There was “a diplomatic encuentro” in the Mission District last week. Cuban Ambassador to the United States, Lianys Torres Rivera, met with about 25 locals in a rare community meeting at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts on March 13.
We all sat in a circle, and one by one, introduced ourselves, unanimously expressing our thanks for the opportunity to speak with the Ambassador. Briefly, we spoke of our past interactions with the Cuban nation, as well as our particular ideas in reference to future exchanges and possible collaborations with that embattled island nation.
In that meeting, there were well-known radio and print journalists Chelitz López and Jorge Bustamante (KPOO and Radio Bilingüe”), Luis Medina and Emiliano Echeverría (KPFA), plus leaders and representatives from community cultural organizations, such as La Peña Cultural Center, World Arts West, Mission District‘s Cultural Corridor, Bay Area’s Cuban Solidarity Committee. Also present were some well-known graphic artists and musicians — Calixto Robles, Orlando Torriente and Gregg Landau, plus theatre practitioners.
A majority of us bordering (or firmly planted) on “Senior-hood”, although there were a few younger reps, such as the current Director of Carnaval SF, Rodrigo Ehecatl Durán. The former Director of Carnaval Roberto Hernández, currently a candidate for the District 9 supervisor position, was also there.
From the East Bay, besides a representative from La Peña Cultural Center, we were joined by the well-known activists Rita Barouch and Estelle Schneider. Rita, who lives in Richmond, spoke about the fact that Richmond has a very active “Sister City” relationship with the city of Regla, in Cuba. Estelle spoke fondly of the “Quisicuaba Campamento Agropecuario and VIda Asistida” project, which works with older homeless folks.
Ambassador Lyanis Torres Rivera seemed truly moved by the expressions of solidarity and eager to foster stronger ties with everyone present and the organizations that they represented.
After the meeting was over, I reflected on what took place. It was, clearly, a successful gathering. It was also a relatively unusual gathering. It is not easy to be able to gather so many busy, progressive and influential people under one roof. In the middle of the day and with a rather short notice! Everyone present had a long history of collaboration and solidarity with Cuba. At the same time, they were respected and able leaders in our local communities.
A thought came to me: why don’t we promote these types of gatherings among ourselves? Why do we have to wait for the appearance of someone important, but someone who comes from far away, to find time to share our thoughts?
Those who were at that meeting love and respect Cuba and its embattled process, although the U.S. Government still insists on keeping Cuba on its list of “terrorist” countries. Those present in that meeting might think that the government of Israel and its Zionist leaders might be a much clearer example of state-sponsored terrorism. The label of “terrorist” for Cuba has to go!
I will insist: why do we not organize ourselves better and, without abandoning our solidarity towards Cuba or other countries around the world, we sit down in force to discuss possible collaborations that will help us to become stronger in our local endeavors?
In the end, our solidarity with Cuba illuminates possible local roads to explore.
If the same 25 people who were there, plus some other influential local people, could meet a few times a year, it would be an awesome way to strengthen our effectiveness.
Let us give it a try!