On July 25, 1992 representatives from 32 countries met in the Dominican Republic to celebrate the contributions of African descendant women in Latin America and the Caribbean, marking the first International Day of African Descendent Women. Now, almost 30 years later, what do we know about black women? In many ways African descendant women in Latin America and the … [Read more...] about Hidden figures
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The right to wear MY HAIR
By Laurence Telson* My hair is mine and not mine. It is quite boring, some part wavy some part coarse, it grows fast and wild. Yet it tells the story of who I am (Caribbean of African descent), my social background (middle class), and my racial DNA (a medley of all that trampled the Continent). For me, it is not just hair. My “Black-Hair” stands for the … [Read more...] about The right to wear MY HAIR
Economic crisis: opportunities to lead with entrepreneurship
By Eugene Cornelius* The U.S. Small Business Administration provides entrepreneurial counseling, contracting opportunities and capital to support small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) at every stage of business development. Following the financial crisis of 2007-08 and the subsequent Great Recession, budgets were constrained, unemployment was high, and jobs were … [Read more...] about Economic crisis: opportunities to lead with entrepreneurship
5 ways to make sure that the most vulnerable citizens are considered
October 20th - World Statistics Day. In development policy if something cannot be measured it doesn’t count. As a development professional I am frequently asked how many indigenous peoples and African descendants live in the region. A short answer, based on recent estimates, is that they represent up to 40% of the population. However, the issue is more complex, and shows how … [Read more...] about 5 ways to make sure that the most vulnerable citizens are considered
Fighting racism: 5 lessons learned from affirmative action policies
By Raquel Scarpari and Adam Ratzlaff* Para leer en español, hacer click aquí How effective are affirmative actions to fight racism? Despite initial criticism, in recent years several Latin American countries have implemented public administration and university affirmative action policies, a trend that continues to expand. The design and implementation of these laws can, … [Read more...] about Fighting racism: 5 lessons learned from affirmative action policies