DANR Hosts Successful Training- 2009 National Youth Fellows: Training the Next Generation on Economic Reform

The Dominican-American National Roundtable (DANR) hosts a successful youth program this past week, July 26-August 1, 2009. Our National Youth Fellowship Program began its training week in Washington, DC where fellows met with a variety of experts and speakers including U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Augustine Martinez, U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Dr. Gabriela Lemus, Jason Leon-Interim Executive Director LCLAA, Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor Arisleyda Maldonado, Steven Puig- Vice President of the Inter-American Development Bank, Managing Partner of Amelia  CG LLC Javier Cuebas, American Bankers Association Vice-President Rodrigo Alba, Cassandra McConnell of the Office of Thrift Supervision, LISTA DC President Liana Rodriguez, Carlos Adrian-Research Analyst for the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, and Pepsi Co. Omar Vargas, among others. In addition, fellows visited the nation’s capitol, white house, and met with a variety of congressman and senate staff members to discuss the issue of economic reform. Fellows also visited the Embassy of the Dominican Republic and met with Ambassador Roberto B. Saladin-Selin to discuss relations between the Dominican Republic and the U.S. during such a global economic crisis. As this past training week was the first component of the National Youth Fellowship Program, in the fall, fellows will return to their communities and will be placed within a non-for-profit organization, state agency, elected official’s office, or business setting where they will work with a site supervisor to design and implement economic reform projects in their respective communities. A few of the fellows described their experience below:

Connecticut Fellow and Yale student, Edward Paulino -
“Most agree that our youth are the future. Occasionally, dedicated individuals come together in the effort to make their dreams into reality. Fewer still provide the necessary tools and guidance to sculpt young minds into the leaders of tomorrow. Through this DANR fellowship, I not only feel capable, but also more confident in my ability to enact lasting positive change in my community.”

New Jersey Fellow and St. Peter’s College student, Ismael Cid Martinez –
“It is often noted that the inexperience of youth requires the practical wisdom of age to strengthen and direct it, and thus it was with a stronger will and sense of direction that we left Washington D.C. on August 1st. Truly blessed were all eight of us for having been provided the most honest of counsel by man and woman whom for their services have laid us under the heaviest obligation. Beyond a better understanding of what we can do to reform our economy, we left Washington D.C. with an overwhelming desire to utilize all of the resources that have been abundantly bestowed upon us to make a real difference in America.”

New York City Fellow and NYU student, Emily Peralta –
“The DANR week of workshops has truly been a complete eye-opener in terms of the capabilities of my generation as well as the opportunities available to Hispanics.”

Washington, DC Fellow and George Mason Graduate Student, Johanna Gotay -
“Training was unbelievable.  It surpassed each fellow’s expectations.  Our directors were both inspiring and supportive.  Fellowship training like the DANR’s are only dreamed of.  The role that we will have in our communities and the successes that will develop are a mere product of our training. I cannot speak highly enough about the DANR and its leaders.”

About the DANR
Established in 1997, The Dominican American National Roundtable is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advocate for the empowerment of Dominicans in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Territories. Based in  Washington, DC, the DANR is the first and only national organization advocating on behalf of the over one million Dominican Americans in areas concerning education, health, economic development, immigration, and civic empowerment at the national level. The DANR National Conference is the only conference in the United States that brings together Dominicans from around the country under one roof for the purpose of community empowerment.
The DANR 12th Annual National Conference will take place December 4-6, 2009 in Orlando, FL.