GALOS CORPORATION, THE DOMINICAN AMERICAN NATIONAL ROUNDTABLE, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE IN NYC TO ANNOUNCE FIRST HISTORIC DOMINICAN CELEBRATION IN WASHINGTON, DC

-PARA VERSION EN ESPANOL PULSE AQUI-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: DANR 202-238-0097

info@danr.org or press@danr.org

Para imprimir esta nota de prensa, pulse aqui: Rueda de Prensa Mesa Redonda Anuncia Historico Evento Dominicano en Washington, DC

Washington, DC (July 10, 2012, 7:00pm). –The Dominican American National Roundtable, Galo’s Corporation, the National Dominican American Council (NDAC), dozens of organizations and leaders held today a press conference at trendy Lucky Seven Restaurant & Bar in New York City to announce the First Historic National Dominican Celebration slated to take place on the grounds of the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, DC, on Saturday, July 28, 2012 from 11:00 am to 4:00pm.

“The main purpose of the First 100 Thousand Dominican Gathering in our nation’s Capitol is to celebrate and acknowledge the presence and contributions of Dominicans to the United States of America,” said Dr. Maria Teresa Montilla, President of the Dominican American National Roundtable, the only non-profit, non-partisan Washington DC-based corporation advocating for the socio-economic and political development and empowerment of Latinos and Dominicans in USA, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “We will be celebrating our success in America with La Reyna del Merengue Milly Quezada, young bachata sensation Yunel Cruz, singer Dr. Ramses and his Grupo Carnavalesco Los Andulleros de Santiago, re-known artists, dignitaries, diablo cojuelos, music, Dominican food and our colorful folklore.”

The 100 Thousand Dominican Event Celebration is one of the main highlights of DANR’s 15^th Annual National Leadership Summit taking place in Washington, DC from Sunday, July 22^nd through Sunday, July 29^th this year.

The Summit will begin on Sunday, July 22^nd with the implementation of DANR’ signature National Youth Summer/Fall Fellowship Program, which this year affords 10 college students from across USA a golden opportunity to spend time in Washington, DC taking intensive training in civic engagement, advocacy and policy reform.

On Thursday, July 26^th, the Summit Program includes a National Legislative Day at the U.S. Capitol, consisting of DANR delegations meeting with members of the U.S. Congress to advocate for issues pertaining to the socio-economic and political advancement of US Dominicans and Latinos (for more details, please contact DANR headquarters at 202-238-0097 or write to info@danr.org).

On Friday, July 27^th, the 15^th Annual Leadership Summit program includes a meeting of the DANR Board of Directors followed by morning workshops on education, literature and economic development to be held at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center.

After the luncheon, there will be an afternoon strategic plenary session on the political standing and future of the Dominican and Latino communities in US. Presenters include elected officials, community leaders and experts.

“Delegations of dignitaries, leaders, students, thousands of Dominicans, their families and friends from U.S. diverse communities, including Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Salvadorians, Ecuadorians, Peruvians, Colombians, Bolivians, Venezuelans and from the Hispanic community in general will come down to Washington, DC by bus, by planes, by car and by train to celebrate over 50 years of continuous Dominican presence in USA,” said President Montilla.

The Summit’s Welcome Reception will be on Friday, July 27^th at 4:00pm at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center. The Awards Ceremony, premiere and release of the Dominican List, a publication and documentary highlighting the accomplishments of U.S. Dominicans will take place at 6pm in the Congressional Auditorium of the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center.

The release of the Dominican List will be introduced by the distinguished author and founder of the City University of New York Dominican Studies Institute Silvio Torres-Saillant, Ph.D., who is currently Professor of English, Latino & Latin American Studies at Syracuse University.

The Dominican List includes thousands of names of Dominicans who have excelled in their fields, along the past five decades.

The list of special honorees include Professor Silvio Torres-Saillant, New York City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, Bachata singer, Junel Cruz, singers Monchy & Nathalia, Julissa Marenco, President of Telemundo ZGS, Nelson Valdez, Vice President of 1199, RI Senator Juan Pichardo, Dr. Karina Edmonds Montilla, Ph.D., NASA Technology Specialist, Dr. Ramona Hernandez, Executive Director of the Dominican Studies Institute, Felipe Lopez, former NBA player, Entrepreneur and businessman Rafael Alvarez, President & CEO of Atax, young community activist and Baruch College student Paola Martinez, and among others, author Diogenes Ramon Abreu.

The welcome reception and the Summit will be attended by Dominican Republic Ambassador to the United States Anibal de Pena, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, Dr. Salomon Melgen, Dr. Hugo M. Morales, Trustee of The City University of New York, Dr. Rafael Nunez Cedeno, Professor at University of Illinois, Frederick Martinez (El Pacha), a sizeable delegation of Dominican elected officials including, NYS Senator Adriano Espaillat, NYS Senator Jose Peralta, NYS Senator Gustavo Rivera, RI State Senator Juan Pichardo, MA Representative Marcos Devers, RI Representative Grace Diaz, NYS Assemblyman Nelson Castro, NYS Assemblyman Rafael L. Espinal, NYS Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, NYC Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, NYC Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras, NJ Councilman Julio Tavarez, Allentown, PA Councilman and Council President Julio Guridy, Yonkers, NY Wilson Terrero, Maryland House Representative Jocelyn Pena-Melnyk, and among other elected officials, councilmembers from Lawrence, MA, Providence, RI, New Jersey, and other locations, including Claribel Martinez-Marmolejos, first Dominican woman ever elected to public office in Puerto Rico.

The list also includes Captain Silvester R. Del Rosario, The Highest Ranking Dominican American in the United States Navy, Dr. Ramon Antonio Veras, Dr. Ramona Hernandez, Executive Director of the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, Milly Quezada, Yunel Cruz, actress Celines Toribio, inductees in The Dominican List, personalities, community leaders, students sponsors, and DANR members, among other guests from the U.S. diverse communities, including Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

DANR Board and President Montilla will honor DANR 2012 Fellows and alumni for their dedication to community advocacy and activism.

Due to space limitations, the Welcome Reception will be limited to 300 guests only. To RSVP on-time before regular registration deadline (July 26th) ensues, visit www.danr.org. Register here.

On Saturday, July 28^th, 2012 from 11:00am to 4:00pm, thousands of Dominicans, their families and friends will come from across the United States to convene on the grounds of the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, DC, to enjoy a fraternal celebration.

This First Free Historic Dominican Celebration is made possible thanks to the Dominican American National Roundtable, the National Dominican American Council, Galos Corporation, Diversity Foundation, the Institute for Latino Studies, NJ Conference on Dominican Affairs, Comite Provincial Puertoplatenos USA, Union Carnavalesca de New Jersey, BronxNet, Lino Press, Concilios Dominico Americanos Locales de Massachusetts, Providence, RI, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, Paterson, Perth Amboy, Camden, Passaic, Newark, New Jersey, Florida, Maryland, Los Angeles, Texas, Alaska, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Embassy of the Dominican Republic in the United States, the Common Roots Project, Voxxi.com, Casabe Restaurant in Maryland, BRUGAL, and among hundreds of organizations and leaders, thanks, also, to the generous support of Dominican Republic Tourism Board, Ford Motor Company Fund, and The City University of New York.

Coordinating organizations have extended invitations to President Barack Obama, and members of his cabinet and administration including Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, and Thomas Perez, U.S. Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez Reyna, Dominican Republic President Elect Danilo Medina, Dominican Republic Vice President Elect Margarita Cedeno de Fernandez, and U.S. elected officials, including Congressman Charles Rangel, Congressman Jose Serrano, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., NYS Senator Ruben Diaz, NYC Councilman Fernando Cabrera, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Raul Yzaguirre, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Uruguay Julissa Reynoso, and among others, renown singers Juan Luis Guerra, and Fernandito Villalona.

The press conference was attended by local, regional and international media representatives.

For media inquiry, please contact DANR headquarters in Washington, DC at 202-238-0097 or via email at press@danr.org.

For more information about affordable transportation and hotel accommodation, visit www.danr.org (Special DANR hotel group rate will expire July 15^th).

#   #   #

About DANR

The Dominican American National Roundtable is the only US non-profit, non-partisan corporation headquartered in Washington, DC advocating for the Socio-Economic and political empowerment of Dominicans in the United States (www.danr.org).

ABOUT NDAC

The National Dominican American Council (NDAC) is a civic-community-engagement and public relations entity composed of over 120 local member councils in the United States and territories, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, with the role of setting the national agenda of the Dominican American National Roundtable and advocating for the socio-economic and political enfranchisement of all Latinos and Dominican-Americans in areas concerning education, economic development, health, immigration and community empowerment (nationalcouncil@danr.org).

About Galos Corporation (A World of Diversity)

Galos Corporation is one of the most important leading U.S. corporations managing and marketing major urban events such as the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, the Dominican Day Parade, and many others. Galos eases the red tape such as permits, insurance, and sponsorships. They manage banquets, festivals, street fairs, and business seminars. Galos also manages communications and public relations, as well as relations between the event and its sponsors.  http://www.galoscorp.com/  E-mail: Galos@galoscorp.com