Issuu

September 17-19, 2004 www.danr.org Tel: (202) 238-0097

New York City The City College of New York

Message from

Chancellor Matthew Goldstein The City University of New York

Chancellor Matthew Goldstein and the Faculty, Staff, and Students of THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK congratulate The Dominican American National Roundtable on its 7th Annual National Conference

The City University of New York is proud to recognize two of its distinguished alumni as co-chairs of this year’s conference: Hon. Adriano Espaillat (Queens College), New York State Assemblyman, and Ana Garcia-Reyes (City College), Director of International Programs at Hostos Community College. CUNY, where over 23,000 students of Dominican descent are enrolled in degree programs, is pleased that The City College of New York is hosting this year’s conference. City College is home to the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, the only research initiative in any U.S. university devoted to the study of the Dominican experience. CUNY proudly acknowledges the institute’s executive director, Dr. Ramona Hernandez, alumna of Lehman College and the Graduate Center

DANR • 7TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

letter from

Our Fifth President Dear Members and Conference Participants: On behalf of the board of the Dominican American National Roundtable, I welcome you to our 7th Annual National Conference. It give me great honor and pleasure to have such a strong gathering of Dominicans coming from all over the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. For the second time in our organization’s young history, our conference is taking place in New York City. The Dominican community is one of the fastest growing Latino communities in the country and our influence in the areas of business, politics, education, science, health, law, sports, and entertainment are clearly measurable. We have much to be proud of. Our voice is now heard as high up as the United States Congress and the President of the United States. This year, I have had the privilege of taking the DANR on the road and visiting many active communities in New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Illinois, Massachusetts, Washington DC, Florida, and Pennsylvania. These visits have proven what most of us already know . . . Dominicans are everywhere and we are in high places in American society. It also proves that we are a diverse community with diverse voices and opinions. But our communities have far more in common, especially our love for our mother country: The Dominican Republic. This year’s conference theme is Education and Civic Participation. Given that this is an election year, the theme hit home with the Dominican community. Education has been the key to community empowerment. There are many in the community (including myself) who have had the privilege of getting educated in the U.S. and as a result, have open the doors of immeasurable success. However, these doors are not open wide enough for our community and more needs to be done. We as a community need to support and lobby for pro-education legislation (such as

EDUCATION AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION

the DREAM Act) which will increase access to a college education for all Dominicans living in the U.S. In addition, more needs to be done to promote retention of students, faculty, and staff in our schools. While all of these challenges will not get solved in one conference, it will, however, steer us in the right direction towards our educational goals. As is the case every year, there are elections in the United States. This year is particularly important as we must elect who will be the President of the Unites States for the next four years. While the DANR does not endorse candidates or political parties, it is important that our voice be heard. This year, the DANR will release an unprecedented report on the voter capacity of Dominicans in the United States. It is the most comprehensive report ever put together to measure the potential voting block of Dominicans. But civic participation means more than just going to the voting booths . . . it means active citizenship and active participation in the American democracy. I would like to thank the hundreds of people that have supported the DANR and I would also like to thank our platinum sponsors, HealthPlus, CUNY, BPD Bank, and Coca-Cola. It’s our hope that you get valuable information from our expert panelist and that you leave this year’s conference motivated and armed with the tools needed to empower our community and open new doors so that the next generation of Dominicans can reach their unlimited potential. With warm regards,

Cid Wilson President DANR

Message from

George E. Pataki Governor of The State of New York

DANR • 7TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Message from

Michael R. Bloomberg Mayor of the City of New York

EDUCATION AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION

Message from

Luis M. Diaz Assemblyman 86th District State of New York

Message from

Jerry Weller Member of Congress

Message from

Adolfo Carrion Office of The Bronx Borough President

DANR â€˘ 7TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Message From His Excellency

Dr. Leonel Fernandez Reyna President of The Dominican Republic

Mr. Cid Wilson, President The Dominican-American National Roundtable Seventh Annual National Conference & Annual Meeting New York City Dear President Wilson: We wish to thank you once again for the invitation and opportunity to engage in discussions on issues relevant to the development of our Dominican Community at your organization’s Seventh Annual National Conference at The City College in New York. The DANR’s Annual Conference offers a valuable experience to enrich participants with new ideas and perspectives vital for their personal, professional and civic well being. The workshops and panels present specific opportunities to enhance dialogue. Additionally, it allows participants to commit to the advancement of the socioeconomic and political agenda of the Dominican people and other communities. We congratulate the Honorable State Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat and Ms. Ana I. García Reyes as conference co-chairs, as well as the Board Members and yourself, as DANR President, for working diligently for the success of the DANR’s Annual National Conference and Annual Meeting in the United States of America. We are proud of DANR’s leadership and appreciate its contributions and commitment to promoting the Dominican-American agenda. Respectfully,

Dr. Leonel Fernández Reyna President of the Dominican Republic

EDUCATION AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION

Message from

Hillary Rodham Clinton United States Senator

Message from

Charles F. Schumer United States Senator

DANR â€˘ 7TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Message from

Co-Chairs

Dear Conference Participants: Welcome to New York! As chairman of the 40-member New York State Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, It is with great pleasure that I address this august body. Your diligent hard work and stated goals of developing a national forum, for the expressed purpose of analyzing and planning action to advance the educational, economic, legal, social, cultural, and political interests of Dominican-Americans, is a worthy goal. Embracing this holistic approach to the enhancement of all of the varied aspects of American life will allow each Dominican-American to enjoy the full rights and freedoms the United States Constitution guarantees. Being a founding member of the Dominican American National Roundtable, I am intimately aware of the progress we have made over the years. The momentum the National Roundtable has generated, since 1997, is concrete evidence that Dominicans are gaining in power and prestige in American society. Nonetheless, with great power and prestige comes great responsibility, therefore, we have an obligation to our community to continue to promote maximum civic participation. Moreover, the theme of this year’s conference “Education and Civic Participation: Empowering Our Community Through Academic Knowledge & Active Citizenship” perfectly captures our central goal, to advance our community on every level of human endeavor. I trust this conference will be both intellectually stimulating and socially rewarding. Sincerely,

Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat DANR Conference Co-Chair EDUCATION AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION

Dear Conference Participants: As past President and current Conference co-chair, I am pleased to welcome you to our Seventh Annual Conference and Membership Meeting. This is the most important event of The Dominican American National Roundtable (DANR), and I am extremely pleased to be part of this historical moment. As the nation’s leading advocate for Dominican Americans in the USA, DANR remains committed to advance its national agenda on behalf of the community, and membership that it represents across the nation. This year’s Annual Conference offers the perfect venue for discussing issues relevant to the urgent needs of our underserved Dominican/Latino communities. I am especially pleased that we have set aside this year’s forum to discuss the education and civic participation of Dominican Americans. The time is right for us to convene and consider how to employ more effectively the tools we have at our disposal to better equip our future generations. This is indeed a very important year for us, because of the upcoming presidential elections. It is my hope that the discussions will stimulate all the participants to register and vote for their favorite candidate. As citizens of this great nation it is our civic duty to do so. I urge you to attend the different activities and workshops that are being presented at the various locations. I hope that this conference will also serve as the base for re-affirming and reclaiming the legitimate space we deserve as Dominican Americans in the USA. Developing a coordinated collective response to the civic and educational challenges our youth faces must be a top priority for all of us, in order to advance as a community. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate each one of the honorees, and my special thanks to the wonderful group of volunteers who graciously donate their time to this worthwhile cause. Always know that your efforts are appreciated!!! I would also like to thank our sponsors for saying presente and for supporting DANR. Last, do not forget to renew your membership, if you haven't done so. Please feel free to network and enjoy the conference. Saludos afectuosos a todos!!

Ana I. Garcia Reyes DANR Conference Co-Chair 7

Our History The concept of the Roundtable emerged in December 1997, when over 200 Dominican American leaders from around the country met in Miami, FL, to discuss the educational, economic, legal, social and political status of the more than one million people of Dominican origin in the United States. This historic gathering was organized and hosted by the Dominican American National Foundation of South Florida under the leadership of Margarita Cepeda. President, and Radhames Peguero, Executive Director; the Office of New York State Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat; and Rhode Island's Quisqueya in Acton Youth Organization. Embracing the theme "The National Agenda," the conference included workshops and symposia addressing education, public policy, health care, immigration reform, community empowerment and economic development, among other topics, with attendees from states and cities with large Dominican populations.

1997

Following the Dec. 1997 conference a meeting was organized that brought together at Alianza Dominicana, Inc. in NYC a broad spectrum of Dominican community leaders. The participants created a National Interim Steering Committee to develop the formal structure and initial agenda of the Roundtable. In April of 1998, the interim steering committee met at the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute of the City College of New York to plan a path forward that included several other gatherings designed to secure the grassroots and leadership buy-in necessary to ensure the Roundtable's success and effectiveness, For example, during a working conference held in Washington, DC, in June 1998, 47 Roundtable participants met with federal officials to introduce the Roundtable and its national agenda,

1998

In January 1999, the National Interim Steering Committee elected the Official DANR Board of Directors, its officers, and its first president, Mr. Victor Capellan, from Rhode Island. In May 1999, the Roundtable gathered again in Rhode Island, at a public conference attended by over 600 people. The main topic of this 2nd Annual Conference, celebrated in May 1999, was "Toward the New Millennium - Strengthening Organizational Development for Dominican Communities in the United States." In addition to numerous educational symposia, the Rhode Island conference formally gave attendees the opportunity to provide input to the national steering committee concerning the structure, future activities, and vision of the Roundtable.

1999

In February 2000 the Roundtable was incorporated in Washington, D.C. With the theme, "Dominicans in the United States: Americas' New Face," the 3rd Annual Conference was celebrated in NYC on Oct. 6-8, 2000 with great success. and the DANR Board elected its second

2000

president, Hon. Adriano Espaillat, from New York In 2000 the DANR arrived at a level of organizational development which included: successfully organizing the first Roundtable event in NYC in partnership with Columbia University and major corporate sponsors, establishing membership participation, allowing members in good standing to vote for a new Board of Directors, increasing the numbers of members entering the organization, and obtaining the Federal Exempt Status. The Roundtable opened its headquarters in Washington DC and appointed Jose R. Bello as its Executive Director on Oct. 1st 2000. With the theme "Empowerment through Education: The Way for Dominican Americans" the 4th Annual Conference took place on Dec. 7-9 in Washington D.C. At the closing of this conference, Ana Garcia-Reyes was elected third president of the DANR leading a diverse 27member Board of Directors with an Executive Board made up of eight members, of whom seven were women.

2001

During 2002, DANR registered thousands of voters with the Dominican American Voter Registration and Participation Program in Manhattan, New York and ran the Dominican Internship Program, which placed Dominican students in the World Bank the Inter-American Development Bank and the US Senate Committee for International Relations. DANR also held two important meetings in Washington, DC, the Dominican American Business Legislative Meeting, where Dominican business leaders met with US legislators to discuss policy issues affecting our community, and our 5th Annual Conference entitled, "Our Local Empowerment Builds Our National Power." During the Conference, Ms. Margarita CepedaLeonardo was elected fourth president of the DANR. In addition, DANR published a 2002 Dominican American Calendar, to promote Dominican American artists, as well as, initiated an important advocacy agenda before the US Congress, the US Census Bureau, and INS, as to secure the rights of Dominicans in the United States and Puerto Rico.

2002

In April, DANR organized its first Congressional Delegation to the Dominican Republic, with the participation of 10 Members of Congress led by Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) and Rep. Cass Ballenger (R-NC).. In Washington, DC. DANR celebrated its second Business Legislative Meeting, as well as another successful edition of the Dominican Internship Program, and this time in partnership with the Group of Dominican Professionals of DC, In NYC, DANR sponsored a Dominican Heritage Celebration, and honored Dr. Hugo Morales, as the first Dominican Trustee at the City University

2003

of New York, as well as Hon. Adriano Espaillat, as Chairman of the New York State Black Puerto Rican And Hispanic Legislative Caucus. In conjunction with other national Latino organizations, DANR actively advocated in favor of Affirmative Action programs by filling two historical amicus briefs before the United States Supreme Court. DANR also advocated for several immigration and education bills that once passed will benefit immigrant students in the United States. As part of its yearly activities, DANR published the 2003 Dominican American Calendar to educate the public about our history in the United States, and celebrated is 6th Annual Conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey on October 10-12, 2003, with the theme "Dominican American Future: Health & Economic Empowerment. Creating Access in Health, Finance, and Education through Political Participation," The DANR enters the international debate on Free Trade by lobbying the United States Congress and the US Trade Representative to include the Dominican Republic in any Central American Free Trade Agreement negotiations. The DANR invites members of the Dominican and Puerto Rican community to hear opinions and comments from Congressman Charlie Rangel, Bronx Boro President Adolfo Carrion, and representative of the Dominican and Puerto Rican governments to discuss the positives and challenges of a free trade agreement between the United States and The Dominican Republic. In the summer of 2004, the DANR continues its Dominican Internship Program in Washington, DC. Also during the summer, the DANR initiated the first ever Youth Leadership Day in Providence, RI with the goal of empowering our nations youth with the tools to achieve the goals set out by our Dominican youth. During the tragic days following the deaths in Jimani, Dominican Republic, the DANR collaborates with the many communities around the country to bridge communications, thus helping to consolidate the relief efforts among the various states in the U.S. The DANR went to Chicago for the first time ever to participate in the National Hispanic-Latino Agenda Summit, in which DANR President Cid Wilson was the keynote speaker in helping the conference to present a national Latino agenda to both the Democratic and Republican parties. In August, the DANR receives honorary membership to the Dominican American Chamber of Commerce of Florida in Miami and honors founding Vice President Margarita Cepeda-Leonardo for her community support. DANR President Cid Wilson gives keynote address to the Lawrence, MA, Dominican community at the Lawrence, MA Dominican Parade Dinner. In September, the DANR releases its comprehensive report on Dominican Voter Capacity in the United States. The DANR also hosts its 7th Annual National Conference at CUNY in NYC, Sept. 17-19, 2004.

2004

DANR â€˘ 7TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Mission & statement The Dominican-American National Roundtable (DANR) is a non-partisan, non-profit corporation seeking to bring together the different voices of all people of Dominican origin in the United States. DANR is a national forum for analysis, planning, and action to advance the educational, economic, legal, social, cultural, and political interests of Dominican Americans. It aims to ensure for U. S. Dominicans the full exercise of the rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution of the United States of America. With those objectives in mind, DANR is committed to enriching the quality of life in the United States by highlighting the contributions of Dominicans to the larger American society.

Past Presidents Victor CapellĂĄn

Hon. Adriano Espaillat

1999-2000

2000-2001

Ana GarcĂa-Reyes

Margarita Cepeda-Leonardo

Cid Wilson

2001-2002

2002-2003

2003-2004

EDUCATION AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION

Board of Directors 2003-2004

Hon. Cid Wilson–NJ President

Josefina Infante–NJ First Vice President

Maria Luna–NY Second Vice President

Margarita Cepeda-Leonardo–FL Vice President of Membership

Commissioner of the Bergen County, NJ Improvement Authority, Vice President of Dominicans on Wall Street–DOWS, member of the NJ State Ethnic Advisory Council, and Vice President/Sr. Financial Analyst for Whitaker Securities, LLC in New York City.

Executive Director and founder of the nonfor-profit Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation–HPEDC — the largest Industrial park in New York City.

District 71AD Leader for Northern Manhattan and long time national activist

President of the Dominican American National Foundation of FL and Executive Director of the Miami Beach Hispanic Community Center. Founder of Quisqueya In Action Youth Organization in RI, Founding Member and 2002-2003 President of DANR.

Rafael Morel–FL Treasurer

Muriel Alfonseca–MD, Assistant Treasurer

Ninoska Uribe–NY Secretary

Dora Maria Abreu–NY Assistant Secretary

Certified Public Accountant and Vice Chairman of the Dominican American Chamber of Commerce of Florida.

Senior Executive of the Inter-American Development Bank and active member of the Grupo De Profesionales Dominicanos in Washington, DC.

Director and Principal Advisor of Nutrition and Health Education Programs for the Cornell University Cooperative Extension NYC Program

Community & Youth Activist, Computer Systems Manager for the NYC Housing Authority and Adjunct Professor for CUNY – Borough of Manhattan Community College CIS Department.

Ana Garcia-Reyes–NY Co-Chair of DANR Seventh Annual National Conference

Hon. Adriano Espaillat–NY Co-Chair of DANR Seventh Annual National Conference

Raysa Castillo–NY

Ralph Carrero–MA,

Attorney at Law and President of the Dominican Women’s Caucus in New York.

Director of International Programs at Hostos Community College – CUNY and advisor to the Bronx Dominican Day Parade Committee.

New York State Assemblyman and first Dominican ever elected to statewide office in U.S. history. First Latino in over 20 years to chair the NY State Legislative Black, Puerto Rican, and Hispanic Caucus.

Coordinator of Student Services of the Greater Lawrence Technical High School and member of Casa Dominicana in Lawrence, MA. Candidate for Mayor of Lawrence, MA in 1997 and 2001. First Latino in the history of the Lawrence to be elected to public office.

Consuelo Evans–NJ

Ivy Fairchild–NY

Oscar Herasme–NY

Zenaida Mendez–DC

Leader in the Hudson County, NJ Dominican community and Executive Manager of USB Merchant Services and advisor to the Jersey City Dominican Day Parade Committee.

Director of External Affairs for the Primary Care Development Corporation and the president of Landmark Consultants, a consulting firm specializing in organizational development and event planning.

Attorney at Law and President of the Dominican American Professional Alliance–DAPA in New York.

Founder of the Dominican Women’s Caucus, Racial Diversity Director for the National Organization for Women–NOW. Former Project Director for the Second National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit.

Rafael Nüñez-Cedeño, PhD–IL

Andres Paniagua,–MA

Everin Perez–RI

Moises Perez–NY

Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Dept. of Department of Spanish, French, et. al. for the University of Illinois-Chicago and member of the Dominican American Midwest Association in Chicago.

Professor at the University of MassachusettsBoston and Advisor to Casa Latina.

Associate Director for Adoption & Foster Care for the Urban League of Rhode Island. Board member for the Rhode Island Coalition of Immigrants and Refugees.

Executive Director of Alianza Dominicana in New York; appointee to the Governor’s Hispanic Advisory Council for Policy Development, New Jersey; member, National Hispanic Leadership Agenda.

Hon. Juan Pichardo–RI

Jose Torres–FL

Silvio Torres-Saillant–NY

Jhomphy Ventura–RI

Rhode Island State Senator and first Dominican-elected Senator in U.S. History.

President of the Dominican American Chamber of Commerce of Florida.

Associate Professor of English and Director of the Latino-Latin American Studies Program at Syracuse University and author.

President of CHISPA in Rhode Island and member of Quizqueya En Accion in Providence.

Alexandra Ventura–NY

Nelson Valdez–NJ

Pura Vasquez–PR

Lourdes Washington–MD

Deputy Director for Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis for the Department of Defense, Coalition Provisional Authority's Program Management Office. Former appointee of New York State Governor George Pataki.

Vice President of SEIU 1199 and senior political advisor for New York and New Jersey elected officials.

Attorney at Law and Activist on Dominican affairs in Puerto Rico.

Manager of Viva 900/WILC AM of Washington, DC–a division of ZGS Broadcast Hldgs. and member of the Grupo De Profesionales Dominicanos in Washington.

DANR Report On

Voters Capacity in the U.S. Presented By SEIU-1199 • Written by Deni Taveras.

This report estimates the potential electoral voter capacity of Dominican US citizens in the United States, at a congressional district level, and identifies potential statistical relations between Dominican U.S. citizens and actual voters. The findings of this report should encourage more academically rigorous studies as well as fuel incentives for political action. Despite the dramatic political advances of Dominicans in the US over the last three decades, there does not exist a comprehensive assessment of Dominican political behavior in the U.S. In fact, it is unclear how many Dominicans there are in the country. The U.S. Census has estimated that 25 percent of Dominicans were “misrepresented” and were not included in the Dominican count. Based on the cadre of information available it is reasonable to assume that at minimum there are a million Dominicans in the U.S., and this would reflect a need in the community to start educating and including these “new Americans” into the fabric of the American political system. This report finds that among the 12

“new immigrant” Latino groups studied, Dominicans have the highest rate of citizenship (57 percent). Moreover, 80 percent of the Dominican youth (under the age of 18) are US citizens. This underage cohort constitutes one-third of the entire Dominican population. Even more remarkable is the finding that Dominicans are located in every single one of the 437 congressional districts in the country (this includes the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico). Lastly, based on domestic population projections done by the US Census DENI TAVERAS

Bureau, it is estimated that by 2020, Dominicans will be nearly ten percent of the Latino population and, of the adult Dominicans, 50 percent will have the ability to vote in the US, if registered. This assessment should serve as a tool to increase the level of funding dedicated to educate, orient, and facilitate political participation and civic awareness among Dominicans residing in the United States. A closer look was given to the top 100 Congressional Districts in the United States with more than 500 Dominicans and find that these include states, such as, New Hampshire, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, and Alaska. If the data were corrected for the 25 percent misrepresentation, it could also potentially add Ohio, North Carolina and Texas, to this 500-person congressional district list. The number of Dominican adult citizens is extracted from these numbers. All calculations are compared at the congressional district level to the population and adult citizenship DANR • 7TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

figures for Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Salvadorians, and Colombians. The number of adult citizens is calculated, by Latino group, and used to measure voter capacity and the need for voter registration. This calculation is accomplished by using a shift-share method often employed in economic forecasting. In this report the US Census population distribution percentages, determined at the statelevel, are assumed to equal those at the congressional district level. Since 99 percent of Dominicans (and 93 percent of all Latinos) residing in the US are concentrated in urban centers, this proves to be a very reliable proxy for Dominicans. Through this research effort, it was hoped the number of Dominican registered voters, number of Dominican voter turnouts, and Dominican population projections at the congressional district level could be determined. While lack of available data limited the research findings, this report identifies what information is needed so that the Dominican community can become more empowered. Nevertheless, the envelope is pushed through the reporting of interim strategies that benchmark voter registration and voter turnout for Dominicans in Hudson County, and benchmark a cumulative Dominican voter capacity based on national Dominican population projections to 2020. For Hudson County we found that while Dominicans may comprise a small percentage of the general district population, ranging from 1 to 6 percent, within the Latino community Dominicans-Americans can be a meaningful voting cohort. Based on our calculations, Dominicans comprised 9 to 17 percent of the Latino population within these Congressional Districts and 6 to 12 percent of the Latino voting cohort. For the national forecast count, a three-dimensional population projection matrix was created that ranged over time (from 2004 to 2020), over annual growth rates (from 0.06 percent to 0.08 percent), and over a well-accepted range of Dominican population estimates. Based on our calculations, the residential Dominican

EDUCATION AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION

population will have grown from 3 percent in 2000 to nearly ten percent by 2020. A conservative factor is used to incrementally estimate the number of Dominican adult citizens. The results project that by 2020, 50 percent of Dominican adults will be able to vote. A discussion of emigration, immigration and net migration rates is also provided. Finally, the following recommendations are presented for potential national agenda items: • Include and streamline a Dominican self-identifying box into the Census and other national/local surveys, and produce a mechanisms to perform national/local surveys, by and for the Dominican community • Request race and ethnicity information at the time of voter registration • Facilitate voting registration through on-line/same-day sign up efforts; and, • Create credible and stable research partnerships with educational institutions. This report is an exploratory effort to assist local, state and national Dominican and Latino-focused institutions interested in increasing voter registration and voter turnout of the Dominican community at the congressional district level. Because of the limitations of the data, this can only serve as a credible starting point. The findings should inspire those in academia to conduct more in-depth studies that improve our methodology. It should also engage community activists to advocate for those Dominicans that do not yet have a political voice and to lobby for more reliable Dominican focused data collection, which is critically needed as Dominicans gain political power. Lastly, it is logical to assume that sustainable institutions and organizations ought to carry out the work of incorporating Dominicans and Latino in the American polity at all levels. As such, support to such institutional entities is critical, and thus, encouraged. The full report will be made public in September 2004. For information on this report, please call our office at 202238-0097 or email us at info@danr.org.

Dominican Elected Officials In The United States and Puerto Rico in 2004 Maryland Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Councilwoman College Park, Maryland Tomas Perez, County Councilman Montgomery County, Maryland Massachusetts Marcos Devers, Councilman Lawrence, Massachusetts Juan Gomez, Councilman Worcester, Massachusetts William Lantigua, State Representative Lawrence, Massachusetts Carlos Matos, Councilman Lawrence, Massachusetts New Hampshire Carlos Gonzalez, State Representative Manchester, New Hampshire New Jersey Ercides Aguasvivas, Commissioner (Councilman) West New York, New Jersey Tilo Rivas, County Freeholder & Commissioner (Councilman) Union City, New Jersey Ramon Rosario, Councilman Atlantic City, New Jersey Manuel Segura, Councilman Trenton, New Jersey New York Adriano Espaillat, State Assemblyman New York, New York Vivian Viloria Fisher, County Legislator Suffolks County (Long Island), NY Miguel Martinez, Councilman New York, New York Jose Peralta, State Assemblyman Queens, New York Diana Reyna, Councilwoman Brooklyn, New York Pennsylvania Julio Guridy, Councilman Allentown, Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Claribel Martinez-Marmolejos, Municipal Assemblywoman San Juan, Puerto Rico Rhode Island Miguel Luna, Councilman Providence, Rhode Island Juan Pichardo, State Senator Providence, Rhode Island Luis Leon Tejada, State Representative Providence, Rhode Island 13

Excellence Award 2004 Dr. Ramona Hernandez, Ph.D. A native of the Dominican Republic, Dr. Ramona Hernández attended Lehman College until 1979, obtaining a BA with honors in Latin American History, with a minor in Puerto Rican Studies. She then pursued graduate work at New York University, earning a M.A. in 1982 in the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Studies, a M. Phil in 1995, and a Ph. D in 1997, both in the Department of Sociology at the Graduate School of The City University of New York. Currently, Dr. Hernandez is at The City College of New York, one of schools that make up The City University of New York (CUNY). She is currently Director of CUNY Dominican Studies Institute and Associate Professor in the Sociology Department. Her research and publication interests include the mobility of workers from Latin America and the Caribbean, the socioeconomic conditions of Dominicans in the diaspora, particularly in the United States, and the restructuring of the world economy and its effects on the working and poor people. Dr. Hernández was appointed by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg to the twelve-members New York City Panel of Education. She served in the Panel of Education from July 23rd 2003 to March 15th, 2004. Dr. Hernández was recently appointed as the Book Review Editor of the Labor History journal. She is also a member of the Editorial Board of the Latino Studies Journal and Encyclopedia Latina: History, Culture, Society edited by Ilan Stavans. As Vice Chair of the Domincan Studies Association, Dr. Hernández has lectured at numerous Universities, including Yale University, New York University, Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo, Cornell University, Columbia University, University of San German in Puerto Rico, Rutgers University, University of Puerto Rico, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, Puerto Rico, University of Massachusetts at Boston and at Amherst, Millersville University, Clark University, Kean University, University of Miami, Trinity College, Colby College, Michigan State University, and most campuses of the City University of New York. Dr. Hernández is the author of The Mobility of Workers Under Advanced Capitalism: Dominican Migration to the United States (Columbia University Press, 2002), the co-author of Dominican Americans (Greenwood Press, 1998), co-editor of Desde la orilla: hacia una nacionalidad sin desalojos (forthcoming 2004, Editorial La Trinitaria) Dominican New Yorkers: A Socio-Economic Profile (CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, 1998), and the author of several book chapters and journal articles including Latinos in New York: Communities in Transition (1996, Notre Dame University 14

Press), “Beyond Homeland Politics: Dominicans in Massachusetts” in Latino Political Representation: Struggles, Strategies, and Prospects, edited by Carol Hardy-Fanta and Jeffrey Gerson (2001), “Dominicans and their Negritude” in Blacks in the Caribbean: The Struggle for Freedom, edited by Alan West (2002 Greenwood Press), and “On the Age Against the Poor: Migration and Deportation of Dominicans” in the Journal of Social Work Practice with Immigrants and Refugees (forthcoming, Fall issue).

Silvio Torres-Saillant Silvio Torres-Saillant, Associate Professor of English and Director of the Latino-Latin American Studies Program, is the author of Caribbean Poetics (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997), El retorno de las yolas (Santo Domingo: Librería la Trinitaria and Editora Manatí, 1999), and co-author of The Dominican Americans (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1998). He holds a Ph.D. on Comparative Literature from the New York University and is the founding Director of the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute at City College where he edited the CUNY=s Dominican Research Monographs Series and co-edited Punto 7 Review: A Journal of Marginal Discourse. He is a member of the senior editors of the forthcoming The Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States, co-editor of Vol. IV of Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage. Vol IV, and the forthcoming book The Challenges of Higher Education in the Hispanic Caribbean. His recent publications include contributions in Making It in America: A Sourcebook on Eminent Ethnic Americans, The Anthology of Hispanic Literature of the United States. Recent essays and chapters of his appear in the books: For the Geography of a Soul: Emerging Perspectives on Kamau Brathwaite (Trenton: Africa World Press, 2001), Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary Heritage Vols. III, IV and V (Houston: Arte Publico Press, 2000), and Latinos: Remaking America (Berkeley, Los Angeles, and Oxford: University of California Press, 2003). A member of the Advisory Board of the Latin American Writers Institute, the American Social History Project, the University of Houston=s Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary Heritage Project, and the University Press of Syracuse, Saillant served for three years in the Literature Panel of the New York State Council on the Arts and was a consultant for the Illinois Arts Council as well as for the Literature Organization and Prose Fellowship of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Since 1997, he is a Board of Directors Member of the Dominican-American National Roundtable, and of The New York Council for the Humanities since 1999. DANR • 7TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Dominican American Leadership Institute

Funded by

The Coca-Cola Foundation

The Dominican American National Roundtable is the first and only national organization advocating on behalf of the 1,300,000 Dominican residents and US citizens living in the United States. At the core of the Roundtable mission is the urgency to raise the level of civic and political participation of Dominicans Americans and empower them through education and advocacy programs. In 1992 the first Dominicans were elected in the United States. Twelve years later, in 2004, more than 22 elected officials from Dominican descent have been elected in eight states, from New Hampshire to Puerto Rico. To further enhance the civic and political participation of the vibrant community, the Dominican American National Roundtable has established the Dominican American Leadership Institute. Over the next two years, The Dominican American Leadership Institute will train 275 Dominicans throughout 12 five-day residential trainings in Washington DC. Seven segments of this immigrant’s population will be targeted: 1) EDUCATION AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION

students, 2) women, 3) NGOs employees, 4) educators, 5) entrepreneurs, 6) government officials, and 7) future political activists. The youth component of the Dominican American Leadership Institute will give these future leaders the educational tools needed to help improve the quality of life in their respective communities by taking leadership roles in local organizations and in government. To respond to such challenge, future Dominican leaders should: F Understand the mechanism of American public policy F Embrace proactive roles as advocates at local, state, and national levels F Become active citizens and smart customers in their communities F Comprehend all rights and duties of the US government F Enhance communication skills toward their Dominican fellows and the American public F Get “hands on” experience on community building consensus and partnership.

DLI will train 125 Dominican high school and college students on the understanding of the mechanism of public policy in the United States in 5 five-day residential leadership institutes in Washington DC. F Educating youth on the US political system with “hands on” experience in Washington DC and how to make it work in their favor. F Teaching key characteristic to be an effective leader and to effectively empower the Dominican American community. F Broadening the visual scope of issues and problems that affect Dominicans in the United State and Puerto Rico, such as voting rights, immigration, education, healthcare, housing, and labor issues. F Enhancing the public speaking skills on public forums and learn how to effectively communicate with U.S. elected officials. F Increasing and develop youth participation in Dominican American organizations, from student to community base organizations to national institutions 15

DANR Public Policy

Guiding Principles IMMIGRATION Family Unification

The Dominican American community values family, and DANR promotes policies, laws and regulations that increase legal immigration, especially based on the principle of family unification. • DANR is interested in the reduction of the "affidavit of support" of the immigrant sponsor to ease the reintegration in the United States of Dominican divided families. • Regulation of unauthorized Dominicans There are thousand of law-abiding, hard working and tax-paying Dominicans living in the United States asking for new paths to legal permanent residence. For national security reasons all people living in the United States need to live openly, not in the shadows. -To fully incorporate Dominicans in the US society the DANR asks the legalization of all Dominicans living in the United State territory. Promotion of US Citizenship

Although, the decision to become a US citizen is a personal decision, DANR encourages and promotes a full incorporation of all Dominicans with US residence to acquire the US Citizenship. • DANR asks government and private foundations to give support to Citizenship program that DANR is establishing. Asylum in the United States

DANR believes that all immigrants requesting asylum in the United States have to have equal treatment under the US laws and INS regulations.

• DANR asks the US Department of Justice to revisit current policies that give different treatment to different groups of immigrants.

sons as to why Latinos drop out of high school in greater numbers than everyone else in the nation.

• We ask for programs that help to transfer foreign professional skills into the US job market.

Access to Higher Education

School choice

Deportation of Lawful Dominican Citizens

DANR supports legislation and programs that foster recruitment, retention and graduation of Dominican students from college. We also encourage our students to seek graduate programs. • DANR will praise any legislation that enhances educational opportunities for Latinos and easy access to scholarship, grants, educational loans, etc.

Community practitioners and education leaders must be brought together to breach the gap between theory and practice, so appropriate access to basic education is identified. • DANR believes that alternative models such as charter schools must be designed, implemented and evaluated. • The business community must be brought into the dialogue as we attempt to figure out how to reduce the rate and numbers of Drop outs and school choice.

According to some interpretations of the current immigration laws a misdemeanor can lead to one's removal from the United States, no matter how long he or she has been a lawful permanent resident. • DANR asks the US Department of justice to work to modify the punitive interpretation of the immigration law that can lead to one's removal from the United States. Permanent Restoration of Section §245(i)

§245(i) Section gives immigrants an opportunity to apply for residency without having to leave the country provided that certain requirements are met. • We advocate for a permanent restoration of §245(i) to facilitate family reunification and allow business to maintain needed employees.

EDUCATION Drop-out/ School Retention

Dominican communities suffer one of the highest rates of dropouts among all major Latino communities. This is, as DANR recognizes, one of the greatest challenges of Dominican Americans. • DANR requests assistance, funding and attention to programs working towards the school retention among our students. • New research must be funded to more accurately ascertain the rea-

English as a Second Language

As a window for the incorporation of Dominicans to the US job market and US society, DANR promotes and supports ESL programs for Dominican communities in Puerto Rico and in the United States. • We ask for an increment in government funds to support ESL programs in our communities. Dual Language

Because we live in a global economy the DANR praises the richness of bilingual education. We encourage Dominican families to teach and practice Spanish, as well as to learn and practice English. • DANR promotes policies that guarantee the use and practice of Spanish for the coming generation of Dominican Americans. Professional Accreditation

Many Dominican professionals that recently migrated to US are facing problems of working in their professional fields. • DANR supports legislation and regulations that facilitate the accreditation in the US of foreign professionals.

ELECTORAL RIGHTS Political Endorsements

DANR does not endorse any political candidates, nor do we advise our membership to vote for any one. • However, in general terms we appreciate all US candidates, regardless their national origin, that legitimately promote and defend our communities. Voter Registration and Electoral Civic Participation

DANR promotes voter registration and electoral participation of all Dominicans with US citizenship. • We encourage Dominican American community base organizations to establish non-partisan programs of voter registration in our communities and DANR asks government and private foundations to support such programs.

DANR • 7TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Redistricting

The Voter Laws of 1965 was a centerpiece of the Civil Rights movement. • Continuing this tradition, the DANR will promote electoral district that ease the participation and political advance of Latinos, and especially Dominicans in the United States. Regulation of political financial contribution to foreign political parties

In compliance with US regulation DANR believes that all political fundraiser activities of foreign political parties need to have the same scrutiny and accountability as domestic political fundraising activities. • DANR asks for laws and policies that facilitate the supervision of Dominican Republic political organization and parties' activities in the United States and Puerto Rico. Non-political elected appointees

The Dominican American community needs to be represented in senior level non-elected appointees at all level of government, from city, state to federal level. • DANR encourages the promotion of Dominican appointees.

HEALTH AND AGING Health Insurance Programs

Latinos and Dominicans represent the largest sector of the uninsured in the nation. • DANR supports programs and initiatives to increase access and enrollment regardless of immigration status, in health insurance programs. • DANR supports programs and initiatives aimed at reducing health disparities in areas such as: Asthma, Tuberculosis, Diabetes, Cancer/Breast Cancer, HIV/ AIDS, Mental Health as well as others.

Dominican American Chambers of Commerce alliance with DANR

The Dominican community has been characterized as entrepreneurial community. DANR recognizes the importance of our business organizations for the success of the whole Dominican community. • DANR encourages a strong alliance of all Dominican American Chambers of Commerce to enhance the future of our business community. • DANR calls on the Small Business Administration to aid a process of institutional training and capacity building of Dominican Chambers of Commerce all around the country. Employment and Training

The Dominican community is largely a community of workers with a broad range of needs. Youth, newly arrived, displaced workers, underemployed, and women are technologically illiterate. Due to scarcity of employment, job training is highly needed. • DANR supports the design and implementation of a map study around certain conditions and needs and interests of Dominican American workers. Remittances

Dominican Americans send annually the largest foreign aid coming from the United States to the Dominican Republic. This aid represents the first source of income of the Dominican Republic and it is the result of the hard working culture and the solidarity of Dominican Americans. • DANR demands that private financial institution and governmental regulators work together on a reduction of transferring costs of these remittances. • Private financial institution, as a responsible partner of our community, should be involved in the

EDUCATION AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION

development of the Dominican American community. • Given the importance of remittances for the deployment of the Dominican Republic, DANR supports programs that use part of the Dominican American remittances to direct programs of development. Promotion of Community Base Organizations that service Dominican American communities

DANR asserts that the Dominican American communities are underserved by a lack of Dominican American community-base organizations, therefore we consider crucial to promote organizations that provide direct services to our communities. • Government officials, corporation and private foundations need to support Dominican organizations, and US elected officials may provide startup money from discretionary funds available.

HOUSING Housing Ownership

At the core of the American dream is home ownership. DANR encourages Dominicans in the United States to buy a residence. • DANR requests that agencies such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and private financial institutions create programs that ease the access to credit ownership for Dominican families. Affordable Housing Rent

High rents affect a disproportionate number of Dominicans in the US and Puerto Rico. • DANR calls on lawmakers throughout the community to approve rent stabilization pro grams and provide affordable housing. • DANR supports the creation of more affordable housing throughout the US and Puerto Rico and the extension of rent control and stabilization.

RACE, ETHNICITY GENDER AND SEXUALITY Race and Ethnicity

As Dominicans are a racially, ethnically, socially, and culturally diverse population with a very strong African ancestry, plus important aboriginal, European, and Asian roots. DANR recognizes, respects, and celebrates ethnic and racial difference. • DANR is committed to building bridges with African Americans and other communities of color to work together in projects of common concern. • Similarly, DANR is committed to forging collaboration ties to and building broad coalition with other subsections of the Latino community with which Dominicans share needs and concerns. Gender

Women play a central role in the future of the Dominican American community, especially since women outnumber men in the Dominican workforce and the majority of Dominican households are headed by women. • DANR embraces a policy of gender equality and vigorously oppose any act of discrimination against women or any exclusion or unfair treatment based on genderbias Sexuality

As an institution that is committed to diversity and the recognition of difference DANR acknowledges, values, and respects people's different sexual orientations, include gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, and transsexual members of the Dominican Community. • As such, DANR will not ally itself with any institution known to have intentionally engaged in practices of exclusion or discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

DANR • 7TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Agenda

Seventh Annual Conference The City College of New York, New York

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

September 17, 2004

September 18, 2004

September 19, 2004

ALL EVENTS TAKING PLACE AT CITY COLLEGE

7:30 am Registration in the Great Hall and will continue throughout the day.

8:30 am–9:45 am Breakfast Presentations with guest speakers

9:00am-12:00pm Morning Presentations, President’s Report, and Membership Meeting

5:00 pm-8:00 pm Opening Ceremony for DANR 7th Annual National Conference hosted by Council members Miguel Martinez & Diana Reyna New York City Hall located on Broadway (bet. Murray St. & Warren St.)

10:00 am–12:30 pm Morning Workshops/Plenary Sessions

CITY COLLEGE 138th St. & Convent Ave. New York, New York 10031

1:00 pm–2:30 pm Luncheon at the Great Hall with guest speakers

12:30 pm-2:30 pm Closing Luncheon at the Great Hall with guest speakers

3:00 pm–5:30 pm Afternoon Workshops/Plenary Sessions 8:00 pm–10:00 pm Gala Dinner at the Great Hall with guest speakers 10:00 pm After Party at The Clark Conference Center Milstein Building, 1st Floor 177 Ft. Washington Ave. (bet. 165th St. & 168th St.)

Education and Civic Participation: Empowering Our Community Through Academic Knowledge & Active Citizenship EDUCATION AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION

Board of Directors Since The Official Incorporaion 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48.

Arlene Álvarez, NJ (1999-2001) Roberto Álvarez, DC (1999-2003) Jose R. Bello, MA (1999-2001) Víctor Capellán, RI (1999-2003) Alejandra Castillo, DC (1999-2002) Margarita Cepeda-Leonardo, FL (1999-2004) Mariano Díaz, NY (1999-2000) Manuel Dotel, FL (1999-2001) Adriano Espaillat, NY (1999-2004) Epifanio Gil, MA (1999-2001) Rafael Lantigua, NY (1999-2001) Manuel Matos, NY (1999-2002) Radhamés Peguero, FL (1999-2003) Moisés Pérez, NY (1999) Juan Pichardo, RI (1999-2003) Felipe Rodríguez, MD (1999-2001) Ydanis Rodríguez, NY (1999-2001) Ramona Romero, PA (1999-2001) Silvio Torres-Saillant, NY (1999) Elvis Ruiz, RI (1999-2002) Adria Ureña, VA (1999-2000) Ninoska Uribe, NY (1999) Verouschka Capellán, RI (2000-2002) Raysa Castillo, NY (2000) Miguel De Jesús, PR (2000-2002) Josefina Infante, NJ (2000) María Luna, NY (2000) Rafael Morel, FL (2000) Marianela Peralta, MD (2000) Bárbara Pérez, IL (2000-2002) Ana Garcia Reyes, NY (2000) Luis Salcedo, NY (2000-2002) Muriel Alfonseca, MD (2001) Consuelo Evans, NJ (2001) Teodoro Regús, NY (2001) Nelson Valdez, NJ (2001) Alexandra Ventura, NY (2001) Cid D.Wilson, NJ (2001) Dora María Abreu, NY (2002) Ralph Carrero, MA (2002) Melba Depena, RI (2002) Oscar Herasme, NY (2002) Zenaida Méndez, NY (2002) Rafael Núñez, IL (2002) Lourdes Washington, DC (2002) Jhomphy Ventura, RI (2003) Everin Perez- RI (2003) Ivy Fairchild-NY (2003)

Highlights of the Previuos Year

Josefina Infante, Cid Wilson, Pura Vasquez, US Ambassador Hans Hertell, Alexandra Ventura, and Oscar Herasme at the Dominican Independence Day Reception at the White House

Cid Wilson chatting with Hans Hertell, US Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, during the Dominican Independence Day Reception at the White House

Cid Wilson addressing audience at the White House during the Dominican Independence Day Reception.

Participants registering for the DANR 6th Annual National Conference in Atlantic City, NJ

Everin Perez giving speech during DANR Youth Leadership Day in Providence, RI

The Providence, Rhode Island delegation at the DANR 6th Annual National Conference in Atlantic City, NJ

Alianza Dominicana attending the DANR 6th Annual National Conference in Atlantic City, NJ

20 20

Cid Wilson and Everin Perez with prodigy student at DANR Youth Leadership Day in Providence, RI

New Hampshire State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez gives speech in Atlantic City during the political forum that includes Sen. Juan Pichardo, Councilman Miguel Martinez, Councilman Marcos Devers, and Councilman Ramon Rosario. Moderted by Cid Wilson (Not in photo: Councilman Manuel Segura and Councilwoman Julia Silverio)

DANR • 7TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Zenaida Mendez, Cid Wilson, Moises Perez, Hon. Lizette Delgado, guest, Hon. Ramon Rosario, and Hon. Manuel Segura during the DANR National Conference Dinner

Workshop guests listening to speakers during the DANR 6th Annual National Conference in Atlantic City, NJ.

Jose Torres, Cid Wilson, Margarita CepedaLeonardo, and Rafael Morel at Dominican American Chamber of Commerce of Florida event in Miami honoring the DANR and Margarita.

Cid Wilson, Hon. Congressman Charlie Rangel, and Maria Luna in New York City

Cid Wilson and Ralph Carrero at Lawrence, MA Domincan Parade Dinner.

Jose Bello enjoying the afterparty during the DANR 6th Annual National Conference in Atlantic City, NJ.

Cid Wilson and Margarita Cepeda-Leonardo addressing audience with Union City, NJ Mayor Brian Stack, Hon. Leonel Fernandez, and Hon. Adriano Espaillat at the head table during the DANR 6th Annual National Conference in Atlantic City, NJ.

Wendy Martinez, DANR 6th Annual National Conference Coordinator in Atlantic City, NJ

DANR Conference Planning Committee meeting. DANR 6th Annual National Conference, Atlantic City

Hon. Leonel Fernandez, Margarita Cepeda-Leonardo, and Hon. Adriano Espaillat at the 6th Annual National Conference in Atlantic City, NJ

Martha Madera, Ana Garcia-Reyes, and New York delegation. DANR 6th Annual National Conference, Atlantic City

EDUCATION AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION

Dora Maria Abreu giving speech to the representatives of CUNY regarding the DANR 7th National Conference in New York. Also in photo are Cid Wilson and Vice Chancellor Jay Hershenson.

Hon. Leonel Fernandez sitting with Dr. Hugo Morales and others during afternoon forum of the DANR 6th Annual National Conference in Atlantic City, NJ

DANR Boardmember Lourdes Washington taking photos with Merijoel Duran of Univision, Juan Guillen of Dominican Times Magazine, and guests

Margarita Cepeda-Leonardo, Nelson Valdez, Jose Bello, Raysa Castillo, and others receiving an award with Union City, NJ Mayor Brian Stack observing. 6th Annual National Conference, Atlantic City

Lourdes Washington with conference exhibitors during DANR 6th Annual National Conference in Atlantic City, NJ

DANR • 7TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Outstanding Contribution

Our Founders 1996-2004

Margarita CepedaLeonardo (FL)

A Generation that Cares

Hon. Adriano Espaillat (NY)

Hon. Bernardo Vega

Jose Ramon Bello

EDUCATION AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION

Rhadames Peguero (FL)

Victor Capellan (RI)

Hon. Juan Pichardo (RI)

DANR • 7TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Top 25 Congressional Districts with the highest Dominican Population* Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

District Congressional Congressional Puerto Rico Congressional Congressional Congressional Congressional Congressional Congressional Congressional Congressional Congressional Congressional Congressional Congressional Congressional Congressional Congressional Congressional Congressional Congressional Congressional Congressional Congressional Congressional

District 15 - New York District 16 - New York District District District District District District District District District District District District District District District District District District District District District District

12 - New York 13 - New Jersey 8 - New Jersey 7 - New York 5 - New York 17 - NewYork 5 - Massachusetts 10 - New York 2 - Rhode Island 6 - NewYork 9 - New Jersey 8 - Massachusetts 2 1 - Florida 18 - New York 17 - Florida 25 - Florida 9 - New York 6 - Massachusetts 18 - Florida 4 - New York 10 - New Jersey 11 - New York

US Congressional Rep. Rep. Charles Rangel Rep. Jose Serrano Rep. Anibal Acevedo-Vila Rep. Nydia Velasquez Rep. Robert Menendez Rep. William Pascrell, Jr. Rep. Joseph Crowley Rep. Gary Ackerman Rep. Eliot Engel Rep. Martin Meehan Rep. Edolphus Towns Rep. James Langevin Rep. Gregory Meeks Rep. Steven Rothman Rep. Michael Capuano Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart Rep. Nita Lowey Rep. Kendrick Meek Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart Rep. Anthony Weiner Rep. John Tierney Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Rep. Caroline McCarthy Rep. Donald Payne Rep. Major Owens

Dominicans 123,807 100,801 56,146 54,087 35,818 28,006 26,940 26,322 22,247 20,046 15,266 14,371 13,389 13,105 11,336 11,151 10,768 10,461 10,174 8,809 8,805 8,410 8,331 7,992 7,812

Latinos 313,114 410,986 3,762,746 317,550 308,247 167,117 258,581 153,721 133,691 74,014 112,513 51,606 110,277 122,001 100,878 445,275 106,056 135,334 398,852 89,203 28,122 400,633 89,291 97,250 9,366

Source: US Census Bureau 2000. 108th Congressional Districts (100 Percent). * Note: These figures do not account for 25% of misrepresentation amount Dominicans and 0.7% of undercount for Hispanics as determinted by the US Census Bureau.

EDUCATION AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION

Notable Thank You’s Abel Guerra, Former Hispanic Liaison – The White House Ada Rodriguez, HealthPlus Alejandra Castillo – Former DANR Boardmember from Washington, DC Alma Santana, Zoning Commissioner – City of Jersey City Ana Russell, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital Andy Lugo, Dominican Bar Association Aneiry Batista & Richard Polanco, Office of Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat Axel Miranda, Office of NJ Governor James E. McGreevey Barbara Gonzalez-Beals – Greater Lawrence, MA Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Cesar Vizcaino, Dominican Parade of Newark, New Jersey Claudio Croces, DANR Webmaster – Miami, FL Cristina Schwarz & Merijoel Duran, Univision 41 – New York Darys Estrella, President of Dominicans On Wall Street (DOWS) Dennis Rivera, President of 1199-SEIU Dr. Felipe Rodriguez, Omar Arias, & Ricardo Tejada of Grupo De Profesionales Dominicanos – Washington, DC Dr. Hugo Morales, Trustee – The City University of New York Dr. Rafael Lantigua, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital Earl Graves, CEO of Black Enterprise Magazine Ed Diaz, Coca-Cola Bottling Company of NY Eli Diaz, Dominican American Chamber of Commerce of NY Ernesto Bautista of JBEA – Lawrence, MA Felipe Febles & Rosa Ayala – Bronx Dominican Day Parade Fernando Ferrer, Former Bronx Boro President Francisco Perales, Vice President of Hispanic Markets – Citigroup Inc.

Frank Diaz, Tonio Burgos & Associates Hellen Peña, Dominicanos Unidos En Louisiana Hon. Bernardo Vega, Former Dominican Ambassador to the U.S. Hon. Guillermo Linares, Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs – Office of Mayor Bloomberg Hon. Hans Hertell, United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Hon. Hiram Monserrate, New York City Councilman Hon. Hugo Guiliani Cury, Dominican Ambassador to the U.S. Hon. Jose Pimentel, Former Consul General of the Dominican Republic Hon. Julia Silverio, Former Councilwoman – Lawrence, MA Hon. Sonia Guzman, Secretary of Commerce for the Dominican Republic Jay Hershenson, Vice Chancellor – The City University of New York Jerome Simon & Joseph Gallopini – Metropolitan Food Services, Inc. Jessie Ramirez, Promoter, Film Producer, & Columnist – HOY Newspaper Joanne Fernandez, Office of Governor George E. Pataki Jose Bello, Vice President of BPD Bank and Former DANR Executive Director Jose Perales, Trade Policy Advisor – Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Juan & Maritza Del Toro, JT Telecom Corp. Juan Guillen, Dominican Times Magazine Juan Troncoso, Quisqueya En Accion – Providence, RI Judith Marcano, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Dominican Republic – Washington, DC Julissa Gomez, President of the Dominican Bar Association (DBA) Kim Ramos & Bob Cory - Mirram Group

EDUCATION AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION

Lark-Marie Anton – Office of Mayor Michael Bloomberg Laura Gutierrez, Office of Councilwoman Diana Reyna Lilliam Perez, Office of State Senator Eric Schneiderman Lillie Cariño, 1199-SEIU Lizette Delgado, Former Asst. Secretary of the State of New Jersey Lucilo Santos, Dominican American Council of New Jersey Luis Canela, President of BPD Bank – New York Luis Salcedo & Paul Fernandez, National Supermarket Association Luz Jimenez, Office of Vice Chancellor Jay Hershenson Luz Mendez & Rose Rodriguez, Office of Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton Maria & Wendy Ovalles – Providence, RI Maria Teresa Feliciano, President of the NJ Conference on Dominican Affairs Marina Acosta, President of the Lawrence, MA Dominican Day Parade Martha Jaramillo, Graphikmar Design & Printing Mayra La Paz, Portada Dominicana Meisu Marcano – Office Manager for the DANR in Washington, DC Melba Depeña, Former DANR Boardmember – Providence, RI Miguelina Garcia, Quisqueya Travel, Miami, FL Milca Esdaille, IntelliWords Communications Miosotis Muñoz & Annie Minguez, Office of Congressman Charlie Rangel Nestor Montilla, CUNY Television Niche Ward & Lindsey Bond – National Organization for Women (NOW) Nilda Wilson, Dominicanos Pro-Ayuda a la Niñez Norma Vega, Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund (MALDEF)

Nurys De Oleo, Northern Manhattan Coalition Odeliza Pérez, Office of the Providence, RI City Council Office of Congressman Anthony Weiner (NY) Office of Congressman Charles B. Rangel (NY) Office of Congressman David Dreier (CA) Office of Congressman Donald Payne (NJ) Office of Congressman James Langevin (RI) Office of Congressman Jose Serrano (NY) Office of Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL) Office of Congressman Marty Meehan (MA) Office of Congressman Robert Menendez (NJ) Office of Congressman Steve Rothman (NJ) Office of Manhattan Boro President C. Virginia Fields Office of Senator Jon Corzine (NJ) Office of State Representative Barry Feingold (MA) Peter Fontanes, National Hispanic-Latino American Agenda Summit Rhadames Peguero, Dominican American National Foundation of Florida Roberto Alvarez, Former DANR Boardmember in Washington, DC The Family at Alianza Dominicana Tonio Burgos, Tonio Burgos & Associates Tony Rogers & Anthony Achille, Office of Government Affairs - The City College of New York Venecia Fernandez & Daisy Rodriguez, Office of Senator Charles Schumer Wendy Martinez, Office of NJ Assemblyman Brian Stack Yanette Brito, Accion Juvenil Latina of New Jersey We also wish to thank the spouses of all of the DANR Boardmembers who have allowed their husbands & wives to serve the Dominican Community.

Isabella Geriatric Center salutes

The Dominican American National Roundtable for its commitment to empowering the community through academic knowledge & active citizenship 7th Annual National Conference 2004

Providing Care for Generations Long-term Care Dementia Care Short-term Rehab Senior Housing Home Health Care Adult Day Health Care Child Day Care Respite Care Walking Works Wonders Isabella 50+ Club Senior Resource Center 515 Audubon Avenue New York, NY 10040 (212) 342-9200 www.isabella.org 28

DANR â€˘ 7TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

EDUCATION AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION

We salute the Dominican American National Roundtable for its leadership in Movint the Dominican Community Forward in the United States Congratulations to the DANR for its 7th Anual National Conference in New York City

DANR â€˘ 7TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

EDUCATION AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION

DANR • 7TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

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EDUCATION AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION

DANR • 7TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

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DANR â€˘ 7TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Felicita a la Dominican American National Roundtable por celebrar su S茅ptima Conferencia Anual y trabajar por la Educaci贸n y Participaci贸n C铆vica de todos los dominicanos en Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico