Raíces Blog

Join us for the Roots of Hope 2012 Campus Tour!

2012-01-31T05:06:00.000-08:00

Why Run for Roots? Part 9

2012-01-26T10:00:00.000-08:00

Run for Roots is a new initiative that embodies the Roots of Hope mission by seeking to draw attention and collect funds in support of Cuban youth. The participants who will be running the Miami Half Marathon in January 2012 are motivated to do so by the desire to be agents of change and help empower youth on the island through innovative programs such Roots of Hope as Cells 4 Cuba and our Family

Why Run for Roots? Part 8

2012-01-24T17:38:00.000-08:00

BIG Weekend Ahead!!

2012-01-23T06:43:00.000-08:00

This upcoming weekend will be a big one for Roots of Hope in Miami, with three great events launching our campus tour, a new collaboration, and our Run for Roots initiative. For more information, see the image below. Special Note: Please click here to register for the Avenida Cuba event this Friday at Miami-Dade College.

Honoring Wilmar Villar

2012-01-20T07:45:00.000-08:00

Roots of Hope sends our heartfelt condolences to the family, loved ones, and worldwide supporters of 31-year old Cuban dissident Wilmar Villar. Sentenced to four years in prison for demonstrating publicly, his life succombed yesterday to the effects of a 50-day hunger strike. We salute the dignity of a man who refused to wear the garb of a common prisoner & made the ultimate sacrifice to defend

Why Run for Roots? Part 7

2012-01-19T17:15:00.000-08:00

What can Raíces do with $5,000?

2012-01-18T07:06:00.000-08:00

By Tony Jimenez, Raíces de Esperanza/Roots of Hope Co-ChairmanWhat can Raíces do with $5,000? Let me not get ahead of myself. First, you might consider voting HERE before you finish reading this post, but if it takes you some more nudging then please read on… I was recently selected for the Modern Hispanic Gentlemen contest by Ketel One and Miami Magazine. Ketel One selected 4 individuals in

Why Run for Roots? Part 6

2012-01-15T13:50:00.000-08:00

Why Run for Roots? Part 5

2012-01-12T04:02:00.000-08:00

Why Run for Roots? Part 4

2012-01-04T09:02:00.000-08:00

Why Run for Roots? Part 3

2011-12-28T17:40:00.000-08:00

Why Run for Roots? Part 2

2011-12-25T18:01:00.000-08:00

Why Run for Roots? Part 1

2011-12-17T20:03:00.000-08:00

Seeds of Change - Loudspeakers for Cuban Voices (Pt. 3)

2011-11-13T19:33:00.000-08:00

This post marks the eleventh entry for the current Roots of Hope blog theme: Seeds of Change. To read some of the previous entries, see What comes next: study abroad and youth-led change in Cuba, How Cell Phones Can Shake a Nation, Begin from the Beginning: the need for open dialogue, From New Orleans to Havana, Cuba's Economic Reforms: A Window of Opportunity.A brief introduction:For the

Roots of Hope Statement: Passing of Laura Pollan

2011-10-16T08:57:00.000-07:00

Raíces de Esperanza/Roots of Hope mourns the loss of Laura Pollan, a mother, teacher and civil rights leader, who passed away on Friday, October 14th, 2011. Pollan was an example of perseverance and courage for all, often standing for her beliefs in the face of harsh opposition. Her white dress, weekly marches, and leadership of the Ladies in White has inspired the world over.Pollan’s impact will

Seeds of Change: Understanding & Supporting Micro-finance Efforts in Cuba

2011-10-13T09:07:00.000-07:00

This post marks the tenth entry for the current Roots of Hope blog theme: Seeds of Change. To read some of the previous entries, see What comes next: study abroad and youth-led change in Cuba, The video below takes a closer look at Micro-finance efforts in Cuba and how the public and private sectors, as well as individuals can begin to understand, support, and guide economic empowerment in Cuba.

Seeds of Change - Cuba's Economic Reforms: A Window of Opportunity

2011-10-11T17:05:00.000-07:00

This post marks the ninth entry for the current Roots of Hope blog theme: Seeds of Change. To read some of the previous entries, see What comes next: study abroad and youth-led change in Cuba, How Cell Phones Can Shake a Nation, Begin from the Beginning: the need for open dialogue, and From New Orleans to Havana.Cuba’s Economic Reforms: A Window of Opportunity By Tomas

Summer Fellows Journal: Wrapping Up

2011-10-03T06:36:00.000-07:00

This post marks the "beginning of the end" of a series of accounts by the 2011 Roots of Hope Summer Fellows, focusing on their experiences, thoughts, and musings over the course of the coming months!By Claudia DiazI finished my time as a Raíces summer fellow a few weeks ago; now, thinking back and reflecting on everything that happened this summer, I can’t help but to feel incredibly grateful to

Roots of Hope Accepts CPAC Invitation

2011-09-22T08:05:00.000-07:00

Roots of Hope is honored to accept an invitation to participate in the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) to take place this Friday, September 23rd, in Orlando, FL. We will be presenting on a panel entitled “In the Grips of Communism: Freedom of Expression in Cuba.”Roots of Hope is a non-partisan, non-profit organization created with the goals of raising awareness about the issues

Seeds of Change: A Postcard to the World

2011-09-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

This post marks the eight entry for the current Roots of Hope blog theme: Seeds of Change. To read some of the previous entries, see What comes next: study abroad and youth-led change in Cuba, How Cell Phones Can Shake a Nation, Begin from the Beginning: the need for open dialogue, and From New Orleans to Havana.As an introduction, 100cameras identifies children who are victims of injustice

Summer Fellows Journal: Wrapping Up

2011-09-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

This post marks the "beginning of the end" of a series of accounts by the 2011 Roots of Hope Summer Fellows, focusing on their experiences, thoughts, and musings over the course of the coming months!By Ben TylerThis blog post has been extremely difficult for me to write. Being asked to write a post summing up my summer would usually not be very hard, but I simply have not been able to decide on

Seeds of Change - The Freedom of Music Festivals

2011-09-07T15:40:00.000-07:00

This post marks the seventh entry for the current Roots of Hope blog theme: Seeds of Change. To read previous entries, see What comes next: study abroad and youth-led change in Cuba, How Cell Phones Can Shake a Nation, Begin from the Beginning: the need for open dialogue, and From New Orleans to Havana.By Alex FreemanMore than a month later, the takeover of the Rotilla Festival in Havana still

Seeds of Change: From New Orleans to Habana

2011-09-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

This post marks the sixth entry for the current Roots of Hope blog theme: Seeds of Change. To read previous entries, see What comes next: study abroad and youth-led change in Cuba, How Cell Phones Can Shake a Nation, and Begin from the Beginning: the need for open dialogue.By Annie Gibson A few days ago I arrived in la Habana with a group of students from Tulane University in New Orleans. They

Seeds of Change - Begin from the beginning: the need for open dialogue

2011-08-29T11:19:00.000-07:00

This post marks the fifth entry for the current Roots of Hope blog theme: Seeds of Change. To see previous entries, read about how cell phones can shake a nation and the potential impact of studying abroad.By Ariel EliasIf you keep looking for answers, you will only find frustration. I’m not sure if this was told to me by someone in Cuba or if the conclusion was my own. No doubt it is a

Seeds of Change - Loudspeakers for Cuban Voices (Pt. 2)

2011-08-21T14:15:00.000-07:00

This post marks the fourth entry for the current Roots of Hope blog theme: Seeds of Change. To read previous entries, see What comes next: study abroad and youth-led change in Cuba and How Cell Phones Can Shake a Nation.A brief introduction:For the purpose of the Seeds of Change theme on our blog, we wanted to tell our readers about the power of translating blogs. As many of you know, for Cuba's

Seeds of Change - Loudspeakers for Cuban Voices

2011-08-14T12:29:00.000-07:00

This post marks the third entry for the current Roots of Hope blog theme: Seeds of Change. To read previous entries, see What comes next: study abroad and youth-led change in Cuba and How Cell Phones Can Shake a Nation.A brief introduction:For the purpose of the Seeds of Change theme on our blog, we wanted to tell our readers about the power of translating blogs. As many of you know, for Cuba's

How Cuban Voices Get Heard: Interview with Mary Jo Porter

2011-08-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

To see this interview as it was originally published, click here. Mary Jo Porter is an American who lives in Seattle. When she wakes up each day, she works as a transportation consultant. In the moments she is not working, she focuses her energies and talents on providing an enormous help for Cuban dissidents on the island, especially the independent bloggers, all the way from her laptop in

Seeds of Change - What comes next: study abroad and youth-led social change in Cuba

2011-08-04T06:08:00.000-07:00

This post marks the second entry for the current Roots of Hope blog theme: Seeds of Change. To read previous entries, see How Cell Phones Can Shake a Nation.By Sam Tabory It turns out that I didn’t spend a semester studying abroad in Cuba so that I could better grasp Cuban history, the Cuban experience, or the Cuban context. Instead, I spent that semester coming to the conclusion that the

Announcing Baking for Good's Featured Nonprofit!

2011-08-02T08:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks to your votes, Roots of Hope has been selected as Baking for Good's featured nonprofit this month! As a result, we are now displayed on their cause introduction page and their blog! More importantly, every purchase made in our name will give $1 additional to our cause!For those of you unfamiliar with Baking for Good, it is a social business that makes irresistible baked goods for any

Triangulating Hope

2011-08-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

By Hanny RiveraThe most common reaction when I told friends I was going to be spending the summer conducting ocean research in Bermuda was a wry smile followed by a cliché joke telling me not to get lost in the Bermuda triangle. Though, to be fair the warning was perhaps well warranted, as I did very recently find myself in the middle of the ocean, on a boat that was quite suddenly and

Featured Blog from Cuba: Rebeca Monzó Mieres

2011-07-27T12:37:00.000-07:00

A Botched RobberyBy Rebeca Monzó Mieres (translated into English by Chabeli Castillo)A friend from Spain sent me a package in the mail, on July 6th, containing medicines, two cell phones, one for myself and the other one for another person, with their corresponding chargers, three flash drives, and some office supplies. The package arrived in less than fifteen days. When I was notified of its

Summer Fellows Journal: Words from the Wise

2011-07-25T06:04:00.000-07:00

This post marks the fourth installment of a series of accounts by the 2011 Roots of Hope Summer Fellows, focusing on their experiences, thoughts, and musings over the course of the coming months! To see previous posts, click: "An Exciting Beginning," "Amazed by Raíces" or "An Unexpected Surprise."Words from the WiseBy Ben TylerAs part of the Roots Fellowship, we the Fellows have the opportunity

Roots of Hope Statement On Rotilla Hijacking

2011-07-21T14:37:00.000-07:00

CUBAN GOVERNMENT HIJACKS THE MEGA-MUSIC “ROTILLA” FESTIVALMiami, FL — Organizers of the independent Cuban mega-music festival, Rotilla, denounced the Cuban government for hijacking this year’s concert series which expected to draw a crowd of more than 20,000 attendees. Rotilla organizers Michel Matos and Matraka Productions issued a statement condemning the Cuban authorities for “kidnapping,

Comunicado Oficial de Organizadores de Rotilla

2011-07-21T14:17:00.001-07:00

La Habana, Cuba. 20 de Julio de 2011 DECLARACION OFICIAL DEL CONSEJO DIRECTIVO DEL FESTIVAL ROTILLA.Motivo: Denuncia del Secuestro del Festival Rotilla. Rotilla Festival, fundado en el año 1998, es el único evento de su tipo en Cuba. Se realiza cada año en el mes de agosto, y durante tres días consecutivos promueve y expone la gran mayoría de las manifestaciones de la vanguardia artística cubana.

Official Statement From Rotilla Organizers

2011-07-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

Havana, Cuba. July 20th, 2011Official Statement of the Directive Council of the Rotilla FestivalPurpose: Denunciation of the Kidnapping of Rotilla FestivalRotilla Festival, founded in the year 1998, is the only event of its kind in Cuba. It is brought together every year in the month of august, and during three consecutive days it promotes and exposes the great majority of the demonstrations of

Seeds of Change - How Cell Phones Can Shake a Nation

2011-07-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

This post marks the first entry for the current Roots of Hope blog theme: Seeds of Change. To read more about the purpose and goals of this series, see here.According to the United Nations International Telecommunications Union, Cuba - a country of 11 million inhabitants - has a total telephone density of less than 20 percent, the lowest in Latin America. We've sought to change that

Featured Blog from Cuba: Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo

2011-07-11T10:50:00.000-07:00

Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo was born in Havana on December 10, 1971. This incredibly eloquent Cuban blogger graduated from Havana University in 1994 with a degree in Biochemistry. In an unusual move, left a career in science to be engulfed in the world of literature and citizen journalism. Orlando has been blogging since 2008 in his blog Lunes de Post-Revolución (Post-Revolution Mondays), in which

Summer Fellows Journal: An Unexpected Surprise

2011-07-06T09:12:00.000-07:00

This post marks the third installment of a series of accounts by the 2011 Roots of Hope Summer Fellows, focusing on their experiences, thoughts, and musings over the course of the coming months!An Unexpected Surprise By Claudia DiazI went to the Raíces conference last spring ready to be immersed into a network of people with a love for Cuba and an interest in doing something for it. I was

Launching Seeds of Change!

2011-07-05T16:12:00.000-07:00

We are announcing the launch of the new theme on the Roots of Hope blog: Seeds of Change!Over the past few months Roots from all over the country have blogged about their 2011 wishes for Cuban Youth. Some have spoken of self-governance, others of political and social change, as well as freedom of expression. The wishes have been as diverse as the Raíces family, but one yearning seems ubiquitous:

Summer Fellows Journal: Amazed by Raíces

2011-06-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

This post marks the second installment of a series of accounts by the 2011 Roots of Hope Summer Fellows, focusing on their experiences, thoughts, and musings over the course of the coming months!Amazed by RaícesBy Chabeli CastilloMy first two weeks with Raíces de Esperanza have been incredible. There is no other organization in the planet where so many brilliant, successful, and passionate

Call to Action: Carlos Saladrigas

2011-06-27T09:08:00.000-07:00

Carlos Saladrigas - Co-Chairman of the Cuba Study Group, Chairman and CEO of Regis HR Group, and long-time community activist in and outside of Miami - entreats Roots of Hope to action at the 2011 Roots of Hope Conference in Boston.If you cannot see the video below, click on this link.

Summer Fellows Journal: An Exciting Beginning

2011-06-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

This post marks the first installment of a series of accounts by the 2011 Roots of Hope Summer Fellows, focusing on their experiences, thoughts, and musings over the course of the coming months!An Exciting Beginning By Ben TylerFor the vast majority of my life, the last thing people thought when they saw me was “Cuban”. My name is Benjamin Tyler, I burnt easily in the sun, and as far as most were

Call to Action: Orlando Marquez

2011-06-20T09:08:00.000-07:00

Orlando Marquez, Editor and Director of the Archdiocese of Havana's Palabra Nueva magazine, entreats Roots of Hope to action at the 2011 Roots of Hope Conference in Boston.If you cannot see the video below, click on this link.

Launching Run for Roots!

2011-06-18T15:46:00.000-07:00

Roots of Hope kicked off the inaugural run for its Run for Roots campaign on Saturday, June 11th, 2011 in New York City’s Central Park. Carmen Pelaez, Ana Pelaez, Natalia Martinez and Elena Castañeda powered through the New York Road Runner’s Mini 10k to raise awareness about Roots of Hope and its mission of empowering Cuban youth. The run was coupled with a grassroots, online fundraising drive,

Call to Action: Chris Sabatini

2011-06-13T20:14:00.000-07:00

Chris Sabatini, Editor-in-Chief of Americas Quarterly and Senior Director of the Americas Society/Council of the Americas, sends a message to Roots of Hope at the 2011 Roots of Hope Conference in Boston!If you cannot see the video below, click on this link.

Making Wishes Come True

2011-05-31T06:47:00.000-07:00

By Miraisy RodriguezSoon after attending the 2011 Raices Cuba Conference in Boston, the Miami Roots Board I volunteer with began planning “Bowl for a Cause,” because we heard of non-governmental afterschool youth programs on the island that were in need of our help. Not too long ago I wrote that my wish for Cuban Youth this year was that they would learn something, anything. I wrote about wanting

Un sueño entre dos patrias

2011-05-24T11:13:00.001-07:00

By Romy PortuondoTo visit the original publication of this piece in El Nuevo Herald, see here.En la mañana del pasado viernes 13 de mayo realicé el sueño de miles de jóvenes en todo el mundo. Yo, Romy Lissette Portuondo Remior, me hice graduada universitaria. Allí, sentada en el Bank United Center de la Universidad de Miami, no podía creer que después de veintidós años, al fin cumplía esta meta

My Wish for Cuban Youth: Part 9

2011-05-20T22:03:00.000-07:00

This post marks the ninth entry for the current Roots of Hope blog prompt: "My Wish for Cuban Youth."ChancesBy Karla Vergara Commencement weekend at Cornell University begins next Friday. As I have spent the last couple of days reflecting on what has truly been an incredibly enlightening four years, I can’t help also invoking the memories built at the start of this journey. I came across Cornell

Their Journey Home Without a Map

2011-05-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

By Miguel CruzI have a nice routine going Monday evenings now a days. After attempting to break a sweat at the gym, a tuna sandwich sits on my coffee/dining room/work table with a No Reservations marathon on in the background. Fancy, huh?Man I need to travel. I never studied abroad in college. The whole "too expensive to pay out of pocket, too rich to get a scholarship for it" thing. (Rich?

My Wish for Cuban Youth: Part 8

2011-04-24T18:36:00.000-07:00

This post marks the eighth entry for the current Roots of Hope blog prompt: "My Wish for Cuban Youth."By Miraisy RodriguezI’m not competing in a beauty pageant, so I won’t pretend to answer how we can bring peace to Cuba. All I’ll do is wish that in the 9 months left in 2011 Cuban youth will somehow learn, and thereby bring peace to themselves. Learn what? Everything! I want young people in

Reaching Their Fullness, Not Ours

2011-04-19T10:51:00.000-07:00

By Miguel CruzThis morning, I found myself on the World Youth Day 2011 website, realizing that that’s why a one-way flight to Madrid in August is over $2000 on American Airlines. On the front page was an article about John Paul II. Of course I had to click. I try to soak in as many articles that are written about, in my opinion, one of the most brilliant men that have ever walked this earth.As

Opening Remarks at Trans(Formacion) Conference

2011-04-11T18:53:00.000-07:00

@font-face { font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.Body1, li.Body1, div.Body1 { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: black; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } On behalf of the conference organizers, I wanted to welcome you to

Statement by Conference Organizers

2011-04-11T15:11:00.000-07:00

Raíces de Esperanza (Roots of Hope) held our eighth national youth leadership conference entitled: "Trans(Formación): Inspiring Hearts, Empowering Minds” hosted by Boston College’s Cuban American Student Association (CASA) this past weekend, April 7-10, 2011. The event was a huge success and included more than 100 university students and young professionals from the Roots of Hope network focused

Day 2: (Trans)formación: Inspiring Hearts, Empowering Mind

2011-04-10T17:13:00.000-07:00

The Second Full DayBy Miraisy RodriguezDespite dancing and other fun things late into the night before, Saturday morning at Transformacion found Roots of Hope Conference participants alert and engaged.During the first panel we tried to understand economic reforms taking place in Cuba through a self-proclaimed leftist, and two other gentlemen, who when compared to the leftist were a bit and quite

Day 1: (Trans)formación: Inspiring Hearts, Empowering Minds

2011-04-09T06:44:00.000-07:00

The First Full DayBy Miraisy RodriguezI was so surprised when the first three panelists of the day began their discussion in Spanish that I leaned over to another conference participant and asked “do these people (referring to the rest of the audience) speak Spanish?” She nodded yes, and I thought wow, and was then able to concentrate on the panel. Being involved with Raices since I myself was in

My Wish for Cuban Youth: Part 7

2011-03-31T11:36:00.000-07:00

This post marks the seventh entry for the current Roots of Hope blog prompt: "My Wish for Cuban Youth."“…Pero tampoco es difícil”By Mike Riley At what point will it stop? When will it be over? Has anything changed lately? If so, is it for the better or for the worse? These are questions that a typical Cuban-American will ask himself whenever “El Canal 23” comes on at 6:00pm EST mentioning the

My Wish for Cuban Youth: Part 6

2011-03-20T16:48:00.000-07:00

This post marks the sixth entry for the current Roots of Hope blog prompt: "My Wish for Cuban Youth."Basta YaBy Tatiana Garcia"La libertad es, en la filosofía, la razón; en el arte, la inspiración; en la política, el derecho." - Victor Hugo "Un hombre libre es aquel que, teniendo fuerza y talento para hacer una cosa, no encuentra trabas a su voluntad." -Thomas HobbesLa capacidad humana de obrar o

My Wish for Cuban Youth: Part 5

2011-03-12T22:52:00.000-08:00

This post marks the fifth entry for the current Roots of Hope blog prompt: "My Wish for Cuban Youth." Listen closely, Cuban youth are speakingBy Kenneth SinkovitzWhat does it mean to be a young Cuban today? What do they believe in, what ideology, if any do they subscribe? What platform do they have to express their opinions, share their ideas and participate in the global dialogue that their

My Wish for Cuban Youth: Part 4

2011-02-28T09:49:00.000-08:00

This post marks the fourth entry for the current Roots of Hope blog prompt: "My Wish for Cuban Youth." A Future at HomeBy Tomas Bilbaowww.CubaStudyGroup.orgIn a recent documentary titled “Grandchildren of the Revolution,” which was filmed recently in Cuba, many young Cubans express their lack of faith in a future within the island. Of all the challenges Cuba faces, and there are certainly many of

My Wish for Cuban Youth: Part 3

2011-02-20T20:59:00.000-08:00

This post marks the third entry for the current Roots of Hope blog prompt: "My Wish for Cuban Youth." Sueños cubanos, cambios internosBy Raciel AlonsoUna buena amiga mía, cubana y bienintencionada, para explicar la letargia que parece inundar la juventud de Cuba dijo que la pereza es algo natural, innato en la isla. Nunca he estado de acuerdo con esta afirmación que no es extraña a mis oídos y,

My Wish for Cuban Youth: Part 2

2011-02-17T21:11:00.000-08:00

This post marks the second entry for the current Roots of Hope blog prompt: "My Wish for Cuban Youth." A nosotros los cubanos nos gusta hablar... muchísimo. Chismeamos. Opinamos. Debatimos. Somos bullosos, exagerados y cuentistas - ¡una mezcla maravillosa! Sin embargo - a pesar de nuestro amor por la muela - desde hace más de cincuenta años las voces de quienes viven en Cuba han sido

My Wish for Cuban Youth: Part 1

2011-02-11T10:14:00.000-08:00

This post marks the launch of a series of themed entries on the Roots of Hope blog. The current prompt is "My Wish for Cuban Youth." Here is one response.The PeopleBy Miguel CruzI was asked to reflect on what my dream for Cuban youth was in 2011. Obvious ones such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to vote for representatives in their government came to mind. But I was

Cell Phones for Cuba in the News

2011-02-08T19:26:00.000-08:00

Felice Gorordo making the case for connectivity!http://www.justnews.com/video/26781716/index.html

Why EGYPT matters in CUBA

2011-02-08T13:29:00.000-08:00

There are many questions left to be answered in Egypt except one: What made this call for democracy possible? TECHNOLOGYDuring the uprising, the Egyptian government tried to shut down the internet 5 different times. Repressive governments do all they can to control every means of communication available to the people because information is power. As the recent leaked Cuban Security video

Our Student Network supports Dr. Elías Biscet with Screenings of Oscar's Cuba

2010-12-14T14:13:00.000-08:00

University tour brings Dr. Biscet's message to students Harvard University Screening Members of Harvard's CAUSA with Director Jordan Allott The Oscar's Cuba University Tour has brought Dr. Biscet's story and message to hundreds of university students across the country. Tour stops so far have included the University of Central Florida (11/2), University of South Florida (11/4), University of

Raíces asiste al Programa "Conoce tus leyes"

2010-12-07T09:43:00.000-08:00

Varios cubanos miembros de Raíces en España completaron el pasado noviembre el programa "Conoce tus Leyes", ideado para enseñar nociones básicas de Derecho español a los inmigrantes que llegan del extranjero a la Comunidad de Madrid. Nuestra agrupación ha sido invitada a participar para facilitar la integración de los jóvenes cubanos que empiezan una nueva vida al otro lado del charco.Consistente

Raíces España participa en el Congreso Paneuropa Juventud

2010-11-05T03:44:00.000-07:00

Los pasados días 8, 9 y 10 de octubre la delegación española de Raíces participó en el Congreso Paneuropa Juventud, celebrado en la localidad madrileña de San Lorenzo de El Escorial bajo el título : La Unión Europea tras la reforma de Lisboa: un debate sobre el futuro de la Unión Europea.La organización convocante, Paneuropa Juventud, es la rama juvenil de la Unión Paneuropea Internacional (UPI),

Has the Cuban Government Blocked Twitter on the Island?

2010-10-05T19:34:00.000-07:00

For some time now Cuban bloggers have been using the SMS feature of their cell phones to make posts to their twitter account (as they do not have regular access to the internet to make the posts nor smart phones with twitter apps) Recently acclaimed Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez published this to her twitter page : #twitter debe aclarar si su servicio nos ha censurado publicacion de tweets por

Raíces España comienza el curso en FAES

2010-09-05T19:47:00.001-07:00

Tras el verano toca la vuelta al tajo. Para los miembros de Raíces de Esperanza en España este curso 2010/2011 está lleno de retos y trabajo por delante: preparar la intervención de Miguel Cruz en el Congreso de Católicos y Vida Pública, desarrollar el convenio marco firmado entre Raíces y la Universidad CEU San Pablo de Madrid, impulsar Cell Phones for Cuba en nuestro país, etc.Como primer

Coexisting: My Summer Fellowship Experience

2010-08-24T22:03:00.000-07:00

I am Puerto Rican. Period. This is something I have always been extremely proud of. I like knowing where my roots are, where I come from, so I have a good sense of where I am going. In fact, one of the reasons why I became involved with Raíces was because I couldn’t bear that there was an entire Cuban generation, and their children and grandchildren, in exile; Cuban or not Cuban, I had to do

Summer Fellow Experience

2010-08-16T18:47:00.000-07:00

As soon as I received the notification that I would be invited to the 2010 Roots of Hope Fellowship in the new office I knew I would be in for a great experience but I had no idea what it would entail. Looking back at my accomplishments and experiences as well as those of the other fellows, I can honestly say I made the best decision I possibly could have coming to work for Riaces.

Amnesty International Calls for Urgent Action for Reina Tamayo Danger

2010-08-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

URGENT ACTIONMOTHER HARASSED FOR MARCHING FOR DEAD SONThe mother of a Cuban prisoner of conscience who died after hunger striking has been repeatedly harassed and intimidated in an attempt to stop her from organizing marches to commemorate her son's death. The next march is planned for 15 August.Reina Luisa Tamayo is the mother of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, a prisoner of conscience who died on 22

We're calling YOU! Opening for Student Network Director

2010-08-11T06:43:00.000-07:00

Call for Candidates: Student Network DirectorYoung, Dynamic, Student Leader Wanted Raíces de Esperanza (Roots of Hope) is a national non-profit focused on empowering youth to become the authors of their own future. Our network of more than 3,200 students and young professionals across the U.S. empowers youth through community organizing, education, and leadership development initiatives.At this

¡¡C4C llega con fuerza a Madrid!!

2010-08-10T17:03:00.001-07:00

Hace unos días, y gracias a las gestiones del Vicerrector de Alumnos Alfonso Martínez-Echevarría, la Universidad CEU San Pablo de Madrid aprobó la instalación de urnas recolectoras de teléfonos celulares en sus facultades, iniciándose así la andadura de Cell Phones for Cuba en España.La idea es reunir durante todo el curso lectivo 2010/2011 un buen número de teléfonos celulares entre la comunidad

It Makes Sense

2010-07-28T08:17:00.000-07:00

Although I was born in Miami to Cuban-born parents and attended arguably the most Cuban school in the world outside of Cuba (Belen Jesuit), I was not aware of how times were truly changing on the island until I attended the Cornell Conference and began my fellowship with Roots this summer. Up until that point I was so accustomed to and desensitized to the Cuban culture that

FREEDOM for CUBA by Carmen Pelaez

2010-07-26T17:28:00.000-07:00

English Version Version en Español

A life full of dreams, dreams full of life...

2010-07-26T14:16:00.000-07:00

Some people like to tell fiction stories, a product inspired by their nighttime dreams. Some people like to sit along the sidelines of history and narrate the facts, sprinkling their research data with a hint of their own take on things. I know that the latter certainly had a big impact in my life, given that, sadly, the educators that genuinely worry about their students' education nowadays

Amnesty International Calls on Cuban Government to Grant Freedom of Expression

2010-07-04T11:01:00.000-07:00

On this American Independence Day (July 4th), many will celebrate with flag waving and backyard barbeques. However, many take for granted their basic, assumed rights, such as the freedom of expression, whether in favor of or contrary to the national government and regime. Amnesty International (AI), a global non-governmental organization drawing attention to human rights abuses, has recently

Cell Phones 4 Cuba at Cuba Nostlagia Convention

2010-05-10T07:20:00.000-07:00

In a couple of weeks one of the biggest gatherings for all things Cuban will be taking place in Miami. Now in its 10th year Cuba Nostalgia is a place to remember and learn about Cuba. We are so thrilled to have been invited to participate this year. The event will run May 21-23 and will will be there collecting cell phones for youth in Cuba. If you are in town please come by with any and all

Guest Blog - Alex Salamanca

2010-05-01T17:50:00.000-07:00

Head of Cuban Catholic Church Speaks Out on Current Issues, GovernmentAccording to Jaime Ortega, the head of the Catholic Church in Cuba, the people are demanding economic and political change. The 73-year-old cardinal said the people are talking about deficiencies in Cuba’s socialist system, even comparing it to a Stalinist-style bureaucracy which produces apathetic workers with low

Cuba's underground rappers test free speech

2010-04-30T10:08:00.000-07:00

By Isabel Sanchez (AFP)HAVANA — Cuba's underground hip hop duo "Los Aldeanos" are boldly grooving where no Cuban has gone in five decades: criticizing the communist government loud and proud for the first time to a sell-out crowd."They tell the truth, say the things we feel, the things that a lot of Cubans cannot say. The freedom that we do not have," explained Yoelvis Fonseca, a 27-year-old

Guest Blog - Maritza Aldir's Reflections on the Cornell Cuba Conference

2010-04-24T12:45:00.000-07:00

I had an amazing weekend. I also woke up late for work [Monday after the conference] on the worst week to do so, but I never felt so good rushing late, and not really caring! I am on this cloud from Cornell. I'm ignited by the remarkable people, panelists and family we have. I truly needed to spend time with you all. It quenched my thirst, and desire to raise the bar. I want to reignite my world

10 Premier Cuban Bloggers

2010-04-14T17:33:00.000-07:00

Last Friday Yoani Sánchez served as the keynote speaker at the 2010 Cornell Cuba Conference hosted by Cornell's CASA and Raíces de Esperanza. Internationally, she is the best known blogger and has been covered extensively by the international press. As she highlighted at the Conference, she is not the only blogger risking her life on a daily basis to achieve the freedoms of speech and of the

Change Has Come to Hollywood....Change in Cuba Can't Be Far Behind

2010-03-31T09:45:00.000-07:00

It is no secret that the Cuban regime has found support over the years from many celebrities, but the tides are turning in Hollywood as in the rest of the world. With Cuban citizens reaching out to the world more and more, through blogs and twitter, through cell phones and cameras, no longer can the human rights abuses be ignored. Here are a few messages of hope and support for the Cuban people

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...

2010-03-30T05:14:00.000-07:00

But but of much can you say with lots of pictures, of lots of people, all over the world? This past week members of Raices participated in/helped organize solidarity marches for Las Damas en Blanco, a group of women who for seven years have marched in white and in silence for the freedom of their husbands, brothers, sons who are currently prisoners of conscience in Cuba. The pictures form these

Marches for Las Damas en Blanco

2010-03-27T08:32:00.000-07:00

The last week has been truly incredible. The world is catching on to our movement and the solidarity that has been shown for the plight of the Cuban people is incredible. Over 100,000 people, Cubans and non Cubans alike, young and old, peacefully walked to show the world that our time ya "ESTA llegando" In Miami Gloria Estefan had this message for us: But this wasn't isolated to Miami, in

Guest Blog - Miguel Cruz - Unidos en Diversity

2010-03-26T09:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, March 25th, will be remembered as one of the most influential days in the history of the Cuban exile community in Miami. Tens of thousands heeded Gloria Estefan in her call to March silently, in all white, to honor Las Dames de Blanco, who have persistently marched through the streets of Havana over the past seven years to honor their husbands, fathers, and sons who are Cuban political

Guest Blog - Keith Fernandez - Las Damas de Blanco

2010-03-24T18:41:00.000-07:00

Orlando Zapata Tamayo. Guillermo Fariñas. Oscar Elias Biscet. These are some of the names familiar on a global scale. To many, these jailed men are the faces of the Cuban dissident movement.Yet there is another face, one that is not as known but just as important. Their names? Sylvia Aguado, Sonia Campillo, and Mayelin Gonzalez, just to name a few. Collectively, they and many others are Las Damas

Petition for the Freedom of Cuban Political Prisoners

2010-03-24T00:10:00.001-07:00

In the weeks following the unfortunate death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, the Cuban human rights activist and prisoner of conscience who lost his life after an 82-day hunger strike, over 34,000 people, hailing from more than 100 countries, have signed a petition calling for the "immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners currently Cuban jails."Today, Raíces de Esperanza is

Guest Blog - Carmen Peláez VANISHING ISLAND

2010-03-23T07:37:00.000-07:00

As I write this in my warm Brooklyn apartment with my biggest concerns for the day being how I’m going to get to navigate through the five different places I have to be at today—I think about Guillermo Fariñas. I have long surrendered the idea of returning to Cuba and seeing any of beautiful Havana’s architecture intact. Becoming too aware of the logistics of disrepair, Cuba has become an island

New play uses technology to bring Cuban and American artists together

2010-03-06T09:29:00.000-08:00

With our eRevolution conference on Technology and Cuba just around the corner it felt extremely appropriate to run across this new play, The Closest Farthest Away. It allows for Cuban and American actors to interact on the same stage even though the actors are 90 miles away from each other. This Telemundo report shows a little about how its done: The play looks like it has some really

Raices Cuba Conference Application Deadline Extended

2010-03-02T06:58:00.000-08:00

Deadline EXTENDED to next Sunday, March 7th, 2010! Great news!!! Roots of Hope is extending the application deadline for this year's national youth leadership conference at Cornell University from April 8-11, 2010. APPLY NOW! Want to be part of a transformational experience with dynamic young leaders from across the country passionate about Cuba! APPLY NOW! This year, we're holding our

Guest Blog - Liannis Merino - Reflejos de la vida de Orlando Zapata Tamayo

2010-02-28T07:53:00.000-08:00

El asesinato premeditado a Orlando Zapata Tamayo para mí ha sido un golpe estremecedor pero no extraño. Ya que desde que fue apresado en el año 2003 fue torturado y confinado en prisiones de alta seguridad para silenciar su conducta contestataria ante las violaciones a los derechos humanos que comete el Régimen Castrista. Fue la estocada final para la no celebración del día en que nací.Entre la

Of Cowards and Criminals

2010-02-25T19:10:00.000-08:00

My friends quickly update their Facebook statuses and Tweets with a variant of: Orlando Zapata Tamayo has died. Please pray for him and his family. ‘Too little, too late’ is my initial reaction. I try to put myself in Orlando’s shoes, but that’s useless. What do I know about starving to death? Again, I close my eyes and try to conceptualize what it feels like to die the

Remembering Orlando Zapata Tamayo and Why We Keep our Work Going

2010-02-24T12:56:00.000-08:00

As you may know, Orlando Zapata Tamayo - an Amnesty International recognized Cuban prisoner of conscience - died yesterday on the eighty-second day of a hunger strike in protest of the deplorable conditions in Cuba’s prisons. This is a truly tragic passing and we extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends.Seven years ago this week, a small of group of about 100 college students from

Orlando Zapata Tamayo, May 16, 1967 - February 23, 2010

2010-02-24T01:01:00.000-08:00

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, Cuban human rights activist and prisoner of conscience, who had been on a hunger strike for 82 days. May he rest in peace.What follows is a BBC News account:Cuban political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo has died in hospital after 85 days on hunger strike. Mr Zapata, 42, had been transferred to a

ACTION ALERT: The Hunger Strike of Orlando Zapata Tamayo

2010-02-23T22:00:00.000-08:00

Update 2: Orlando Zapata Tamayo passed away at the age of 42 early this afternoon. May he rest in peace.Breaking Update: The latest reports from Orlando Zapata Tamayo's mother suggest that his life is in serious jeapordy. In an interview with Radio Martí, Reina Luisa Tamayo gave the following prognosis of her son's state, "I think we're going to lose Orlando Zapata. I think we're going to lose

7 Cuban Doctors Sue Cuba and Venezuela: Operation "Barrio Adentro" Exposed

2010-02-22T13:53:00.000-08:00

"El que la hace la paga?"The United States District for the Southern District of Florida is no stranger to international disputes. And certainly not to lawsuits filed against the Cuban regime or its officials.Seven Cuban doctors and a nurse have filed a suit in Miami's federal court alleging that Cuba, Venezuela and its state-run oil company Petróleos de Venezuela engage in "modern slavery." The

Guest Blog - Ingrid Garcia Ruiz on Melt- One Community, One Play

2010-02-11T19:01:00.000-08:00

I want to personally extend an invitation to you to attend the preview night of the play Melt starting Thursday, February 18th to February 28. Melt will be shown at Actor’s Playhouse on Miracle Mile at 8pm.Melt tells the story of a Cuban American mother and son, an African American brother and sister and a Jewish father and son who find their lives intertwining over social and moral issues as

Repression Watch: Update

2010-02-08T12:57:00.000-08:00

From Directorio Democratico Cubano: Rolando Rodríguez Lobaina y Virgilio Mantilla Arango fueron excarcelados en la noche del domingo, 7 de febrero de 2010. Sufrieron golpes a manos de fuerzas represivas del régimen castrista y permanecerion detenidos en Camagüey hasta la noche de ayer.Rolando Rodríguez Lobaina and Virgilio Mantilla Arango were jailed Sunday night, February 7th, 2010. They