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Newark, NJ.– The Institute for Latino Studies, Research & Development has held its annual Conference on Dominican Affairs (CODA) at Rutgers School of Law, bringing together Dominican and Latino leadership from the tri-state area to discuss issues affecting the empowerment of our communities at all levels. The 15th Annual Conference on Dominican Affairs was held successfully on Sunday, February 22, 2015 at Rutgers School of Law- Center for Law & Justice.
Approximately 250 attendees convened under the roof of Rutgers School of Law to join Nestor and Dr. Maria Teresa Montilla and a dedicated team of volunteers, to discuss the Conference theme: On the Road to Power Via Coalition Building.
The program began with a breakfast plenary session entitled The Power of Coalition to Effect Change, delivered by Luis Abinader, Economist and candidate for President of the Dominican Republic, who was formally introduced by Rev. Alejandro Benjamin, Vice President of the Dominican American National Roundtable. Abinader’s 35 minutes remarks are available here: Discurso de Luis Abinader. Watch VIDEO.
The program included two concurrent morning workshops.
One, Latino/African American Relations, focused on the possibilities and extent of coalitions of interests among these groups. The workshop, moderated by Dr. Maria Teresa Montilla, featured the documentary African Americans in Samana, which was followed by presentations from panelists Lynda Gallashaw from the Passaic County Civic League, Activist Al Moody, Zenaida Mendez, President of NOW, Dr. Fred Price from CUNY’s Medgar Evers College, Paterson Councilman Alex Mendez, and Activist Paul Perez.
Panelists then engaged in a spirited and candid discussion about coalition building. They listed and reviewed what they considered obstacles to coalition building: 1. Lack of knowledge of one group about the other; 2. The tendency of groups to congregate among themselves instead of mingling with other groups; 3. Barriers such as language, religion and customs; 4. Nationalist sentiments that overshadow the collective good; 5. Lack of humility when dealing with the well-being of the community; 6. Choosing individualism over the collective, 7. The emphasis on differences rather than on similarities; 8. Missing the concept of ‘a group is stronger than an individual’; and 9. Not realizing that groups compete for ‘crumbs’ instead of strategizing for empowerment. Panelists and interaction with participants offered suggestions to overcome these obstacles.
The second, Latino/Jewish Relations, discussed the common history of Latinos and Jewish and considered the diverse ways these two groups can collaborate on projects of mutual interest. The workshop, moderated by Nestor Montilla, Sr., featured the original documentary: Sosua: Haven in the Caribbean, which was followed and discussed by panelists Martin Pérez, Esq., President of LLANJ, Prof. Alejandro Benjamin, BCCC & DANR Vice President, Dr. Aritmedes Restituyo, President APHSI, Rabbi Melsen Herson from Rabbinical College of America, Dra. Izri Martinez, Dr. Carlos Fernández, Director of Rutgers’ Center for Latino Arts & Culture, Dr. Jo Renee Fine and Sarah Levinson, from the American Jewish Committee (AJC), and Antonio Martínez II, Esq. DANR VP-NY.
Following the workshops, attendees were treated to delicious gourmet Dominican food prepared by Restaurant Merengue/Newark, and participated of the Luncheon Plenary Session.
Honorable Julissa Ferreras delivered the conference’s luncheon keynote address. Watch video here.
The afternoon plenary forum discussed coalition building in-depth. It outlined the real ways in which groups can coalesce and achieve the highest objectives through true collaboration efforts. Panelists included Dr. María Teresa Montilla, President, Institute For Latino Studies, Hon. Ras Baraka, Mayor of City of Newark, Hon. Brian P. Stack, NJ State Senator & Mayor of Union City, Hon. Keith Wright, NYS Assembly member, and Martin Pérez, Esq., LLANJ President. Watch video here.
Economist Luis Abinader delivered closing remarks. Watch video here.
The list of conference participants included Commissioner Fiord’Aliza Frias, a delegation of students from Paterson John F. Kennedy HS accompanied by Teachers Edwin Hernandez and Anny Vargas, Fred Price, Medgar Evers College, Radio Personality & Activist Felipe Luciano, NYC Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Freeholder Tilo Rivas, Commissioner Ariagna Perello, Deputy Mayor of West Orange Rodolfo Rodriguez, Community Leaders David Bernal, Franklin Ventura, Gina Miranda-Diaz, Adolfo Adames, Laureana Organ, Lucilo Santos, Ivan Cedano, Jean Perez, Juan Arias, Juana Edmond, Julio Morejon, LLANJ, Elisa Charters, LLANJ, Nelly Celi, Ruddy Santana, Valentin Silverio, Al Alton, Alejandro Diaz, Junior Hernandez, Maritza Jimenez, Luchy Bush, Rev Vidal, Luisa Ruiz, Kathy Polanco, Yolanda Benjamin, Carmen Lora, Karen Zarzuela, Marcos Medina, Jose Miguel Valdez, Dr. Melchor Martinez, Attorney Bill Ayala, Milton Zarzuela, Rolando Hernandez, Ingrid Tavares, Yohanny Munoz, Manuel Ruiz, Cesar Romero, Santiago Paniagua, and among others Facundo Jimenez.
The list of volunteers working under CODA Executive Director Amiris Bonilla, included Altagracia Barcelo, Luis Alberto Almanzar, Raquel Familia, Gislane Alba, Doris Ramos, Gilda Morales, Andy Santana, Jose Del Carmen Ramirez, Idalina Familia, Margarita Cabrera, Margarita Cabrera, Rosa Svelti, Marianela Herrera, Pablito Aponte, Handel Quiros, Heidi Hernandez, Hjalmar Castillo, Juan Familia, Franklin Ventura, RevOneida Vidal, Margarita Gutierrez, Calderon, Yani Montilla, Carlos Cruz, Ivelise de los Santos, Ana Castro and Damaris Peralta. CODA official photographer was Eduardo Hoepelman. Videographer was Victor Flores.
CODA 2015 was made possible thanks to UNIVISION, AARP, PSE&G, The Dominican American National Roundtable, The Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey, the National Dominican American Council, BronxNet, Restaurant Merengue/Newark, Rutgers University, Rutgers University’s Center for Latino Arts & Culture, Passaic County Civic League, Asociacion de Comerciantes Profesionales de Newark, Asociacion Hispana de Profesionales de la Salud, The Common Roots Project, Quisqueya Internacional, Quisqueyanos Unidos de Newark, Perth Amboy Public Schools, Instituto Duartiano, and Quisqueya International.
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Informe Amplio de CODA 2015
Fotos
Newark, NJ.– Por los últimos quince años, El Institute for Latino Studies, Research & Development ha celebrado la Conference on Dominican Affairs (CODA) en la Rutgers School of Law, reuniendo líderes Dominicanos y Latinos del área tre-estatal para conversar sobre los asuntos que afectan el desarrollo de nuestras comunidades a todos los niveles de la sociedad. La 15va Conferencia Para Asuntos Dominicanos tomó lugar, exitosamente, este Domingo, 22 de Febrero, en la Rutgers School of Law- Center for Law & Justice.
Asistieron aproximadamente 250 participantes, quienes reunidos bajo el techo de la Rutgers School of Law en unión a Néstor y Dra. María Teresa Montilla y un grupo de dedicados voluntarios, consideraron el tema de la conferencia: Camino al Poder A través de Coaliciones.
El programa inició con una sesión plenaria titulada: El Poder de las Coaliciones Para efectuar Cambios, pronunciada por el Economista y Candidato a la Presidencia de la Republica Dominicana, Luis Abinader, quien fue presentado formalmente por el Rev Alejandro Benjamín, Vice Presidente de la Dominican American National Roundtable. El discurso de 35 minutos de Abinader se puede leer aquí: Discurso de Luis Abinader. Vea y escuche el VIDEO aquí.
El programa incluyó dos talleres:
Uno, Relaciones Latino/African Americanas, se enfocó en las posibilidades de coaliciones de interés entre estas dos comunidades. El taller, moderado por Dr. María Teresa Montilla, presentó el documental African Americans in Samana, seguido por presentaciones por los panelistas: Lynda Gallashaw de Passaic County Civic League, Activista Al Moody, Zenaida Méndez, Presidente de NOW, Dr. Fred Price de CUNY’s Medgar Evers College, Councejal de Paterson Alex Méndez, y Activista Paul Pérez.
Los panelistas dirigieron una conversación franca y animada sobre la creación de coaliciones. Listaron y consideraron lo que estimaron obstáculos al trabajo colaborativo entre las dos comunidades: 1. Falta de conocimiento de la una por la otra; 2. La tendencia de los grupos a congregarse entre sí, en vez de inter-relacionarse; 3. Barreras como lenguaje, religión y costumbres; 4. Nacionalismo que opaca el bienestar colectivo; 5. Falta de humildad en asuntos de liderazgo; 6. Poner el individualismo por encima del bienestar colectivo; 7. Enfatizar las diferencias en vez de las similitudes; 8. Ignorando el concepto de que ‘un grupo es más fuerte que un individuo’; y 9. No caer en cuenta de que los grupos compiten por ‘migajas’ en vez de trabajar estratégicamente para apoderamiento genuino. Los panelistas y la interacción con los participantes ofrecieron sugerencias sobre como sobreponerse a estos obstáculos.
El segundo, Relaciones Latino/Judías, consideró la historia común ente Latinos y Judíos y las diversas formas en que estos dos grupos pueden colaborar en proyectos de interés común. El taller, moderado por Néstor Montilla, Sr., presentó el documental Sosua: Haven in the Caribbean, seguido por presentaciones de los panelistas Martín Pérez, Esq., Presidente de LLANJ, Prof. Alejandro Benjamín, BCCC & Vice Presidente de DANR, Dr. Arítmedes Restituyo, Presidente de APHSI, Rabbi Melsen Herson del Rabbinical College of America, Dra. Izri Martínez, Dr. Carlos Fernández, Director of Rutgers’ Center for Latino Arts & Culture, Dr. Jo Renee Fine y Sarah Levinson, de la American Jewish Committee (AJC), y Antonio Martínez II, Esq. DANR VP-NY.
Inmediatamente después de los talleres, los asistentes fueron agasajados con un delicioso almuerzo de gourmet dominicano preparado por el Restaurant Merengue/Newark, y participaron en la Plenaria de Almuerzo.
La Honorable Julissa Ferreras pronunció el discurso principal. Watch video here.
El Foro de la Sesión Plenaria consideró la creación de coaliciones a profundidad. Expuso maneras en que los grupos pueden co-habitar y lograr grandes objetivos a través de esfuerzos colaborativos. Los panelistas incluyeron a Dr. María Teresa Montilla, Presidente del Institute For Latino Studies, Hon. Ras Baraka, Mayor of City of Newark, Hon. Brian P. Stack, NJ State Senator & Mayor of Union City, Hon. Keith Wright, NYS Assembly member, y Martin Pérez, Esq., LLANJ President. Watch video here.
El Economista Luis Abinader pronunció los comentarios de clausura. Watch video here.
La lista de participantes incluye a Commissioner Fiord’Aliza Frias, una delegación de estudiantes de la John F. Kennedy HS acompañados por los maestros Edwin Hernández y Anny Vargas, Fred Price, de Medgar Evers College, Radio Personality & Activist Felipe Luciano, NYC Council Member Ydanis Rodríguez, Freeholder Tilo Rivas, Commissioner Ariagna Perello, Deputy Mayor of West Orange Rodolfo Rodríguez, Community Leaders David Bernal, Gina Miranda-Díaz, Adolfo Adames, Laureana Organ, Lucilo Santos, Ivan Cedano, Jean Pérez, Juan Arias, Juana Edmond, Julio Morejón, LLANJ, Elisa Charters, LLANJ, Nelly Celi, Ruddy Santana, Valentín Silverio, Al Alton, Alejandro Díaz, Junior Hernández, Maritza Jiménez, Luchy Bush, Rev Vidal, Luisa Ruíz, Kathy Polanco, Yolanda Benjamín, Carmen Lora, Karen Zarzuela, Marcos Medina, José Miguel Valdez, Dr. Melchor Martínez, Attorney Bill Ayala, Milton Zarzuela, Rolando Hernández, Ingrid Tavares, Yohanny Muñoz, Manuel Ruiz, Cesar Romero, Santiago Paniagua, y entre otros Facundo Jiménez.
La lista de voluntarios bajo la dirección de CODA Executive Director Amiris Bonilla, incluye a Altagracia Barceló, Luis Alberto Almánzar, Raquel Familia, Gislane Alba, Doris Ramos, Gilda Morales, Andy Santana, José Del Carmen Ramírez, Idalina Familia, Margarita Cabrera, Margarita Cabrera, Rosa Svelti, Marianela Herrera, Pablito Aponte, Handel Quiros, Heidi Hernández, Hjalmar Castillo, Juan Familia, Franklin Ventura, Rev Oneida Vidal, Margarita Gutiérrez, Calderón, Yani Montilla, Carlos Cruz, Ivelise de los Santos, Ana Castro y Damaris Peralta. El fotógrafo oficial de CODA es Eduardo Hoepelman. El videógrafo es Víctor Flores.
CODA 2015 es posible gracias a UNIVISION, AARP, PSE&G, The Dominican American National Roundtable, The Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey, the National Dominican American Council, BronxNet, Restaurant Merengue/Newark, Rutgers University, Rutgers University’s Center for Latino Arts & Culture, Passaic County Civic League, Asociación de Comerciantes Profesionales de Newark, Asociación Hispana de Profesionales de la Salud, The Common Roots Project, Quisqueya Internacional, Quisqueyanos Unidos de Newark, Perth Amboy Public Schools, Instituto Duartiano, y Quisqueya International.