A panel discussion Tuesday night educated Cuban-American students on how to connect to their heritage by interacting with Cuban youth.
Roots of Hope, a non-profit organization that works to empower Cuban youth, hosted UF's 2012 Cuba Conference for about 40 people in Smathers Library. A professor, a swimwear designer and a rapper led a conversation about their unique Cuban-American experiences and the current state of the country.
The conference was one of 10 that Roots of Hope will host as part of its three-week 2012 Avenida Campus Tour along the East Coast.
Panelist and swimwear designer Nicole Di Rocco discussed her search for her Cuban identity.
"A bikini brought my family together," she said.
Nicolita, the swimwear line Di Rocco started in her college dorm room, led the first-generation Cuban-American from the West Coast on a journey to the island.
Audience members also spoke to a young Cuban citizen via Skype through Roots of Hope's Dial 2 Cuba program, which gives Cubans the opportunity to tell their experiences to Cuban-Americans.
Alex Salamanca, a philosophy and political science junior, helped coordinate the conference and is one of about 3,500 members of Roots of Hope.
"It's a great glue that helps unite different groups who are interested in Cuba," Salamanca said.
Gabriela Alvarez, a philosophy sophomore, is a first-generation Cuban-American who attended the conference.
Many Cuban-Americans embrace the Cuban culture but have detached themselves from the country's political and social situations, she said.
"We are now just Cuban-Americans," Alvarez said, "and primarily just Americans, to be honest."
Di Rocco said,"I know that this might seem big, but each of you has the ability to move a mountain. Each one of you has the ability to change the island."
