The Fletcher School celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
This Hispanic Heritage Month, The Fletcher School will amplify the voices and perspectives of Hispanic-American/LatinX members of our own and the Tufts community, as well as relevant research and scholarship.
We do so in an effort to celebrate our community members and to contribute to the advancement of understanding and appreciation of the contributions to and impact on the United States of Hispanic-Americans and of those identifying as LatinX.
Fletcher Student Perspective
Fletcher students Alfredo Ramirez and Clarice Coutinho penned CIERP Alumni Perspective Blogs in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, and now take a turn sharing their own views about international affairs, representation, and impact.
Alfredo Ramirez
My heritage and identity as a Venezuelan-American and Latino man have shaped my interest in international affairs and my commitment to leave the world a better place than how I found it. As a member of a global diaspora who, along with most of my family, fled Venezuela because of crime and economic insecurity, I experienced at an early age what politics and policies can do to a country and a community. Whether I was waiting at a local restaurant for my parents to cast their votes, joining Venezuelans at home and abroad who took to the streets in protest, or feeling an unmatched sense of despair when Maduro won his first election, I learned that the actions of governments and their representatives can have real consequences on the people they serve. I was reminded of it by the people from Cuba and Nicaragua I grew up with in Miami who also saw their families flee from danger and instability.
These insights attracted me to international affairs so I could wield some of the same tools to leave a lasting positive impact. Whether attempting to indirectly address the problems in Venezuela or ensuring the same mistakes aren’t repeated in the United States, I am called by my identity and heritage down a path to share, learn, and work with others like (and unlike) me so that we can create meaningful change.
Clarice Coutinho
Besides my passion for politics, energy, and economics, I also love literature and how stories can promote social awareness. Growing up, Latin American writers like Borges and Gabriel Garcia Marquez influenced me, and now I see the intersection between their works and their identities.
Through their stories, they made us feel represented while bringing awareness to social problems and inspiring change in hard times. I could never see myself as a writer, but I could see myself as an advocate for my community. I always thought that by choosing International Affairs, I could amplify the voice of my community. With every small opportunity that comes my way, I have the power to make a positive impact on my community. I want Latinos to feel represented and seen in international affairs.
Being a Latina plus Brazilian is an essential part of who I am and how I live my life. Because of this, my background motivates the work I do -- I wish to inspire future generations from the region to fight for what they believe in.
A Conversation with Maribel Blanco, Executive Associate Dean, The Fletcher School
We sat down with Maribel during Hispanic Heritage Month to learn about her background, pride in her LatinX heritage, and creating pathways to a more inclusive environment.
CIERP Alumni Perspectives
The Center for International Environment & Resource Policy (CIERP) kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month with a blog series featuring interviews with alumni who work in the energy and environment fields.
CIERP Alumni Perspectives: A Conversation with Maria Rita Borba, written by MALD student Almarie Acosta-Cepeda
CIERP Alumni Perspectives: A Conversation with Claudia Ortiz, written by MALD student Clarice Torres Coutinho
CIERP Alumni Perspectives: A Conversation with Diego Ortiz, written by MALD student Alfredo Ramirez
Tufts Now article featuring Fletcher professor Katrina Burgess and her documentary, “Waylaid in Tijuana.”
Katrina Burgess, Fletcher School professor, explores how U.S. immigration policy affects migrants in Mexico. Watch the documentary "Waylaid in Tijuana."