DOMINICAN COMMUNITY CENTER NYC INC. AT A GLANCE
Dominican Community Center NYC Inc. knows that our strength lies not only in the words we stand by, but our integrity, community, and most importantly, through our actions that hold us accountable. Altagracia Hiraldo, our Executive Director, at our 10th Anniversary Fund- Raising Gala Dinner back in 2005 once said:
"Hace diez años alguien me pregunto como nacio la idea de crear una organizacion para dar servicios a la comunidad; yo conteste: creo que nacio del dolor que me causaba al escuchar hablar negativamente y generamente cosas que negaban la realidad de lo que es el domicano en este pais, son personas trabajadoras, apegadas a la familia y con un gran sentido del humor."
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"Ten years ago someone asked me how the idea to create an organization for community services was born; I answered I think it was born from the pain that I felt when I would hear the negative stereotypes and generalizations that disfavored the reality of what a Dominican is in this country, hardworking, family oriented people, with a great sense of humor."
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That same passion of helping the community manifested in results such as having helped more than 2000 people become American citizens in 1999 (4 years after DCCNYCInc. started), having "[thousands of families vote thanks to our campaigns, also aiding different disasters that have occurred during the past years, such as 9/11. We have held various health fairs with Harlem Hospital, Presbyterian Hospital, St. Lukes Hospitals, and NY Hospital. In 2005, we were named Police Commissioner for a day, and numerous institutions and personalities have recognized our work.]"
-----Read "A Note from the Desk of the Founder and Executive Director"
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In the 2010 federal census, Washington Heights had the highest participation rates in the nation-75%-and the highest in Manhattan.
The Daily News covered the story and highlighted organizations like Dominican Community Center, and Altagracia Hiraldo who "worked their tails off last year making sure traditionally under-counted immigrants filled out the 2010 federal census form." Having a largely immigrant population be counted in the census, and breaking the participation rates took an immense effort, as Altagracia said "We found a lot of people who were afraid. I told them, 'No one is going to come knock on your door and take you and throw you back to your country. You are here. You have rights. You have to be counted!"
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The Dominican Community Center NYC Inc. has continued to expand and grow all the services we offer to the Manhattan Valley community, from partnering with Columbia University to offer English classes, creating computer classes, citizenship classes, and referrals. We are proud to say our organization has served our community for 29 years.
-------Read "Making it all count: Vols made sure immigs filled in Census Forms"
AWARDS
