AFRO-COLOMBIAN CULTURAL WEEK
Washington, DC, February 24 –26, 2004
The Afro-Colombian cultural week will take place between the February 24 and 26, 2004 in Washington, DC. The Embassy of Colombia and the Afro-Latino Development Alliance are the organizers of these activities with the sponsorship of the Afro-Colombian Mayors Association, Afro-Colombian Congressional Caucus, Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, USAID, and several Members of the United States Congress. During this week, Afro-Colombian artists, social advocates, scholars, entertainers, athletes and Business people will discuss their experience and contribution in the building of the Colombian nation. The week will consist of a symposium at Capitol Hill, and different academic activities, and cultural performances
SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC EVENTS
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
9:30 am – 5:30 pm: Symposium at Capitol Hill
US POLICY TOWARD COLOMBIA: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFRO-COLOMBIANS
Agriculture Committee
1300 Longworth House Building, Washington, DC
9:30 am – 9:50 am – Opening remarks
Honorable Rep. Elijah Cummings – CBC Chair
Honorable Rep. Albert Wynn
Honorable Colombian Ambassador Luis Alberto Moreno
9:50 am – 10:20 am Opening session
Honorable Piedad Cordoba Ruiz – Colombian Senator
Dr. John Sanbraillo – Executive Director PADF
Dr. Kathryn Wolford – President Lutheran World Relief
Dr. Maya Rockeymoore – Vice President CBC Foundation - Moderator
10:20 am – 11:10 am First panel: Central policy issues of Afro-Colombian Communities
Mr. Marino Cordoba - International Affairs Coordinator
National Association of Afro-Colombian Displaced Persons - AFRODES
Mr. Hugo Tovar - Director
Afro-Colombian Student Network - AFRORED
Dr. Norma Jackson - International Program Director
Benedict College, NC
Rosa Carlina Garcia - Policy Advisor
National Association of Afro-Colombian Women - AMUAFRO
Mrs. Cristina Espinel - Co-Chair
Colombia Human Rights Committee
Moderator
11:10 am – 11:20 am Break
11:20 am – 12:30 pm Second panel: US policy toward Colombia and the Afro-Colombians
Mr. Adam Isacson - Colombia Program Director
Center for International Policy - CIP
Mr. Oscar Gamboa - International Affairs Director
Afro-Colombian Mayor’s Federation
Mr. Peter DeShazo - US Department of State
Mr. Adolfo Franco - Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean
US Agency for International Development - USAID
Honorable Rep. Donald Payne - International Relations Committee –
US House of Representatives
Mr. George Dalley - Chief Staff
Rep. Charles Rangel Office
Moderator
Energy and Commerce Committee
2218 Rayburn House Building, Washington, DC
12:30 pm – 1:40 pm Lunch discussion
Statements by:
Honorable Rep. Julio Gallardo
Honorable Rep. Bobby Rush
Honorable Rep. Barbara Lee
Honorable Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee
Honorable Rep. William J. Jefferson
Honorable Rep. James Clyburn
Honorable Rep. Edgar Torres, Vice President of the Colombian House of Representative
Honorable Rep. John Conyers
Yul Edwards – President of the Congressional Black Associates
Moderator
1:40 pm – 2:00 pm Cultural performance- Grupo Pasos por Colombia
2:00 pm – 2:50 pm Third panel: Local governments and Afro-Colombian policy issues
Honorable Apolinar Salcedo - Mayor – City of Cali
Honorable Julio Ibarguen - Governor – Department of El Choco
Dr. Mischa Thompson - Foreign Policy Advisor -Rep. Gregory Meeks Office
Mr. Pastor Murillo - Advisor – Colombian Ministry of Foreign Relations
Moderator
2:50 pm – 3:00 pm Break
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Fourth panel: Afro-Colombian culture, entertainment, and sport
Ms. Aura Hurtado - Cultural Director - Pasos por Colombia
Ms. Armelys Garcia - Miss Afro-Colombia 2003 -
Mrs. Vanessa Mendoza - The first Black Miss Colombia - 2001
Honorable Willington Ortiz - Member of the Colombian Congress
Honorable Rep. Maria Isabel Urrutia - Member of Colombian Congress
Mr. Roberto Asprilla - Executive Director – Afro-Latino Development Alliance
Moderator
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Closing session – Where do we go from here?
Mrs. Martha Chaverra - Afro- Colombian Policy Advisor - Colombian Ministry of Interior
Mr. Peter Hakim - President -Inter-American dialogue
Mrs. Lauri Fitz-Pegado - Livingston Group
Mrs. Lisa Hugaard - Executive Director - Latin America Working Group – LAWG
Mr. Luis Gilberto Murillo - US – Colombia Policy Coordinator - Lutheran World Relief
Moderator
5:00 pm – 5:30 pm Closing remarks
Honorable Juan Carlos Martinez - Colombian Senator
Honorable Rep. Robert Menendez - US House of Representatives
Honorable Rep. Charles Rangel -US House of Representatives
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm Cultural performance at Howard University: Afro-Colombian folklore group: Pasos por Colombia
2:30 pm – 3:45 pm Symposium at Georgetown University’s Colombia Program with the participation of Colombian Mayors, Governors, and members of Congress
Intercultural Center – ICC, 7th Floor
Conference Room
School of International Service
Georgetown University
37th & O Streets, NW
Washington, DC 20057.
Thursday, February 26, 2004
11 am – 1 pm - Symposium at Howard University with the participation of Afro-Colombian public officials, civil society leaders, and presidents of the Afro-Colombian Universities
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Cultural performance at Georgetown University: Afro-Colombian folklore group: Pasos por Colombia
Copley Formal Lounge,
Georgetown University
37th & O Streets, NW
Washington DC 20057.