Latin American Forum in Quebec

Sponsored by the Fulbright Foundation and its community leadership program, an important Forum to showcase and celebrate the contributions of the latin american communities, was held on May 13, organized by Hispanidad Quebec and UQAM’s Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Latin American Studies. 

A hundred participants met at the Latin American Mission of Notre-Dame-de-Guadalupe during a day in which they learnt about and discussed topics such as the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, the determining factors in the integration of immigrants and the available resources to support families in vulnerable situations.

With prominent speakers, the contributions made by Latin American professionals and creators in the field of art, science and education were highlighted. Many organizations were represented, such as LatinArte, Casa de las Américas, the Latin American Families Help Center, the Spanish Institute Legados, the Montreal Alliance of Mexican Businesses, the Quebec School of Entrepreneurs, the Quebec Society for Nature and Parks, the Center for Immigrant Workers and the City of Montreal Police Service.

Experts from the University of Montreal, HEC and McGill University contributed their data and analysis of the Latin American reality, showing that almost a quarter of a million individuals who identify as Latino/a already reside in the Province of Quebec, and that Spanish is the fourth most spoken foreign language in Canada. This very diverse population integrates smoothly into the local language and culture, but encounters prejudices and obstacles in their job placement, when their skills and studies are not recognized at their fair value, a situation that negatively affects their socioeconomic level.

As members of the organizing committee of the Forum, with my colleagues Eliana Jaramillo and Claudia Sarracini, underlined the importance of this type of event aiming at mobilizing the social actors of the Latin American communities to make their contributions and talents more visible and valued in Quebec.