News
Jan (8) | Feb (12) | Mar (6) | Apr (9) | May (8) | Jun (8) | Jul (4) | Aug (7) | Sep (7) | Oct (10) | Nov (6) | Dec (7) |
January
The Latina/o Century: Path Breakers and New Directions in Latina/o Studies
The goal of this conference at Dartmouth College is to consider the development of Latina/o Studies and take a forward-looking perspective to anticipate the demographic changes that will impact politics, civil society, culture, and life in local, national, and global communities.
José Martí Breakfast at the BBC Campus
Dr. Eduardo Lolo was the keynote speaker at the 14th Annual José Martí Breakfast on January 28, hosted by FIU's Biscayne Bay Campus. His presentation, titled "Madrid on the Hudson: José Martí in English," analyzed Martí's chronicles about Spanish art and culture for U.S. newspapers.
CRI in the News: Could the Keys of St. Peter Unlock a Cuban Cell?
Tim Padgett of WRLN News in Miami interviews CRI Director Dr. Jorge Duany about U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's recent visit to the Vatican.
Poll Findings: On Cuban Americans and the Elusive "American Dream"
A new poll conducted by National Public Radio, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harvard School of Public Health suggests that Cuban Americans see themselves as more financially troubled than other Latinos. CRI Faculty Affiliate Dr. Guillermo J. Grenier is interviewed in this NPR News story.
CRI in the News: Cuba Bets on Global Trade with Mariel
The Venezuelan newspaper "El Nacional" interviewed CRI Director Dr. Jorge Duany about the Mariel Special Development Zone in Cuba.
Cuba in Transition, Volume 23
The Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) has just published online the proceedings of its 23rd Annual Conference, entitled "Reforming Cuba?"
CRI in the News | The Exorbitant Prices of Cars in Cuba
Xavier Serbiá, business journalist for CNN en Español, discusses the recent law authorizing the purchase of private cars on the island with CRI Director, Dr. Jorge Duany.
CRI Receives Grant to Support FIU Cuba Poll
The poll will focus on the policy issues that engage and motivate the Cuban-American community in South Florida to vote and participate in the civic and political culture of the United States.
February
CRI to Cosponsor Concert on Afro-Cuban Jazz
Recognized as one of the greatest drummers of our time, Ignacio Berroa will offer a concert and master class at FIU's Wertheim Performing Arts Center Hall on April 25, 2014.
CRI in the News: Huber Matos Dies in Miami
Huber Matos, a leader of the Cuban Revolution who spent 20 years in prison for protesting its tilt toward communism, died on February 27 due to a heart attack.
ASCE Student Award Competition
The Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) is accepting nominations for the 2014 Jorge Pérez-López Student Award Competition. A panel of scholars will judge all submissions on the basis of relevance, originality, quality, contribution, and clarity of presentation.
Accepting New Applications for the Díaz-Ayala Library Travel Grants
The Cuban Research Institute (CRI), the Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC), and the Florida International University Libraries are pleased to announce the Díaz-Ayala Library Travel Grants and request applications for spring and early summer 2014.
Liberty as Heresy (Why One Writes a Novel): A Lecture by Leonardo Padura
One of Cuba's most prominent writers delivered a public lecture at FIU on February 18. His recurring theme was how people in different places and times have exercised their right to individual freedom, thus becoming "heretics."
Seminar on Water Infrastructure in Cuba
On February 12, 2014, CRI held a half-day seminar with FIU experts and members of the Cuban-American Association of Civil Engineers.
CRI in the News: Conference to Explore Transnationalism
CRI Director Dr. Jorge Duany participated in a conference on the current state and future directions of Latino Studies at Dartmouth College.
CRI in the News: El Noticiero Profiles CRI
The most recent issue of the newsletter of the Inter-University Program for Latino Research (IUPLR) showcases the work of CRI.
Poverty in Cuba Increases, as Government Slashes Social Spending, Expert Says
The "Miami Herald" extensively quotes CRI Community Advisory Board member Dr. Carmelo Mesa-Lago, speaking about the impact of Raúl Castro's economic reforms.
CRI in the News: The Unknown Future of U.S.-Cuba Relations
Three FIU Cuba experts participated in a panel discussion organized by the Heritage Foundation: Frank Mora, Eduardo Gamarra, and Sebastián Arcos.
Spring 2014 CRI Newsletter
We review last year's highlights and announce our upcoming events in Cuban and Cuban-American studies.
Spring 2014 CRI Newsletter
Here we review last year's highlights and announce our upcoming events for this semester.
March
CASO Social Event
The Cuban-American Student Organization (CASO) hosted a very successful event at the Graham Center, including domino competitions, Cuban food and music, free salsa lessons, and live performances by Cuban rappers.
U.S.-Cuba Archive
The Cuba Initiative of the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies at American University has assembled over 160 documents on U.S.-Cuban issues.
The Emergence and Negotiation of Afro-Chinese Religion in Cuba
Martin Tsang defended his dissertation on the intimate connections between the descendants of Chinese indentured laborers and African slaves. Martin is a Ph.D. candidate in FIU's Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies.
Graduate Seminar on Cuba
Dr. Jorge Duany will be teaching a course on 20th- and 21st-century Cuban society in the fall. Advanced undergraduate students are welcome to join the seminar.
New Directions in Cuban Studies
The Cuban Heritage Collection (CHC) at the University of Miami Libraries hosted a multidisciplinary conference on March 20 and 21, 2014 to disseminate the work of past CHC Graduate Fellows and survey the current state of Cuban and Cuban-American Studies.
CRI, LACC, and FIU Libraries Award Díaz-Ayala Library Travel Grants
We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2014 grants, designed to increase access to the special collections on Cuba and its diaspora at FIU.
April
CRI in the News: The Role of Cuban Americans in U.S.-Cuba Relations
Marwan Bishara of Al Jazeera America interviewed CRI Director Jorge Duany and Associate Director Sebastián Arcos.
CRI Community Advisory Board Member Considered for International Award
The distinguished Cuban-American economist Carmelo Mesa-Lago has been nominated for the 2014 Prince of Asturias Prize in the Social Sciences. Dr. Mesa-Lago has made significant contributions to the study of the economics of social security, comparative economic systems and development, social policy, and Latin American studies, as well as the Cuban economy.
Fiftieth Anniversary of the Cintas Foundation
Since 1963, the Cintas Foundation has supported visual artists, writers, architects, and composers of Cuban origin, living and working outside of Cuba.
Graduate Seminar on Cuba
This course, which is open to advanced undergraduate students, examines the culture and social structure of the Cuban Republic; the antecedents and consequences of the profound process of social change initiated in 1959; and Cuban emigration. Dr. Jorge Duany will be leading the seminar in the fall of 2014.
ASCE Student Prize Award
The Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) awards the Jorge Pérez-López Student Prize every year to the best academic research papers in any field of study related to Cuba or Cuban-American issues. The deadline to apply is May 20, 2014.
CRI Director to Participate in German Conference
Dr. Jorge Duany has been invited to present a paper at an international meeting hosted by the University of Potsdam.
Reflections of an Afro-Cuban Priest
Alexander Fernández recently defended his master's thesis in religious studies, titled "Odú in Motion: Afro-Cuban Orisha Hermeneutics and Embodied Scholarship, Life Reflections of a Lukumí Priest."
CRI in the News: FIU Photographic Exhibit Highlights Social Inequality in Cuba
The exhibit "Race and Social Inequality in Cuba" was inaugurated at FIU's Green Library on April 1st. Some of the images present heartbreaking scenes of daily life on the island.
FIU Graduate Student Awarded Cuban Heritage Collection Fellowship
Zeila Frade, a Ph.D candidate and Teaching Assistant in the Department of Modern Languages, is writing her dissertation on children's literature, ideology, and Cuban cultural identity before and after the Revolution.
May
CRI in the News: Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo Presents His Anthology of Cuban Narrators
"Cuba in Splinters" features 11 short stories by contemporary Cuban writers.
New Book on the Future of the Spanish Language in the U.S.
Focusing on Hispanic immigrants, the edited volume includes contributions by CRI Director Jorge Duany and Faculty Affiliate Guillermo J. Grenier.
CRI in the News: 75 Years Later, Ill-Fated Voyage of the SS St. Louis to Cuba Is Remembered
Nora Gámez Torres's article for the Miami Herald summarizes a lecture and panel discussion at the Jewish Museum of Florida, cosponsored by CRI.
French Consul to Join CRI Community Advisory Board
Philippe Létrilliart previously served as First Secretary of the French Embassy in Havana and as Senior Advisor in La Paz.
CRI Visiting Scholar to Work for "El Nuevo Herald"
Dr. Nora Gámez Torres will be starting a new professional phase as a reporter specializing in Cuban affairs.
CRI/FIU at CubaNostalgia
Once again, the Cuban Research Institute led FIU's representation at CubaNostalgia, dedicated to the memory of the Cuban salsa singer Celia Cruz.
New Publication: A Dispersed People: Social and Cultural Dimensions of the Cuban Diaspora
This bilingual volume, edited by Jorge Duany, includes a selection of papers presented at the Ninth Conference on Cuban and Cuban-American Studies.
CRI in the News: Raúl Castro's Reforms Fail to End Cuba's Chronic Shortages
Reuters reports on the continuing scarcity of food and other basic items on the island.
June
CRI in the News: U.S.-Cuban Relations on Higher Ed Level Continue to Grow
The magazine "Diverse Issues in Higher Education" discusses the possibility of expanding educational programs for Cuban exchange students in the United States.
New CRI Visiting Scholar for Summer 2014
The Cuban Research Institute is happy to host Dr. Lillian Guerra, who will work on her new book, "Making Cuba Revolutionary: Hidden Heroes, Public Spectacle, and the War that Toppled Batista, 1947–1959."
CASO Vice President Begins New Job at FIU
Cecilia Sánchez has assumed a full-time position as a representative at the Division of Human Resources.
The 2014 FIU Cuba Poll: Cuban Americans Favor a More Nuanced Policy toward the Island
The poll, released today, indicates that Cuban Americans in Miami would welcome changes in U.S. relations with Cuba, while they still support some elements of current U.S. policy. Follow this link to download the report on the 2014 FIU Cuba Poll, as well as to view the complete survey results.
CRI Community Advisory Member Chosen as Hispanic Woman of Distinction
Mónica Rabassa, a Vice President at Univisión Radio, is one of 12 Latinas recognized for her contributions to the South Florida community.
CRI Faculty Affiliate Receives U.S. Highest Honor for Public Service
Dr. Pedro "Joe" Greer was honored with the National Jefferson Award for his work advocating access to healthcare by the homeless.
CRI in the News: The St. Louis Passengers and the Holocaust
C-Span3 recently broadcast the event commemorating the 75th anniversary of the voyage of the MS St. Louis, held at the Jewish Museum of Florida and cosponsored by the Cuban Research Institute.
Latino Artists Panel Discussion
On May 14, 2014, the Frost Art Museum, along with FIU's Cuban Research Institute and the Latin American and Caribbean Center, hosted three prominent Miami-based artists included in the Frost Art Museum's current exhibition, "Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art."
July
CRI in the News: Artistic Project in Miami Seeks to Collect Testimony of Cuban Rafters
CRI will cosponsor a photographic exhibit and interactive installation, titled "Exodus: Alternative Documents," at the Spanish Cultural Center in Miami.
CRI Conference Will Feature Distinguished Scholars
Four prominent experts on racial politics in Cuba and the Americas will lead a plenary session for the Tenth Conference on Cuban and Cuban-American Studies.
CRI in the News: "Remembering Operation Pedro Pan"
C-SPAN3's American History TV broadcast Dr. Anita Casavantes Bradford's lecture about faith, family, and freedom in Cuban-American collective memory.
New CRI Visiting Scholar during Fall 2014
Dr. Catalina Quesada Gómez, an Assistant Professor of Spanish American Literature and Culture at the University of Bern in Switzwerland, will work on her edited volume on the Cuban writer Severo Sarduy.
August
CRI in the News: The Legacy of Cuban Leader José Antonio Echeverría Discussed in Miami
"El Nuevo Herald" reviews our symposium on "The Urban Insurrection against Batista: The Life and Times of José Antonio Echeverría."
The José Antonio Echeverría Scholarship
Every year, the José Antonio Echeverría Foundation offers a scholarship to encourage FIU students to become active participants in the current political environment and effective future leaders. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is September 19.
Dr. Orlando Jacinto García Appointed Composer in Residence
A CRI Faculty Affiliate and member of the CRI Faculty Advisory Board, Dr. García will be on research assignment composing at artists' residencies, and lecturing and conducting his works at festivals and other related events in the U.S. and abroad.
CRI in the News: Remembering Guantánamo through the Lives of the Haitians Held There
CRI is pleased to collaborate with the Guantánamo Public Memory Project in South Florida.
CRI in the News: Uprising on Havana’s Malecón 20 Years Ago Set Off Exodus
August 5 marked the twentieth anniversary of the popular disturbances in Havana that led to the rafter crisis.
Juan Martínez, Teacher and Promoter of Cuban Art
A tribute to Dr. Juan A. Martínez, CRI Faculty Affiliate and FIU Professor Emeritus, recognized as one of the leading experts on Cuban and Cuban-American art.
Cuba's Perplexing Changes
The Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) held its 24th annual meeting in Miami from July 31 to August 2, 2014.
September
New Histories of the Cuban Revolution
Top scholars and graduate students gathered at an international conference at Yale University on October 3–4. CRI Director Jorge Duany participated in the closing roundtable of the conference.
CRI in the News: Jorge Duany Presents Book about Cuban Diaspora
El Nuevo Herald announces the launching of an edited volume on the historical, political, economic, literary, musical, and artistic aspects of the Cuban exodus.
CRI in the News: Voices: Different Migrants Treated Differently
Alan Gómez writes for USA Today about CRI's recent symposium on the Cuban "balsero" crisis.
Juan Luis Betancourt Joins CRI Community Advisory Board
We're pleased to welcome the newest member of a distinguished group of persons interested in Cuban and Cuban-American affairs that includes representatives from various business sectors and professional backgrounds.
CRI in the News: Lillian Guerra and her Corporal Cartography
El Nuevo Herald's Olga Connor reviews Dr. Guerra's new book of short stories, recently presented at Books & Books in Coral Gables.
CRI in the News: Venezuelan Group Presents Play by Uva de Aragón in Miami
"Memoria del silencio" (Memory of Silence), based on Aragón's novel with the same title, will open at the Koubek Theater on Friday, October 3, at 8 p.m., directed by the Cuban-Venezuelan Virginia Aponte.
CRI Newsletter
The fall 2014 issue of our newsletter highlights our recent accomplishments, upcoming events, and media interventions.
October
Tenth Conference on Cuban and Cuban-American Studies
The Cuban Research Institute continues its tradition of convening scholars, students, and other persons interested in the study of Cuba and Cuban Americans.
Tech for Cuba
Cosponsored by Roots of Hope and the Cuban-American Student Organization, this technology drive aims to have a transformative impact in the lives of Cuban youth by collecting donations of any new or used cell phones, laptops, tablets, and USBs.
Announcing an Undergraduate Course in Cuban and Cuban-American Studies for Spring 2015
This course provides an overview of Cuban migration to the U.S. and the establishment of Cuban communities in this country, emphasizing the Miami enclave.
CRI Community Advisory Board Member Selected as a Miami Fellow
Raúl Moas, Executive Director of Roots of Hope, will be part of Class VIII of the Miami Foundation. This program identifies individuals 5 to 15 years into their professional career who are inspired by our community's potential, have demonstrated ethical leadership, and have the dedication to do more.
New Visiting Scholar from Mexico
Karla Elizabeth Rueda Vergara's work will focus on the influence of Cuban-American lobbying on U.S. migration policies during electoral cycles since 1981.
CRI in the News: As Times Change, Cuban Exiles in the U.S. Learn It's Possible to Go Home Again
The Canadian journal Globe and Mail cites the 2014 FIU Cuba Poll in its coverage of changing attitudes within the Cuban-American community.
Classically Cuban: Musical Memories of Cuba
The Cuban Research Institute is pleased to announce the tenth installment of its "Classically Cuban" concert series, with the renowned pianist Enrique Chía.
New Publication on the History of the Antilles
The fifth volume on the comparative history of the Caribbean islands has been published by the Higher Council for Scientific Research in Madrid, Spain.
CRI in the News: Cuban Doctors Flee Foreign Missions to Florida
The Sun-Sentinel reports on the growing number of Cuban doctors and nurses who are moving to the United States in search of a better life.
November
At a Crossroads: FIU's Frost Gets New Director
Dr. Carol Damian has stepped down as director of the Frost Art Museum. During her tenure, Dr. Damian organized several exhibits about Cuban and Cuban-American artists.
The 50 Most Influential Ibero-American Intellectuals in 2014
Four of them are Cuban, according to the Spanish-language website esglobal.org: Carmelo Mesa-Lago, Leonardo Padura, Rafael Rojas, and Yoani Sánchez. All four have recently visited CRI.
Meet the 2014 José Antonio Echeverría Scholar
Leandro Travieso, an FIU undergraduate major in International Relations and Asian Studies, was awarded the scholarship in memory of the slain Cuban student leader.
El Noticiero IUPLR
The Fall 2014 issue of the newsletter of the Inter-University Program for Latino Research is out.
"Tech for Cuba" Helps Young Cubans to Build Their Own Future
The Cuban-American Student Organization (CASO) at FIU is leading a campaign to collect donations of cell phones, laptops, tablets, and USBs to send to youth in Cuba. Here's a link to the TV interview of two of the members of CASO's executive board.
Classically Cuban Concert
This year's concert, titled "Musical Memories of Cuba," features the internationally renowned pianist Enrique Chía. You can see the program by following this link.
December
The 2014 FIU Cuba Poll
Given the renewed interest in U.S.-Cuban relations, we are reposting this link to the most recent and complete survey of Cuban-American attitudes regarding U.S. policy toward Cuba.
CRI in the News: Human Rights in Spotlight after US-Cuba Deal
The Associated Press discusses how the new U.S. policy toward Cuba might affect the situation of human rights on the island.
CRI in the News | Cuba Reforms: Who Are the Biggest Winners?
BBC reports on the economic implications of changes in U.S. policy toward Cuba, announced by President Barack Obama.
CRI Welcomes New Community Advisory Board Member
Pedro G. Menocal is a business lawyer and a founding partner of Gutiérrez Bergman Boulris, PLLC.
Accepting Applications: 2015 Díaz-Ayala Library Travel Grants
The Cuban Research Institute (CRI), the Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC), and the Florida International University Libraries are pleased to announce the competition for travel grants to study the libraries' collections related to Cuba and its diaspora.
Enrique Chía Headlines Classically Cuban Concert
The tenth annual installment of the concert sponsored by FIU's Cuban Research Institute drew a sellout audience.
CRI in the News: Enrique Chía, from Matamoros to Lecuona in "Classically Cuban"
El Nuevo Herald interviews maestro Enrique Chía about his concert "Musical Memories of Cuba," sponsored by CRI.