Cuba - The Pearl of the Antilles - has a rich history that goes back centuries. Havana, its capital city, is over 500 years old. Its culture is a mix of European (mostly Spaniards) and Africans (mostly from West Africa). Cuba is not a museum. It is a vibrant - if complex - society. Cuba's current realities are certainly challenging - and complicated.
Reemberto was born in Cuba, raised and schooled in the deep south (Atlanta, GA), and now lives in Silver Spring (MD). He has journeyed to Cuba 15 times over the last decade and teaches an interdisciplinary study abroad course for the University of Maryland in Havana.
He will be sharing stories about his journeys to Cuba and engaging in a conversation about Cuba's rich history, its relationship with the US through the ages, the current context of today's Cuba, and future possibilities. Come with your questions!
Registration is encouraged. Non-members may register by emailing operations@silverspringvillage.org or calling 240-833-5580 x 6. Village members may register by logging into their member account and signing up on the members-only events calendar.
Biography
Reemberto Rodriguez is an affiliate professor at the University of Maryland's National Center for Smart Growth (NCSG), where he provides assistance and support to the Small Business Anti-Displacement Network (SBAN), the Purple Line Corridor Coalition (PLCC) and the Partnership for Learning and Sustainability (PALS). Currently he is the coordinator for SBAN’s Case Study Project. He recently completed coordinating three community-led walks for the PLCC. He also teaches a study abroad course in Havana (Cuba) which brings together the disciplines of architecture, planning, preservation, and economics. Reemberto also consults with Enterprise Mid-Atlantic, assisting in training resident teams along the Purple Line corridor. Before joining the University of Maryland, Reemberto was Montgomery County's Silver Spring Regional Director for 12 years, working with all aspects of local governance and community engagement. Prior to that, Reemberto worked with NeighborWorks America, a Congressionally chartered non-profit, where he began as a technical assistance provider and concluded 20 years later as the Curriculum Director for Neighborhood Revitalization and Community Organizing in charge of coordinating the National Community Leadership Institutes. He holds a degree in architecture from Georgia Tech and in community development from Georgia State University. He lives in Silver Spring (MD) with his wife, Geraldina Dominguez and their dog, Cachao. www.Reemberto.Biz