The Cuban diaspora is an intrinsic and legitimate part of the Cuban nation, called to be a part of the solution rather than the problem. For too long, the diaspora has been cast in a purely oppositional role — defined more by what it is against than by what it is for, more by its distance from the island than by its connection to it. We believe it is time to reframe that narrative and recognize the diaspora for what it truly is: one of Cuba’s greatest assets.
For too long, the nation has been confused with its rulers, and its system with its people. The Cuban government does not equal Cuba, just as the exile community does not equal the diaspora. Cuba is its people — those on the island and those abroad, those who stayed and those who left, those who built new lives in Miami or Madrid and those who built new lives in Havana or Santiago. All of them are Cuba, and all of them have a role to play in its future.
We believe in one Cuban nation, and we maintain that the focus of our efforts must shift: from inflicting collateral damage on the people in an attempt to hurt the government, to empowering the Cuban people — even if such actions provide a collateral benefit to the state. This is a fundamental moral reorientation, and it is one that we believe the majority of Cuban-Americans are ready to embrace. It is, above all, about the people.
The diaspora, particularly the vibrant exile community in South Florida, should be a free marketplace of ideas. For decades, the Cuban-American community has been one of the most politically engaged and organizationally sophisticated diaspora communities in the world. That energy, creativity, and commitment is a resource of enormous potential — but only if it is channeled toward constructive engagement rather than destructive confrontation.
We are deeply committed to tolerance and respect, recognizing that diversity of thought enriches us and that no one holds a monopoly on the truth. The Cuban diaspora is not monolithic. It includes people of different generations, different experiences, different political views, and different visions for Cuba’s future. That diversity is a strength — but only if we create the conditions for genuine dialogue and mutual respect, rather than demanding conformity to a single political line.
Furthermore, we believe the diaspora represents a vital asset of experience and resources that can directly empower entrepreneurs on the island, providing them with the tools to build their own private businesses and economic independence. Cuban-Americans have built successful enterprises across every sector of the American economy. Their expertise, capital, networks, and knowledge are exactly what Cuba’s emerging private sector needs. Connecting diaspora resources with island entrepreneurs is not just good economics — it is an act of national solidarity, and one of the most direct paths to the free and prosperous Cuba we all want to see.