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POSTPONED: Where Does Venezuela Go from Here?
Venezuela remains a country in deep instability. With a recent history marked by jarring political, social, and economic events and trends, the country has seen an outflow of more than 4 million people (1 million+ in the last nine months). Where does Venezuela go from here, and what are the prospects for a true turning point? Join David Smolansky, youngest mayor in the country's history, living in exile since September 2017, for unique insights on the context, realities, and future of Venezuela.
6:30-8 p.m. (Registration and Reception at 5:45)
Where: KU Edwards Campus
12600 S. Quivira Rd.
Contact: Matthew Hughes
This morning we received the unfortunate update that Mr. Smolansky is ill and unable to travel, so we have had to postpone the program. Mr. Smolansky and we are both very disappointed that he will not be able to visit this week. We are working to identify a new date in the coming weeks, so please do stay tuned.
We know that many of you made special plans and accommodations to attend this program, and we sincerely regret the inconvenience caused by this change. Thank you for your understanding. We'll be in touch just as soon as we have more information to share.
Esta mañana recibimos las desgraciadas noticias de que el Sr. Smolansky está enfermo y no puede viajar, así que lamentablemente tenemos que posponer el evento. Nos decepciona mucho al Sr. Smolansky y a nosotros en el International Relations Council que no podrá visitarnos esta semana. Estamos trabajando para identificar una nueva fecha en las semanas que vienen – favor de quedarse pendientes de ella.
Sabemos que muchos de ustedes hicieron planes y cambios especiales para asistir al evento, y lamentamos sinceramente la molestia de este cambio. Muchas gracias por su comprensión. Nos comunicaremos con ustedes lo más pronto posible cuando tengamos más información para compartir.
David Smolansky is the former mayor of El Hatillo municipality in Caracas, Venezuela. He is currently living in exile and is a visiting scholar at Georgetown University. Smolansky was removed from office by the Maduro administration, disqualified from any public administration role, and has a warrant out for his arrest. He was forced to flee from Venezuela after 35 days in hiding, in which he faced more than 35 checkpoints until he finally reached Brazil. Smolansky is one of the best-known young Venezuelan politicians, and was a vital member of the student movement that defeated Hugo Chávez's constitutional reform proposal in 2007. Elected as the youngest mayor in Venezuela, his administration decreased kidnapping rates in El Hatillo, making the municipality one of the most secure and transparent in the country. Smolansky is also a founding member and deputy secretary general of Voluntad Popular, one of the main opposition political parties led by Leopoldo López. In 2015, he was recognized by Junior Chamber International as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World. Smolansky also received the Global Impact Award from Georgetown University in 2018. A journalism graduate from the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, he holds a master's degree in political science from the Universidad Simón Bolívar and participated in the Global Competitiveness Leadership Program at Georgetown University.
Tamara Falicov is a professor in the Department of Film and Media Studies at the University of Kansas and is a core member of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. She is an associate dean for Research in the Arts and Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She is the recipient of a Fulbright scholarship to Argentina, the result of which is the book The Cinematic Tango: Contemporary Argentine Film (London: Wallflower Press/Columbia University Press, 2007) which was selected as a CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title, 2008. In addition to her Fulbright award, she was the recipient of an NEH Summer Stipend and attended a Summer University Teacher's Institute in São Paulo, Brazil. She was awarded a one-month Institute for Latin American Studies fellowship to the University of London, a Fulbright Specialist award to give a series of lectures and a workshop at the Universidade Lusófona in Lisboa, as well as a cultural arts grant to give a workshop at the Ícaro film festival in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
5:45-6:30 p.m. Registration and networking reception with light refreshments
6:30-8 p.m. Facilitated conversation with David Smolansky, followed by audience Q&A
This is a free event, open to the public, though registration is requested to help with planning.
Logistics and Parking
We will announce the room as the event approaches. Ample parking is available in surface lots around the KU Edwards Campus.
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