Group aids Bloomington’s Cuban sister city, Santa Clara

In 1999, Bloomington became the fourth city in the U.S. to have a sister city in Cuba, but for most people “family” visits are unlikely.\nBut local group CUBAmistad, which helped establish and maintain the sister city relationship, is working to aid Cubans in Santa Clara and to educate Bloomington residents about Cuba. However, the group has faced difficulties in trying to work with a country` the U.S. government has embargoed since 1961. \nAmericans cannot travel to Cuba without acquiring a license from the U.S. government. If caught traveling to Cuba without a license, a U.S. citizen can face up to 10 years in prison and large fines, according to the U.S. State Department Web site.\nMembers of CUBAmistad said the group’s main mission is to education Bloomington residents about Cuba. The group claims that the U.S. has many misconceptions about Cubans and hopes to change this. \n“Cubans are just people,” said Mike Gasser, a CUBAmistad member.\nGasser also emphasizes that the organization is more culturally driven than politically. \nOne of its duties is to gather a list of items that are requested by residents of Santa Clara. These items are usually things such as medical books, medicine and various foods that Santa Clara residents cannot get because of the embargo.\n“It affects the young, the old and the infirmed – the people least able to work against the blockade,” group member Ned Powell said. \nThe items are donated by various people, Powell said. They are usually not personally delivered by CUBAmistad.\nThe group works closely with Pastors for Peace, which goes to Cuba more often. Many times, the group sends the items that were requested via Pastors for Peace. \nThe last time the group traveled to Cuba collectively was in 2003, because it has now become more difficult to acquire the licenses needed to travel. The group in Cuba that deals with the sister city project has never been able to come to Bloomington.\nCUBAmistad educates Bloomington residents about Cuba through a film series that it and other IU-affiliated groups sponsor, and through a display case describing Bloomington’s sister city inside of city hall. \nThe group will also sponsor a photo exhibit that will be open in City Hall today. The photo exhibit, “Who will take my ashes to Cuba?” will premiere today at 6:30, but it will be available for public viewing all month long. \nThe group would ideally like to create some sort of exchange program between IU and the University “Marta Abreu” of Las Villas in Santa Clara. However, this project has become increasingly difficult because of the U.S. foreign policies dealing with Cuba, \nPowell said. \nAlthough Powell and other members CUBAmistad members Ann Schepper and Cynthia Roberts–Hall admit that it is challenging to get everything the group hopes to get accomplished because things quickly become political, the group stays intact because of Cubans themselves, they said.\n“Cuba’s natural resource is the people,” said Powell.\nAnyone can become a member of CUBAmistad. Meetings are held at 5:30 on the first Wednesday of every month at Soma Coffee House, located on 322 E. Kirkwood Ave.