By: Ashmar Mandou

Amid a tightly packed schedule, Her Excellency Lianys Torres Rivera, Ambassador from Cuba to the U.S., carved out time to pay a visit to the City of Chicago and meet with Vice President for National Laboratories, Science, Strategy, innovation, and Global Initiatives Juan de Pablo, and Assistant Vice President Katie Hrinyak of Global Initiatives and Strategy, last Wednesday as well as toured the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago followed by a panel discussion with students at the Harris School of Public Policy to discuss Cuba and United States relations. The tour, curated by President and CEO of Latino Art Beat Don Rossi Nuccio, was in an effort to bolster an understanding of foreign policies as well as to discuss the importance of educational opportunities. Latino Art Beat is a non-profit arts organization that encourages youth in the visual arts offering scholarships to the winners of its annual art and film competitions. Several years ago, Latino Art Beat held a successful arts competition in Havana, Cuba, which strengthened ties between the two cities and provided several opportunities for students to study in the United States for a semester.

Photo Captions:
Photo 1) Her Excellency, Lianys Torres Rivera
Photo 2) (From left to right) David Ramirez Alvarez, Director of Cultural Affairs to the Embassy of Cuba, D.C., Don Rossi Nuccio, President and CEO of Latino Art Beat, and Her Excellency, Lianys Torres Rivera
Photo 3) (From left to right) David Ramirez Alvarez, Director of Cultural Affairs to the Embassy of Cuba, D.C., Don Rossi Nuccio, President and CEO of Latino Art Beat, and her Excellency, Lianys Torres Rivera
Photo 4) (From left to right) Statue of King Tutankhamun, David Ramirez Alvarez, Director of Cultural Affairs to the Embassy of Cuba, D.C., Don Rossi Nuccio, President and CEO of Latino Art Beat, and Her Excellency Lianys Torres Rivera
Photo 5) Students from the Harris School of the University of Chicago