07/10/2016
Chicago and Cuba - Illinois and Cuba: In 1996 - it was during a Christmas party in Washington DC at Johana Tablada and Eugenio Martinez house where then State Representative Edgar Lopez and I said to Johana we could make history if we moved the dialogue of Cuba and the USA from Washington DC and included the interest of each individual state in the union. I tried to convince 3 governors to go to Cuba and it was not until January 1999 when I worked on the successful campaign of Governor George Ryan that Edgar and I sat with Governor George Ryan and ask him to help us make history and go to Cuba.
My firm wrote white paper detailing the benefits and the Historic significance of a sitting Governor going to Cuba. We changed the rules, ended the Washington DC monopoly on the dialogue and many states followed.
In 2001 we were the first state to sell products to Cuba. We passed the first resolution to end the Embargo and Governor George Ryan made history.
Today the Embargo is closer to an end because of the commitment of Gov. George Ryan. Today at Antilles Strategy we are taking universities, businesses and leaders who will make a contribution to end this unjust blockade and end the Embargo policies. We are taking everyone that wants to go to Cuba so they can see the "Cuban Reality".
ASG's goal is to commence fair trade, two way trade and real trade with Cuba and bring the highest quality of products from Cuba to the USA market, and facilitate collaborative projects, manufacturing and join research between the great State of Illinois, Chicago and other states.
Our goal of Hemispheric Peace, Humanitarian Exchange and Collaboration is close to fruition. Since 1994 and 1999 when Gov. Ryan went to Cuba a lot has been done but we need everyone to encourage the Congress to end this Embargo and permit the American people to travel to Cuba freely and develop relations with the Cuba People.
Let's do it ASAP, let's do it for Peace and Collaboration. Go to Cuba for the first time and create a life time of memories.
CubaTravel.Com Julian Crews was on that Historic mission in 1999 - thank you for this news piece.
http://wgntv.com/2016/10/06/chicagos-unique-relationship-with-cuba/
We're celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a closer look at the special bond between Cuba and Chicago. There's a rich history between our city and the nation that's now welcoming more visitors. But as Julian Crews explains, there's more work to be done.
