The Power of Belonging: Central America's RSG Launch

Last year, a first-of-its-kind event transformed the professional landscape for agilists in Central America: the launch of the region's very first Regional Scrum Gathering® (RSG®). While regional conferences are held in places like Peru or Brazil, they often present distance or language barriers for people who want to attend but live in Central America. Richie, a Scrum Alliance member who works as a Learning Experience Designer in Guatemala, was the primary visionary who realized his region was "hungry to have this kind of conference"—one delivered in Spanish, by the community and for the community.

A vision born from Scrum Gatherings

Richie's journey toward organizing this conference began when he first volunteered at the 2024 Global Scrum Gathering in New Orleans. He was inspired by the advanced-level content and community-based experience that involved volunteerism in multiple ways. During that trip, he realized he wanted to bring something similar to his own region.

His commitment grew as he continued to immerse himself in the global community, volunteering at RSG Rio in 2024 and later returning as a speaker in 2025. However, it was his experience at the Peru RSG that solidified his resolve. He saw how accessible the event was and became convinced that he could organize a Spanish-language RSG for Central Americans, showing people in his region that this type of professional experience was for them, too.

Constructing a By Us, For Us conference

To bring this vision to life, Richie partnered with Suzie, a Scrum Alliance member and Agile Program Coach living in Oklahoma City, whom he had met through GSG volunteering. Suzie entered the process early to help construct the event, serving as the conference's scrum master and volunteer team lead. 

Suzie emphasized how powerful it was to witness a Spanish RSG with Spanish speakers presenting in their own language. "There was so much pride and sense of belonging," she noted. 

Designing for belonging

Richie was intentional about making the event a "mixture of the culture" rather than a standard corporate meeting. He chose Antigua, Guatemala, for its beauty and walkability, selecting a venue in a historic building.

Under Richie's direction, cultural integration was woven into every detail to help attendees feel at home:

• Ancestral textiles: Tote bags featured traditional designs purchased from a local women's collective.
• A taste of home: Richie recruited a local vendor to serve ice cream from a truck with an aesthetic based on the iconic Central American chicken buses.
• National identity: The atmosphere was set by the marimba, Guatemala's national instrument.

The value of regional connection

The "why" behind the gathering was rooted in the need for a professional support system that didn't require an international visa. For attendees, the RSG was an opportunity to upskill and share ideas with others in their own region, where traveling from one Central American country to another is convenient. Suzie observed that the community aspect was "just so huge," providing a space where a professional could talk through a problem and realize "that you're not alone."

The moment of realization

On the morning of the conference, Richie arrived early, still feeling the weight of the preparation and wondering, "Are people going to show up?"

At 9:15 AM, he walked into the general session room and found his answer. "I went into the room, and there were 240 people all sitting down, waiting for it to start," Richie recalled. The room was filled with people from Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador, and beyond. As a video played and the event kicked off, the reality of Richie's achievement set in. "I thought, 'Oh, so this is what I've been doing for the past year. It's real now," he said.

Building momentum from the ground up

The attendance for this inaugural event didn't happen by accident; it was built through a grassroots social media strategy that leaned into authentic storytelling. Richie focused heavily on "how we're going to communicate and the graphics," collaborating with a team of graphic designers to create a visual identity that mixed official branding with regional cultural elements.

The impact of this digital presence was immediate. "Our social media presence was huge," he noted, explaining that people "saw pictures from the event as it was happening and immediately felt a connection." Suzie observed that the team successfully "told a story about the region that was deeply compelling." By the time the event concluded, the narrative they created had shifted from a simple invitation to a cultural movement.

Advice for potential attendees

For those who may be wondering if a Scrum Gathering is right for them, Suzie offers encouragement rooted in the welcoming nature of the community: "It's normal to be nervous to not know people, but I do think people come to these conferences to meet people, to connect, to get to know someone," she explained.

The value of these gatherings often lies in stepping beyond what is familiar. "It's really worth pushing yourself a little bit outside of your comfort zone, because there are ways to be involved," Suzie noted. "The community itself is really welcoming." Whether through joining a Scrum Squad volunteer group or engaging in hallway conversations, these designed interactions help bridge the gap between being a stranger and becoming part of a supportive professional network.

For many, this meant taking the stage for the first time; Richie noted that providing an accessible platform for local speakers was a vital opportunity that enriched both the individual participants and the community as a whole. 

Looking toward the future

The success of the first RSG Central America has created a tidal wave of momentum. While Richie spent the first year building a network of conference organizers and partners, the situation has now reversed. "Nine months before, people are asking, 'Hey, where can I sign up? How can I apply?" he shared.

Reflecting on the journey, Richie emphasized that the success came from staying true to their core purpose. "In the end, it was about having a clear vision. That vision of community that we had was the only thing that really mattered." Looking back, he realized that the technical details were secondary to the human ones, wanting only "for people to show up, for people to be there, with an open mind."

The RSG Central America will take place again, this November, in Antigua. Subscribe to Events Updates to be the first to know when registration opens.