Valerie Landau recently traveled to Cuba and met with Mariela Castro, President Raul Castro’s daughter. She will report on the current initiatives to promote gender equity and LGBT rights, as part of a comprehensive campaign involving multiple state entities including: education, health, legislation, legislator education initiatives, neighborhood campaigns, free legal counseling and state-funded community organizers working at the federal, regional and neighborhood levels.

Valerie will reflect on the changing role of women based on her experience since she attended elementary school in Havana in the 1960s. Since then she has worked in Cuba as a researcher and producer on over 20 projects.