A capacity crowd came to the University Club Saturday to learn about Cuban history, culture, and contemporary life.
While some participants are planning trips to Cuba, others simply wanted to learn more about this island nation. University Club staff served tapas and wine, creating an convivial atmosphere for the UW-Madison Continuing Studies Cuba 101 program. The new offering was developed in partnership with UW-Madison’s Latin American Caribbean and Iberian Studies (LACIS) program.
Instructor Ricardo Gonzalez, a Cuba native and scholar of Cuban history and music, shared photos, offered a short Cuba lecture, and engaged the audience in a rich conversation.
“Ricardo gave us historical background and a framework for better understanding US-Cuban relations,” said one participant.
Gonzalez has lived in Madison for over 40 years. He served on Madison’s Common Council and co-founded the Madison-Camaguey (Cuba) Sister City Association.
“Ricardo’s deep knowledge of Cuba and Cuban history impressed participants. There were many questions, and people stayed for almost an hour after the program ended. They talked about Cuba, shared book recommendations, suggested future programs, and discussed travel to Cuba,” said program coordinator Laurie Greenberg.
Upcoming Cuba program
Anthropologist Araceli Alonso will teach a three-evening course on “Daily Life of the Cuban Revolution” starting in February. She will lead learners through readings, film, and firsthand writings to examine the lives of ordinary Cubans through the revolution.
Alonso is a United Nations Award Winner for her activism on women’s health and women’s rights. An associate faculty at UW-Madison’s Department of Gender and Women’s Studies and the School of Medicine and Public Health, she is the founder and director of Health by Motorbike.