Humke, Chair of the YCA Board. “Demetrius is a natural leader whose deep knowledge of the YCA community, demonstrated commitment to the young people and educators of Chicago, and creative instinct for programming makes him the optimal person to lead YCA into its next chapter.”
Demetrius, an alumnus of YCA programming, brings more than a decade of experience in non-profit management and has a long track record of working with young people in Chicago. Most recently, he launched and led YCA’s first individual giving program and earlier in his career served as YCA’s Director of Publications and Communications before leaving to serve as Communications Manager at A Better Chicago and Director of External Relations and Recruitment at Epic Academy. He has been serving as YCA’s Interim Executive Director since early March 2021 when he stepped up to shepherd the organization through a difficult leadership transition.
Over the course of his tenure as Interim Executive Director, Demetrius led the organization through a 90-day plan focused on strengthening YCA’s student supports and safe spaces, implemented key infrastructural protocols, implemented funded health insurance for contract teaching artists, and held space with over 400 community members to establish a thoughtful return to public programs.
In addition to his professional credentials, Demetrius is also an accomplished musician, poet, and community organizer, having found his voice at the age of 15 when he began attending YCA’s WordPlay Open Mic. Demetrius is also founder of The Dream Real Big Scholarship Fund.
