OCS Conference Funding Submission

Event Photo:

Group picture in St. Croix

American Samoa representatives narrating their story as US Nationals

Group leaders discussing their findings throughout the Summit.

Name: Sebastian Morales Tirado

Degree Program: MPA IN PUBLIC & NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT & POLICY

Specialization: PNP-Public Policy Analysis

Conference Host Organization/Institution: Right to Democracy

Conference/Competition Name: Summit on U.S. Colonialism: Intersections

Conference Term: Spring Conference Start Date: 2025-02-14 Conference End Date: 2025-02-19

What were your takeaways from this conference/case competition?
The summit highlighted the surprising similarities among U.S. territories despite their diverse locations and histories. A shared fear of real political autonomy emerged as a key issue. In the Mariana Islands, concerns about losing Article 12 of their Constitution, which ensures land ownership, make abolishing the Insular Cases contentious. Yet, these cases uphold a racist doctrine that maintains territorial inequality. Similarly, American Samoans fear U.S. citizenship, preferring their "U.S. National" status despite its legal challenges. Ultimately, each territory has its own version of fear preventing bold action against colonial rule, reinforcing systemic disparities and limiting self-determination.

How will your participation in this conference/case competition support your professional development?
This summit has underscored the value of coalition building, a skill we saw in theory in the Intro to Public Policy course, as a required part of policy changes. I was able to deepen my knowledge about the colonialism the US applies throughout the world, and gained necessary insights to start crafting policy solutions.

What are some next steps or action items this conference/case competition inspired?
Crucial next steps include further conversations on what unites us as territories, as well as starting to craft solutions around these commonalities that are not "one-size-fits-all", but rather respect individualities.

What are some tips or best practices that you would like to share with other Wagner students who attend a conference/case competition?
My best advice is to get in touch with OCS! They've been more than helpful and I now have an unforgettable professional experience to share.

Wagner Areas of Impact: Government, Inequality, Race, and Poverty, International Development, Nonprofits