CBH Talk | Voices of Venezuela: Art, Politics, and Survival in the Heart of Crisis
Once a beacon of prosperity in South America, Venezuela's rich tapestry has dramatically shifted. Today, it faces one of the largest displacement crises in the world. Join us for a compelling evening as we delve into the stories behind over 7 million Venezuelans who have left their homeland, seeking to understand not just the 'what' but the 'why' behind their journeys.
Hear firsthand from journalist Carlos P. Beltran, creator of the acclaimed project It Suddenly Occurred to Me, which uses art to echo the real-life experiences of Venezuelans. Alongside him, Venezuelan politician and noted scholar David Smolansky will share his insights on the challenges and transformations since his departure in 2017. This one-on-one discussion will explore the implications of Venezuela's political turmoil, upcoming presidential elections, and the deep impacts of instability on a once-thriving nation. It will also show the power of words, photographs, and art to offer a three-dimensional perspective on a situation often reduced to headlines.
Whether you're a follower of global politics, an art enthusiast, or simply drawn to human stories, this evening promises to expand your understanding of the price of Venezuela’s political crisis. Moderated by Erick Rozo.
World Refugee Day
Presented in recognition of World Refugee Day, this event aims to bridge the gap between communities and elevate the discourse around global displacement and human resilience.
Participants
Carlos P. Beltran, born in 1986 in Caracas, Venezuela, is an Emmy-nominated, award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker. His work on social justice, political turmoil, and human displacement has been featured on major networks including NBC News, ABC News, Univision, National Geographic, and the Discovery Channel.
In 2014, after years of reporting on Venezuela's precarious socio-political situation, Beltran was threatened on national television by the vice president of Congress. In 2016, while covering the country's humanitarian crisis in government-run hospitals, he was imprisoned for five nights alongside ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman. These reports earned him a National Headliner Award and a National Emmy Nomination. His NBC News documentary The Long Wait, which explores the treacherous and complex political asylum system in the U.S., earned him a second National Headliner Award in 2018.
Beltran's art book It Suddenly Occurred To Me explores a difficult reality in Venezuela through his photography work and texts from Yadira Silva, a self-taught poet who spent eight years inside some of the worst prisons in the country.
Beltran currently serves as a producer at CBS News in New York City.
David Smolansky is a Visiting Fellow at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies and serves as a Senior Advisor on Foreign Policy, leading the Venezuelan diaspora movement for Presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado.
As the former Mayor of El Hatillo City in Caracas, Venezuela, he gained recognition for his transparency and reduction in kidnappings. Smolansky played a key role in non-violent protests against Maduro's regime, which led to his exile. Appointed by the Organization of American States, he addressed the Venezuelan migration and refugee crisis, authoring 15 reports and making over 20 official visits.
His academic background includes a B.A. in Journalism and a Master of International Public Policy. His case has been presented to the International Criminal Court and highlighted in reports by the OAS and United Nations.
Erick Rozo is a committed community advocate with a Master’s in Public Administration and Development Practice from Columbia University, where he was the first Venezuelan recipient of the Columbia Global Scholarship for Displaced Students in 2020. He also holds a Bachelor’s in International Affairs from Universidad Central de Venezuela. As the founder of the CESI Foundation, Erick promotes social integration through cultural, educational, and social programs. For seven years, he has been pivotal in organizing the Venezuelan diaspora in New York, supporting the integration of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. His diverse professional experience spans private wealth management, the United Nations, finance, political activism, and fashion. Erick’s dedication to community development and social justice is further demonstrated by his significant contributions to the Young Professionals of the Americas Steering Committee at the Americas Society/Council of the Americas.
Once a beacon of prosperity in South America, Venezuela's rich tapestry has dramatically shifted. Today, it faces one of the largest displacement crises in the world. Join us for a compelling evening as we delve into the stories behind over 7 million Venezuelans who have left their homeland, seeking to understand not just the 'what' but the 'why' behind their journeys.
Hear firsthand from journalist Carlos P. Beltran, creator of the acclaimed project It Suddenly Occurred to Me, which uses art to echo the real-life experiences of Venezuelans. Alongside him, Venezuelan politician and noted scholar David Smolansky will share his insights on the challenges and transformations since his departure in 2017. This one-on-one discussion will explore the implications of Venezuela's political turmoil, upcoming presidential elections, and the deep impacts of instability on a once-thriving nation. It will also show the power of words, photographs, and art to offer a three-dimensional perspective on a situation often reduced to headlines.
Whether you're a follower of global politics, an art enthusiast, or simply drawn to human stories, this evening promises to expand your understanding of the price of Venezuela’s political crisis. Moderated by Erick Rozo.
World Refugee Day
Presented in recognition of World Refugee Day, this event aims to bridge the gap between communities and elevate the discourse around global displacement and human resilience.
Participants
Carlos P. Beltran, born in 1986 in Caracas, Venezuela, is an Emmy-nominated, award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker. His work on social justice, political turmoil, and human displacement has been featured on major networks including NBC News, ABC News, Univision, National Geographic, and the Discovery Channel.
In 2014, after years of reporting on Venezuela's precarious socio-political situation, Beltran was threatened on national television by the vice president of Congress. In 2016, while covering the country's humanitarian crisis in government-run hospitals, he was imprisoned for five nights alongside ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman. These reports earned him a National Headliner Award and a National Emmy Nomination. His NBC News documentary The Long Wait, which explores the treacherous and complex political asylum system in the U.S., earned him a second National Headliner Award in 2018.
Beltran's art book It Suddenly Occurred To Me explores a difficult reality in Venezuela through his photography work and texts from Yadira Silva, a self-taught poet who spent eight years inside some of the worst prisons in the country.
Beltran currently serves as a producer at CBS News in New York City.
David Smolansky is a Visiting Fellow at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies and serves as a Senior Advisor on Foreign Policy, leading the Venezuelan diaspora movement for Presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado.
As the former Mayor of El Hatillo City in Caracas, Venezuela, he gained recognition for his transparency and reduction in kidnappings. Smolansky played a key role in non-violent protests against Maduro's regime, which led to his exile. Appointed by the Organization of American States, he addressed the Venezuelan migration and refugee crisis, authoring 15 reports and making over 20 official visits.
His academic background includes a B.A. in Journalism and a Master of International Public Policy. His case has been presented to the International Criminal Court and highlighted in reports by the OAS and United Nations.
Erick Rozo is a committed community advocate with a Master’s in Public Administration and Development Practice from Columbia University, where he was the first Venezuelan recipient of the Columbia Global Scholarship for Displaced Students in 2020. He also holds a Bachelor’s in International Affairs from Universidad Central de Venezuela. As the founder of the CESI Foundation, Erick promotes social integration through cultural, educational, and social programs. For seven years, he has been pivotal in organizing the Venezuelan diaspora in New York, supporting the integration of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. His diverse professional experience spans private wealth management, the United Nations, finance, political activism, and fashion. Erick’s dedication to community development and social justice is further demonstrated by his significant contributions to the Young Professionals of the Americas Steering Committee at the Americas Society/Council of the Americas.