Alisa Shapiro
Co-Chair, ECLAC
Dear Delegates,
Welcome to UPMUNC 58! I’m Alisa Shapiro, and I’ll be one of your chairs for the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). We are so excited to welcome you to the conference!
ECLAC is a unique and vital regional body within the UN system, focused on advancing economic development, social equity, and sustainable growth across Latin America and the Caribbean. This year, our committee will explore two urgent and interconnected issues facing the region: strengthening climate resilience and coastal economies through sustainable tourism, and diversifying Latin America’s economy by reducing dependence on commodity exports. Both topics will require you to think critically, collaborate strategically, and propose bold, evidence-based solutions that address complex regional dynamics. We encourage you to think outside of the box, and we can’t wait to see what you come up with!
As a delegate in ECLAC, you’ll be tasked not only with debating development policy but with shaping the economic future of an entire region. You’ll need to balance growth with sustainability, cooperation with national interest, and resilience with equity. Whether tackling the climate vulnerabilities of coastal tourism or charting paths toward economic diversification, we hope you’ll approach each session with creativity, critical thinking, and a commitment to inclusive progress.
A little bit about me - I’m currently a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences studying International Relations. At Penn, I’m involved with peer tutoring, political science research, and community engagement through the West Philadelphia Tutoring Project. Outside of school, I enjoy going on runs, yoga, baking, and trying restaurants with my friends.
I am so excited to welcome you all to Philadelphia and Penn in November; I hope you all love the city as much as I do! Please feel free to email me or any of your staffers regarding questions about the committee; we’ll see you in November!
Warmly,
Alisa Shapiro