The increasing transcendente of latin leadership in the highest governmental spheres of the USA, as well as in all of its sectors, is a patent reality. Indeed, such fact represents a defining trait of our historic times that demands to look with special attention and acute awareness the relationship between the US government and the rest of America: Latin America. The latter’s evolution from its independence till today cannot be understood isolated from its northern neighbor’s presence. But in the 21^st century, the American cultural, political, demographic, social and economic development will be inevitably determined by latino influence on its structures. The fall of the Roman Empire and the mélange of its cultural residues with foreign peoples, set the the foundations for the western World to depart from Antiquity, into a new era that in one of its readings reveals diversity as a synonym of richness, creation and creativity.

VANGUARDIA LATINA is a space of continuing strategic link between the productive, academic and governmental sectors of the Americas, that feeds continental politic practices, upon which our regional future is modeled. VANGUARDIA LATINA represents a meeting and reflection arena designed to construct and strengthen the ties between the future leaders of the United States and Latin America. Thanks to the decisive support of Televisa and its virtuous alliance, both logistic and organizational with Espacio de Vinculación A.C. (EVAC), the program is materialized in an event annually held in the Enrique V. Iglesias Conference Center (EVICC), at the headquarter of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in Washington D.C. Equally important is the role played by the Organization of American States (OAS), the Organizatioin for the Cooperation and Economic Development (OCED), the Economic Comission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO) and the Secretaría General Iberomericana (SEGIB).

The forum gathers the most outstanding Latin and Latin American university students, in whom it looks forward to awaken vocations related to the full understanding and responsibility implied by the their role as current and future decision-makers, recognizing that conscious and responsible empowerment will allow our entrepreneurial youth, lead the transformations required by our region in order to elevate its global competitiveness, thus generating numerous and more balanced opportunities directed to a substantial improvement in the life quality of its citizens.

Students from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, México, Nicaragua, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay y Venezuela, as well as Latin Americans undergoing their  postgraduate studies in the most prestigious private and public educational institutions in the US, are all invited to participate chosen according to criteria as academic excellence, entrepreneurial spirit and leadership. During three days of intense dialogue and through the participation in thematic workshops, the main Latin leaders, government and multilateral officials, diplomats, professors, writers, journalists, first line scholars, experts, and speakers, both from the US and Latin America, share perspectives over issues common to their national agendas, that establish as priorities whose solution acquires a transcendent character for the immediate and future continental projection. Departing from Such dialectic exercise, proposals are derived in commitments and actions that whirl around the following thematic axes in which work tables are divided:

·   Networks and Institutions

·   Education

·   Economy

·   Security 

·   Migration

·   Politics

Conclusions and results are expressed in the VANGUARDIA LATINA CHARTER, paper presented to the social, economic and political leaders of the hemisphere: the State Secretariat of the US, the IDB Presidency and the OAS General Secretariat. The document proposes concrete and attainable action lines. The human result of this dialectic excercise is the VANGUARDIA LATINA NETWORK  where the most participating and outstanding students are selected for their proactiveness, entrepreneurship, leadership, vision and commitment.

 ESPACIO USA coincides with the celebration of May 5th in Washington DC, date institutionalized by the US government as a tribute to latinity. VANGUARDIA LATINA  is held during this days as special attention is paid by Washington over Intier-American relations, at the same time it involves various Latin and Latin American leaders who participate in the White House event.

The Latin-Latin American Breach, the Economic South-North Breach, Latinos in the Melting Pot, Being Latino-Latin American: a New Identity, the Future of US-Latin American Relations, and Latinos and Latin Americans, are some of the topics that have been held during the two first editions of ESPACIO USA: VANGUARDIA LATINA. The first of them was held between May the 3rd and 5th, 2006 with the participation of 129 students: 73 Latin Americans and 56 Latin. The second one was held between the May the 1st and 4th, 2007, with the participation of 193 students: 114 Latin Americans and 79 Latino.

The slogan 2007 was Bridging the Divide. After constructing such bridge, action is required. Thus, A Hemisphere in Motion is 2008’s motive over which ESPACIO USA: VANGUARDIA LATINA will be constructed. Welcome.

FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENT ESPACIO

MISSION STATEMENT