Come to Brasil: The Court of Pedro II, 1881

Directed By: Ken Nava and Isabel Cardella

About Ken:

Peace, Prosperity, and Pedro! Set in the imperial court of Brazil under His Majesty Pedro II of Brazil, this committee begins at the end of the Empire's Golden Age with one simple question: Will the Empire endure or will it take a dramatic turn?

Delegates represent the likes of imperial aristocrats, church leaders, military officers, and foreign diplomats as they write Laws and submit Bills, form Imperial Ministries, earn Imperial Orders and Noble Titles, and shape the future of South America's greatest monarchy! Yet beneath the crown, cracks form. The enormous debts left behind after a successful war in Paraguay continue to burden the treasury. Without money, and in the midst of a global industrial revolution, Brazil begins lagging behind other nations in the race for industrialization. But to modernize, Brazil must first break bonds and become the last state in the western world to end slavery. From abolition and economic modernization to military reform and foreign influences, and even the future of the monarchy itself, delegates will determine whether Brazil enters the 20th century as a stronger Empire or writing its final chapters. Come to Brazil, or it will come to you!

About Isabel:

Ken Nava (He/Him) is a third year student studying Political Science and International Relations, with a certificate in Human Rights and Political Transitions and Middle Eastern and Muslim World studies, at Florida International University (FIU). Ken started his Model UN journey all the way back in middle school, and continued throughout high school and college. You may have seen him staffing across the high school circuit as a pastime when not competing on the college circuit at the likes of CIMUN, GatorMUN, MICSUN, and multiple versions of FIMUN, including as Director-General last year at FIMUN 38. His experience competing ranges across the continent, from San Francisco on one side to Montreal on the other, with awards along the way. His experience staffing primarily includes historical committees or those with complex special mechanics.

Outside of Model UN, Ken does significant research into issues he's passionate about. Not limited to the study of the Empire of Brazil (of which he has read the constitution four times, and owns a physical copy!). He also writes as a pastime, especially a historical fiction story he uses to pass the time set in Brazil in the 1800s. Ken loves the outdoors, and you can often find him by a pool, suntanning on a beach, working out, or walking through parks like the Everglades or the zoo. He is more than excited to see all the delegates this year at GatorMUN and looks forward to seeing you all travel back in time, and Come To Brazil!

Committee Description:

Isabel Cardella (She/Her) is a third year student studying International Relations and Religious Studies, with a certificate in Middle Eastern and Muslim World studies, at Florida International University (FIU). Isabel started her journey in Model UN as soon as she got to college, but competed in both Mock Trial and Policy Debate in high school. You may have seen her staffing, chairing, or directing across the high school circuit including GatorMUN, MICSUN, and multiple iterations of FIMUN! Her experience staffing primarily includes historical committees, but she has been seen staffing an occasional fantastical committee. She is currently serving as the Director-General of FIMUN 39, FIU’s high school conference.

Isabel takes everything she does as serious as she can, which you’ll see both inside of MUN and out. Her life outside MUN includes lots of research, sci-fi writing, reading, and traveling. She often says that she can actually feel her mental health decline if she spends more than a month away from Everglades National Park, where you will often see her taking photos and forcing her friends to enjoy the beauty of nature. She is so excited to see you all this upcoming GatorMUN and looking forward to all of your amazing speeches and demonstration of collaborative skills.