It seems like it was yesterday that I was writing my debut blog post for PorColombia.net. Today, with over a handful of blog posts under my belt, I am proud to once move ahead for this wonderful organization and write my first blog after being re-elected for another year as PorColombia’s president.
My decision to continue ‘steering the ship’ is linked to incredible experiences I shared with PorColombians year-round, the pride of seeing how much PC has changed and evolved over the past year, and my insatiable passion to prove that what we have in our hands is a game-changing movement. We are a team of young Colombians and Latin Americans leaving an indelible mark in our academic and professional careers. Personally, I feel obligated to lead this organization because I see our potential, I can feel it, and I want to share it with the world.
I am elated to say the 2009-2010 academic year was of incredible success for our organization. PorColombia saw a complete overhaul and restructuring of its mission and vision, along with an implementation of a 5-year strategic plan. We streamlined our chapter development process, making the induction of chapters a standard procedure and allowing us to reap incredible rewards with the establishment of 3 new chapters plus our first international chapter five years ahead of schedule!
Across the country, PorColombia had a total of 35 events, which included our IV Colombian Student Conference in Washington DC, a Silleteros event, a discussion with Jose Obdulio Gaviria, fundraising events for organizations such as Makarenko and Fundación Génesis, and movie nights. We also started a pilot program in NYC called the Career Development Series with the objective of helping our members as they prepare to enter the workforce or move ahead in their careers.
Our communities across social networks grew at an exponential rate. For example, we closed this past June with 521 fans on Facebook (a rise of 160 percent compared to our June 2009 statistics). We also established a clear presence on Twitter with 120 followers so far, and counting. And what can I say about PorColombia.net? We re-invigorated it by featuring new sections, embracing social media, and keeping track of multiple events happening in our chapters.
We are now planning a new academic year; I can only promise that, once again, we will exceed everyone’s expectations. I am fortunate enough to have an incredible Executive Board that is already working hard to get the ball rolling. Our biggest goal for 2010-2011: Improve our members’ experience all around. In addition to our continuous mission of representing Colombia, we will seek to engage with potential new business partners to offer more value, benefits, and resources to our constituents.
Stay tuned to our website Porcolombia.net, our Facebook and Twitter pages for more updates. And by the way, enjoy the celebrations of the 200 anniversary of the Colombian Independence. See you guys soon!
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D.C Blossoms with Colombian Passion
March 16, 2010
Is it March already? 2010 moves ahead at blinding speed and now we find ourselves at the heels of the upcoming IV Colombian Student Conference to be held on April 10 and 11 in Washington D.C. The nation's capital will welcome us with cherry blossoms, hopefully warmer weather, and overflows of Colombian fervor.
I want to take this opportunity to invite you all to check out the dedicated page for the IV CSC, where you will meet the event's team, find information on featured panelists, and learn how you can register for this event. And if you are still indecisive whether to join us or not in April, let me give you a few examples of some of the confirmed speakers and panelists featured in the conference: The Keynote Speaker on Saturday will be the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Colombia to the Organization of American States Luis Alfonso Hoyos Aristizábal. Other confirmed panelists include the Senior Counselor for Colombia and Ecuador at the Inter American Development Bank Ivan Duque, the Vice President of the Council of the Americas Eric Farnsworth, and the Director of Programs at the Center for International Policy in D.C. Adam Isacson. I have no doubts in my mind the conference will exceed all our expectations. It will also be a fabulous opportunity to come together as an international organization, share our hope for a better Colombia, and strengthen bonds. This will be the first conference for the York University and University of Florida chapters; we are anxiously waiting to finally meet you all!
Despite all the hype behind the conference, now I must shift gears and recognize a member of our national executive board who has worked arduously since the summer and has played a key role in the creation of 3 new chapters. I am talking about our Director of Chapter Development Angela Londoño from Yale University. Angela has traveled to Beijing to study one semester abroad. Angelilu, I want to thank you for being so dedicated to your job and representing successfully what a true PorColombian is all about. We wish you all the best in your temporary gig abroad and hope to see you again in the summer.
Though Angela will continue to work in her position as Director from the distance (dedicated I tell ya!), we are thrilled to have a new Co-Director of Chapter Development, fellow Yallie Isabella Lores. Isa, an art history major, is also the treasurer of her chapter. Welcome to the National team Isa! We are certain you and Angela will be a stellar team!
From here, I can only emphasize enough that there's still time to register to our conference. Don't miss this opportunity. Also, we are working very hard to play an important role when the Colombian presidential candidates visit our cities. We do not take any political sides in this campaign but we are resolved to promote talks and forums so our members and the community in general can interact with the candidates. See you guys in Washington D.C!
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"Spotlight" Takes Off
February 9, 2010
When I think about the values that intertwine and make up the fiber of this organization, only superlatives come to my mind. After five years of its inception, PorColombia has been the home of students full of talent, dedication, passion, ingenuity, and warmth. To honor and celebrate these incredible PorColombians, I am pleased to announce the creation of a new monthly feature called "Spotlight."
In this new section, we want to highlight those members of PC that have impacted their chapters, communities, and the organization as a whole with their hard work, inventiveness, and overflowing passion. Believe me when I tell you, it is difficult to measure with words the incredible pool of human capital we have in PC. And with Valentine's Day around the corner, we are starting with a story full of accomplishments but seasoned with a teaspoon of love.
We are placing the first spotlight on Estefanía Montoya and Federico Guzmán, the first PorColombian couple to get married, members of the original team that created PC, and founding fathers of the chapter at The George Washington University in the nation's capital.
We recently caught up with Estefanía and Federico and asked them what they are up to now, why they started PC, and their assessment of PC today and in the future. I feel privileged to count myself as a personal friend of both of them and I can attest to their incredible love for this organization. They transform every challenge in their lives in opportunities, always striving for excellence. They are currently living in Barranquilla, but their insatiable thirst for knowledge will make them relocate abroad soon.
I hope that you enjoy "Spotlight"! Estefa and Fede: Thank you for taking the time to meet with us and for debuting on our new feature.
By the way, if you know a PorColombian who deserves to be highlighted, please email our Editor-in-chief Carlos Macias at
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IV CSC TAKES OVER WASHINGTON D.C.
January 16, 2010
Nothing better than starting the new year with exciting news. It is my pleasure to announce our IV Colombian Student Conference to be held on April 10 and 11, hosted by our chapter at The George Washington University in Washington D.C. The conference has become a tradition of PorColombia and every year it only gets better. The IV CSC will be an incredible opportunity to meet Colombian and Latin American experts, explore opportunities to impact our communities in the United States and Colombia, and network with students from the prestigious roster of PC universities.
This tradition started in 2005 with the first CSC held at Yale University, followed by Columbia University in 2006 and by Baruch College and New York University in 2009. Since September, our GWU chapter has dedicated much time and effort in putting together a quality program that promises to be a venue for debate, learning and exploration. The goal of the event is to congregate passionate students and young professionals interested in learning about the current political, economic, and social climate in Colombia.
I am elated to have the IV CSC in one of PorColombia's oldest chapters. PorColombia at GWU has proven to be an exemplary group of dedicated leaders and I have no doubts that they have an incredible event in store for all of us.
The tentative schedule includes the following panels: "Colombia: Weathering the Global Financial Crisis", "Colombia's Political Landscape", "Colombian Cinema: Maintaining the Momentum", and "Colombia's Environmental Outlook." The event will also feature a cultural event, more details to come. Stay tuned for constant updates about the program, registration, and sponsorship opportunities by visiting PorColombia.net and the event's Facebook page.
We hope to see you all there!
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HOLIDAY WISHES FROM PORCOLOMBIA! HELLO 2010!
December 21, 2009
As 2009 quickly draws to a close, I want to seize this opportunity to thank everyone who has made this year one of PorColombia's best yet. Thank you to all those who, through their support, dedication and participation, allowed PorColombia to grow in an unprecedented way. But for 2010, the stakes are high and the goals set ambitious.
This year leaves us with incredible accomplishments that raised the bar for the organization on many levels. Among our strongest achievements, we must highlight that after a two-year hiatus PorColombia hosted the III Colombian Student Conference in February. This event gathered passionate students and professionals from around the country to discuss Colombia's stance in the international arena and its future prospects.
We also expanded our presence in more universities including a new chapter at Cornell University and opening our first international branch at York University in Toronto, Canada. This achievement was particularly a huge win for PorColombia. In our five-year strategic plan, we forecasted our first international chapter to open in 2014! In addition, we revamped our website with new content, increased our presence in social networking, and created this column as a two-way communication channel with our members.
Nonetheless, the PorColombia's National Executive Board spent many hours re-structuring our constitution, assessing where we stood as an organization, and crafting the roadmap that will guide us for the next five years. For 2010 alone, we have a very busy agenda: Becoming a full-fledge nonprofit organization, hosting the IV Colombian Student Conference in Washington D.C, and inviting Colombian presidential candidates to speak at our affiliated universities.
On the personal level, I am deeply committed with keeping the communication channels open with all our chapters. This goal continues to be at the top of my list. Our chapters are PorColombia's soul, and without your active involvement, we could never survive as an organization. Remember that we are here to offer you support and guidance, and off course, be your biggest fans. We will continue helping you succeed in your projects and building a safer and dynamic Colombia from abroad.
On behalf of the entire National Executive Board, we wish you a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous and healthy new year. All the best for 2010!
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NO RECESSION HERE: PORCOLOMBIA GROWS IN 2009
November 30, 2009
Fall 2009 can definitely go down in history as one of PorColombia's busiest semesters yet. With academic presentations, cultural events, and social gatherings, PorColombia members have been keeping true to our mantra, from passion to action.
During this start of the holiday season I can't help but take a second to look back at what 2009 has brought to us as an organization and be blown away by everything we have achieved. After an amazing Thanksgiving day, I feel incredibly moved for all the opportunities given, lessons learned, milestones reached and friendships made through PorColombia. I am ever more certain you can all recall at least one moment this year that made you feel proud of being a ‘PorColombiano' and grateful for having met such a special group of people from different walks of life but all united by a common thread, Colombia.
In February, over 100 members attended our III Colombian Student Conference held at Baruch College and New York University. We hosted keynote speakers such as RCN's Brian Andrews and Colombia is Passion's Saul Cardozo. The event got extensive local and international press coverage. In April, we even got to play soccer with Carlos ‘El Pibe' Valderrama in Washington D.C. thanks to an amazing week-long event organized by PorColombia at Georgetown University.
At the end of the summer, we were a driving force behind Colombia is Passion's campaign in Washington D.C. and NYC and witnessed Colombia finally get the positive spotlight it deserves. Some of us met President Álvaro Uribe and got the chance to tell him about our ‘berraquera,' while others found themselves completely tongue-tied and unable to answer his questions. We also interacted with Vice President Francisco Santos, Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism Luis Guillermo Plata, Dr. José Obdulio Gaviria, and John Leguizamo.
We opened a new chapter in Cornell University and our first international chapter at York University in Canada five years ahead of schedule. The chapters have also put together some amazing events throughout the course of 2009 including cultural presentations in NYU, Baruch, Yale University, and Georgetown University. Also, political discussions were held at GWU as well as social mixers in Cornell, UPenn and Columbia. I must highlight that this is only a fragment of what our members have so arduously worked on during the year.
But at the end of the day, the memories of irreplaceable friends and colleges is what remains in our minds and hearts. If this was 2009, can you imagine what 2010 has in store for us? Join us for the ride!
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PROMOTING CHANGE, ONE HEART AT A TIME
October 1, 2009
As a proud Colombian-American, I take every chance I get to promote the land of my parents in the most positive way possible. Sometimes using my translated Colombian-slang phrases, promoting my family values, or simply wearing my beloved straw hat earrings, all of these situations have allowed me to educate people about the country and literally, in some cases, help people find it on the map! But the best opportunity to showcase Colombia took place in Washington D.C. and New York City in September. The Colombia is Passion's campaign "Discover Colombia through its Heart" gave me, along with thousands of other passionate Colombians, the venue to wear our Colombian hearts on our sleeves, celebrate our heritage in an exponential way, and generate the buzz our country deserves.
PorColombia, in fulfilling its mission to elevate Colombia’s profile in the United States, proudly helped Colombia is Passion with logistical support on all of their campaign's events. Our members were there, whether a couple of hours or the whole week, engaging thousands of people that walked through the exhibit floors at Union Station and Grand Central Station. The feedback: amongst those who visited the exhibit and knew about Colombia before, their love grew even more; amongst those that didn't know anything about the country, they were surprised to discover its richness in culture, biodiversity, and human warmth.
As the president of PorColombia, I am so proud and thankful for the way those who volunteered represented themselves, our country and our organization. Some distributed flyers at work and at school, some got a chance to meet and speak to the "Colombiano Apasionado" honoree John Leguizamo and the Colombian Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism Luis Guillermo Plata, while some (well, one in particular) stepped up to the plate and answered President Alvaro Uribe's questions in front of a full house. To all of you, thank you for being such excellent examples of who we are as Colombia's youth and its future leadership. Thank you for making this organization proud!
As a final anecdote, I want to share with you an incident that happened to me after spending some time volunteering at the exhibit, which proves that no matter where we are, we are always ambassadors of Colombia. I was on the 6 train, wearing my Colombia is Passion t-shirt, heading to PorColombia NYU's first informational event of the year, when I noticed a woman starring at my shirt. After a couple of seconds, she turns to her husband and says, "See, that's the campaign I was telling you about! It's beautiful!" And Marcela being…Marcela, I capitalized on her overt reaction and happily butt into their conversation and told them all about the campaign. After commending me on my passion for the subject, her husband turned to me and said, "It is so great to know that campaigns like these exist, it's about time the world sees that Colombia is not just about the negative things we always see in the news!" I agreed, offered them some Colombia is Passion stickers, which they happily accepted, and we walked out, both on Astor Place station. Now, guess where the couple was from? Colombia? From some other Latin American country? No. They were American, from Kansas! Little by little, the world is finally starting to take notice.
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PorColombia Reloaded
September 8, 2009
Three years ago, PorColombia was merely an
extracurricular activity that allowed me to express my Colombian pride;
today, I am more intertwined with its fabric than ever before. Together
with PorColombia’s National Executive Board,
we believe that we can set the example and inspire those who will
become Colombia’s next generation of leaders. We all are fully
committed to help transform Colombia from abroad, into the amazing
place we know it can be.
For those who don’t know me, my name is Marcela
Sarmiento and I am the 2009-2010 National President of PorColombia.
Besides my role in the organization, I am also the Original Programming
Coordinator at AOL Latino, daughter, sister, and friend of many of you
out there. The idea to start a blog as a two-way channel between me and
all PorColombia members and friends sounded exciting at first. But
believe me, figuring out how to start your very first blog can be hard
stuff. After multiple failed attempts and consultations, here I am!
While most of you
enjoyed this past summer traveling or visiting your loved ones, I spent
it working along with the PorColombia’s National Executive Board on
creating a five-year Strategic Plan.
This roadmap will ensure that we can accomplish all our projected goals
for years to come so they just don’t remain as “presidential campaign
promises.” This effort involved weekly 3 hour-long meetings, email
chains, and teleconferences. Of course, some partying followed most of
the meetings, PorColombia Style!
This is the part that excites me the most,
being able to tell you about our progress and future plans. As you can
see from our new five-year Strategic Plan, PorColombia’s vision is
structured along four main pillars: academic, social, cultural, and
philanthropic. These action themes will play a vibrant role in the
organization’s future.
I also want to point out the importance of this
2009-2010 year for PorColombia, this year we will be celebrating our
5th anniversary! Yes!! I bet you are as shocked as I was when I
realized this. And we plan on marking this momentous occasion with our
1st PorColombia Gala in NYC in 2010. We will celebrate all of our hard
work and dedication over the past five years and set a joyous tone for
many accomplishments that are yet to come (again, dancing will
obviously be involved!).
We also have in store our IV Colombian Student
Conference to be held at Washington D.C. in April 2010. After the
wonderful reception we got for our III CSC, we knew this needed to be a
tradition, so we continued and what better place to do it than at one
of the oldest chapters of the organization, George Washington
University. The Washington team is putting together a super fantastic
event, I can’t wait!
Finally, PorColombia chapters will be joining
forces to raise awareness about a terrible ailment that has plagued our
country for years. For our philanthropic initiative, we will be taking
strides in combating the forced displacement of millions of Colombians
from their homes thanks to the internal conflict that we have endured
for more than four decades. We will pay special attention especially to
its impact on children. As an unfortunate Colombian reality, we think
it is necessary to educate our audience about it and look for ways to
help end this unjustifiable horror.
As for the academic pillar, I am purposely
skipping it for now, as it is something so big that I am waiting for
the right time to let it pop! But no worries, via this blog, you will
be the first ones to know. Just rest assured that it is our biggest
project of this academic year!
As you can see, my brain is running at a mile a
minute with all of these projects and plans. Hopefully my excitement
has rallied up your spirits and desire to be a part of this. I will
attempt to keep this blog updated as often as possible with my
thoughts, our progress, and the over-all enthusiasm for all things
PorColombia.
Stay tuned, because PorColombia reloaded has arrived and it is here to stay!
As I said, this is a two-way channel and I want your comments! Please feel free to contact me at
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We would like to
extend an invitation to all PorColombians to become contributing
writers for PorColombia.net. Articles must have a written element as a
central part of the story but you may use any other mediums like
photos, slideshows, video, audio, and interactive features to tell your
story better. Read more...
