Newark, NJ.-It’s expected to be a sunny weekend with temperatures in the high 40’s; perfect weather for the 17th Conference on Dominican Affairs slated to take place this Sunday, February 12th, 8:30am at Rutgers School of Law at 123 Washington Street Newark, NJ.
Out-of-state panelists and participants are in transit on their way to Newark, NJ to attend the only state-wide conference in the United States where leaders, scholars and students are convened to discuss critical issues impacting Latinos, Dominicans and US diverse communities.
Delegations from Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic will arrive Friday via Newark Airport.
Claribel Martinez-Marmolejos, President of the Dominican American National Roundtable will arrive early Friday as well after changing flight due the the snow storm.
The Conference’s Keynote Speaker is already in the tristate area.
Participants are coming from Massachusetts, Florida, Maryland, Connecticut, Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New York, and from across New Jersey.
All listed speakers and members of both Board of Directors of the Dominican American National Roundtable and the National Dominican American Council will attend their retreat as scheduled on Saturday, February 11th, and will also attend the Conference on Sunday, Feb. 12th.
Alexis Lantigua, Vice Ministro de Politica Social Exterior, Dominican Republic, Dr. Irma Nicasio from Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo & Advisor to DR Senate, and Ms. Florinda Rojas, Executive Director, Instituto National de Migración from the Dominican Republic will be landing into Newark Airport Friday afternoon.
Faith-based leaders will also attend including Rev. Manuel Álvarez, Superintendente, Asambleas de Dios, Rev. José López, Latino Leadership Alliance of NJ (LLANJ), Rev. Cesar Martínez, Latino Pastors Association of Paterson (LPAP), Rev. John Muniz, Dean and VP of Academic Affairs, Universidad Teológica Shema Israel, Rev. Fabio Sosa, President of the Latino Pastors Association of Paterson (LPAP), Camden Councilman Councilman Angel Fuentes.
All panelists of the forum Health Professional Initiative for Community Advancement will be present including Dr. Miguel Hernández. Dr. Aritmedes Restituyo, Dr. Juan Tapia, Dr. Maria Trusa, Ms. Dulce Maria Ramos, Adolfo G. Cuevas, Ph.D., Dr José Goris, Dr Francisco Roa, DMA Executive Director, Professor Claritza Abreu, & Dr. Diogenes Fermin, George A. Zeppenfeldt, President & CEO Association of Hispanic Healthcare Executives and Chair, Roundtable of Professional Hispanic Health Association, and Dr. Alcibiades Acosta, MD traveling from Lawrence, MA.
Journalist Miguel Perez will make a presentation about his Hidden Hispanic Heritage Project.
Panelists of the Youth Initiative include Ivanok Taveras, DANR Youth Vice Presidents Augusto Suarez and Franklin Ventura, Mayor Dan Rivera, Lawrence, MA, Ernie Dominguez, Esq., Professor Jose Aleman, Dan-el Padilla Peralta, Ph.D., Seny Taveras, Esq., and Education Commissioner Manny Martinez
Dozens of fellows from the LLANJ/ILS Latino Leadership Academy and students from Perth Amboy and Paterson are also listed to attend.
Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey Kim Guadagno will be present and will speak at the Conference Power Lunch plenary of elected officials, including NYS Senator Marisol Alcantara, Senator Ana Quezada, Rhode Island, State Representative Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Maryland, Former Commissioner Fior D’Aliza Frías, Florida, Fmr Legislator Ana Marchena, Ph.D., Puerto Rico, NYS Assembly District Leader Yudelka Tapia, FL State Representative Daisy Baez, and DANR Youth President Janna Rodriguez.
Responders of the Panel Women in Politics include to be present Bethania Marmolejos, Maria del Pilar, Lydia Valencia, Jeanny Ramirez, Juanita Lopez, Charito Cisneros, Sandra Harris, Nely Celi, Elis Sosa, Eloisa Mercedes, Miriam Younan, Rossana Genao, Joanie, Morales, Carla Jimenez, Patricia Bullon & Marleny Cruz, and Ana Maria Garcia from the US Census.
There’s still time to RSVP at www.instituteforlatinostudies.org
The Conference on Dominican Affairs (CODA) is made possible thanks to the generous support of UNIVISION and PSE&G, Formé Medical Center, Global Psychiatry Services, PC, and the collaboration of The Dominican American National Roundtable, Leadership Alliance of New Jew Jersey, Dynamics Multilingual Services, and the National Dominican American Council. CODA is a signature project of the Institute for Latino Studies Research and Development (ILS). www.instituteforlatinostudies.org. [email protected]
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About ILS
The Institute for Latino Studies (ILS), founded in 2001 and since then 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