Afro-Colombian Week in DC

Preliminary Proposal

Afro-Colombian Week in Washington DC

February 25-27, 2008

Tuesday, February 26th Day 2

Academic Event at Howard University, The Ralph Bunche International Affairs Center, "Times of Change and Opportunities for the Afro Colombian Population" (Proposed and organized by: Embassy of Colombia and ADA) (confirmed)

9:00am- 9:30am Welcome Remarks

Patrick Swygert, J.D, President Howard University, (To be confirmed)

Carolina Barco, Colombian Ambassador to the United States (confirmed)

Paula Marcela Moreno, Minister of Culture, Colombia (confirmed)

USAID, (someone to give welcome remarks (TBC)

9:30am- 10:45am History and Culture, Reconstructing Memory

Eduardo Garcia Vega, Dean Technological University of Chocó(confirmed)

Harold Scott, Deputy Director, Ralph J. Bunch Center (confirmed)

Howard Dodson, Director, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (confirmed)

Thomas C. Battle Director, Moorland-Spingarn Research Center (MSRC), Howard University (to be confirmed)

10:45am-11:00am Coffee Break (offered by Howard University)

11:00am- 12:30pm Socioeconomic Conditions of the Afro Colombian population: Progress and Challenges

Andres Palacio Chaverra, Vice Minister of Labor (confirmed)

Oscar Gamboa Zuñiga, Executive Director, Commission for the Advancement of the Afro-Colombian population (confirmed)

Josefina Stubbs, Senior Social Development Specialist, (confirmed)

Edgar Eulises Torres, Congressman, Colombia (confirmed)

Daniel Mera, Member of the Board of Directors, Fundación Color de Colombia (confirmed)

12:30pm-1:00pm Closing Remarks (speaker to be decided)

6:00 pm. Petrona Martínez at the Millenium Stage of the Kennedy Center (Proposed and organized by: Embassy of Colombia)(confirmed)

Wednesday, February 27^th Day 3 Capitol Hill

9:30 am- 11:00am Roundtable Discussion between Representatives of Congress, Afro Colombian Government Leaders and Members of Civil Society

Hon. Gregory W. Meeks, Congressman, New York, 6^th District

Hon. Bobby Rush, Congressman, Illinois, 1^st District

Hon. Mike Honda, Congressman, California, 15^th District

Hon. Yvette Clark, Congresswoman, New York, 11^th District

Hon. Carolina Barco, Colombian Ambassador to the United States

Hon. Paula Moreno, Minister of Culture, Colombia

Hon. Eduardo Garcia Vega, Dean Technological University of Chocó

Hon. Andres Palacio Chaverra, Vice Minister of Labor

Mr. Oscar Gamboa Zuñiga, Executive Director, Commission for the Advancement of the Afro-Colombian population

Hon. Edgar Eulises Torres, Congressman, Colombia

Mr. Daniel Mera, Member of the Board of Directors, Fundación Color de Colombia

Ms. Idalmi Minota, Grassroots Organization

Ms. Aura Alia Caicedo, member of civil society

11:00am- 12:00pm Briefing about Progress and Challenges for the Afro Colombian Population

5:00 pm. Concert by Petrona Martinez. With a discussion of the history of Palenque and an exhibition of photographs of Palenque by Ana Mercedes Hoyos (Proposed and organized by: Embassy of Colombia) (confirmed) (venue to be confirmed)