The Late Dr. Frank Bonilla to Be Honored with the 2018 Illustrious Lifetime Achievement Award-In Memoriam for his Unparalleled Leadership in Education
Click here or on video link for a brief story about Dr. Bonilla and a list with photos and brief videos of each one of the 2018 Illustrious Awards recipients.
Ginetta Candelario, Ph.D., gives testimonial about how Dr. Bonilla helped her and several other Dominican women such as Dr. Ramona Hernandez, Ph.D., Nancy Lopez, Ph.D., Belkys Suazo Garcia, Ph.D. and the late Belkys Necos, Ph.D. to realize their dream of earning Ph.D.s and other graduate degrees.
“He let in Dominican women…a lot of us,” she stated referring to Dr. Bonilla as a mentor who advised many in their pursuit of graduate degrees.
New York, NY.– In this piece, the Institute for Latino Studies (ILS) offers a glimpse of the illustrious life of the late Dr. Frank Bonilla. Dr. Bonilla’s legacy will be celebrated on Friday, September 14, 2018 at 6pm at the third and last Installment of the Illustrious Awards.
The video includes statements by Edwin Melendez, current director of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies; a statement, distilled from research archives, by Dr. Felix Matos Rodriguez, former director of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College.
In addition, Ginetta Candelario, Ph.D., gives testimonial about how Dr. Bonilla helped her and other Dominican women such as Dr. Ramona Hernandez, Ph.D., Nancy Lopez, Ph.D., Belkys Suazo Garcia, Ph.D. and the late Belkys Necos, Ph.D., realize their dream of earning Ph.D.s and other graduate degrees.
Dr. Candelario acknowledged that Frank modeled her academic pursuit from the beginning and created the conditions for her to earn a Ph.D. in Sociology at the CUNY Graduate School.
“He let in Dominican women…a lot of us,” she stated to Nestor Montilla, Sr., who conducted the film/video interview for the Institute for Latino Studies.
The video ends with a list, some photos and brief videos of the 2018 Illustrious Award Recipients to be honored at the ceremony slated to take place on Friday, September 14, 2018 at 6pm at the CUNY Graduate School, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016 (34th Street and 5th Avenue, across the Empire State Building).
The Illustrious Awards Ceremony, a signature initiative of The Institute for Latino Studies, documents and highlights the contributions of Latinos to the advancement of the United States of America. The contributions of Latino icons are video-featured and honored in a professionally produced formal ceremony and Collectible Tribute Journal.
Dr. Frank Bonilla was a revered leader in the Puerto Rican community, scholar, activist and humanitarian. Dr. Bonilla founded and served as first director of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College (Centro).
He dedicated his career to giving Latinos and other underrepresented groups a voice in the academic world.
His scholarship concentrated on Puerto Rican and Latino studies, focusing in particular on the political and economic forces that engender exploitation and injustice.
He began his academic career in 1960 with the American Universities Field Service in Latin America and then joined the political science department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), pursuing his interests in Latin America.
He taught at Stanford University and the CUNY Graduate Center before being appointed Thomas Hunter Professor of Sociology at Hunter College.
As Centro’s director from 1973 to 1993, he helped define the field of Puerto Rican studies and established Centro as a vital academic and community resource. While at Centro, he co-founded the Inter-University Program for Latino Research; worked for community empowerment and against the disproportionate imprisonment of members of communities of color; worked to deter institutional racism, and advanced prison-based education and other prison reforms.
Background information about Frank Bonilla, Ph.D.:
Mathematician Alberto Correa Among Distinguished 2018 Illustrious Awards Honorees
“It was a double whammy for me: I was Dominican and black. Yo cargaba con dos discrimenes: era dominicano y negro.,” said Mathematician Alberto Correa of his pursuit of graduate studies and Ph.D. in Puerto Rico.
New York, NY.– Mathematician Alberto Correa, Ph.D., is one of The Illustrious 2018, to be honored (Science-Mathematics) on Friday, September 14th at the Graduate Center of The City University of New York (34th St. & 5th Ave.).
In this exclusive film interview, Dr. Correa shares about his difficult journey in pursuit of higher education in Puerto Rico.
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“It was a double whammy for me: I was Dominican and black (‘Yo cargaba con dos discrimenes: era dominicano y negro’),” said Mathematician Alberto Correa of his pursuit of graduate studies and Ph.D. in Puerto Rico.
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“Attaining the Master’s Degree gave me more satisfaction than the Ph.D. The Master’s Degree was a serious challenge, because I graduated from the University of Puerto Rico…can you fathom that?”
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“My main professional accomplishment is to have earned a Master’s Degree. I even cried when I graduated, because I thought I was not going to make it. It was very difficult.
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Dr. Correa was asked to share his experience as a graduate student at the University of Puerto Rico and to explain what did they do to him?
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He replied: “What didn’t they do to me? That’s the question. I was discriminated against in the classroom. I was discriminated against within the family because my first wife was Puerto Rican and they rejected me, as they were not ready to accept my success.”
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With faith, courage and determination, he defeated hatred and racism by attaining a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree and a Ph.D.
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Today, almost half a century after his arrival as an immigrant in Puerto Rico, Dr. Correa is now a highly respected university professor at Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico.
His passion is to help students overcome their fear of mathematics.
“My fight against math phobia was born out of seeing children crying because they failed a math test. They would say to me: ‘But I studied so hard and still failed the test.’ It breaks my heart to see a human being crying and whimpering because they are afraid of mathematics.”
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His life story will be featured at the Illustrious Awards Ceremony among the life stories of a select group of outstanding Latinos to be honored with Illustrious Awards. To watch a video showcasing Dr. Correa’s story and the official nominees’ list, visit:
The Illustrious Awards, honoring distinguished Latinos, is a signature research initiative of The Institute for Latino Studies. www.instituteforlatinostudies.org.
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Official List of the 2018 Illustrious Awards Nominees
Paul Perez, a retired U.S. military officer, received the Illustrious Awards in Leadership
Among a select group of distinguished leaders, Paul Perez, a retired U.S. military officer, received the Illustrious Awards in Leadership.
Watch a brief video of the two previous Illustrious Awards ceremonies via this link: https://youtu.be/SMRI7OpU3pQ
The Illustrious Awards Ceremony, a signature initiative of The Institute for Latino Studies, documents and highlights the contributions of Latinos to the advancement of the United States of America. The contributions of Latino icons are video-featured and honored in a professionally produced formal ceremony and Collectible Tribute Journal.
The selection process
Nomination of candidates should be made on or before May 30, 2018 and can be made by boards of education, institutions of higher learning, professional associations/organizations, chambers of commerce, community organizations, government institutions, and the general public in fifteen (15) areas: Arts, Business & Entrepreneurship, Education, Television & Entertainment, Drama & Film, Government, Social Sciences, Judiciary & Law Enforcement, Leadership, Literature, Politics, Religion, Military, Natural Sciences, and Sports.
The Institute’s Illustrious Awards Selection Committee, composed by representatives of the judged fields of work, selects three finalists per category, based on the following criteria:
1. Nominee must be of Latino descent and residing in the United States
2. Nominee has at least twenty years of experience in her/his field (years of experience may be substituted 5 years per 1 major accomplishment)
3. Nominee must have at least one major accomplishment in her/his field
The honoree in each category will be the finalist with the highest point average in judged areas.
To complete and submit your nomination (s), please click here or on the bottom below.
Thank you!
The Illustrious Awards Ceremony, a signature initiative of The Institute for Latino Studies, documents and highlights the contributions of Tri-State Area Latinos to the advancement of the United States of America and the world. The contributions of Latino icons is video-featured and honored in a professionally produced formal ceremony and Collectible Tribute Journal.
For more information and to RSVP visit: www.illustriousawards.com
Contact us:
The Institute for Latino Studies
P. O. Box 224 Bloomingdale, NJ 07403
www.instituteforlatinostudies.org thelatinoinstitute@gmail.com
Washington, DC (Sunday, February 11, 2018).–U.S. Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey administered the oath of office to Bishop Alejandro Benjamín as the 10th President of the Dominican American National Roundtable (DANR), the only Washington DC-based nonpartisan organization advocating for the socio-economic and civic empowerment of Dominicans in the United States and its territories, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Swearing-in Ceremony took place at Rutgers School of Law at noon on Sunday, February 11, 2018 during the Luncheon Reception of the 18th Annual Conference on Dominican Affairs (CODA) coordinated by the Institute for Latino Studies (ILS). The conference took place from 8:30am to 4pm Rutgers School of Law located at 123 Washington Street Newark, NJ 07201.
More: www.danr.org
You are invited to 18th Conference on Dominican Affairs
PULSE AQUIPARA Ver y Escuchar la invitación de UNIVISION
También le invitamos a ver una entrevista que la reportera de UNIMAS les hizo a Nestor y Maria Teresa Montilla sobre los pormenores de la 18ava Conferencia Para Asuntos Dominicanos a llevarse a cabo el domingo 11 de febrero del 2018.
La entrevista sera transmitida por el canal UNIMAS el domingo 4 de febrero a las 7:30am. El canal de UNIMAS en Paterson y el norte de New Jersey es el 17. En otros lugares, consulte la lista de canales de su proveedor de servicio de cable.
A petición popular de parte de estudiantes de los Estados Unidos, habrá una ponencia extraordinaria en la conferencia sobre el miedo a las matemáticas por el Professor Alberto Correa, Ph.D., de la Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico.
Pulse aqui para ver y escuchar parte de su charla en la conferencia del 2016.
TheNational Dominican American Council (NDAC) launches an effective political tool to influence the political landscape in US. This interactive session features various aspects of the candidate endorsement process, such as criteria, methods and objectives of endorsements, as well as real interviews with candidates, who seek the endorsement of NDAC and the Political Action Committee of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey (LLANJ). Honoring the theme of the Conference Concerting Efforts to Advance our Prosperity Agenda, LLANJ joins NDAC in the interviews for the purpose of endorsement.
List of confirmed candidates who will attend:
Paul Perez, Candidate for mayor of Trenton, NJ
Alex Mendez, Candidate for mayor of Paterson, NJ
Ariagna Perello, Candidate at Large for the City Council of Newark, NJ
-Swearing-in Ceremony of Professor Alejandro Benjamin as the 10th President of the Dominican American National Roundtable (DANR)
Rev. Alejandro Benjamin
-Plenary forums, workshops, and the Annual General Assembly of the National Dominican American Council
-A plenary breakfast forum consisting of a research presentation by scholar Nestor Montilla, Sr. about the long-lasting effects of American Presidents’ military occupations of the Dominican Republic and the Republic Haiti on immigration from Hispaniola to USA.
This plenary forum also includes an open discussion about Montilla’s research findings regarding rape, sexual abuse and prostitution under the US 1916-1924 occupation of the Dominican Republic.
Considering that the American white male soldiers and military leadership deployed to invade the Dominican Republic in 1916 brought with them their white supremacy complex and condescending white superiority attitude towards women and a mostly dark-skinned African descent population, a salient point of the discussion will center on considering how US military’s policies aimed at changing Dominican traditional sexual and gender norms during the invasion of the Dominican Republic paved the way for the justification to control and deride women in society, and for the virtual institutionalization of rape, violence and sexual crimes against Dominican women.
This plenary will feature a select group of expert panelists and will include a Q&A section.
The 2017 Conference on Dominican Affairs (CODA) was made possible thanks to the generous support of UNIVISION, Formé Medical Center, Global Psychiatry Services, PC, and the collaboration of The Dominican American National Roundtable (DANR), Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jew Jersey (LLANJ), Dynamics Multilingual Services, and the National Dominican American Council (NDAC).
CODA is a signature project of the Institute for Latino Studies Research and Development (ILS).
About ILS The Institute for Latino Studies (ILS), founded in 2001, dedicated to quality research and advocacy for a better society, is a non-profit entity recognized by the federal government as a 501 (c) (3) organization. ILS believes that a solid understanding of cultural identity and people’s socio-economic reality is essential for development in a multi-cultural society.
The Black-tie ceremony is to be held at the historic Paul Robeson Campus Center at Rutgers University in Newark, NJ 07102 on the night of Saturday, September 23, 2017 at 6:00PM.
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RSVP is required for admission. A full house is expected. To RSVP and for more information visit: www.illustriousawards.com
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About ILS The Illustrious Awards is a signature initiative of The Institute for Latino Studies (ILS). The Institute, founded in 2001, is dedicated to quality research and advocacy for a better society; ILS is a non-profit entity recognized by the federal government as a 501 (c) (3) organization. ILS believes that a solid understanding of cultural identity and people’s socio-economic reality is essential for development in a multi-cultural society. www.instituteforlatinostudies.org
Latino Leadership Academy Class of 2017 Graduation at Berkeley College
On Saturday, May 20, 2017, at the Berkeley College Campus in Woodland Park, NJ, a new generation of leaders graduated from The Latino Leadership Academy. More
LLANJ and ILS to Graduate a New Cadre of Holistic Leaders
The Institute for Latino Studies and the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey are proud to invite you to the Graduation Ceremony of a new cadre of holistic leaders
Saturday, May 20, 2017, 11am
at Berkeley College in Woodland Park, NJ.
Space is limited.
If interested in attending, you are required to RSVP
before May 15th via llanj@mail.com.
More information: instituteforlatinostudies.orgwww.llanj.org
Expert Political Strategists to Lecture Fellows on Nuts & Bolts of Running for Office & Managing Political Campaigns
Newark, NJ.–The last training session of the Latino Leadership Academy’s Class 2017 will take place this Saturday, April 8, 2017 at Rutgers School of Law, 123 Washington Street Newark, NJ 07102 from 9am to 3pm.
The Running a Political Campaign seminar will be taught by two seasoned political strategists: Julio Marenco, of Hudson County and Henry Sosa, of Passaic County. Sosa will review basic elements of a political campaign and Marenco will deconstruct three design samples of political campaigns via an interactive hands-on approach.
“Both Sosa and Marenco have gained a good reputation in New Jersey for successfully guiding many novice as well as experienced candidates to victory,” said Nestor Montilla, Sr., director of the Latino Leadership Academy. “Julio and Henry are extraordinary political experts who train candidates to run for office using customized approaches, tailored to the particular characteristics of candidates and the political environment.”
Graduation Ceremony Latino Leadership Academy Class of 2017
The Institute for Latino Studies and the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey are proud to invite you the Graduation Ceremony of a new cadre of holistic leaders on Saturday, May 20, 2017, 11am at Berkeley College in Woodland Park, NJ.
Space is limited. If interested in attending, you are required to RSVP before May 15th via llanj@mail.com.
2017 Annual Conference In-depth Report
by The Institute for Latino Studies, Research and Development
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17th Conference on Dominican Affairs
at Rutgers School of Law
on Sunday, February 12, 2017, 9am to 4pm
Conference Succeeds at Facilitating Discourse on the Present & Future of US Dominicans
The Conference on Dominican Affairs (CODA), a signature event of the Institute for Latino Studies, succeeded once more at its role of serving as the only, and most powerful state-wide annual event in the Latino and Dominican American calendar in USA. CODA afforded hundreds of participants the opportunity to dialogue and strategize for community empowerment and advancement.
With the theme Claiming Our Legacy in USA, the 17th Annual Conference offered an inspiring and uplifting program of workshops, meetings and plenary sessions to the benefit of participants who, in spite of adverse weather conditions made it to Rutgers School of Law in Newark, NJ.
“CODA 2017 was one of the most productive and rewarding installments since its inception seventeen years ago,” said Dr. Maria Teresa Montilla, President of the Institute for Latino Studies, Research and Development, which hosts the conference. “People came from near and far to participate. On behalf of our Board of Directors, volunteers, UNIVISION and sponsoring partners, I thank you for your continuous support and participation. We’ll see you on Sunday, February 11, 2018 as we celebrate the 18th Anniversary of the Conference on Dominican Affairs.”
“We would like to thank all volunteers as well, such as Heidy Hernandez, Doris Ramos, Juan Familia, Rosa Scelti, Pedro Valerio, Alexander Garcia, Manuel Valle, Rebeca Goetz, Fausto Hernandez, Adenalina Familia, Ailin Rivera and particularly the extraordinary work and dedication of the Latino Leadership Academy fellows who diligently spent the day moderating, facilitating and ensuring the conference was successful,” said Nestor Montilla, Sr. “I would like to particularly congratulate the following fellows: Rev. Juan Rosario, Rev. Cleo Santiago, Rev. Fernando Plaza, Carla Jiménez, Eloisa Mercedes, Cathy Polanco, Sandra Batres, Rossana Genao, Miriam Younan, Maria Isabel Alarcon, Carlos Salinas, Alex Calixto Rodríguez, Gino Hernández, Sebastián Rodríguez, Elvin Dominicci, Erick Cedano, Manny Martínez, Jr., José Colon and Edwin Matias. They acquired hands-on experience on coordinating a state-wide leadership conference such as CODA.”
This year, CODA program included both annual meetings of the Dominican American National Roundtable (DANR) and the National Dominican American Council (NDAC). Board members of these two organizations contributed with their presence and participation as panelists and volunteers as well.
On Sunday, February 12th, the Conference opened with a plenary breakfast to discuss migration and social policy formulation in the Dominican Republic. Presenters included Alexis Lantigua, Vice Ministro de Politica Social Exterior, Dominican Republic, Dr. Irma Nicasio, Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo & Advisor to DR Senate, Ms. Florinda Rojas, Executive Director, Instituto National de Migración, Dominican Republic, and DR Consul General in New York Carlos Castillo. This forum was moderated by Nestor Montilla, Sr., Chairman of the Dominican American National Roundtable.
From left, Dominican Republic Consul General in New York Carlos Castillo; Alexis Lantigua, Vice Ministro de Politica Social Exterior, Dominican Republic; Ms. Florinda Rojas, Executive Director, Instituto National de Migración, Dominican Republic; and Dr. Irma Nicasio, professor at Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Advisor to the Senate of the Dominican Republic and advisor to the Dominican American National Roundtable.
This year’s program included four concurrent workshops in the morning:
The workshop on Women in Politics considered the journey of women into the political arena, the high number of women elected to public office in the last ten years, possible reasons, as well as the innovative campaign strategies used.
Participating panelists and speakers included Puerto Rico Legislator Claribel Martínez-Marmolejos, Rhode Island Senator Ana Quezada, New York Senator Marisol Alcántara, Maryland Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Former West New York Commissioner Fior D’Aliza Frías, Florida State Representative Daisy Baez, New York District Leader Yudelka Tapia, former PR legislator Ana Marchena, Ph.d., New Jersey Bethania Marmolejos, Lydia Valencia, Elis Sosa, Eloísa Mercedes, Miriam Younan, Rossana Genao, and Carla Jiménez. All shared their experiences, thoughts, and suggestions on women empowerment and leadership. Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno addressed the group with words of encouragement and solidarity. Most agreed that to successfully run for office it is of utmost importance to secure support from friends, family members and most importantly from their husbands.
The conclusion of the session was marked by a call to action and commitment from the women present to form a Women’s Leadership Support Group that would: identify and consolidate existing efforts of support to women in public office; support women currently in public office, and identify and support women aspiring to public office.
The Youth Initiative workshop consisted of a discussion about the need for a statewide student mobilizing engine for success and on addressing the question of how education and entrepreneurship could make a smashing combination to succeed. Moderated by Latino Leadership Academy fellow Maria Isabel Alarcon, the workshop presenters were Ernie Dominguez, Esq., Professor Jose Aleman, Dan-el Padilla Peralta, Ph.D. Seny Taveras, Esq., Commissioner Manny Martinez, and DANR Youth Vice Presidents Franklin Ventura and Augusto Suarez. All agreed on birthing New Jersey Leaders of Tomorrow, an entity to empower 9th thru 12th graders and other youth.
“The youth initiative workshop was very informative with regard to the challenges Latinos face when immigrating to the United States of America,” said workshop moderator Maria Isabel Alarcon. “Panelists shared their stories on how to overcome such challenges. One of the biggest barriers is learning the English language as well as becoming accustomed to the American culture. Panelists all emphasized the importance of education. They considered education the biggest equalizer in life. They also highlighted the importance of mentorship – whether through a family member, a teacher or community leader.”
Several bilingual high school students asked questions such as how could they overcome the fear of being new immigrants in the USA? How could they attain success?
Alarcon concluded the youth workshop stating: “We need to stop the division within our own Latin American countries. We need to stop thinking that if you are from Cuba you are better than someone from El Salvador. We need to understand that other cultures don’t see the difference in our countries. In fact, they see all of us as Latino immigrants. Therefore, we need to unite and work together in order for the Latino population in this country to become a powerful voice!”
The panelists of the forum on Health Professionals Initiative for community advancement were Dulce M. Ramos, President of Zunzun House, Inc.; Claritza Abreu, founder and president of LatInc, the first social media network for Latino professionals; Dr. Aritmedes Restituyo, Chairman of Asociacion Hispana de Profesionales de la salud; Adolfo G. Cuevas, PhD, Cancer Prevention Postdoctoral Fellow Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences; George A. Zeppenfeldt, Business Adviser to Manhattan Borough President and President & CEO, Association of Hispanic Healthcare Executives; Dr Francisco Roa, CEO of the Dominican Medical Association; Fernando Sosa; María Trusa, CEO of Forme, Medical Center & Urgent Care, and Dr Juan Tapia, from Pediatric 2000.
This panel was successful at materializing the idea of forming a Coalition of Health Professional Organizations and the signing of a collaboration agreement with the Dominican American National Roundtable.
Over fifty Board Directors and members of the National Dominican American Council (NDAC) held an extraordinary plenary membership meeting presided over by Chairman Nestor Montilla, Sr., to set their advocacy organization’s short and long term objectives and goals. National Civil Rights Leader Martin Perez, Esq. administered the oath of office before conference attendees.
Civil Rights Leader Martin Perez, Esq. administering the oath of office to members of the Board of Directors of the National Dominican American Councl (NDAC).
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Council members came from Puerto Rico, Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington, DC, Maryland and New Jersey. NDAC Senior board member Alberto Correa, Ph.D. from Universidad Inter Americana de Puerto Rico offered leadership development training to all participants. A founder of NDAC, Allentown, PA Councilman Julio Guridy outlined the reasons for the founding of the National Council in 2010: “The National Council was founded in response to the plight of many to have a grassroots advocacy organization at the local level and with the mission to advocate for the socio-economic and political advancement of our diverse communities.”
The Luncheon Plenary Session featured a Women Pow-Wow where Florida Representative Daisy Baez urged women to ‘utilize their background and skills when campaigning’, in her particular case, as a veteran of the United States military and ‘proud to have served her country’.
Rhode Island Senator Ana Quezada encouraged women to dare meet a need for representation, because ‘we can’. Maryland Delegate Joseline Pena Melnyk noted that being discouraged from running for the US Congress by the opposition and naysayers would be tantamount to ‘letting them win’; and NJ Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno shared her personal success story running for County Sheriff, a traditionally male-occupied position.
CODA 2017 paved the way for the birthing of a Faith-Based Leadership Training Program to raise awareness about the importance of building a coalition and a network of faith-based leadership, organizations and civic leaders to advance the latino/Hispanic Agenda in their respective communities. The program will be a state-wide and non-denominational initiative to be offered to any religious community and leaders in New Jersey and beyond. The Institute for Latino Studies’ main motivation with this initiative is co-op the Church as an agent of social change. The initiative is spearheaded by Latino Leadership Academy fellows Rev. Cleo Santiago, Rev. Fernando Plaza and Rev. Juan Rosario De La Cruz.
Sociologist Irma Nicasio, Ph.D., who traveled from the Dominican Republic to New Jersey to attend the Conference and to do research work at the Institute for Latino Studies, was interviewed by Nestor Montilla, Sr. for the new film documentary about the true identity of the Dominican people. A one-minute excerpt of the interview is available online via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I01jvgoVpr8.
On the film interview, Montilla asked Dr. Nicasio how should Dominicans identify themselves in the United States, considering that some Dominicans are being denied membership in some advocacy organizations due to insufficient blackness or whiteness. She responded affirming the following:
“Dominicans in the United States cannot identify themselves as Indians, light or dark Indians because that is a non-existing racial category. If here in the United States, main racial categories are Black, White, Asian…etc., between Black and White, Dominicans fall under the ‘Negro’ category. In other words, Dominicans’ ethnic and cultural identity is primarily of African descent. Therefore, they fall under the ‘Black’ category in USA.”
During the lunch plenary, the President and Vice President of the Dominican American National Roundtable, Claribel Martinez-Marmolejos and Dr. Miguel Hernandez signed a collaboration agreement with a coalition of health professional organizations. The list of signatory organizations and representatives included the Dominican Medical Association (DMA) NY represented by Dr. Francisco Roa, CEO; Dominican Medical and Dental Society represented by Dr. Juan Tapia; Associacion Hispana de Profesionales de la Salud (AHPS) represented by Dr. Diogenes Fermin, CEO, and Dr. Aritmedes Restituyo, Chairman; Association of Hispanic Healthcare Executives (AHHE) represented by George Zeppentel, Chairman; Colegio Medico Dominicano, Republica Dominicana (CMD) represented by Dr. Leonardo Paula Cabrera; and the Dominican Health Care Association of Florida (DOHCAF) represented by Daisy Baez, Executive Director and founder.
Health professional leaders signing agreement with DANR President Claribel Martinez-Marmolejos.
At the Luncheon Plenary, Silvio Torres-Saillant, Ph.D., delivered the 17th Annual Conference on Dominican Affairs’ keynote address entitled The Reality of the Dominican Legacy in USA.
In thanking the Institute for Latino Studies for the opportunity to be the conference keynote speaker, Dr. Torres-Saillant stated:
“Council’s Chairman Nestor Montilla, Sr., and Institute’s President Maria Teresa Montilla have done me a great honor by asking me to share some thoughts with you as the keynote speaker. I would like to begin by expressing appreciation for the work that Nestor and Maria Teresa have done over the years for people of Dominican descent in the United States.
Through the Council, the Institute and the Dominican American National Roundtable, they have contributed enormously to make Dominicans part of a nation-wide discourse on the future of this country and our place in it as agents of change. It seems to me clear that many of the gains we have made on the electoral markets on the rights of many of our co-ethnics to position of prominence in the municipal, state and federal spheres of government have benefited from the measures of devotion they have invested in creating fora of various sort to advance a dialogue that expands our views of what is politically possible for us as an ethnic community. So I ask for them a warm round of applause.
And among other things, Nestor has established himself as a bonafide historian of Dominicans in public life; unearthing the story of Arthur O. Eve, a retired lawmaker who we now regard as pioneering the Dominican presence in the New York State Legislature having been elected to the Assembly in 1966 and serving for 36 consecutive and productive years.
As a scholar, I deeply appreciate Nestor’s good efforts to help us complete the story of our presence in this country’s political arena.”
Highlights of Dr. Torres-Saillant’s speech include:
▪ Dr. Torres-Saillant renders a rare spellbinding MUST HEAR – MUST WATH keynote speech debunking the narrative of recency used by some characters when talking about the Dominican migratory experience and political empowerment.
▪ There is the false notion that the community consists of quintessential newcomers, who have not paid yet enough dues. The history of Dominicans in USA tells otherwise. Suffices to look at the story of Arthur O. Eve, a retired lawmaker who we now regard as pioneering the Dominican presence in the New York State Legislature having been elected to the Assembly in 1966 and serving for 36 consecutive and productive years.
▪ Dr. Torres-Saillant illustrated the reality and challenges the Dominican Diaspora faces in the United States when attempting to achieve social, economic and political mobility. Made a salient remark about the case of newly elected U.S. Congressman Adriano Espaillat who dared to apply for membership to the US Congressional Black Caucus, which is currently evaluating Espaillat’s application for ‘sufficient blackness’.
▪ Indicated that former Congressman Charles Rangel was a member of such Caucus during his 42-year tenure in the US House of Representatives. If we compare Rangel’s blackness to Espaillat’s as a qualifying requirement to be member of the Congressional Black Caucus, “Nor is Rangel any blacker than Espaillat, because Rangel’s papá was Puerto Rican.” The question then is: WHO’S BLACKER THAN WHOM?
The Conference on Dominican Affairs (CODA) is made possible thanks to the generous support of UNIVISION, Formé Medical Center, Global Psychiatry Services, PC, and the collaboration of The Dominican American National Roundtable (DANR), Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jew Jersey (LLANJ), Dynamics Multilingual Services, and the National Dominican American Council (NDAC).
CODA is a signature project of the Institute for Latino Studies Research and Development (ILS) www.instituteforlatinostudies.org thelatinoinstitute@gmail.com
About ILS
The Institute for Latino Studies (ILS), founded in 2001, is dedicated to quality research and advocacy for a better society, is a non-profit entity recognized by the federal government as a 501 (c) (3) organization. ILS believes that a solid understanding of cultural identity and people’s socio-economic reality is essential for development in a multi-cultural society. www.instituteforlatinostudies.org
