Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Cuban Students Look Beyond Politics

“When I ask people what they think of Cuba, they usually respond, ‘Cigars and Fidel Castro.’ But I want people to know that it’s much more than that,” Alejandro González (SFS ’12) stated earlier this week. González, the president of Georgetown’s Cuban American Student Association, or CASA, is part of a movement that seeks to overcome the tense political and economic boundaries between the United States and Cuba. Despite the fact that the embargo just reached its 50th year, Cuban culture is thriving and continues to flow freely from the island to America. It comes as no surprise, then, that the culture is so valued here on Georgetown’s campus.

CASA is committed to empowering the youth of Cuba by bringing them educational materials and giving them a voice. González explains, “In Cuba you’re always taught that the Americans are the enemy, but this is a unique opportunity for us [as Americans] to show that we’re not. We’re just like them, [people] who want to reach out and connect.”

This weekend, CASA is teaming up with Raíces de Esperanza (Roots of Hope), an organization started in 2003 by Georgetown and Harvard students, for a national conference called Avenida Cuba (Cuba Avenue). The 10th stop of the national tour will feature rapper Yrak Sanchez and blog translator M.J. Porter. On Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Copley Formal Lounge, they will be discussing the reality of the situation in Cuba, particularly how it affects the youth on the island. Sunday in the Fisher Colloquium, there will be a luncheon for Cuban American leaders in the D.C. area that will be open to anyone interested in discussing some of the larger implications of U.S.-Cuba relations.

Aside from Avenida Cuba, CASA and Raíces de Esperanza will continue working to revitalize Cuban cultural awareness in D.C. while empowering the youth on the island. Their two campaigns, Cell Phones for Cuba and USBs for Cuba, highlight methods of disseminating information and helping the youth access educational materials. González said, “There have been some protests in Cuba recently and the images have been captured through cell phones … to share with the outside and [with others] on the island. So, t’s kind of a new way of reaching out and connecting that wasn’t there before.”

Though it often seems like the longest trade embargo in recent history shows no sign of breaking down, there is nothing stopping the growth and celebration of Cuban culture here on campus. Whether or not you’re familiar with the situation in Cuba, González hopes that Avenida Cuba will be an eye-opening experience that will undoubtedly kindle a new appreciation for the rich, resilient culture of Cuba.

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