The Latin America Working Group Education Fund (LAWGEF) is a left-of-center nonprofit organization that works to support liberal immigration policy and normalize U.S. relations with radical-left regimes in Latin America. It is the sister organization of the Latin America Working Group (LAWG), a lobbying organization which supports the same goals.

One of LAWGEF’s major focuses is lifting the U.S. trade embargo against communist Cuba. The organization works to organize educational campaigns to promote closer ties between the U.S. and Cuba. ¹ The organization is also a critic of U.S. foreign policy toward Colombia. The group supports an end to the war between the Colombian government and communist revolutionaries, criticizing the Colombian government and going so far as accusing the Colombian government of “forced disappearances.” ²

The organization also works to increase the immigration of Latin Americans into the United States. LAWGEF supports left-of-center immigration policy, including weakening immigration laws and enforcement agencies. ^{3 4}

Overview

The Latin America Working Group Education Fund was founded in 2002 as the educational arm of the Latin America Working Group (LAWG). The fund primarily issues publications detailing LAWGEF’s stances on various issues related to Latin American that it then uses to influence public opinion and support LAWG’s lobbying efforts. LAWGEF also organizes fact-finding trips to Latin America. ⁵

Programs

LAWGEF runs programs in four program areas, including promoting peace, advocating for migrants, defending human rights, and supporting environmentalism. LAWGEF uses these programs to support left-of-center foreign and domestic policy goals.

LAWGEF’s “Promote Peace” campaign has supported ending the Colombian civil war and transition towards democracy in the country. Another major focus of the promote peace campaign is supporting an end to the U.S. embargo on Cuba. ⁶

The “Protect Migrants and Refugees Campaign” is geared towards opposing the enforcement of immigration law and making it easier for migrants from Latin America to immigrate to the United States. The organization is opposed to separating families of illegal immigrants and deporting most illegal immigrants. The organization has also opposed returning migrants in the United States to Mexico until their cases are decided by immigration authorities. ⁷

The “Uphold Justice and Defend the Defenders” campaign opposes corruption in Latin American nations and supports human rights organizations in Latin American countries. LAWGEF uses this campaign to promote left-of-center foreign policy, encouraging increase U.S. aid to Latin American countries in order to strengthen the rule of law and human rights. The campaign also provides support for human rights and environmental activists in Latin America. ⁸

LAWGEF’s “Advance Land, Economic, and Environmental Rights” campaign encourages left-of-center environmentalism. The project encourages indigenous people in Latin America to fight for increased economic privileges, land redistribution, and environmentalist project. The LAWGEF campaign also pressures U.S. lawmakers to oppose aid for certain projects in Latin America that do not fit an environmentalist agenda. ⁹

Leadership

Lisa Haugaard is the co-director of LAWGEF, working in this capacity since June 2002. Previously, she was a senior associate with LAWG from 1993-2002. Haugaard focuses on advocacy on Colombia and Central America. ¹⁰

Daniella Burgi-Palomino has worked as another co-director of LAWGEF since 2019. Previously, Burgi-Palomino worked as a senior associate focusing on migrant rights and immigration issues. ¹¹

Mavis Anderson is a senior associate with LAWGEF who has been working to end the U.S. embargo on Cuba since 1997. ¹²

Carolyn Gallaher sits as the president of the board of directors for LAWGEF. She is a professor at American University. ¹³

Finances

According to LAWGEF’s 2019 tax return, the organization generated $413,010 in revenue and spent $322,909. ¹⁴

1. “LATIN AMERICA WORKING GROUP EDUCATION FUND”. 2021. Guidestar. Accessed April 19. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/11-3657128.    
2.          Sponar, Victoria. 2017. “Forced Disappearances Continue In Latin America”. The Prowler. https://www.theprowlernews.org/opinion/2017/11/06/forced-disappearances-continue-in-latin-america/.
3.   “LATIN AMERICA WORKING GROUP EDUCATION FUND”. 2021. Guidestar. Accessed April 19. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/11-3657128.
5.         “LATIN AMERICA WORKING GROUP EDUCATION FUND”. 2021. Project World Impact. Accessed April 26. https://projectworldimpact.com/organization/latin-america-working-group-education-fund.   
6. “Promote Peace”. 2020. Latin America Working Group. Accessed December 18. https://www.lawg.org/single-campaign/?id=56.
7. “Protect Migrants & Refugees”. 2020. Latin America Working Group. Accessed December 18. https://www.lawg.org/single-campaign/?id=49.
8. “Uphold Justice & Defend The Defenders”. 2020. Latin America Working Group. Accessed December 18. https://www.lawg.org/single-campaign/?id=63.
9. “Advance Land, Economic, & Environmental Rights”. 2020. Latin America Working Group. Accessed December 18. https://www.lawg.org/single-campaign/?id=67.
10.   “Lisa Haugaard”. 2020. Latin America Working Group. Accessed December 18. https://www.lawg.org/team_member/lisa-haugaard/.   
11. “Daniella Burgi-Palomino”. 2020. Latin America Working Group. Accessed December 18. https://www.lawg.org/team_member/daniella-burgi-palomino/.
12. “Mavis Anderson”. 2020. Latin America Working Group. Accessed December 18. https://www.lawg.org/team_member/mavis-anderson/.
13. “Faculty Profile: Carolyn Gallaher”. 2021. American University. Accessed April 19. https://www.american.edu/sis/faculty/caroleg.cfm.
14. Form 990. 2019. Ebook. Guidestar. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2019/113/657/2019-113657128-17387182-9.pdf?_gl=1*1k5jatl*_ga*MTcyOTQwMTk5OC4xNTczNDQ5NDky*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYxODgwNjE0NS4xNy4wLjE 2MTg4MDYxNDUuMA..*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYxODgwNjE0NS4xNy4wLjE2MTg4MDYxNDUuMA..&_ga=2.220801119.63083159.1618797158-1729401998.1573449492.