Laura Ortiz
LATEST PROJECTS
I took Studies of World Religions during my last semester of college. It was such an enriching experience, since I was able to learn about the different world religions and the approach to different concepts by different worldviews. I did my final paper on the early history of Christianity, while analyzing why Christianity was not considered a Jewish movement. If interested on my work it can bee seen by clicking on the PDF bottom at the top.
Being part of the Global Learning Medallion has been an amazing opportunity which have not only opened my eyes to the world, but has made me think more critical of the world in which I live in. Tuesday Round Tables were not only fun but also very eye opening to worldwide issues. In addition, Tuesday Round Tables also produced the interest in students to get involve and do something about rising world problems.
It was Spring 2015 and I wanted to make a difference in a community. Then the FIU Global Civic Engagement (GCE) Advisory Board opened applications for grants up to a 1,000 USD. I knew it was the time for me to apply in order to find funding for my project. I found a non-profit in Colombia called “Amigos del Mar” who work with at risk youth and promotes social development through the use of water sports. “Amigos del Mar” or “Friends of the Sea” is a non-profit organization based in Tierrabomba, Colombia that helps unprivileged children and at risk youth escape their reality through the use of sports, music, and the arts. Tierrabomba is an island off of the coast of Cartagena, Colombia. Although owned by the Colombian government, the island does not receive substantial amounts of funding from the state, contributing to its lack of housing, pollution, and scarce water supply. It is an island of 10,000 inhabitants, the majority living in poverty. "Amigos Del Mar" organizes different activities throughout the year to promote social and cultural development (e.g. photography contests and recycling activities). “Amigos del Mar” also provides the children attending their foundation with the supplies needed to practice the water sport they like and at times “Amigos del Mar” will take the children attending the foundation to water sports competitions with the help of the Colombian Foreign Ministry. In an effort to establish a positive environment and prevent gang violence amongst the children, I helped fundraised money to contribute to their mission of utilizing sports to distract them from their reality of their unfortunate surroundings. I was able to partner with GCE in order to find outside funding as well. While at first this project was meant to be a group project, it ended being just me. Nonetheless, it was very rewarding and not only did I receive the support from organizations like GCE but also from companies like Island Water Sports, El Bodegon, and Colocar Courier. I was able to fundraise $3,500 USD, which I invested in surfboards, rash guards, bathing suits, paddleboards, life jackets, and shirts for their organization. All of this items were shipped free of cost with the help of Colocar Courier a shipping company. While one may see donating shirts like a small contribution, for Amigos del Mar is of big help when the organization is trying to bring attention to their mission. I feel more than happy and blessed to have been able to get the support from GCE and other companies and organizations to fulfill this project. Not only was I able to help the organizations with shirts needed but also with supplies for the kids to practice the sport needed, as well as additional clothing and surfboards for their water sport. This experience has taught me to be more appreciative of the life I have, in addition to the opportunities I been offered in this country.
REL 3308
GL Medallion
Amigos del
Mar
"Friends of the Sea"
Diplomacy Lab
FIU Honors College
This academic year I had the wonderful opportunity to work on a real world problem with Professor Brian Fonseca from the FIU Honors College. I have to say it has been one of the most wonderful learning experiences I have had. Not only was a real world problem assign to us, but a group of students had to research on the topic and propose to the United States Department of State a possible solution. For last semester we work on closed and closing spaces and this semester I decided to participate on wonk tank, a national competition. I placed among top eight in the country with my proposal to legalize poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. Researching on illegal opium cultivation in Afghanistan was challenging because of the illegal nature of the trade. There was no 100% verifiable data on the illegal economy of opium, only estimates posing some obstacles to my proposal. Nonetheless, I was able to surf through research with the help of experts on the field. Also, with the help of Professor Fonseca I was able to speak to the president of a pharmaceutical company interested in possibility of an opening market for legal opioids in Afghanistan. This project also was self directed which allowed me to gain experience on research. While my attached written assignment to this portfolio is more of a written policy memo, many hours and days were put in the compiling of findings. What I enjoyed the most about this year long class was the opportunity to work directly with Department of State Officials on real world problems. Knowing the our work was most likely to be used by the U.S. government when writing foreign policy, created in the class some sort of passion and interest to go an extra mile on our work. This class has been one of the most challenging when doing research and presenting findings, but also the most rewarding.
As my graduation day comes closer, I come to the realization of the goals I have for my future. FIU’s Master’s of Arts in Global Affairs with a corporate citizenship track is what I believe to be the path that will teach me the necessary skills for my future career. I am a graduating senior in the Politics and International Relations Department. Through the completion of two certificates, one in Asian studies and another one in Asia globalization in Latin America, I have learned critical information on the relation between the United States, Latin American countries, and Asian countries, most specifically China. I have become very concerned about the current Chinese environmental labor policies in South America, most specifically in countries with weak governments. It was through my father’s business in Colombia that I learned first hand about Chinese petroleum companies and their environmental labor policies in Colombia. It broke my heart to know that no care was taken for nature in the surrounding areas, knowing damaging work was being done in the Colombian Amazon. Due to situations like this, I found an interest to learn mandarin and learn more about Asian international relations, more specifically Chinese international relations. So far I have achieved intermediate Chinese and I hope to continue my studies in this language to further my career. I envision myself as a liaison between the United States, China, and Latin America, constructing public-private partnerships, which enhances and develops relationships between local and global businesses with local governments. As the world becomes more interconnected, global businesses seem to be required to respond to different needs at their different locations. Understanding what the needs of every location entails is necessary when developing policies for businesses to enact in order to fulfill their corporate social responsibility. I believe the corporate citizenship track at FIU will educate me with the knowledge needed to develop the most adequate policies for business in relation to their standing in the community.