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Press Advisory


OAS Hosts Celebration of Pan American Day and Pan American Week

  April 9, 2024

The Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Permanent Mission of the United States to the Organization will co-organize the celebration of Pan American Day and Pan American Week, between April 16 and May 2, with a series of events that will take place at the headquarters of the hemispheric Organization in Washington, D.C.

On this occasion, the week's celebration will be held under the theme "Promoting Social Equity and Diplomacy for Peace: Cultural and Jazz Diplomacy in the Americas,” to celebrate the transformative power of cultural diplomacy, particularly through the lens of American jazz, while fostering dialogue and cooperation through the Inter-American System.

“Pan American Day”is celebrated every April 14, the date on which the resolution of the First International American Conference was adopted, which met in Washington between October 2, 1889 and April 14, 1890. In that first American Conference, the “International Union of American Republics” was created, which later gave way to the “Pan American Union” and which in 1948 became the current Organization of American States (OAS).

During the celebration, the following activities will be held:

• April 15: Opening of the exhibit "Jam Session: America's Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the World.” More information available here.

• April 16: High-Level Book Talk and Discussion with Peruvian-American Author and Literary Director of the United States Library of Congress, Marie Arana. More information available here.

• April 17: Panel Discussion and Jazz Presentation: "The Lasting Impact of the Jazz Ambassadors Program in the Americas.” More information here and register .

• April 19: Latin Jazz Concert: "Expresiones: An Evening with John Santos and Hugo Cruz." Space is limited, to register click here.

• April 24: Film Screening: “The Jazz Ambassadors,” a documentary that delves into the nexus of the Cold War, the Civil Rights movement, and cultural diplomacy. More information here.

• April 30: Panel Discussion and Jazz Performance: “Cultural Diplomacy for Realizing Social, Ethnic and Racial Equity, and Inclusive Governance.” To register, click here.

• May 2, Reception and “The U.S. Army Blues” performance. Hall of the Americas, More information here and register here.

To learn more about the events and see the complete agenda, click here

Press Contact: Morgan Neill ([email protected])

WHAT: OAS Hosts Celebration of Pan American Day and Pan American Week.

WHEN: From April 16 to May 2.

WHERE: OAS Headquarters, OAS Webpage and social media.

Reference: AVI-061/24