ABOUT
El Cortao’ was founded in 2019 as a student-led platform with the mission of promoting creative and academic writing that highlights the rich cultural, political, and social landscapes of Latin America. The platform was designed to provide a space for young writers, scholars, and enthusiasts to share their insights, research, and reflections on topics related to the region.
The name El Cortao’ is derived from the term used in Latin America to describe a coffee with milk, commonly enjoyed during the afternoon. Just as el cortao’ offers a warm, comforting experience, we aim for our articles to create a similar sense of connection, offering readers a moment of introspection and cultural discovery as they engage with the content.
Our platform, guided by the vision of our Editor-in-Chief, has grown rapidly since its inception, processing an ever-increasing number of submissions from our Contributors and Ambassadors around the world.
With this growth, we strive to maintain the highest standards of quality and ensure that every piece we publish contributes meaningfully to the broader conversation about Latin America.
We hope that after reading one of our articles you learn something.
Have a good reading!
EDITORIAL TEAM
2024-2025
Editor-in-chief
Amy Hargreaves Smith
Amy is a second-year International Development BA student at King’s. She may not be Latina by blood, but she can recite just about any old reggaeton song thrown her way, which she truly hopes gives her some points on the committee. From volcano-boarding in Nicaragua, to carnival-ing in Brazil, and animal rescue centre-ing in Mexico, this gringa hopes to draw on these experiences to bring some oomph to this year’s El Cortao’.
2023-2024
Editor-in-chief
Patricio Ghezzi Novak
Patricio recently graduated from King’s College London, where he studied a BA in Film. He has a deep passion for independent cinema, literature, and works by Spanish-speaking authors. His role as Editor-in-Chief has significantly fueled his dream of becoming an author. He is excited to announce that he will soon be releasing his first book.
OUR WRITING TEAM
Past and Present
Contributors
Victoria Bujok
Thaïs Ricard
Sophie Rasmussen
Nazreen Shivlani
Katherina Lister Hernández
Carla Suárez
Alice Iscar
Irene Perez Beltrán
Octavio Gutierrez
Arianna Sánchez
Valeria Sinisi García
Felix Owen
Catalina Fazio Belán
Emily Arama Sánchez
Zoë Da Poian
Abbey Villasis
Patricio Ghezzi Novak
Darla Timewell
Blake Simons
Amy Hargreaves Smith
Isabel Bernardini
Alegría Naranjo Araujo
Ambassadors
Brenda Cuti
Amy Hargreaves Smith
Patricio Ghezzi Novak
Mathilde Aupetit
Fernanda Alvarez Piñeiro
Luis Bosques
Jack Acrich
Clarice Benney
Kayleigh Best
Luisa Ripoll Alberola
Marco García
Camila Consolmagno
Andrés Vargas Arévalo
Om Nagle
Borja Goyenechea
Lucas Cornejo Pásara
Antonio Pinto
Matteo Amaral