Raices De Esperanza Inc

Raíces de Esperanza means “roots of hope.” We are a network of more than 3,000 students and young professionals across the U.S. and abroad focused on empowering Cuban youth. We seek to inspire young people to care about Cuba, think outside the box and proactively support our young counterparts on the island through innovative means. In 2003, we were founded by college students as an association between the Georgetown and Harvard Cuban American student groups. Today, we encompass a dynamic and diverse group of young servant leaders throughout the U.S. with students at more than 55 universities and young professionals in Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami. We hope to make a positive impact on Cuba – an issue often tangled with pain, separation, fear, emotion, misunderstanding and politics – through academic and cultural initiatives guided by three basic principles: amor, amistad y esperanza (love, friendship and hope).

 

For the past six years, Raices has organized large-scale annual conferences for over 900 young leaders.  Delegates come from United States and Cuba to strengthen their networks with each other and to participate in panels, workshops and trainings. Raices also has been very involved in participating and organizing national events that bring awareness to the plight of the Damas en Blanca, who are a group of women inspired by the Madres de la Plaza of Argentina. In Cuba, the Damas regularly and peacefully march to protest the arbitrary treatment their husbands have suffered as Cuban Political prisoners. In terms of charity, our network has collected more than nine tons of clothes, medicine, non-perishable aid and materials for hurricane victims in Cuba.  This same youth network has mobilized in different realms of advocacy, such as advocating for the release of Cuban youth leaders like Gorki Aguila and Yordis Garcia, as well as promoting musicians like Juanes in his Peace without Borders concert in Cuba.