Greetings and Happy Spring. Our message today has several topics; please read on:

(1) Thanks for your support
(2) Report on Cuban-American photo exhibit openings and national tour,
(3) Important new article in the “Chronicle of Philanthropy” on the tightening of Cuba travel restrictions
(4) Bush Cuba commission report delay
(5) House Cuba Working Group statement
(6) Premier of a new movie made in Cuba, “Love and Suicide,” www.EveryThingCUBA.com

(1) Thanks for your support! Because of your generous response to our e-appeal of April 12, we have raised $6,800 toward our goal of $8,000. Our heartfelt thanks go to those of you who have donated or pledged a contribution. If you have promised a donation, we look forward to receiving it; if you haven’t but meant to, there is still time! We still need to achieve our goal. This would allow us to reach the broadest possible audience with the Cuban-American family photo exhibit, “Love, Loss, and Longing: The Impact of U.S. Travel Policy on Cuban-American Families.” We want to recruit new constituencies, new voices, to oppose U.S. policy toward Cuba and its increasingly damaging impact on people’s lives.

To support this project, mail your tax-deductible contribution to the Latin America Working Group Education Fund, 424 C Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Write Cuba Project in the subject line. Or contribute online by clicking on this secure link: http://www.lawg.org/misc/Donations.htm. Non-tax-deductible donations for our work with Congress may be made to the Latin America Working Group. Same address; same web link. Be sure to indicate that your contribution is for the Cuba Project. And Thanks!

(2) Here’s what your donations have supported. The Cuban-American family photo exhibit opened in Congress on May 11; the reception was well attended by congressional staffers, national and local non-profits, policy activists and friends from across the country. Congressman Bill Delahunt (D-MA) spoke enthusiastically at the reception hosted by the LAWG Education Fund and WOLA. Also speaking at the opening were several Cuban Americans whose photos and testimonies appear in the exhibit, one of the talented Cuban-American photographers (Juan-Si Gonzalez from Yellow Springs, OH), and the two researchers/writers of the exhibit (Drs. Jeanne Lemkau and David Strug). The exhibit opening was covered by the Miami Herald. Click here to view photos of the congressional opening. Click here to view the full exhibit on-line.

The exhibit then opened on May 16 at the Arlington Arts Center, Arlington, Virginia, where it will reside through at least June 3. This opening, and the full exhibit, were dedicated to our extraordinary Cuban-American photographer Nestor Hernandez, Jr., who participated in the conception of this project and photographed the first half of the subjects of the exhibit. During the production of the exhibit, serious illness forced Nestor to turn over completion of the exhibit to a colleague. Nestor’s dedication, spirit and talent inspired the photo exhibit production—even from his hospital bed. Nestor passed away on May 12, one day after the exhibit opened in Congress. We honor his memory.

The exhibit will begin its national tour, throughout the rest of this year and all of 2007, with a two-week showing hosted by the Maryland-Cuba Friendship Coalition at the historic Baltimore Hostel, Baltimore, Maryland. The opening reception will be June 17. For further information call 410-366-8818, or 410-381-4899. For the developing schedule of the exhibit’s national tour, see: http://www.lawg.org/countries/cuba/exhibit_calendar.htm

(3) Read the “Chronicle of Philanthropy” May 18th article on increased U.S. restrictions hampering U.S. non-profits’ efforts in Cuba. See: http://philanthropy.com/free/articles/v18/i15/15000701.htm.

(4) The “Commission” report is delayed. Pablo Bachelet reports in the Miami Herald that the second report of the Bush Administration’s “Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba” and its expected increasing attempts at what amounts to regime change, expected on May 20th, is held up and will not be transmitted to the White House until the end of May. His article appears here: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/cuba/14615386.htm.

(5) On May 18, 2006, the House Cuba Working Group founders issued a new statement on U.S. policy toward Cuba, “Principles for a Sound Cuba Policy.” To read the statement, follow this link: http://www.lawg.org/countries/cuba/cwg-principles.htm, or go to the end of this message where the statement is pasted.

(6) The first narrative-feature film shot in Cuba, by Americans, since the embargo on Cuba, opens in West New York, New Jersey, at Mayfair’s Theatre on Friday, May 26 – June 1. For details, see: http://www.morofilms.com/love_and_suicide/index.html

Whew! If you made it this far, thanks! We want to keep you informed but not drowning in information. Thanks again for your support and all your good efforts to end this arrogant and inhumane policy.