Cuba Educational Travel

23/09/2020

“Este anuncio, pocas semanas antes de las elecciones presidenciales, muestra de qué se trata realmente la política hacia Cuba de la Administración Trump”, dijo Collin Laverty, presidente de Cuba Educational Travel. “Se trata del sur de Florida y no le da absolutamente ninguna importancia al bienestar del pueblo cubano, la democracia, los derechos humanos o el avance de los intereses nacionales de Estados Unidos en la región."

Los estadounidenses que viajen a Cuba no podrán comprar ron o tabaco como souvenirs ni podrán hospedarse en hoteles, según una serie de nuevas restricciones anunciadas por el presidente Donald Trump el miércoles.

08/09/2020

As world travel began to close down in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, Collin Laverty had to make a snap decision: Miami or Havana? For an American who divides his time between the two cities as he runs Cuba Educational Travel, an agency that in less restricted times counted U.S. senators and tech-world luminaries among its clientele, the choice was obvious. “I felt the Cubans were going to do a better job,” he explained by phone from Havana. “It would be safer here.”

The island nation’s stark isolation has been helpful for containing the coronavirus, hard on its troubled economy. One photographer’s wanderings captured Cuba’s beauty—and the resilience of a people who have long wrestled with the ebb and flow of history.

06/09/2020

"Created by Susanna Kohly (a Cuban-American based in San Francisco who frequents Cuba often), and Collin Laverty (an American based in Cuba), each show is roughly half hour. Each episode introduces us to someone in tech, culture & the arts in Cuba. Through these conversations, we meet an innovative young mind who loves their country, despite all the blocks they encounter, both from within the country, as well as exterior reasons."

In the landscape of Cuban podcasts, there is not much of a selection of balanced shows to listen to. Just utter the word “Cuba” and see quickly how it polarises a room. Some will demoni…

02/09/2020

"Cuban authorities have ordered a strict 15-day lockdown of Havana in an effort to stamp out the low-level but persistent spread of the coronavirus in the capital.
Aggressive anti-virus measures, including closing down air travel, have virtually eliminated COVID-19 in Cuba with the exception of Havana, where cases have surged from a handful a day to dozens daily over the last month.

Cuba's aggressive steps have virtually eliminated COVID-19 on the island except in the capital, where cases have surged. A curfew begins this week.

24/07/2020

New on the blog: Our friend and colleague Aisha Cort launches her Afro Cuban candle brand VELA NEGRA today.

"My heritage plays a major role in my day to day life and scent is such a powerful tool to invoke memory and connection. So, candles were the perfect vehicle to honor my roots. I find that a lot of the things marketed toward us are not really for us or about us. They are empty products and there’s a disconnect that people feel. VELA NEGRA is deeply personal without being alienating."

Muchas felicidades Aisha!

Aisha Cort is a force who has spent her career sharing Afro Cuban culture and the Spanish language with her students, clients and colleagues. With Aisha, we’ve been lucky to help facilitate exchanges in Havana, at Howard University in Washington, DC, and virtual visits in between. Today, Aisha lau...

10/07/2020

Art Code Space's virtual exhibit, "Isolation" is open this week. CET's Gaby Alemán wrote about it on our blog: "The project Isolation will promote Cuban artists in attempts to draw parallels through their art between their personal lives on an island – already naturally isolated from the rest of the world – and the present reality of social distancing."

Art Code Space is pleased to announce, under the sponsorship of Cuba Educational Travel and The Cuban Arts Group, the exhibition Aislamiento (Isolation). The exhibit was curated by Ariadna Rivero and Claudia Taboada.

03/07/2020

Havana will begin a partial reopening today. "The reopening in Havana will allow restaurants, bars and other businesses to reopen but with restricted capacity...However, international travel to and from most of Cuba will remain suspended."

Havana will begin a partial reopening on Friday, Cuban Prime Minister Marrero Cruz said Wednesday night of the country's capital city.

23/06/2020

"The project 'Isolation' will promote Cuban artists in attempts to draw parallels through their art between their personal lives on an island – already naturally isolated from the rest of the world – and the present reality of social distancing. Curated by Ariadna Rivero, Laura Arañó, and Claudia Taboada, the art will explore several themes tied to isolation" Art Code Space

Photo 2: Glauber Ballesteros, Moralia Equalium. Photo 4: Ivan Perera, Untitled, 2018. As we find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic, the term social distancing has become more than just a part of our vernacular—it has rapidly become a way of life as societies around the world have tucked

18/06/2020

As the US faces extreme levels of social unrest and widespread movements for change, Florida politicians are focused on punishing countries which have hired Cuba's doctors during a global pandemic.

A new bill introduced by Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott on Wednesday would target countries that hire Cuban doctors through the “medical missions” controlled by the island’s government.

05/06/2020

Moved by the spirit and messages of protesters across the United States and the world, CET is committed to further engage, work with and learn from Afro Cuban artists, entrepreneurs and professionals. As part of this effort, we’re working with partner organizations to highlight Afro Cuban owned and operated companies across the island, starting with this list of 16 great businesses you should know about:

Moved by the spirit and messages of protesters across the United States and the world, CET is committed to further highlighting, working with and learning from Afro Cuban artists, entrepreneurs and professionals. More progress in areas of fighting racism and discrimination, social

22/05/2020

We have some great news to share! This month, the CET family grew by two! One of our craziest guides, Leo, welcomed baby Valentina into the world, and the family of our awesome boss Adam expanded this week with the addition of baby boy Elijah. We feel very blessed in these crazy times. 👶🏻❣️🌴🌅🥰 Congrats, dads! • ¡Tenemos excelentes noticias que compartir! ¡Este mes, la familia CET creció con dos nuevos miembros! Leo, uno de nuestros guías más alocado, dio la bienvenida al mundo a bebé Valentina a principios de mes, y la familia de nuestro increíble jefe Adam se amplió esta semana con la adición del bebé Elijah. Nos sentimos muy bendecidos en estos tiempos difíciles.

20/05/2020

"Mi madre nació en La Habana, Cuba, y llegó con sus hermanos y mis abuelos con el éxodo del Mariel en 1980. Como muchos otros, dejaron toda una vida atrás, pero nunca abandonaron sus raíces, costumbres o tradiciones." CubaOne Foundation Beyond Roots Cuba

"Venimos de una pequeña isla, pero nuestra influencia es profunda". Credit: Cuba One En febrero de este año, un pequeño grupo de cubanoamericanos viajó al este de Cuba para explorar su herencia afrocubana y reflexionar sobre cuestiones de raza e identificación. Fue el primer viaje temático afr...

20/05/2020

We interviewed CubaOne Foundation alum Leilani Bruce about her experience participating in February's Afro Cuban trip to the eastern side of the island. Thanks to CubaOne and Beyond Roots Cuba for helping us curate this amazing and immersive experience.

TALKING RESILIENCE AND THE MEANING OF HOME ON AN AFRO-CUBAN TRIP TO EASTERN CUBA

13/05/2020

"Mientras el mundo pide un alivio de las sanciones mundiales en medio de la pandemia del COVID-19, la Administración Trump esta decidida a aumentar el sufrimiento con la esperanza de atraer votos adicionales en el sur de la Florida", agregó Collin Laverty. "Trump y su equipo se están convirtiendo en expertos en dañar al pueblo cubano y destruir la credibilidad del Departamento de Estado al mismo tiempo".

13/05/2020

“As the world calls for global sanctions relief in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trump Administration is intent on increasing suffering with the hopes of capturing additional votes in South Florida,” added Collin Laverty. “President Trump and his team are becoming experts at hurting the Cuban people and destroying the State Department’s credibility at the same time.”

30/04/2020

“We call on the Trump Administration to fully investigate the case and take steps to protect all members of the diplomatic community,” added Collin Laverty. Under the Vienna Convention, the U.S. has the obligation to protect all accredited diplomats on American soil, including those from Cuba.

23/04/2020

"Toda una vida ha existido el tabú de que las mujeres deben hacer actividades o trabajos en las cuales no se hagan daño, deben estar siempre con el pelo y las uñas arregladas, maquilladas, vestir acorde a su imagen de fémina. Las chicas que escogemos practicar surf contradecimos lo anterior por el simple hecho de hacer y disfrutar lo que nos gusta." - Yaya Guerrero

En honor al Día de la Tierra, queríamos destacar el trabajo de la surfista, rompe barreras y activista climática Yaya Guerrero, que pasa su tiempo surfeando y enseñando en las playas de las afueras de La Habana. Guerrero, cuyo apellido caracteriza su estirpe, es una de las surfistas más famosas...

22/04/2020

"Now Cuba’s top female surfer, Guerrero was first introduced to the sport as a young kid — by watching the movie “Point Break”, the classic undercover police and bank robber flick with Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves. Though she had grown up in the coastal town of Havana located between the Atlantic and Caribbean oceans, she’d never seen a surfer. Her first real-life interaction with surf happened when she was 23. It was November in Havana when she saw some friends with surfboards. Guerrero asked where they were going - Playa 70 in Miramar - and decided to join them. She went back every day that week to learn how to surf, with a chorus of surfers and beach-going naysayers present to inform her she was “too pretty to surf,” she “wouldn’t be able to do anything in the water” and she “should learn something else.” Guerrero knows it was then when her relentless need to catch a wave began..."

Our Earth Day feature with the epic Yaya Guerrero. 🌎🏄‍♀️⤵️

In honor of Earth Day, we wanted to highlight the work of surfer, barrier-breaker, and climate activist Yaya Guerrero, who spends her time surfing and teaching on the beaches outside of Havana. Guerrero, whose last name means warrior in Spanish, is one of Cuba’s most famous surfers and she is a pi

16/04/2020

El skateboarding está logrando una nueva posición en el mundo en 2020, comenzando con su inclusión como deporte oficial en los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio. En Cuba, los patinadores siguen enfrentando una serie de desafíos, aunque hay razones para tener esperanzas.

Esta semana hablamos con Miles Jackson y otros líderes de Cuba Skate para aprender sobre el skateboarding en Cuba en 2020.

El skateboarding está logrando una nueva posición en el mundo en 2020, comenzando con su inclusión como deporte oficial en los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio. En Cuba, los patinadores siguen enfrentando una serie de desafíos, aunque hay razones para tener esperanzas. Hablamos con miembros estadounid...

15/04/2020

"Skateboarding is carving new territory in the world in 2020 - beginning with inclusion as an official sport in the Tokyo Olympics." CET's Collin Laverty chatted with leaders from Cuba Skate about the present and future of Cuban skateboarding.

Skateboarding is carving new territory in the world in 2020 - beginning with inclusion as an official sport in the Tokyo Olympics. In Cuba, skaters continue to face a number of challenges, although there is reason to be hopeful. We sat down with American and Cuban members of Cuba Skate, an NGO doing

13/04/2020

🏠We're having some fun mientras que estamos en casa. Which quarantine house are you headed to? Pa' que casa tu va'? 🎶🇨🇺🏠

08/04/2020

CET is proud to partner with Friends of Caritas Cuba to increase direct support to Cuba’s most vulnerable citizens who have been affected by the pandemic, including senior citizens and children with disabilities.

08/04/2020

"Upmarket restaurants are delivering free meals to the elderly, while a fashion firm donates face masks. A business consultancy calls on its clients to donate hygiene products and artisanal soap shops gift their wares to low income households." Great Reuters piece by Sarah Marsh featuring DADOR's Lauren Fajardo.

Upmarket restaurants are delivering free meals to the elderly, while a fashion firm donates face masks. A business consultancy calls on its clients to donate hygiene products and artisanal soap shops gift their wares to low income households.

01/04/2020

"Humanitarian deterrence of the virus, not Cold War–era regime change, should be the top priority of US foreign policy." - Peter Kornbluh for The Nation Magazine

Humanitarian deterrence of the virus, not Cold War–era regime change, should be the top priority of US foreign policy.

26/03/2020

"The global community must do everything within its power to stop the spread of the virus, protect the people in its path, and ease the suffering it leaves in its wake. For the U.S. government, in the case of Cuba, this means suspending the sanctions that hurt the Cuban people the most."

18/03/2020

Una actualización de Cuba y el COVID-19: Amigos, familia y vecinos, , ustedes también deberían! Gracias a los negocios que ya han cerrado sus puertas con la salud de la comunidad en la mente.

18/03/2020

An update from Cuba on COVID-19. Friends, family, partners, and neighbors, , you should too!

06/03/2020

🔥 Cimafunk ft. The Soul Rebels and Tarriona "tank" BALL "Esto está caliente......" 🔥

“Caliente” unites the traditional tumbao and clave from Cuba with New Orleans brass and classic funk grooves, all rooted in African origins. Caliente is an e...

28/02/2020

It's here! 🔥

The band from Havana brings its intoxicating mix of Afro-Cuban dance music and 1970s funk-and-soul to the Tiny Desk.

27/02/2020

Catch our friends, the award winning Cuban Malpaso Dance Company, as they tour the US East Coast. Featuring stops in Burlington, Boston, Martha's Vineyard, NYC, and Maryland!