National Dominican Student Conference

The National Dominican Student Conference is an annual conference that brings together Dominican students and alumni from throughout the United States in order to organize the community more effectively against the social and academic issues that continue to afflict it. It also serves as an opportunity to collectively celebrate the community's rich Dominican heritage, which it's members strive to keep alive in their respective college communities.

History

The idea of a national conference was first proposed in the spring of 2007, at a meeting of the Dominican Student Association - QuisqueYalies of Yale University by Jamil Abreu '08. He observed one of the most significant issues in the community to be the lack of awareness of and communication between collegiate and community-based Dominican groups who, despite sharing similar interests and existing in the same general area, continued to operate independently of each other. The group adopted the proposal, with the following individuals making up the conference planning committee:

· Jamil Abreu '08 (Co-Chair)
· Lariely Garcia '09 (Co-Chair)
· Damien Abreu '10
· Ruben Harris '08
· Jose Abreu '09
· Brian Marmolejos '08
· Mariel Novas '10
· Nicolle Quintero '07
· Joel Vargas '08
· Prof. James Vreeland

Purpose & Objective

The purpose of the 1st National Dominican Student Conference is to:

"1) unite the numerous undergraduate and graduate Dominican student communities currently dispersed throughout the United States, with the goal of addressing and organizing them more effectively against the social and academic issues that continue to afflict them."

"2) serve as an opportunity for the community to collectively celebrate the rich Dominican heritage that its members share and continue to keep alive in their respective college communities."

The conference's key objective is "the building of social and academic support networks" among participants, particularly among those living in adjacent cities/regions.

It believes that increasing collaboration between Dominican student groups and community organizations will help create a more comfortable, more familiar environment for Dominican students - and thus positively affecting the waning rates of retention and graduation from which the community suffers. Also, the sponsoring of this kind of networking will lead to each participant gaining a greater understanding of his own community, as well as foster a heightened desire to take socially significant action against the issues highlighted throughout the Conference.

Conference Dates & Locations

→ "April 27-29, 2007" -- Yale University

1st National Dominican Student Conference

[http://www.dominicanstudentconference.com Conference Website] "Workshops and Distinguished Guests:"

"History of Dominicans in the US"
— Dr. Ramona Hernandez -- Director, CUNY Dominican Studies Institute

"Dominicans in the Media: Representation & Future"
— Francisco Saldaña and Víctor Cabrera aka Luny Tunes -- Renowned Reggaeton Producers
— Lisa Rodriguez -- Morning Talk Radio Host, La Kalle 105.9
— Charlie Nunez and Ariel Gonzalez -- Founders of BRIDGEZ Magazine
— Harold Martinez -- Producer of American Latino and LatiNation

"Political Panel: Affecting Change Locally & Overseas"
— Jose Santana -- Director, Presidential Commission of Science and Technology in DR
— Julio Ceasar Valentin -- President, Camera de Diputados (Dominican Congress)
— Cid Wilson -- Ex-President, Dominican-American National Roundtable

"Evolution of Dominican Music and Dance"
— Alexandra Vasquez -- Yale University Professor

"African-American and Latina/o Solidarity: The Need for a Movement"
— Kathleen Cleaver -- Yale University Professor
— John Holloway -- Yale University Master
— Lillian Guerra -- Yale University Professor
— Stephen Pitti -- Yale University Professor

"Keynote Address"
— Victor Capellan -- President, Dominican-American National Roundtable

"Internships & Grad School 101"
— Representatives from INROADS & INTERDOM

"Business Card Exchange: Alum / Professional Networking Event"