GFDD Inaugural Press Conference with Members of the New York Area Press

Members of the Spanish-speaking New York metropolitan area press, along with the diplomatic corps, joined Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) executives and staff, for its inaugural press conference. The focus of the press conference was to bring to light the Foundation’s work. The event, which included brunch, was held at the Roger Smith Hotel in Manhattan.

GFDD New York Director, Yamile Eusebio, thanked press corps members
for taking the time to come and learn more about the Foundation. She explained that this press meeting would aid in the expansion and strengthening of the Foundation’s presence within Dominican communities in the United States and that GFDD was working to foster collaboration with local organizations and associations interested in benefiting from the Foundation’s projects and programs in education, environment and sustainable development, media, information and
communications technology, economy, international affairs, security and globalization.

GFDD Washington D.C. Director, Asuncion Sanz, elaborated on the mission of the organization. She affirmed GFDD’s commitment to develop partnerships between international organizations and the Dominican Republic through Fundación Global Democracia y
Desarrollo (FUNGLODE) – which is headquartered in Santo Domingo.  FUNGLODE, sister organization of GFDD, is a think tank where private companies, NGOsand representatives of the public sector come together to formulate innovative proposals related to the socio-economic and democratic development of the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean and Latin America.

Ms. Sanz continued that, in the
United States, GFDD implements projects and programs that contribute to the overall social, economic and democratic development of the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean region. With offices in New York City and Washington D.C., GFDD promotes communication and partnerships with influential institutions in the United States and the Americas to conduct projects and programs that bolster the most positive aspects of the Dominican Republic’s rich heritage and biodiversity.

Semiramis de Miranda, Director of Projects and ICTs, explained how GFDD utilizes various channels of communication techniques to educate the public on topics that are relevant to the Dominican Republic, and to Dominicans in the country and overseas while also recognizing the importance of effective imagery in all facets of education via publications, exhibitions, lectures, film, print and Internet.

Ms. De Miranda said one of GFDD’s most seasoned and
extensive projects ― the portal dominicanaonline.org,which is a detailed, comprehensive and interactive website containing vast information, knowledge and audiovisual material that is related to many areas of the Dominican Republic. The portal  constitutes the first initiative to compile and gather accurate and relevant information about the Dominican Republic in a single website.

Members of the press were treated to a short overview of the Foundation’s main initiatives like the Dominican Get-Togethers, the Dominican Film Showcases, the Dominican Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Environment, the Dominican Environmental Film Festival, the Global Roundtable, the New Perspectives itinerant photo exhibit, the internship and academic
exchange program InteRDom,Dominicanaonline.org, Virtual Educa Caribe, and the professional development and training programs in the areas of education, communications, environment and other fields.

In her closing statement, Ms. Eusebio highlighted the Dominican get-togethers program, which are regular gatherings within the Dominican community. The purpose of the gatherings is to create discussion around a Dominican film or topic of relevance to the country or the
community, and to mingle with Dominican personalities. These Get-Togethers are organized primarily in the New York City metropolitan area and will include other areas with large Dominican communities throughout the U.S. in the future. Our next Get-Together is Friday, November 18th at the Columbia University Faculty House (flyer is attached).

An exchange
followed with suggestions of discussions on topics and areas of interest to the press corps and the community at large after which Ms. Eusebio invited the media to attend the upcoming function and all future endeavors.

Click here to see video of Press Conference >>