Dominican Get-Togethers Go to Miami

Global Foundation for Democracy for Development (GFDD)’s initiative Dominican Get-Togethers is heading south to the city known as the “Capital of Latin America,” Miami, Florida to add its own dose of Dominican culture.

On Wednesday, March 21, GFDD will host a screening of the film Sugar, followed by a question and answer
session with the protagonist of the film, Algenis Perez Soto, at the Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus Auditorium at 6:00 pm. This event is being organized in collaboration with Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus, the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Initiatives, Dominican Republic Consulate in Miami and the Dominican Student Association.

Dominican Get-Togethers are part of GFDD’s
mission to promote appreciation of Dominican culture and to create opportunities for discussions on contemporary issues relevant to Dominican society in the homeland and abroad. Every three months, GFDD creates opportunities to come together and meet a prominent Dominican figure, enjoy a Dominican-themed movie, and/or engage in conversation on topics of importance to the Dominican community. The ongoing series has garnered the attention and support of the Dominican communities of New York
City and New Jersey and all those interested in Dominican culture. The GFDD Team is eager to bring this well-received initiative to the city of Miami.

Film synopsis:
Sugar follows Miguel “Sugar” Santos, a Dominican baseball player struggling to make it to the big leagues and pull his family out of poverty. He gets his break at age 19, when he is recruited to the U.S. minor leagues and travels from his
tight-knit community to a small town in Iowa. Miguel struggles with the new language and culture despite the welcoming efforts of his host family. When his play on the mound falters, he begins examining more closely the world around him and his place within it, and ultimately questions the single-mindedness of his life””””””””s ambition. What starts out to be a classic rags-to-riches sports story turns into a much more complex and realistic examination of what it means for young
athletes to chase their dreams. Set against the disparate backdrops of the Dominican Republic, rural Iowa, and New York City, Sugar explores a fascinating side of America””””””””s pastime as well as what it embodies to people outside the country.

The film is directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, the masterminds behind the award winning film Half Nelson.

Date: March 21, 2012
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus Auditorium, 300 N.E. Second Avenue, Building 1, Room 1261, Miami, FL 33132
RSVP: 212.751.5000

Related link:
www.mdc.edu