Dear Friends and Colleagues,
 
Since 2015, the Cuba US Agroecology Network (CUSAN) has been connecting people, institutions and movements in Cuba and the US to build more ecologically resilient, socially just and economically fair agrifood systems.  We do this by raising awareness about Cuba’s advances in agroecology, facilitating partnerships and building capacity amongst stakeholders through participation in exchanges, courses, conferences and workshops, and engaging in collaborative research. We also work to amplify Cuban voices internationally, and to channel resources and opportunities to our partners on the island.
 
The Covid-19 pandemic curtailed travel most of this year, and so we have adapted by:

• moving in person events to virtual forums, including a series on Resistance and Resilience: Responses to the Climate Crisis from Cuba and Puerto Rico

• focusing on remote collaborative research projects, including analysis of community resilience via the Research Initiative for the Sustainable Development of Cuba

• supporting community projects with farming communities on the ground in Cuba, including one focused on women in urban agriculture

• continuing to scan, summarize and analyze food, agriculture and environment issues in Cuba through our monthly news brief.

With the incoming Biden-Harris administration come high hopes for renewed Cuba engagement policies that will open new opportunities for cooperation. Despite what mainstream media in the US would have us believe, we have so much to learn from Cuba, particularly about the science (formal and informal), practice and policies that are building communities resilient not only to the impacts of the climate crisis but to other external shocks and stressors as is evidenced by their laudable response to the pandemic and their incredible resistance to the cruel impacts of the 60 year long blockade.
 
We believe in the power of citizen and science diplomacy and solidarity rooted in a respect for Cuba’s sovereignty and will continue to work with our Cuban partners to support their vision for a sustainable and resilient future.
 
On this #Giving Tuesday, please consider supporting our work so we can continue to build bridges of solidarity and leverage partnerships for change. As a small non-profit with little overhead, your donations go directly to our programming.
 
We are grateful for your support!