In September 2014, KFLA held their Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Foro in Panama City, Panama. One hundred Kellogg Fellows were in attendance. The Foro was a dynamic, diverse and productive event, full of learning, dialogue and networking opportunities. We even came away with tangible action-items, including Fellow-Led webinars providing important, culturally appropriate skills training for the LAC network, by the LAC network.

Even with the variety of themes, the main focus and linking piece of the event was the “power of community”. The common sentiment was that despite the boundaries that divide countries, the roots of problems are often the same and so is the desire to solve them.

The 2014 Foro was able to provide an understanding of the transnational and global nature of our network. It provided Fellows with a bridge to the global KFLA network, an opportunity seized upon by attendees who created impactful connections and started to: collaborate on projects together, plan capacity-building webinars, find and share best practices, and publish their work in an international journal based in Spain.

The KFLA Latin America Network has organized the following webinars so far:

• Empowering Livable and Age Friendly Communities
  December 2, 2014 (Language: Spanish)
  
  In this webinar, Empowering Livable and Age Friendly Communities, Dr. Carmen Largaespada, Chair of the Nicaraguan National Aging Council, Dr. Keren Brown Wilson, President of the Jessie F. Richardson Foundation, and Dr. Marvin Kaiser, emeritus Kellogg Fellow, will review the changing age structures of our communities and countries, including the rapid growth of older persons, and provide strategies to effectively address the needs and opportunities presented by these changes.
  
  This webinar has concluded. Click here to view the recording. »
  
  
  
• Methods for Social Mobilization and Advocacy: Fotovoz and Nuestra Casa
  November 20th, 2014 (Language: Spanish)
  
  In this webinar, Dr. Eva Moya (KNFP-13), will be giving an overview of the Voices and Images (Fotovoz) & Nuestra Casa methodologies. Photovoice is a process by which people can identify, represent, and enhance their community through a specific photographic technique. It is a great communications tool to help give voice to the often-overlooked people, those living in poverty, individuals that cannot read or write, and those with socially stigmatized conditions and status. Nuestra Casa (Our House) Initiative is an advocacy, communication, and social mobilization strategy to increase awareness through public art exhibits. Nuestra Casa is a movable house, easily dismantled that could be transported in sections or panels.
  
  This webinar has concluded. Click here to view the recording. »