GFDD Convenes Thought Leaders at CUNY

A timely discussion on the relevance of Latin America and the Caribbean in a changing world, yesterday evening’s forum convened by the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and the City College of New York’s (CUNY) Dominican Studies Institute brought together a cohort of students, academic professionals, and activists from Latin America and the Caribbean to hear presentations by leading members of the economic, development, and political
communities.

Moderated by Vincent Boudreau, Interim President of the City College of New York, the event, titled “Latin America and the Caribbean: Economic Outlook and Challenges towards the Future” counted on the participation of Dr. Marta Bengoa, Professor of Economics at
CUNY, Daniel Titelman, Chief of the Economic Development Division of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and The Honorable Adriano Espaillat, U.S. House Representative for New York’s 13th Congressional District.

In his presentation, Representative Espaillat discussed a bill he is currently working on with Senate minority leader Charles Schumer to assist in Puerto Rico’s hurricane relief efforts. Espaillat detailed the
importance of community assistance efforts, stating that the type of situation which Puerto Rico is currently facing could happen at any time in another country or region of the world. For this reason, Espaillat continued, better economic agreements which strengthen Latin American economies must be achieved.

Meanwhile, Daniel Titelman presented on the implications of globalization in today’s world, underlining that the current unification between
countries has led to collective needs and an inability to pursue goals independent of other nations. Latin American economies, he discussed, face three key issues: slowdowns of annual GDP growth rates to 1-2%, the highest rates of wealth and income inequality in the world, and socio-political complications which have negatively affected foreign investment.

The event represented just one part of CUNY’s ongoing Roundtable Discussion Series on U.S. / Latin American
& Caribbean Affairs. It took place on Monday, October 16th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at CUNY’s Shepard Hall, and offered free and open admission to the public.

About Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD):
The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), sister organization of Funglode in the United States, is a non-partisan and non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of collaboration
between organizations in the United States and the Dominican Republic in order to conduct research, enhance public debate, design public policy, propose strategies and provide training to facilitate change in crucial areas of the social, economic and democratic development of the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean and Latin America.

About the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute
Founded in 1992 and housed at The City College of New York, the
Dominican Studies Institute of the City University of New York (CUNY DSI) is the nation’s first university-based research institute devoted to the study of people of Dominican descent in the United States and other parts of the world. CUNY DSI’s mission is to produce and disseminate research and scholarship about Dominicans, and about the Dominican Republic. CUNY DSI is the locus for a community of scholars, including doctoral fellows, in the field of Dominican Studies
and sponsors multidisciplinary research projects.

More information:
https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/dsi