By Stephanie Portalatin, Miami Dade College Hialeah Campus Photo by: Luis Delgado

On November 18, 2014, Emilio Cueto, Cuban attorney, author, and actor, delivered a lecture and visual presentation to approximately one hundred Hialeah community members including Miami Dade College- Hialeah Campus students, faculty and staff on his latest book La virgen de la Caridad del Cobre: en el alma del pueblo cubano (Our Lady of Charity: The Heart of the Cuban People). Dr. Mattie Roig-Watnik, Hialeah Campus President welcomed Mr. Cuetowho presented the history of the beloved Cuban Marian image from its origins in the 17th Century to its significant role in Cuban culture and Catholic religion within the island and abroad to the present.   Students participated in a lively Question-and-Answer session with the author. Mr. Cueto. Our Hialeah Campus Student Government Association President presented a token of appreciation to Mr. Cueto for his outstanding presentation and detailed journey through the history of Our Lady of Charity.  Special attendees included Dr. Rolando Montoya, Provost of Operations.  The presentation was part of a program of events to support the development of a Hialeah Campus cultural center through a Knight Arts Challenge Grant.

Emilio Cueto is retired attorney regarded as an expert on Cuban culture. An avid collector of Cuban memorabilia, he has exhibited portions of his collection in Miami´s Historical Museum of Southern Florida and prepared the three catalogs accompanying those exhibitions Mialhe´s Colonial Cuba (1994), Cuba in old maps (1999) and Illustrating Cuba’s flora and fauna (2002). He has organized five concerts of Cuba-related music in Miami (2008-2012).