Our Mission
Who We Are: A non-profit,
nonpartisan organization dedicated to the decolonization of Puerto
Rico.
What We Do: Promote a fair and effective
process of decolonization for the people of Puerto Rico.
What That Means: Decolonization means
a choice among valid, non-colonial status options: statehood, independence,
or some form of free association. A fair and effective process of decolonization
means a clear ballot offering valid status options, and a congressional
commitment to honor the outcome and work toward its implementation.
Why We Do What We Do: The 3.8 million U.S.
citizens who live in Puerto Rico can't vote. As residents of a "US
territory," they are not permitted to vote in Presidential elections,
or for Senators, or for full Representatives in the House. But Puerto
Rico is not an independent nation, either. Puerto Rico is caught in
limbo, without equal representation and without full sovereignty. This
is unfair, undemocratic, and wrong. That is why CEF-US promotes
decolonization for Puerto Rico.
How We Do What We Do: CEF-US's activities
include research, education & dialogue, and advocacy, as well as
collaboration with and support of other organizations that promote
decolonization for Puerto Rico.
Research: We conduct and support research
and scholarship on all aspects of territorial status and decolonization.
We are working on building an inventory of information on Puerto Rico
and the decolonization process.
Education & dialogue: We
create opportunities for the public, the press, and civic and political
leaders to learn about and discuss Puerto Rico's status. Our spokespeople
travel throughout the country to make presentations on the Puerto
Rico decolonization process.
Advocacy: We seek to persuade the US Congress
to provide a fair, informed, and effective process of decolonization
for the people of Puerto Rico. If you are interested in advocacy work,
please see our tutorial on how
to become an informed and effective advocate.
Why We Need You: Since the US citizens of
Puerto Rico have no congressional representation, they have been unable
to obtain a federally sanctioned process of decolonization. But
you can vote. Help us get the message to Congress:
support decolonization for Puerto Rico.