Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Russlynn Ali will travel to Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasilia Aug. 29-Sept. 2 as a follow-up to President Barack Obama's trip to Brazil in March 2010. During that visit, the President committed to strengthening collaboration with Brazil on issues related to increasing educational equality and opportunity for all students, including increased engagement between Brazilian institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the United States.
The assistant secretary will explore those topics in discussions this week with Brazilian academics, government officials, and university students. She will also meet with counterparts to help plan the Seminar on Equity, tentatively set for early 2012 in Brazil.
At the end of the week, the U.S. delegation will participate in the Brazil-U.S. Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial (JAPER) and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality Steering Group Meeting. Expected attendees at the meeting include 100 participants made up of government, civilian, private sector and education representatives. As head of the U.S. delegation, Ali will review implementation activities, both ongoing and proposed.