Letter from the Director

Dear Friend,

Thank you for your interest and enthusiasm in Mexico Moving Forward.

I am happy to announce that the Mexico Moving Forward TV series has been broadcasted on the UCSD-TV channel for the past three weeks. The final session will air next Monday, April 11, but you can watch the previous sessions online at: www.ucsd.tv/mexicomovingforward.

As I remarked at the symposium, we will not stop working on the core mission of the Center; supporting excellence in academic research on issues that are key to the future of Mexico.

Achieved in just the last four weeks at the Center:

• Chairman of the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) in Mexico, Leonardo Valdez, came to San Diego to kick off IFE’s efforts to promote the vote of Mexicans abroad and work on a collaborative agreement between IFE and the Center;

• We presented the beta version of the Atlas on the Governance of Public Health to a group of experts and the director of IMSS-Oportunidades, Carolina Gómez Vinales; and

• We hosted a workshop with congressional representatives from the Lower Chamber’s Committee on Social Development to discuss regional development and social cohesion in Mexico.

And we have no intention of slowing down!

During the coming months we will continue to promote activities and events that further our programmatic agenda, and we have some special events you may be interested in attending:

• Screening of Presunto Culpable (April 12, 2011) at UC San Diego. Following the screening, filmmaker Roberto Hernández will discuss this widely acclaimed and award-winning documentary that has shaken the Mexican judicial system.

• Crime and Justice in Mexico (May 26-27, 2011). A historical perspective and a statistical approach to the problem of crime and justice, with the presence of distinguished members of the Mexican judicial system including Supreme Court Justice, Jose Ramon Cossío.

• Violence, Markets and Drugs (June 2-3, 2011). As Mexico is wracked by horrendous levels of violence linked to the illegal drug trade, this research incubator will explore comparative and theoretical perspectives on the variation in levels of drug related violence around the world.

• The second Mexico Moving Forward Symposium is planned for April 19-20, 2012. This Symposium will focus on why Mexico is not a rich nation. We hope that you will again consider being part of this event.

As always you are welcome to attend our Wednesday seminars at the Center that include presentations on topics as varied as urban development, democratization and presidential leadership, assisted reproductive health, the elderly, teacher unions, and education spending.

Standing on over 30 years of hard work and friendships, the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies is the «go to source» on many issues regarding Mexico, and we are striving to carry our knowledge and experience to the community. Your participation and feedback is welcomed.

Thank you for being a part of our community.

Warm regards,

Alberto Díaz-Cayeros

Director, Center for U.S.-Mexico Studies