enjoy the rest of your weekend. >> buenos d^as y bienvenidos. good morning. welcome once again to "tiempo." i'm joe torres. first lady michelle obama recently honored rosie's theater kids, an after-school theater-arts program, for the way it effectively engages students. we'll talk to them about their white house visit, and let you know more about the program. that's coming up in just a few minutes. also, we go one-on-one with new jersey state senate president steve sweeney about a number of legislative initiatives that he's trying to advance in the garden state -- initiatives that largely affect latinos. right now, though, we are once cuba. the annual international trade fair of havana just wrapped up. this was the trade fair since

first trade fair since the united states and cuba announced last year they would re-establish diplomatic relations after a 50-year freeze. you're seeing pictures. we'll tell you more about those in a second. the trade show highlighted both the opportunities and the challenges facing american businesses as they pursue trade with cuba. here to discuss this, we've invited our good friend, vito echevarr^a, journalist for the cuba standard online publication, and new york attorney anotn^o martinez, who advises u.s. companies on the business environment on the island. both attended the havana trade fair. thank you both for being here. it had been a while, right, since you were back on the island? >> yeah, early 2000s are the last time i was out there, to begin with, and there's a lot of changes there. first of all, in the streets, you have a lot more, you know, privately run restaurants, you have more of the so-called cuentapropistas, independent businesses there, that sort of thing. so, i mean, those are among the changes that you see first off. >> what caught you off guard? you saw something and said, "wow, man, that is different

>> you know, like i said, just the restaurants that are there. i mean, you have that that's going on that's different. you had -- what i saw there was a flea market, if you will, toward the old section of havana. >> uh-huh. >> you know, that is what really caught my eye, basically. >> yeah. anotn^o, are you starting to see greater investment on the island? >> i think that it's dramatic, the amount of activity. >> right. >> cuba -- havana's overloaded with visitors in a good way. they have a good problem, as how to accommodate everybody. >> yes. >> there's a bit of a crunch with hotel accommodations. >> okay. >> there's a lot of people using the casas particulares, the privately owned apartments and bed-and-breakfasts, and that's actually a great way to meet cubans and understand their reality. >> did you get the impression -- and this is for both of you --

investments are starting to make an impact, a positive impact, in the lives of people on the island? >> oh, yeah. it's putting more cash in the hands of ordinary individuals because you have a lot more interaction between visitors and locals. so that can only be good for the >> yeah. you're seeing that? and they need it. >> absolutely. you know, i think the more that we can do to allow business to develop -- which is why we need to get rid of the embargo. we're really hurting ourselves and hurting the cuban people with this terrible policy, this embargo. it really needs to be lifted, and it's hurting things. >> let me ask you, because you deal with this just about each and every day -- walk through me some of the industries that are just waiting in line for the embargo to be lifted and for things to happen so they can jump on board. >> oh, my gosh. there's billions of dollars of opportunities in construction... >> yeah. >> ...hospitality... >> auto parts. >> ...automobile... >> food. >> ...food, agriculture, healthcare, arts and entertainment.

>> hotels. absolutely. i mean, there's gonna be a wave of new hotels that are right now under construction. but they're gonna open up, and that will probably ease the crunch that's going on with the rooms. >> i heard that while i was there, that if there's a big convention in town and you're a tourist, you might be out of luck getting -- >> you're definitely out of luck. cubans are in need of a new convention center, because where they have the -- >> the fair? >> ...the fair, which is called fihav, is so far removed from the city, and it's so spread out that there's a -- they really need a new convention center. >> but are we at the point, anotn^o or vito, that we're talking about the hiltons, the sheratons, and the marriotts of lined up to invest? >> oh, yeah, they're definitely ready to go, these guys. >> we just need to get rid of the embargo. i hear conversations are under way. >> mm-hmm. >> and it's -- you know, i think -- but the challenge is gonna be, for american businesses, is that when the embargo gets lifted... >> yeah. >> ...the cubans already have a

they've made with other countries and other companies. we can't expect to be moved to the front of the line. right. >> yeah, we're gonna have to get creative to see how we can either come up with more competitive offers or maybe even go into joint ventures with people who are -- >> and we americans tend to think that way, don't we? that we should be first, right? >> oh, yes. >> sit tight. i want to ask you a little bit more about the fair, the trade show itself, and some of the industries represented there. when we come back, more on the international trade fair of havana. still ahead on "tiempo," rosie's theater kids after-school theater-arts program in new york city's public schools recently honored -- there it is -- by first lady michelle obama.

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>> welcome back to "tiempo." we've been discussing this morning the recent international trade fair of havana. here, educating us on the opportunities and the challenges that american businesses will face if they want to pursue trade with cuba, vito echevarr^a, journalist for

publication, and new york attorney anton^o martinez. both attended the havana trade fair. is it a fair like, you know, if orlando? are you going from booth to booth to booth to find out what this guy's doing, what that guy's doing, grabbing a free pencil along the way? >> well, it depends, because if you're talking about american companies, you had a very limited presence because of the fact that the main business we can do in cuba right now is food trade, which, the cubans have been buying more and more from other countries, such as brazil, because they're getting credit for that business. >> mm-hmm. >> so, in terms of that, you limited. you had at least 25, 30 american companies that were registered to be there, but the actual numbers that took up booth space >> okay. were they organized by industry, by sector? how did they break it up, anton^o? >> well, they -- basically, yeah, by sector. i mean, the communications people were in a communications food pavilion. >> but it was by country also? >> and it was also set up by

primarily by country. >> so, and the big spenders there were china, i would presume? >> yeah, china has a huge presence. presence. they had a good five pavilions for themselves, you know, with hundreds of their companies present. but i will say this about the american companies -- many of the companies that were there from the united states were there in their own capacity. you know, in particular, sprint. what happened with sprint was they took part in a ceremonial signing of an agreement they had with etecsa for a new roaming agreement between the two providers. that was held at etecsa's own section elsewhere within the trade grounds. >> okay. anton^o, if people are watching and they have a small business here and they're saying, you of me. i want to get ahead of the curve," what do you tell those clients, those people who come to you and say, "i want to be a part of this. i want to get on the bandwagon before it takes off"? >> well, the most important thing about doing business in cuba is it's about establishing a relationship. >> mm-hmm.

mind-set that "i want to know" -- they want to know if they can have a good relationship with you even before they want to take your money or they want -- they want to know who they're doing business with. that? >> well, you got to go down there, and you've got to go down there with people like myself, who know, who understand the culture, and then have some on-the-ground experience and can help guide and create a meaningful business plan for you so that you can have an idea of being able to do business now, if it's legally permitted, or at least have an idea of, when the embargo's lifted, what you might be able to do and who you need to talk with. >> so, establish a relationship. i heard you say before -- get in line, right? >> yeah, get in line. [ chuckles ] >> why so? because there's other people who have already built that relationship ahead of you? >> what makes this whole thing complicated is the fact that now you have obama, he's further loosening restrictions. for example, last september, now he's telling american companies, "okay, you can have a physical presence there in cuba now." and there's also permission to

which could open up possibilities for such things as, let's say, fast-food restaurants. obviously it takes two to tango. the cubans have to say, "yes, we want this." and they've done this on a limited scaled with the canadians and with the french. >> you took some pictures while you were there, right? >> yeah. definitely, yeah. >> okay, i think we've got a few of them queued up that we want to show you, and maybe you can -- what is this that we're looking at here? this is obviously the brazil booth. >> yeah, the brazilian pavilion, rather, and their section -- they had two levels. the second level was like what you'd call v.i.p., you know? they have a trade promotion we call apex. and so some of their executives were there. >> uh-huh. >> and, you know, so they're doing gangbuster business there, everything from food to even flip-flop sandals. >> what are we looking at here? >> okay, that's the trade grounds. those are some of the attendees, there. and as you can see, it's full of people. i mean, 1,000 people, both locals as well as foreign executives. >> okay. all right. queued up. >> oh, yes.

cubans, so cubans who wanted to go, they were charged a price in local money, and -- >> right. 3 cuc. you know, $3 to be there. >> very quickly, here, this picture? >> is sarao. this is a place that tony introduced me to. it's one of the new wave of private lounges that you see in havana nowadays, and this place really stood out in my mind because it's a new building, basically, which is unusual in cuba. >> wow. >> when you go in there, you think you're in south beach, miami. it's one of the nicest clubs in... >> is it american-influenced or american-run or american-developed? >> i think there's an american influence there. >> yeah, definitely. >> all right. you guys, fantastic. welcome back. thank you so much. good luck. i know you're going again soon, so safe travels. >> thank you. >> and keep us posted. >> i'm definitely planning to go back soon. [ laughter ] >> coming up next on "tiempo," new jersey senate president stephen sweeney joins us to tell us about a number of legislative initiatives that could benefit thousands of latinos living in the garden state. still ahead, rosie's theater kids, one of the largest arts-in-education programs serving new york city

>> what a pleasure to welcome this morning the new jersey senate president, steve sweeney. he is here to update us on a number of garden state initiatives, proposals, legislative measures that could greatly impact the lives of latinos across new jersey. mr. sweeney, thanks for being >> thanks. >> the dream act -- the dream act is in place in new jersey, unlike in new york, correct? >> yes, yes. >> so, what needs to be altered, what needs to be changed to get it the way you'd like to see it?

dream act, obviously this was about fairness for young people that live in our communities, you know, that go to our schools. and when they would go to college, they'd have to pay double the tuition because their parents were undocumented. >> so, they were therefore out of state? >> yeah, they were treated as basically out-of-state tuition. so, we were successful in getting the dream act passed and signed, but the governor took out the grant -- there was a component for grant funding, to make these young people eligible for grant funding. >> okay. >> which brings the afford-- you know, makes it more affordable even further. so, we got part of it done, but the job isn't done. we're hoping the next administration is gonna make sure that we finish the job so our young children that do well in school, do everything we have asked them to do... >> yes. >> ...will have the opportunity to be eligible for the grant funding to help it be more affordable. >> so, is that, in essence, closing a loophole or ironing out just a deficiency in the act itself? >> ironing out a deficiency and actually treating children --

school together. >> yeah. >> treating them the same. >> mm-hmm. >> these children are still being treat as different. >> so, legislatively, does it go in the form of a new bill? does it have to go through the assembly and then to the governor's desk all over again? >> yeah, but with a democrat governor, which is what we're hoping for, is that we'll get it authorized to finish the job. 'cause, you know, these are all kids that go to school with our kids, and they're treated differently. it's not right. >> any idea how many -- what number we're talking to in terms of kids that are impacted by this? >> there's thousands of kids, young people. and when you think about it, we ask young people to work hard, do well in school. the american dream, which everyone believes in. and then we make it impossible for them to obtain it. >> mm-hmm. >> so, for us, we have to finish the job. >> all righty. to do it. and education's the key. we talk about it here on "tiempo" all the time. the democracy act, a bill that would improve access to the polls for minority voters -- when i saw that, the question that came to my mind, how is

right now for minority voters? and is it? >> well, look, new jersey's voting laws are about a century old, close to a century old. we're 39th in the country in voter participation. so we want to make it easier for people to vote. you know, a lot of people work two and three jobs. >> yeah. >> so, rather than requiring it to be just one day, a tuesday in november... >> mm-hmm. >> ...you know, vote early, where you have multiple locations throughout the county that you live in where you can go vote. >> that's not happening now? >> no. then, the other part that we need to do is, when you register and get a driver's license... >> yeah. >> ...automatically be registered to vote. >> okay. >> so, this way, you don't have to be, you know, bothered with any other additional forms. once you get your driver's license, you're a voter. that will make it easier for people, also. >> let me alter you on that. once you get your driver's license, if it goes through, you're eligible to vote. >> yes. >> you still got to get people out to the polls. it's one thing to be eligible to vote.

>> joe, this last election we just went through... >> yeah. >> ...20% of the people in new jersey voted. so, we need to do something different than what we're doing right now, because we want more people to participate. and, you know, and honestly, a lot of the people that are newer to this country... >> yes. >> ...struggle with their rights to vote. so, us making it easier is important, because new jersey's the most diverse state in the whole country, which makes it a >> mm-hmm. >> but we have to give those people an opportunity, our new citizens an opportunity to participate in democracy. >> and i would argue many of them come from places where voting is a big deal, and they turn out in droves. so, i'm with you to make it a little easier to get them to continue that after they arrive in new jersey. talk to me a little bit about new jersey investing in you, the new economic strategy for improving the state's economy, college affordability, neighborhood revitalization. hit on that one, if you would, 'cause we talked a little bit about college already. >> you know, joe, i was just in

children's zone. >> sure. yeah. >> it's so impressive. and we want to replicate -- when someone's doing something well, when you can take that model and new jersey -- >> it's okay to poach it. >> yeah. >> poach the idea. >> listen, a good idea is very worthwhile poaching. but for us, what i watched -- what impressed me so much was young people that no one really gave a lot of hope and chance of being successful... >> yeah. >> ...going to college, succeeding. but then coming home. you know, a lot of times, people, when they're successful, they get the good job, and they grew up in a tough area, they leave 'cause they don't want to raise their kids there. >> yeah. >> well, the idea is to repopulate a community to show young people role models. >> through what manner? >> well, through what manner? when you see these young people going off to college and getting degrees, coming back and re-- coming back to the neighborhoods they grew up in... >> because...? what attracted them back? i mean, that's what i'm itching for, here.

the structure that was created in these promise zones, you know, that structure, that commitment brings the people back. the buy-in is with the young people, that they want to strengthen their communities. >> we've got about 30 seconds left. early-childhood education -- a renewed focus on that is needed in new jersey? >> it is an absolute priority. you know, new jersey's a leader in early-childhood education. the problem is we don't have it in every single school district. young people's brains develop from 0 to 5 -- 85% of their brain development's in that time frame. >> yep, and you can get -- for latino children, you know, education is the key. we can't say it enough, and we could probably say it some more. good seeing you. >> thank you, joe. >> keep us posted on these things as they come up, and when they change, you come back and tell us. good to see you, mr. sweeney. >> thank you. >> thank you for being with us here on "tiempo." we've got more coming up. rosie's theater kids, an after-school theater-arts program in new york city, was recently honored by

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>> a few weeks ago, rosie's theater kids, one of the largest arts-in-education programs in new york city public schools, was among a select group of programs across the u.s. honored by first lady michelle obama. there you see it. they were recognized for effectively promoting learning and life skills in young people. and here to talk more about the prestigious honor and how they do that, lori klingler -- klinger, co-found and artistic director, and marianna bottier, a 15-year-old student who traveled to the white house. thank you both for being here. i was looking at your goals for

because...? >> rosie o'donnell's the co-founder. >> rose o'donnell spearheaded -- along with you, back in 2000? >> 2003. so you've got it down by now. >> mm-hmm. >> "inspire excellence, motivate learning, and uplift the human spirit." >> that's a big one. >> that's big. >> yeah. >> how do you go -- how do you do that, in one way, shape, or form? >> i think by asking for excellence across all areas. so you can't just be a good artist, you have to be a good student, you have to be a good person, and a great citizen. >> yeah. and you do that through arts? teaching and arts programs? >> yeah, and larger than that, we really try and give the kids all different kinds of experiences so that they will be adaptable to any situation they're in. >> marianna, you love the arts? >> i love the arts. >> [ laughs ] okay, favorite broadway show is? >> probably "wicked." >> "wicked." a good one. >> yeah, i love their songs, and the plot's really good. >> and you're a 15-year-old sophomore, correct? >> yes. >> at what school? school. >> okay, and you're involved in the productions at school. >> yeah.

i'm trying to stay focused on academics right now. >> okay. very good. that's always a good focus. tell me about your visit to the white house. [ laughs ] >> it was very exciting. like, kids don't get to do that. and that wasn't even, like, a thought in my mind or a dream to have, to go visit the first lady. but since i did it, i feel like i have more opportunities, and i can dream bigger. >> lori, i'm looking at video. there's the first lady hugging you. officially, the designation and the honor was what? >> the national youth and... >> the national youth...? honoring national youth that focus on arts, correct? >> thank you. national arts and youth programming awards. >> and how were you notified and picked that you were gonna get this designation? >> we received a letter maybe in june that we were one of the finalists. >> right. >> and then we received a notification that we had won, but we weren't allowed to tell anyone. >> and what comes with the designation? is there a financial reward? >> $10,000. >> oh, my word. >> we were really excited. >> and do you already have plans

the extra money? >> oh, we're just gonna spend it on the kids. it's all programming for the kids. >> you know, you've been doing this now since 2003. what evidence do you have that what you're doing is working? do you have a success story you can share with us? >> yeah. our first group of students, when we first met them, were in fifth grade. so they've just now gone out into the world. they graduated from college last year. so, one of our students has just been so turned on by the arts and changed by the arts, he went to the university of michigan, the musical theater conservatory program. >> oh, wow. >> and he's here in new york now auditioning. >> largely because of what you...? >> totally. yes. >> 'cause of the fire you lit inside of him. 15 years from now, 10 years from now, if all goes well in marianna's life, what are you doing? >> i'm gonna be auditioning for broadway shows. >> wow. that's great. >> i love it. >> and how do you go about picking which kids get to go to the white house? 'cause i would assume there's many in the group. >> yeah, it was really difficult. >> [ laughs ] "ooh, please!" >> you know, marianna is so optimistic, and she's always

she'd represent us well. and then we were invited to bring 12 kids, so it got a little bit easier to pick those 12. >> we've got about 20 seconds left. this kind of recognition, other than the financial reward and award that you received, what does it do for a program like yours? >> it just -- it makes us believe in what we're doing, that it's really right. our tag line is "we're rehearsing for life." and what a life experience that was. >> that's a great tag line and a great way to end it, and congratulations to you both. continued success. and when you're singing on broadway, you're gonna get me tickets, okay? [ laughs ] thank you, guys. before we go, let's take a look at the "tiempo" community calendar for this week. two events to tell you about. this tuesday evening in manhattan, the tribute band santanaria plays the legendary music of the group santana. "oye como va." the show takes place at subrosa, located at 63 gansevoort street. starts at 7:00 p.m. next saturday evening in the bronx, una parranda navidea,

christmas caroling comes to the lehman center for the performing arts with musical guests straight from puerto rico. the center's located at 250 bedford park boulevard west in the bronx. the show starts at 8:00, and there you have it. if you need more information, just go to lehmancenter.org. much^simas gracias. thanks for spending part of your sunday with us. if you missed any part of our show, how about this -- you can tune in at abc7ny on the web, your tablet, or even your smartphone. how great is that? i'm joe torres. thanks for watching. we will see you again next time