Why I’m going to Cuba and the Dominican Republic

This week, I will be traveling to Cuba and the Dominican Republic — my first time to both countries — to promote the importance of education and economic empowerment. I very much look forward to my visit and the opportunity to build upon my previous trips to Latin America. Earlier this summer, I visited schools and communities in Costa Rica, Peru, Argentina, and Panama to promote the importance of education and economic empowerment.

My trip will occur shortly after the arrival of Hurricane Matthew in the Caribbean, and I have been closely monitoring the relief efforts and admire how the citizens and leaders in this region are working together to minimize the impacts and ensure a speedy recovery from this and other powerful storms.

As a lifelong educator, one of my favorite things to do when I travel is to meet with students and teachers. Throughout my trip this week, in both Cuba and the Dominican Republic, I will have the opportunity to visit schools, hear from students who are pursuing opportunity through education, and speak with teachers about the important roles they play in the lives of their students and their communities.

While in Havana, I’m also looking forward to attending a friendly soccer match between the U.S. Men’s National Team and the Cuban Men’s National Team. This will be the first time these two teams have played each other in an international friendly in nearly 70 years.

Wherever I go, my goal is to meet with people — entrepreneurs, educators, artists, and leaders who making a difference in their communities — and share their stories about the inspiring work they’re doing to create a brighter future for themselves, their families, and their country.

It’s going to be a great trip, and I hope you’ll follow along on Twitter @DrBiden, on Instagram @DrBiden, and here on Medium.

— Jill