The Latin American Student Association (LASA) is a group of graduate students interested in analyzing current economic, political and social issues in the region, promoting its culture and enhancing opportunities for future cooperation.
The members of LASA are future leaders from all ethnicities and backgrounds who attend the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) of Columbia University. The association is aimed at fostering constant interaction with academic, private and public organizations interested in Latin American and Latino affairs.
Feel free to contact us at: sipa-lasa@columbia.edu
LATEST NEWS...
LASA is pleased to invite you to its Annual Conference: Latin America on the Move. It will take place on September 29 & 30, 2011, in room 1501 of the International Affairs Building at Columbia University (420 W 118th Street, NYC). The Conference will address the positive outlook of the region through lessons learned and positive/exportable experiences on issues such as inclusive housing, regional energy security, educational challenges, social policy, post-conflict transitions and Latin America - China relations.
Thursday, September 29th
10-11 am Opening and Welcome
● Monica Fernandez (President of the Latin American Student Association)
● Dean John Coatsworth ( School of International and Public Affairs)
11 -12.30 am Inclusive Housing Policy in Latin America
● Janice Perlman (Founder and President of Mega-Cities Project)
● Anita Fiore (Operations Officer, IFC)
● Marta Scheteingart Garfunkel (Professor and Researcher at the Center for Demographic and Urban Studies at El Colegio de Mexico)
● Moderator: Alejandro de Castro (Coordinator of the Latin American and Caribbean Laboratory, School of Architecture at Columbia University)
12.30 -2pm Redefining Energy Security in Latin America
● Mark Lambrides (Division Chief for Energy and Climate Change, Organization of American States)
● Luisa Palacios (Managing Director - Latin America, Medley Global Advisors)
● Roger Tissot (Independent Oil & Energy Professional)
● Moderator: Albert Bressand, (Executive Director of Columbia’s Center for Energy, Marine Transportation and Public Policy)
3 – 4.30 pm Hispanics Moving in the US: The challenge of education
● Raquel Regalado (Member of the Miami-Dade County School Board)
● Adrian Fenty (Former Mayor of DC)
● Elanna Yalow (President and COO, Knowledge Learning Corporation)
● Fabrizio Alcobe (Senior Vice President at Univision Networks)
● Moderator: Thomas Trebat (Excecutive Director of the Institute of Latin America)
4.30-6 pm A critical view on new social policies in Latin America: Benefits and challenges of the new welfare state
● Esteban Bullrich (Ministry of Education, City of Buenos Aires)
● Luis-Felipe Lopez Calva (Lead Economist
Latin America & Caribbean Region
The World Bank Group)
● Sonia Martinelli Heckadon (Regional Desk Adviser for Latin America & Cribbean Region, UNFPA)
● Moderator: Jose Antonio Ocampo (Economic and Political Development Concentration Director)
6 pm Cocktail
Friday, September 30th
10:30 – 12 pm Overcoming conflict and transitioning towards peace and development: lessons learned from the region and challenges to a sustainable peace and security
● Alvaro de Soto (Center for International Conflict Resolution)
● Wendy Luers (Vice Chair of the Latin American Program at the Woodrow Wilson Center)
● Scott Smith (Former Political Affairs Officer for the United Nations)
● Sebastian Chaskel (Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University)
1-3 pm China - Latin America Relations
● Margaret Myers (Director, China-Latin America Program, Inter-American Dialogue)
● David Mann (Chief Economist, Latin America, Standard Chartered Bank)
● Alejandro Izquierdo (Chief Economist, Inter-America Development Bank)
● Moderator: Thomas Trebat (Excecutive Director of the Institute of Latin America)
3-3:30 pm Closing Remarks
● Thomas Trebat (Excecutive Director of the Institute of Latin America)
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This past spring break, LASA co-sponsored a group of SIPA students
assisting with a community development project in Guatemala.
The project consisted in building (using discarded plastic bottles!) the
first high school in Todos Santos, while also focusing on community
empowerment.
UPCOMING EVENT
LASA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
September 29-30, 2011
"Latin America On The Move"