U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 06/21/2019

Dear Friends,

This week we hosted Cuba’s first independent fashion brand, Clandestina, in D.C. for a fabulous week of exchange, pop-up shopping, conversations, parties, and policy discussions. The business owners and fashion designers spoke about their experiences as women entrepreneurs in Cuba’s emerging private sector. Thank you to our sponsors Jirair Ratevosian,  Bryce Furness, and Christine Quinn, as well as Dacha Beer Garden, for supporting this exciting week of cultural exchange

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to read more about our takeaways from the week and to stay informed on the latest Cuba news.

Still wondering about recent policy changes, including regressive changes to travel regulations and the elimination of cruise travel? Read more in CDA’s press statement and policy memo on U.S. policy changes under the Trump Administration.

Despite these changes, there are still legal avenues of travel to Cuba. Now more than ever, U.S. travel is important in order to foster collaboration and support for the Cuban people! See our updated Cuba Travel 101 guide.

Thank you to those who SUPPORT OUR IMPORTANT WORK.

This week, in Cuba news…

U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 06/14/2019

Dear Friends,

For our D.C.-area friends, celebrate U.S.-Cuba ties with us next week at several events, featuring Cuba’s first independent fashion label, Clandestina, around town:

Tuesday June 18:

1:30-3:00 PM – Cuban Women’s Voices in a changing Economy and Society Panel at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) RSVP here

2:00-10:00 PM – Pop-up shop at Dacha Beer Garden

4:00-10:00 PM – Bring your clothes for customization and meet and greet with the artists at Dacha Beer Garden

Wednesday June 19:

2:00-7:00 PM – Pop-up shop at Dacha Beer Garden

5:00-7:00 PM – Bring your clothes for customization and meet and greet with the artists at Dacha Beer Garden

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to stay updated!

Questions about last week’s news, including regressive changes to travel regulations and the elimination of cruise travel? Read more in CDA’s press statement and policy memo on U.S. policy changes under the Trump Administration.

Despite these changes, there are still legal avenues of travel to Cuba. Now more than ever, U.S. travel is important in order to foster collaboration and support for the Cuban people! See our updated Cuba Travel 101 guide.

It’s a tough policy environment, but we’re not going anywhere. CDA remains on the front lines of advocating for U.S. policies toward Cuba based on engagement, and we will continue to foster engagement and mutual understanding between the U.S. and Cuba. Thank you to those who SUPPORT OUR IMPORTANT WORK.

This week, in Cuba news…

U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 06/07/2019

Dear Friends,

This week, the Trump administration released new regulations on U.S travel to Cuba. In sum, the new restrictions are two-fold: they eliminate group people-to-people educational travel AND cruise travel, both of which were popular avenues of U.S. travel to Cuba through which Americans and Cubans connected by way of cultural exchange. These measures remove an important source of revenue for Cuba’s growing private sector, which is in direct opposition to the administration’s stated goal of supporting the Cuban people. Read more in CDA’s press statement and policy memo on U.S. policy changes under the Trump Administration

Despite these changes, there are still legal avenues of travel to Cuba. Now more than ever, U.S. travel is important in order to foster collaboration and support for the Cuban people! See our updated Cuba Travel 101 guide.

CDA remains on the front lines of advocating for U.S. policies toward Cuba based on engagement, and we will continue to lead delegations to the island to foster mutual understanding between the U.S. and Cuba. Thank you to those who SUPPORT OUR IMPORTANT WORK.

Even in tough times, Cuba remains a global community—and it is coming to you! For our D.C.-area friends, SAVE THE DATE for a week of events and *shopping* with the owners and designers of Havana-based clothing store Clandestina. CDA will host the dynamic team in Washington, D.C. Monday, June 17 – Wednesday, June 19 for a series of events to feature a pop-up shop, customization workshops, and, of course, a party or two. For more information about events in D.C. (and New York!), see the events section below. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to stay updated!

This week, in Cuba news…

U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 05/31/2019

Dear Friends,

D.C.-area friends, SAVE THE DATE for a week of events and *shopping* with the owners and designers of Havana-based clothing store Clandestina. CDA will host the dynamic team in Washington, D.C. Monday, June 17 to Wednesday, June 19, for a series of events to feature a pop-up shop, customization workshops, and, of course, a party or two. Stay tuned for more information in the weeks to come. For our New York, based friends, see the events section below for Clandestina events in your neighborhood.

This week, in Cuba news…

U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 05/24/2019

Dear friends,

CDA’s Spring Celebration, held in Washington, DC this week, was an absolute blast! The event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our generous sponsors. We gathered to celebrate the individuals, organizations, companies, and policymakers who, in spite of a tough policy environment, continue to work tirelessly to promote U.S. engagement with Cuba. The evening featured an intimate and captivating performance by Aymée Nuviola, who just released her new album A Journey Through Cuban Music, recorded in Cuba with other greats like Chucho Valdés, Mayito Rivera and Septeto Santiaguero.

As we wrap up a week full of Cuba-related events in DC (CDA Spring Celebration, the Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Cuba Business Summit, 100th anniversary of the Cuban Embassy in DC, and a CDA, Oxfam, and WOLA-hosted discussion on Capitol Hill about Cuba’s civil society), today we bring to you a limited news brief with recommended readings and upcoming events on all things Cuba.

This week, in Cuba news…

U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 05/17/2019

Dear friends,

Join us! We have limited tickets remaining for an intimate concert Monday evening, May 20, in Washington, DC. CDA is THRILLED to host Latin Grammy-award winning artist Aymée Nuviola at our Spring Celebration, where we will celebrate U.S.-Cuba cultural ties during a tough policy environment. RSVP for payment instructions at info@democracyinamericas.org or call us at (202) 234-5506. Tickets are $100 per person.

The U.S.-Cuba Business Council (USCBC) cordially invites you to participate in an off-the-record conversation on the opportunities and challenges for commercial engagement in Cuba. This event will feature congressional leaders, business executives, policy and legal experts for off-the-record discussions on the bilateral relationship (including CDA’s Emily Mendrala), the island’s emerging private sector, and the current legal framework, among other topics. See full agenda here.

This week, in Cuba news…

U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 05/10/2019

Dear friends,

Greetings from Havana, where CDA is leading a high-level delegation to participate in events around the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

Join us for an intimate concert Monday, May 20, in Washington, DC! CDA is THRILLED to host Latin Grammy-award winning artist Aymée Nuviola at our Spring Celebration, where we will celebrate U.S.-Cuba cultural ties. RSVP for payment instructions at info@democracyinamericas.org or call us at (202) 234-5506. Tickets are $100 per person. For sponsorship opportunities please email info@democracyinamericas.org.

This week, in Cuba news…