Kenia Serrano — who is a parliamentarian in Cuba’s National Assembly — will talk about the struggle to end all U.S. economic, political, and travel sanctions against Cuba, the return of the illegally occupied Cuban territory of Guantanamo, and respect for Cuba’s sovereignty.

Serrano is also president of  the Instituto Cubano de Amistad con los Pueblos or Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP). Founded in 1960, ICAP is an NGO established soon after the early successes of the Cuban revolution. Following the overthrow of the U.S. backed dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista, Cuba found itself isolated on the world stage and threatened by an irate military superpower, less than 100 miles off its shores. The purpose of ICAP therefore, was to reach out to the international community and form ties of friendship between Cuba and citizens of other countries who were either sympathetic to, or open minded about, Cuba’s post-revolutionary ambitions.

For many years Serrano has played a leading role in forging international solidarity between the people of Cuba and the global community.