Constitutional Chats
Live podcast hosted by Janine Turner, Cathy Gillespie, and students: Tova Love Kaplan, Jorne Gilbert and Jewel Gilbert
Topic: Live Podcast: The Communist Dictatorship of Cuba
When: Tuesday 6/20/2023 at 2:00 pm ET
Join us weekly as we chat with Constitutional experts on hot-topic issues via Zoom! The audience is not on camera but is encouraged to ask questions via the Q&A.
Meet the Guest
John Barsa
John Barsa serves as Executive Director of the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba (FHRC). Previously, Barsa was unanimously confirmed by the US Senate to serve as the Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for Latin America and the Caribbean. The White House later appointed him as the Acting Administrator of all of USAID, the world’s premier development agency with a worldwide staff of over 10,000 and an annual budget in excess of $25 billion. Prior to his service at USAID, Barsa held a variety of other US government positions such as Acting Assistant Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, Congressional staff for former Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and member of Special Forces and Civil Affairs units of the US Army Reserve.
Meet the Hosts
Janine Turner
Actress Janine Turner is famous for her role as Maggie O’Connell in television’s Northern Exposure. She is the Founder and Co-President of Constituting America which launched in 2010. She is still acting but is also actively teaching kids about the U.S. Constitution and has given over 540 speeches to classrooms across the country.
Cathy Gillespie
Cathy Gillespie is the Chair of Constituting America, a former Congressional Chief of Staff and former Commissioner of the White House Fellows Commission. She is currently serving as one of 16 private citizens serving on the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, helping organize the celebration of our country’s 250th birthday in 2026!
Tova Love Kaplan
Tova Love Kaplan is a student at Harvard University. She currently serves as the National Youth Director for Constituting America and runs the National Youth Advisory Council. She is a three-time winner of the “We The Future” Contest and is passionate about educating and empowering young people to use their constitutional rights!
Jorne Gilbert
Jorne Gilbert is a recent graduate of Moravian University where he designed a major entitled Dramatic Production and Musical Performance. He used what he learned to further develop the charitable organization Sing For America which he co-founded to produce musicals portraying the art of Truth and Light.
Jewel Gilbert
Jewel Gilbert is Executive Producer of Sing for America, a charity founded by him and his family. Sing for America reveals the Art of Truth and Light through live performance. He is the Operations Director for a new business venture, J. Barker Paving. Jewel holds a BA in Musical Performance/Dramatic