Cincinnati, OH – On the evening of February 26, our organization welcomed members, guests, and students back to The Literary Club for our first in-person dinner program of 2026, an evening that brought the Americas into sharp focus under the banner “At a Hemispheric Crossroads: US Global Policy and the Future of Latin America.”  Against the backdrop of fast-moving developments all over the Central and South America and shifting regional alliances, the night offered a rich, nuanced exploration of where US-Latin American relations stand today and where they may be heading next.

Guided and moderated by our Board Member and South American Affairs specialist, Mr. Joe Dehner, our guest speakers, Professors Walt Vanderbush and Juan Carlos Albarrán of Miami University, guided our audience through the complex interplay of political, economic, and social dynamics shaping Central and South America, drawing on decades of work in international studies, study-abroad leadership, and exchange programs across Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, and beyond.

Their complementary perspectives rooted in Latin American political economy, immigration policy, diaspora and migration studies, and on-the-ground educational exchanges helped frame Latin America not as a distant theater, but as a region whose choices and challenges deeply affect US policy, business, and communities at home. The discussion underscored how quickly political and humanitarian situations can escalate and how essential it is for an informed public to understand their regional and global implications.

True to FPLC’s mission, the atmosphere throughout the evening was both intellectually rigorous and warmly conversational, with participants frequently drawing connections between the issues raised and their own professional and civic experiences. Many attendees remarked on how the speakers’ long-standing engagement with Latin American communities, inside and outside the classroom, brought a human dimension to policy debates that too often remain abstract.

We extend our sincere thanks to Professors Vanderbush and Albarrán for sharing their expertise and to all who joined us for helping make this such a meaningful start to our 2026 in-person programming. We look forward to welcoming you back at our next event as we continue to convene timely and meaningful conversations at the intersection of US foreign policy, regional developments, and the lived realities of people across the globe.