On Sunday December 7th, over 60 people gathered inside the Mount Pleasant Neighborhood House to hear exciting stories and first hand experiences of 8 travelers who went to Cuba on the 2008 Che Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade. The evening was MC’d by Colleen Glynn, president of the Richmond New Democratic Party (NDP) and organizer with Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC). Colleen introduced the evening by sharing her excitement for the evening and her plans to travel with the brigade next year. Tamara Hansen, coordinator of VCSC and co-chair of the Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC) spoke about the necessity of raising money for Hurricane Relief for Cuba in this time after Cuba has been devastated by 3 major hurricanes. She announced that all funds from the evening would go towards the cause of Cuba’s reconstruction. Colleen then introduced the evening speakers. Tamara was the first brigadista to speak, outlining some of the historical sites that the Brigade was able to visit from the Museum of the revolution, to the site where Che Guevara led the last battle before the triumph of the revolution. The brigade always contains great amounts of the rich history of the Cuban people and Tamara included some of her favorite stories from the revolution. Sarah Alwell, organizer with the Free the Cuban 5 Committee-Vancouver was the second speaker and talked about the most exciting day spent on the brigade in Cuba. It was a day that featured volunteer work, visiting a bio-gas plant, going swimming, and going to a night club. Following Sarah’s most exciting day, there was a slideshow of the Brigadistas trip to Cuba which provoked everything from nostalgia to laughter. Noah Fine, coordinator of the Free the Cuban 5 Committee-Vancouver, talked about the incredible opportunity to meet family members of the 5 Cuban Heroes held in U.S. jails. The family members spoke about their relatives serving long terms in prison for the crime of attempting to stop terrorism. Their story received warmth and support from all the Brigadistas. Mike Larson, another organizer with the Free the Cuban 5 Committee-Vancouver spoke of witnessing the amazing accomplishments in the field of art and culture. He brought laughter with anecdotes of the salsa dance lessons the brigade was given by Cuban professionals. The audience then watched a film of the Brigade that was recorded during the 2006 trip to Cuba. Kerri Goodwin, organizer with the Indigenous Rights and Action Project (IRAP) and VCSC, explained the volunteer work this year, which was working in a print shop organizing books to be sent for the next school year. Kerri spoke warmly of the Cuban friends she had made while volunteering. Maria Aksic, a young Indigenous activist with VCSC, spoke about her favorite part of the trip, sharing her traditional culture with the Cuban people and visitors to Cuba from many other Latin American countries. Lisa Larson, explained how the Cuban Revolution brought free education for its citizens and extended it to students from around the world. She spoke of meeting with international students who were studying in Cuba from other countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Janine Solanki, co-chair of Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO), spoke of the role and achievements of women in the Cuban Revolutionary process and meeting with organizer of the Cuban Federation of Women (FMC). She also highlighted the amazing Cuban healthcare system and visits and tours at a Cuban hospital and clinics. People left the event more excited than ever to experience warm and revolutionary Cuba by getting involved in the 2009 Che Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade to Cuba. If you would like more information about the Che Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade to Cuba please visit: http://www.canadiannetworkoncuba.ca/brigade/	Report Back VCSC Monthly Cuba Cultural Night Report from the 2008 Che Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade Click on photos to enlarge