There are a multitude of benefits that you can receive as a student if you join any of these organizations. The primary benefit is a discounted membership fee and the networking access of being exposed to prominent Dominican-Americans throughout the US. These organizations serve to nourish and assist the up and coming new generation. You are their target audience.
80% of all US Dominican children under the age of 18 are US Citizens. This is a cadre that needs to be honed and trained to become involved in the US political process to effect change within our communities in need.
As student, many of these organizations can facilitate and expose you to scholarship, leadership training, and intenships. For example, one of the long standing programs is the
Dominican Internship Program in Washington, DC co-hosted by DANR and the GDP (Grupo Profesional Dominicano de Washington). Within this program we have brought students from a wide range of schools such as Harvard, U Penn, Princeton, Fordham, Seton Hall, Bronx Community College and PUCMM (in DR).
These organizations are still growing into their own, meaning in establishing and implementing a national agenda of issues. As such, a large membership base is critical to building political power within the US, especially at a grassroots level as is needed given our population at a national level. The building of power through an established constituency is more valuable than gold to effect change through building power alliances and effecting change in communities of color.
I strongly urge and encourage all US Dominicans to become involved.
For the Dominican Bar Association visit
www.dominicanbarassociation.com or contact Julissa Gomez at
julissa_gomez@hotmail.com
I am firm believer that before we, as Dominicans, can help the Dominican Republic we must first obtain and exercise our power base here within the US and at a national level, specifically out of Washington, DC. Because it is only then we will have real leverage and effect change in DR.
Best of luck in your decision making. Hope to see you at the DANR conference.
capodominicano said:
I was wondering if anybody is a member of DANR, I have viewed there site a couple of times the past months deciding whether I should join, but I was wondering what are the benefits and what exactly do they do? Also what are the benefits for a student?
Also does anybody have info on these organizations? Is A Member?
Dominican Bar Association
http://www.dominicanbarassociation.com/index.html
Dominican Dream
http://www.dominicandream.org
Hispanics Across America
http://www.haamerica.org