The Venezuelan Slums

I believe it's important for Latinos in America to understand what is going on in their "home" country. It's a little difficult but that's why we live in the age of technology. Luckily we can also watch programs on Univision and Telemundo or my parent's favorite "Caracol". However, there are also visual opportunities like the one at the University of Pennsylvania this Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

For the last 6 months, Carlos Beltran, a young journalist has been documenting the everyday life of children and families in the slums of Caracas, the Capital of Venezuela. In December, Carlos will be in the United States presenting his photographic work in the University of Pennsylvania. Together with a panel of specialists on anthropological studies, they will discuss his experiences and the social context in Venezuela. Venezuela has been in the political spotlight for many years, as President Hugo Chavez attempts to construct the “21st Century Socialism”. This project intends to shed light not on political ideas, but on the realities of those living in the direst situations. In his own words, Carlos says: "As a journalist, I don’t consider myself an activist. I do hope, however, that my work has some sort of social relevance, making curious viewers think about what they see”.