Our 15th Anniversary
Letter from our
President Dear Friends and Supporters of DANF: ienvenidos! On Behalf of the Board of Directors of the Dominican American National Foundation (DANF), I welcome you with open arms to the 15th Anniversary Celebration and the National Community Leadership Award presentation. Once again, we join together as a community to celebrate the 15 years of accomplishments of the DANF. Today, we are filled with joy as we take part of this wonderful organization. All these years of dedication have led to the growth of programs and the stability of the fiscal soundness of our social service agency, thanks to funding sources such as the Children’s Trust, Americorps and Miami Dade County’s Department and Alliance for Human Services. I would like to take this opportunity to express my congratulations to Rhadames Peguero, Executive Director, all staff and Carol Guzman-Hoffman our grant writer for the remarkable work done during these past two fiscal years. We are proud of our agency’s working track record both in the areas of programming and fiscal management. The Board of Directors and staff have commenced the preliminary work to establish a capital campaign for the purchase of a building that will house all our current and future programs and activities. This evening DANF is honored to have keynote speaker, Dr. Barbara Carey-Shuler, Chairperson of Miami Dade Board County Commissioners, whose unconditional support helped DANF reach a higher level of service delivery. In addition, we are honoring individuals from the community whose leadership is exemplary in the areas of business, media and health. We salute to Roberto Alvarez, Dr. Angelica Floren and Willie Lora, recipient of this year’s National Community Leadership Award. We hope to have your continue support. With warm regards,
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Margarita Cepeda-Leonardo President of DANF Estimados amigos y colaboradores de la DANF: La Junta de Directores de la Fundación Nacional Dominico Americana les da la bienvenida con los brazos abiertos a la celebración del 15 Aniversario y la entrega del Reconocimiento de Liderazgo Nacional. Nuevamente, nos reunimos para celebrar los quince años de logros de la DANF. Estamos orgullosos de formar parte de esta maravillosa organización. Nuestro consistente y duro trabajo está dando sus frutos con el crecimiento de todos los programas y nuestra solvencia financiera como agencia de servicio social, gracias a organizaciones como el Children’s Trust, Americorps, y el Miami Dade County Alliance for Human Services. Queremos aprovechar esta oportunidad para manifestar nuestro más sincero agradecimiento a Rhadamés Peguero, Director Ejecutivo, el personal y a Carol Guzmán-Hoffman, nuestra destacada relatora por el trabajo realizado durante los dos pasados años fiscales. Estamos orgullosos del trabajo que nuestra agencia ha venido desarrollando en las áreas de planificación y manejo financiero. También la junta de directores y el personal han iniciado el trabajo preliminar para iniciar una campaña de recaudación de fondos para la compra de un edificio que será el nuevo hogar de nuestros actuales y futuros programas y actividades communitarias Esta noche para la DANF es un honor tener como principal oradora a la Doctora Barbara CareyShuler, miembro de la Comisión del Condado de Miami Dade, quien incondicionalmente ha brindado su apoyo a esta entidad a alcanzar un gran nivel de servicio a la comunidad. También, estamos reconociendo individualmente a personalidades de nuestra comunidad por su liderazgo individual en las áreas de negocios, medios de comunicación y salud. Ellos son Roberto Alvarez, Dra. Angélica Florens y Willie Lora quienes recibirán este año el premio de liderazgo nacional comunitario. Confiamos en poder continuar recibiendo su apoyo. Con afectuosos saludos.
The Dominican American National Foundation – 1
1989-2004
Message from our
Executive Director Rhadames Peguero
F
ifteen years ago, there were virtually no 501 (c)(3) non-profit organizations in Miami Dade County, or the State of Florida dedicated to serve the Dominican American community. Today we continue to be the only Dominican American lead-organization that proudly display its colors, and continue with a clear mission of empowering our community. At this moment we are concentrating and dedicating all our efforts to DANF’s future! Our history has been recorded in the minds of thousands of people that we have served during the last fifteen years. But the future of the Dominican American community will depend in how hard we are going to work in order to provide better opportunities for our community and other disadvantaged ethnic groups. As I look into the future, the dream of a facility equipped with a Learning Center, Day Care, Pre-School Center and office space has become my immediate priority. This Fifteen Years Anniversary celebration has confirmed my belief that coherence, hard work and determination brings positive results, and I am sure that with the
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leadership of my Board of Directors, the commitment and professionalism of the staff, and the help and support of our friends and collaborators this dream will become a reality. Another priority is the development of community-based educational projects and capacity-building projects, for the purpose of obtaining specific benefits for our community. In order to achieve better education, better job opportunities, capable leadership, and political representation, it is extremely important that the organization receive the utmost support from all entities in order to better concentrate all our efforts on behalf of the disadvantaged and minorities communities. If we wish to keep growing we must not encourage divided feelings and animosity among partisan groups. We cannot lend our voices and our future to those that ignore the hard work and dedication of our community. This is our responsibility; this is our community, and I feel that we are just as capable to lead it as anyone else is. Hace quince años no existían en Miami o en el Estado de la Florida organizaciones 501(c)(3) dirigidas y dedicadas a la comunidad Dominico-Americana. Hoy continuamos siendo la única organización Dominico-Americana que orgullosamente exhibe sus colores en el Estado de la Florida, la cual es dirigidas por dominicoamericano con una clara visión de trabajar en pos del desarrollo de nuestra comunidad, y otras comunidades. Esto se refleja tanto en su junta directiva, su staff y a la diversidad. De personas que servimos. En esto momentos estamos concentrando y dedicando todo nuestro esfuerzo en futuro de La Fundación Nacional Dominico-Americana! Nuestra historia ha sido grabada en la mente de miles de personas que hemos servido durante los últimos quince años. Pero el futuro de la comunidad Dominico-Americana va a depender de cuán duro estamos dispuestos a trabajar
para proveer mejores oportunidades para nuestra gente, incluyendo cualquier grupo étnico. Mirando hacia el futuro, el sueño de un edificio equipado con un Centro de Enseñanza, Cuidado de Niños, Pre-Escolar y Centro Tecnológico se ha constituido en mi prioridad. La celebración de este quince aniversario confirma mi creencia de que “la coherencia, el trabajo tesonero y la determinación dejan resultados positivos. Estoy seguro que con el liderazgo de mi Junta de Directores, el profesionalismo y dedicación del staff, y mas que nada la ayuda y apoyo de nuestros amigos y colaboradores, este sueño pronto será una gran realidad. Otras de la prioridades es la de crear proyectos en pro del desarrollo de Organizaciones con Base en la Comunidad, y capacitación de sus dirigentes, para de esa manera recibir beneficios específicos y concretos que afecten de manera positiva a nuestra comunidad tales como: mejor educación para nuestros hijos, mejores oportunidades de trabajo, acceso a planes habitacionales, lideres capaces, y representación política. Finalmente yo propongo que concentremos todos nuestros esfuerzos a favor del desarrollo de nuestra Diaspora en Estados Unidos. No podemos continuar disipando nuestros esfuerzos en un “sueño imposible”. La división y animosidad que los partidos y los políticos inyectan a nuestra comunidad es nociva, y no debe ser tolerada. No podemos empeñar nuestras voces y nuestro futuro a otros que históricamente han ignorados el arduo trabajo y la dedicación de nuestra comunidad, ese es nuestro trabajo, esta es nuestra comunidad, y creemos que somos capaces de dirigirla ya que hemos crecido y nos hemos desarrollado en el corazón de la misma. Nosotros vamos a usar y a reclamar el derecho de determinar nuestro futuro, y estamos listos para hacer lo que sea necesario para garantizar el mismo. Gracias.
Our 15th Anniversary
Message from
Dr. Barbara M. Carey-Shuler Chairperson, Board of County Commissioners District 3
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1989-2004
Message from
Jeb Bush Governor of the State of Florida
Message from
Alex Penelas Mayor of Miami-Dade County
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Our 15th Anniversary Message from
Manuel A. Diaz Mayor of the City of Miami, Florida
Message from
Alcee L. Hastings 23 Congressional District – Florida
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1989-2004 Message from
Message from
Betty T. Ferguson
Dennis C. Moss
Commissioner District 1 Miami-Dade County, FL
Commissioner District 9 Miami-Dade County, FL
Message from
Jimmy L. Morales Commissioner District 7, Miami-Dade County, FL
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Our 15th Anniversary
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1989-2004 Message from
Cid Wilson President Dominican American National Roundtable
Special Guest
Painting Exhibition by The Two
Adriano Espaillat
Monnalisas
State of New York Assembly, Chairman of Task Force on Black, Puerto Rican and Hispanic Legislative Caucus
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Yahidith Monnalisa Natacha Monnalisa
Our 15th Anniversary
Board of Directors
President
Margarita Cepeda
Angel Barboza
Arturo López
Augusto Corniel
Rafael Morel
Samuel Moya
Grecia García
Joyce Núñez
Secretary
Novella García-Peguero
Celeste Reyes
Roberto Guzmán
Sucre Reyes-Cohen
Vice-President
Olga Acosta
Treasurer
Ana Francisco
Assistant Treasurer
Santiago Fermín
DOMINICAN AMERICAN NATIONAL FOUNDATION 2885 NW 36TH STREET • MIAMI, FLORIDA 33142 • TEL. 305-637-8337 • FAX 305-638-9474 1 - 8 7 7 - 6 3 0 - 8 3 3 7 • 1 = 8 7 7 - 3 6 2 - 8 3 3 7 • w w w. d o m i n i c a n a m e r i c a n . c o m The Dominican American National Foundation – 9
1989-2004 Margina MuĂąoz, Administrative Assistant
The
Future
of DANF. The choices you
make today envisage where you'll be tomorrow. In the case of the DANF today's present is the mere result of the choices made fifteen years ago. It was merely a small group of motivated individuals that in 1989 elevated the idea of organizing a group of individuals with the same goals and mission: to help gear the economically and academically challenged individuals towards a life of self-sufficiency and a healthy lifestyle. Today, DANF celebrates yesterday's choices in preparation for tomorrow's actions.
I Left: DANF's afterschool program is open Monday thru Friday from 2pm to 6pm. Daily activities include reading groups, homework assistance with the help of MDC volunteers, snacks and refreshments, and Martial Arts classes. Rigth: One of DANF's upcoming programs is the VISTA Americorps Program, which consists of 5 Members working Full Time and focusing on academics, community service projects, and fundraising.
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n 2004 and for the first time, DANF is the home of seven youth and intervention/prevention programs, all aiming to help the individuals digress from a troublesome path to a career oriented one. Programs funded by Miami-Dade County's Department of Human Services such as the Improving Community Control Program, Positive Youth and Development, Family Empowerment, Academic/ Vocational, and Neighborhood Information, and The Children's Trust, are only a scope of what DANF is preparing for in the next few years. All these programs are multi year contracts allowing us to open the doors to
those children and families that need the help and support. In order to meet their needs in the most beneficial way DANF will start working with Americorps' Vista Program and its volunteers. These volunteers will provide additional attention and service to each program and its clients. Nowadays, DANF's clients rely on the extra assistance of young adults from local high schools such as Miami Jackson Senior High volunteering to meet their high school requirements. However, these students are not only meeting their prerequisites, they are also gaining invaluable working experience and learning the importance of
Our 15th Anniversary
Keyla Castillo assists DANF Administration and Program Coordinators with daily administrative duties. She intends to pursue a college degree after graduating, and use her diverse work experience gained while working for DANF.
responsibility by working with the students on a one to one basis, or by learning to file and sort documents. In addition to working with high school students DANF maintains a collaborative partnership with Miami Dade College and the students, whom are also seeking to meet course requirements. These volunteers, unlike the high school volunteers, interact more and serve as role models to the children and adolescents assigned to them. DANF plans to build from the foundation already establishing with the volunteers to provide additional positive guidance for all its clients by initiating a mentorship program through collaborations with college students from universities such as the University of Miami. Through this mentorship program, both the adult and the child will exchange priceless and hopefully gratifying and life changing moments. As much as DANF continues to expand and grow in numbers, it cannot do so effectively unless it moves to a new home to house all these programs. DANF's vision of a new building continues to permeate among the Board of Directors and the staff. Plans for a new building have started and the finalizations are just around the corner. A new building will mean new faces, new environment, new services,
Future plans for DANF particpants include more community service opportunities, fundraising, and cultural/academic projects aimed to motivate and educate the kids.
new programs, etc. These new programs, for example will be developed in the area of performing arts including belly dancing and tap dancing; other programs will target child care, substance abuse, and college placement to name a few. The increase of programs will open doors to new people and of course more data. For the first time DANF will enter and maintain its own database management system for the organization and reporting of each curriculum and its clients. The increase of plans will also open doors for DANF to step onto other sectors of the Miami-Dade county, eventually to other surrounding northern counties, and one day to national offices. To date, DANF has collaborated with more than one hundred local agencies, non-profit organizations, and businesses to and celebrate special community events and projects. The year two thousand four is just a preview of what is to come for DANF. Each current and upcoming program is unique in its own way targeting and serving a specific population of youth, be it a registered client or a volunteer, but the one common ground between all programs is that they aim to help shape our youth's present into a healthy and successful future.
Prior to this program, DANF is currently collaborating with one of Miami Dade College's Professors by offering a volunteer opportunity to his students. This project serves to better acquaint us with volunteers and service projects in preparation for the VISTA members
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1989-2004 Vanessa D'Oliveira, Assistant Program Director
Empowering education
by Paul Arguedas
through
As a social worker and the new Assistant Program Director, I deeply believe in DANF's mission statement. All these programs that DANF offers help the participants to empower themselves through education, prevention/intervention and to provide services that they are entitled to. DANF offers a variety of youth programs intended to empower our youth and enhance their futures. We group participants into two clusters, offenders and non-offenders, and offer programs to compliment their situations.
T
he "Youth Crime Diversion through Family Empowerment" and "Improving Community Control" programs accommodate youth involved with the criminal justice system. These programs work with youth who have been court-ordered to complete a multi-week program in order to prevent recidivism, help transitioning during probation and to ensure a successful re-entry into society. The youth portion includes mandatory crime-diversion workshops, academic tutoring, counseling, job preparedness and computer works, plus bonding and creative activities for youth. For example, the youth are taken to jail tours to create awareness and a reality check. The familyoriented intervention strategy includes work with a case manager, various activities and required workshops. Work with the entire family is a means of helping the youth and reducing/deflecting the familial risk factors that could encourage delinquency. Weekly learning groups address the needs of youth, families, and children, as appropriate for the age level and culture of the involved participants. The neighborhood emphasis is a neighborhood-wide education and outreach campaign that stresses the importance and effectiveness of training and intervention, as a means of averting incarceration and also improving the neighborhood. This portion also emphasizes civic engagement, civic responsibility and citizenship.
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Hilda Maria Acosta is joining students Angel Pichel and Manny Acosta in the arts and crafts group. They are making the final touches on the "goodies" bag received from DANF to use on Halloween.
The After-School Program provides participants with homework assistance, tutoring, computer training, cultural and recreational activities. In addition, participants partake in alcohol, drug abuse and conflict resolution workshops. The Child/Parent Literacy Program assists young Hispanics and their parents in achieving English literacy, and gives parent training in child development and parenting. The overarching goal of this program is to strengthen families, increase school success for youth, and increase par-
ent involvement in their children's development and to help communities improve the lives of their residents through healthy families. At this point, the DANF team is working together in different projects such as a Thanksgiving and Christmas party. Starting November 2004 DANF will be adding belly dancing and drama classes to its work plan. Moreover, we are establishing a service learning experience with MDC students to volunteer with our programs.
Our 15th Anniversary Ricania François, Program Coordinator
The
ICC Program offers a positive direction for young adults The ICC Program is a program that offers a positive direction for juvenile offenders between the age of 13 and 17. It consists of supervising and educating the youths while introducing them to beneficial life learning activities. The process begins with an intake, where there is an initial meeting with youth, his/her legal guardian, and myself; The program's rules and regulations are also discussed.
O ICC Program's Coordinator, Ricania François is assigning a Latin America country to one of participants, at the first annual Hispanic Heritage Month Potluck.
nce the youth begins attending, I perform periodic follow-ups with the youth, the youth's probation officer and legal guardian on his/ her progress. Throughout the duration of the program, the youth is involved and receives valuable information on subjects such as anger management, sub-
ICC participants presented their country and related facts to the group on Friday, October 29, 2004. After the presentation, all students enjoyed the ethnic food contributed that day for their own and the staff’s enjoyment.
stance abuse, financial planning, career assessment, improving selfesteem and job readiness. The youth also receives academic tutoring, participates in social and recreational activities including field trips to local colleges and universities, and jail tours. By exposing the youth to the programs' services, the youth will be able to grasp learned knowledge and apply it to everyday life situations while making the right choices and building skills to demonstrate positive achievements. In the future of the ICC Program, I see many projects and opportunities for the program and the youths. I would like to introduce them to many other educational workshops involving subjects such as nutrition, family values, and manners. I would also like to help expand their creativity by introducing and exposing them to the diversity of the arts, such as the museum, musical plays and symphonies. Role models and positive guest speakers are always sought to help the youths learn about life and the decisions they make.
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1989-2004 Maria Dias, Programs Coordinator
Our
Youth, Family Immigration
and
Services
As the current program coordinator and case manager here at the DANF. The four programs that I am currently managing are the Family Empowerment, Referral Services, the Immigration Vocational/Academic, Positive Youth and Families Program.
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he Family Empowerment Program is dedicated to working with Juvenile offenders who were diverted from court action by enrolling in a delinquency prevention plan to ensure a positive and successful re-entry into society: this program essentially emphases family bonding and empowerment. The youth offenders are between the ages of eleven and seventeen years of age. They are required to attend at least 9 hours a week where we offer services such as on site tutoring, counseling services, along with weekly peer/family workshops. Working with the entire family is a means of helping the youth and deflecting familial factors that could encourage delinquency. Weekly learning groups will address the needs of youth, families and children, as
appropriate for the age level and culture of the involved participants. The Referral Services Program currently offers classes in GED and computer classes. All of which the classes have had a successful attendance rates. The program promotes self-efficiently by providing skills to individuals and making them more marketable in the workplace. The other two programs that I am still implementing are the Immigration Vocational/ Academic Program and Positive Youth Program. With The Immigration Vocational-Academic Program we will receive referrals from local Workforce-One Stop centers. The program will be providing immigrants with soft skills workshops essential to the needs of the community for job placement.
Case Manager, Maria Dias is assisting and reminding two of the Family Empowerment's participants to complete the daily sign in/out sheet.
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Positive Youth and Families target 120 Hispanic families throughout the community that have language barriers. The foundation of this program is literacy for the whole family. In our local community, there have been numerous times where I have seen kids translating for their parents; we want to empower the parents so they may interact more with the lives of their children. The DANF has been unsurpassed service for fifteen years; we have become a safe haven for disadvantage youth and their families. My experience here, although I am a fairly new member of this team, has been superlative. The staff here is truly understanding of the needs of the community and convenes to the needs of cliental.
Claudia Garrido helps individuals seeking immigration, citizenship, or job placement assistance on a daily basis using resources such as the DANF directory of services and the Switchboard of Miami.
Our 15th Anniversary By Claudia V. Garrido, DANF - Receptionist
Raul Lopez, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Our
Counseling Services
My role as a psychotherapist consists of several functions, one them being to provide brief individual evaluations of new clients that are referred by the Claudia Garrido is assists at last 25 individuals with matters of immigration and citizenship.
court to the ICC program. Following this evaluation I provide brief individual psychotherapy as well as group psychotherapy, depending on the case.
Academic Vocational Program I have been working for the DANF as a receptionist and a general office aid for the past two years and I am from the Dominican Republic. I am the first contact that all clients have when they call or visit our facility looking for orientation, guidance or to participate in the multiple services or programs that we offer the community. For me it is a pleasure being a part of this foundation and my greatest effort is to ensure a professional treatment and courtesy to everyone. An important component of our services are the people concerned with immigration issues. We serve about fifty clients weekly and receive at least 80 telephone calls daily. As an immigrant I can relate to many of the clients that we serve. I'm happy to assist someone that calls or visits us with the purpose of obtaining information regarding immigration, and even though we are not a law firm we can direct them to the correct person or in many cases refer them other facilities for legal or professional help with the approval of my supervisors. The communitarian and social work, the interaction with people from different nationalities are all new experiences for me, but I'm able to understand that in our communities there are numerous problems that exist in all minority groups. This is part of the job that I accomplish for the foundation, and feel very proud to work in this organization to help and collaborate in all I can because I'm also a part of this community.
T
he primary focus of these group intervention sessions is to discuss issues such as anger management and substance abuse prevention; yet within the context of these groups we can address any relevant issues that they may be struggling with and that may be causing their maladaptive behavior. For example, we hear issues relating to social and community stressors, as well as family issues like parents' divorce or the loss of a parent due to death incarceration or any other unfortunate circumstance that may have contributed to their emotional and behavioral difficulties. Another component of my services is providing family counseling sessions where I meet with both the parent(s) and the adolescent to work on any identified parent/child issues.
It is equally unfortunate that oftentimes these young people have had unfavorable experiences in their school system that compound their problems and impact their positive adaptation in society. The overall purpose of my intervention is to enhance proper and healthy adaptation to society. In a case in which a client presents a clinical issue that would require more in depth intervention, I refer him or her to a community mental health center where they would continue for further evaluation and treatment. My clinical services are available to any students in the program that may going through a crisis. I am very pleased to be a member of this valuable organization and be part of the positive services that it is providing to the local community and its citizens.
Therapist, Raul Lopez serves students and their families on an individual basis or in a group setting at least three times a week. If needed, students are also referred to clinics such as Miami Behavioral or New Horizons for further consultation
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1989-2004 Susan Clarke, M.S., Tutor
Our
Tutoring Academic and
Services
Positive youth and families program targets 120 families (children and parents) to participate together in literacy workshops, and reading sessions. The Family Empowerment targets at least 38 youth offenders between the ages of 11 and 17 years old that are mandated to attend the program at least 9hrs/week and participate in youth/parent workshops, family bonding workshops at least one hour/week.
Participants of the Family Empowerment partake in workshops dealing. Students read articles and discuss with staff, including Tutor, Susan Clarke and Case Manager, Maria Dias.
B
oth these programs encompass two fundamental areas: academics and counseling services. Tutoring is available Monday thru Friday to students in high need of assistance under the instruction of a certified teaching specialist. Counseling is available at least three times a week to individuals for individual/ group counseling under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker.
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ACADEMICS Tutoring is an educational service that is offered to the students at the DANF. Many of the students here are dealing with a lot of stress due to situations in their home lives, etc., and they also quite often find the learning of academic knowledge to be another stressful situation. It has been shown that stress and mental turmoil can create noise/mental static that blocks students' abilities to retrieve knowledge stored, and greatly impedes their ability to reason and comprehend which then result's in academic impairment. Anxiety inhibits cognitive and physical performance. "In sync" positive uplifting feeling such as appreciation and care lead to increased harmony and unison between the brain and nervous system to facilitate their ability to think clearly and rationally process information. Finding this "insync" greatly enhances learning. Students who have learned how to get "in-sync" have shown significant academic improvement. The tutoring program at DANF provides the correct external conditions essential to support positive growth and to sustain further positive development for the student. Many students and young people have experienced stressful and disappointing
Our 15th Anniversary experiences and failures that produced negative self-images, and loss of selfconfidence. Intervention is the needed service necessary to reserve this situation. Students need to be empowered so that they can pass through the gateway into the twenty first century society of commerce successfully. It is a society that is rooted in a knowledgebased economy where highly skilled and educated workers are becoming the norm. We work to smooth their pathway on to college, or on to other alternative programs. We aim to encourage the best in our students, it is integral to our job, first so that they can get up to grade level proficiency, and then to continue to ratchet up in their achievements, skills, and attainments. Here at DANF our tutoring program encompasses skills assessment, homework assistance, help with math, language skills, literacy, English proficiency, and computer skills. Students are instructed with vocabulary, word skills, phonemes, reading fluency, comprehension, and writing. We offer instructional settings such as individual, one to one, small group, peer instruction, and cooperative learning (teacher modeling, and role models). We get to know our students' individual capacities and needs to provide the personalized attention and support. The teacher is patient and firm, and understands and implements the lesson taught. The tutor explains, clarifies, and demonstrates the lesson skills. Some students have short attention spans. To address this problem the knowledge is broken up into small "chunks" so that the students can easily absorb it. This way the students are not so overwhelmed, and they can easier learn and absorb the material, a small piece at a time. Also, lessons are taught using a variety of lesson plans, workbooks, formats, and materials, to keep up the student's interest. Lesson address both academic and social needs and skills. Tutoring at DANF provides for academic rigor, educational support and challenges, and is based on a sense of purpose to provide all the students
Students are preparing their posterboard on their assigned Latin American country to present at the first annual Hispanic Heritage Potluck held on October 29, 2004.
with the opportunity to succeed in high school, college, etc. Students are helped, stimulated, and encouraged to learn in a structured supportive setting that promotes healthy and positive growth. They gain self-confidence and respect for themselves and others, and they are strengthened to make it over the gap and on through the gateway to achieve a better life, for themselves and society. Intervention that provides much needed educational tutoring empowers these students at risk to have a turn around in their lives, from a life of impending failure, to a life rich with success and positive outcomes.
Students shared their opinions on the project and we were glad to hear some very positive and valuable feedback, including, "I had fun doing this", "I had never done something like this".
DANF staff held the first parent/staff meeting in October to discuss past, present, and future activities for their kids. The parents’ support and cooperation is DANF’s second wheel to keep running the programs effectively.
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1989-2004 Djenepha Polynice, Program Coordinator
The
Martial Arts After-School Program Currently the Program Coordinator at DANF, and enjoying my experience with the youth. The after school program is focused on youths ages 5-15, which is a significant gap, but it also allows for learning from all parties. We mainly focus on homework assistance and tutoring for those students that need the extra help. Many of them are not at their reading level and extra time is allotted to them so that they can progress with their peers.
T Up: Instructor Francisco Cruz and students: Joel Betances, Ronny Espinosa, Carlos Vasquez, Bryan Collins, and Elizabeth Rodriguez practicing "the jab". Down: Afterschool Program. Vanessa D'Oliveira is reviewing and emphasizing program rules and regulations.
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he goal of the martial arts activities is to teach them to defend themselves in difficult situations, and to learn the importance of modesty, self-confidence and discipline. The martial arts program is an incentive for those who have completed their homework and reading assignments. Students are placed into reading groups aace to be responsible for the group's performance. At the end of the month or two, depending on the progress, students will be rewarded for their reading with a pizza party, a field trip or any other appropriate prize. My goal for these students is that they will be better behaved, become better learners and become more interested in the experience of learning and becoming educated in several areas of their interest. I hope that not only do the students benefit, but also the parents at seeing that their child is doing better in school and is beginning to enjoy their daily activities, especially by coming to the after-school program.
Our 15th Anniversary
Dominican American National
Leadership Awards Saturday, November 13th, 2004, at 7:00 pm Hyatt Regency Hotel, Miami Downtown, Florida Roberto Alvarez Washington, D.C Business Honoree
* 1982- MASTERS in International Relations from the School of Advanced International Studies of the Univ. John Hopkins, Washington, DC. * 1968- Doctorateís Degree of Law- University Autonoma of Santo Domingo * 1976- Maestria en Derecho Comparado, University of Georgetown, Washington, DC Positions/Honors * Specialist, Intern American Commission of Civil Rights.. * Associate Director, Central American and Caribbean Program * Consltant, BID
Willie Lora CNN en Español Media Honoree
Dr. Angelica Floren Florida Health Honoree
* Consltant, Instituto Latinoamericano para la Prevencion del Delito y el Tratamiento del Delincuente de las Naciones Unidas Official Delegate, International Amnesty * Guest Speaker of Civil Rights AT Multi Universities: American University, Univ. Autonoma de Sto. Domingo, RD, Central American University of Managua, Nicaragua, Rutgers Law School in Camden, New Jersery, FIU, and Miami City University in New York. • OTHER WORKS Author, writer of Dominican newspapers: El Caribe, Listin Diario, Rumbo, and Gaceta Judicial.
Born in Santiago, Dominican Republic • 1983 Bachelor in Television production and direction, University of Miami. • 1987 Master in Communication and Journalisim from the Univ. of Miami 1987 • Worked at Univision, Telemundo, Reuters International, NBC, and CBS Telenoticias • Became Production Director of Chanel 7 Cibao in the Dominican Republic • In 1995 he won first and thrid place of the International Film and Television Festival Asoc intl the TV y Cine en NY • In 2001 traveled Airforce One with the President of the United States for the coverage
of the President’s first trip to Latin America during his first term. Countries visited were Mexico, Peru and El Salvador. • In 2002 The National Academy of Art and Sciences awarded him with an Emmy for his coverage of the 9/11 events. • In 2004 The Government of the Dominican Republic condecorated him with the Duarte, Sanchez y Mella Order in the rank of Gentelman. • Have traveled around the world for the coverage of the most relevants news and have produced for CNN Espanol the most important special events.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics • 1967-73 MD Degree from the University of Navarra Pamplona, España • 1974-75 Internship, Univ. of Puerto Rico • 1975-77 Residency, Univ. of Puerto Rico • Sep. 1976 Fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital POSITION/HONORS • Robert Reid Cabral Childrenís Hospital, Sto Domingo, Dominican Rep.: 1977-79 Asst. to the Chief, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; 1979-83 Physician in Charge, Nenonatal Intensive Care Unit; 1983-87 Senior Physician, Outpatient Care, Outpatient Department; 1987-91 Physician in Charge. • 1991-present Asst. Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Miami School of Medicine
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHPS • Active Member: Dominican Society of Pediatrics, Asociacion Medica Dominicana; Dominican Association of Pediatric Researchers; Dominican Society of Infectious Diseases • President, Fundacion Dominicana de Infectologia de la Florida Other Works, Publications and Abstracts • Management and evolution of lead poisoning in pediatric intensive care. • Continuous positive airway pressure. 1980. • The neonatal intensive care unit. General Information. 1980. * Clinical and immunological findings in milk protein sensitivity.1985. * Gonococcal etiology of vaginitis in pre-menarchial girls. XXIV convention of Pediatrics, 1988.
The Dominican American National Foundation – 19
20 The Dominican Amernican National Foundation