Doctor Luis Heredia Bonetti:

Doctor Heredia Bonetti is of the opinion that Dominican Week acts as a conveyor belt for the relations of the Dominican Republic with its fellows residing in the United States. “Dominican Week has effectively contributed to the promotion of programs aimed at institutionalizing linkages amongst Dominicans here and in the United States, bringing them together with decision making US circles in.

He stressed that the exaltation of the values of the nation, in the economic, cultural, artistic, musical fields and has promoted the professional integration of Dominicans in the United States and their empowerment to participate in civic and political processes.

“”Dominican Week has been a valuable instrument for encouraging improved relations between the Dominican Republic and the United States of America.”

It is a joint effort to showcase the most positive aspects of these relations and identify opportunities for mutual collaboration. New doors have been opened by facilitating higher levels of reciprocal knowledge, in a climate of trust, respectability and credibility, fostered by the quality of the people and institutions involved, said the Doctor Heredia Bonetti.

He added that the many people who have contributed to the success of Dominican Week in the United States have a legitimate reason to rejoice in the celebration of this fifteenth edition and may proudly proclaim that they have taken part in this initiative aimed at improving the productive image and improve the opinions of outsiders towards the Dominican Republic and its nationals.

Guillermo Rivera:

"Dominican Week has played a catalyst role in promoting U.S. investments in Dominican Republic.”

My main motivation for participating in Dominican Week has been working in projecting the image of the country and contributing efforts to promote economic, commercial, financial and cultural relations between the United States and our country. Dominican Week has played a catalytic role in promoting investments from the U.S. and multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and the IDB, through the International Finance Corporation and the Inter-American Investment Corporation. Moreover, it has played a key role in promoting greater university exchanges and academic and cultural activities, lectures, concerts, roundtables or discussion panels, exhibitions by Dominican painters and the recognition of figures in the United States, both Dominicans as well as foreigners with ties to the country.

I think that amongst the important achievements Dominican Week has brought to our country, one can note a significant increase in foreign investments and better knowledge of the Republic Dominican in the U.S., promoting and raising awareness of US authorities in order to achieve the signing of the free trade agreement. As one of its founding member, what has struck me is that at the outset their were very few participants and through perseverance, Dominican Week today is an initiative in which people from different levels are increasingly engaged and which has become a traditional and expected event. The benefit that Dominican Week has brought to the Dominican community based in the United States is its increased participation and the recognition of its potential power over time.

Cristina Aguiar:

“Dominican Week is an initiative that has been very successful in presenting a different face of the Dominican Republic and Dominicans."

Dr. Aguiar’s main motivation to participate in the Dominican Week is that it is an initiative that has been very successful in presenting a different face of the Dominican Republic and Dominicans. It is, as well, a private-sector initiative, and that is enough motivation in my eyes. She said Dominican Week has played a highly positive role, without falling into the trap of the fifty second star.

Important achievements to me include the holding of Dominican music concerts with the symphonic orchestra, instilling the concept that we Dominicans can display elegance and intellect; recognition of teachers, all this has fostered a new perception of Dominicans. “The events that have impressed me the most about holding Dominican Week were the business seminar at the Council of The Americas and the discussions on constitutional reform.”

The benefit brought about by Dominican Week to the Dominican community based in the United States is to be able to perceive itself from another perspective, not only the pork rinds and mangú.

A particular experience for Dr. Aguiar in her relationship with Dominican Week was when she had the privilege to welcome Dominican Week at the UN for two memorable concerts: "It seemed to me I was helping to write the history of this successful initiative that has become a classic with each passing edition.

Marcelino San Miguell II:

"My main motivation to participate in Dominican Week has been assisting in the project to make more evident the need to count on the Diaspora, while at the same time creating a positive image of the country in the places targeted by the program. I think the role Dominican Week has played has obviously achieved its purpose as defined above, but needs to be continued since it is an endeavor that is in need of continuity.

Important achievements in these 15 years have included the goodwill generated towards the Dominican Republic, growth in investments, and the enhancement of the country's image and capacity vis-à-vis our northern neighbors.

The fact about Dominican Week that has most impressed me is that it has become such an important event that the country’s top executive has included it in his agenda. The benefits brought about by Dominican Week to the Dominican community based in the United States are the pride and hope that the reciprocity of this relationship shall eventually become something of mutual and continued benefit.
                                             
I perceive these years of Dominican Week as significant in that it has become an opportunity to work for a noble purpose, while being an activity which can be described as fun and pleasant.

Frank Moya Pons:

My motivation to participate in Dominican Week has been to promote a better understanding of Dominican society and culture in the United States.

I think we have succeeded in conveying to major American institutions, as well as some private ones, the notion that in Dominican Republic there are numerous social interlocutors, with high academic qualifications and extensive professional experience who are capable of sustaining an international and intercultural dialogue for promoting a better understanding between the two nations: the Dominican Republic and the U.S.

I think that the most noteworthy achievements brought to the Dominican Republic by Dominican Week in its 15 years of existence include the establishment of multiple networks of academic, social, political and institutional relations today functioning outside Dominican Week, but for which this initiative has served as a promoter and catalyst.  I value very highly the fact that a very small group of citizens acting in their own behalf have been able to sustain this extraordinary effort with increasing success year after year for fifteen years.

What benefit has it brought to the Dominican Republic?
I think that, for the Dominican community based in the U.S., Dominican Week Based has served as an institutional bridge between the Dominican Diaspora and our island society. Before Dominican Week began its work, institutional and functional linkages between the two societies would be virtually nonexistent. Dominican Week helped build many bridges of communication and understanding between the two major poles of a constantly evolving transnational society.

I value the fact that through their inspiration and disinterested example Luis Heredia Bonetti and his distinguished wife Maureen Tejada have encouraged us all to run Dominican Week programs in a conflict free environment which has greatly enriched our friendship. To me the most significant part of this has been the manifest dedication of Luis and Maureen to promote closer Dominican-American relations during these fifteen years.

Pedro Diaz Ballester:

My main motivation in participating in Dominican Week has been collaborating in promoting a better image of the Dominican Republic and Dominicans.

I think that, above all, the role played by Dominican Week in U.S-Dominican relations has been outstanding since it has been able to survive for 15 years maintaining and increasing the respect of the authorities and other influential sectors, towards its objectives and results.

The most important achievements brought about by Dominican Week have been presenting a much better image of the country, new investment opportunities, the defense of relevant issues for the Dominican Republic in different official and private environments in the Union, tapping into high-level venues for the country's culture, and relations between prestigious Dominican and U.S universities has been enhanced for the benefit of Dominican students and the future of the Dominican Republic.

The facts that have most impressed both me and my wife are the initial activities in Miami, Jacksonville, and the performance by Michael Camilo at the State Department, the Recognition of Dominican Teachers in New York, the Recognition of elected Dominican officials in the U.S., the Concert of the Symphonic Orchestra in New York, the Concert by Jose Antonio Molina in D.C.; what I want to ultimately express is that it is virtually impossible to select one in particular in the face of so many experiences and untold emotions.

I believe that the benefits brought about by Dominican Week to the Dominican community residing in the United States include increased pride in their Dominican identity, increased respect and recognition in the U.S. and recognition of the national community in the Dominican Republic, interacting with influential circles from the mainland, who have traditionally been removed from the Diaspora.

Finally, I wish to extend a most fraternal tribute to the memory of the members of the eternal chapter of Dominican Week: Victor Thomen, Eduardo Latorre and Ramón Aponte Martínez.

For myself and wife, the men and women comprising and who have developed Dominican Week in the course of these 15 years, especially Dr. Luis Heredia Bonetti, represent the equivalent of Dominicans who, on several fronts- particularly in June ’49 and ’59, considering the difference in methods and environments, donated their best effort to the welfare of the Dominican Republic. In other words they are patriots, as they have put aside their particular, immediate, selfish interests to perform actions, programs, events, and activities, through much sacrifice, which have generated, and no doubt will continue to bear enormous fruits for the future of the Dominican Republic, chiefly, in the economic, cultural and academic fields.

Roberto Saladin Selin:

My main motivation in participating in Dominican Week has been the desire to contribute to uplifting the values of the Dominican Republic as well as those of its Diaspora residing in the United States of America and in other countries, recognizing Dominican talents who have stood out in the US in various sectors of that country, and establishing a communication bridge between those who are here and those who are there. 

I think that Dominican Week has played a role over the course of these fifteen years; right from its beginning, Dominican Week in the United States   was one of the most effective Communication channels of the Dominican Republic for a dialogue between our authorities and their institutions and the private sector with their counterparts in the USA and the Dominican Diaspora.

As important achievements I can point out: it has served as a bridge for legislation to be made for the defense and protection of Dominicans living abroad as well as giving them the right to vote in national elections, contacts and agreements between the educational sector our country's universities and colleges in the U.S., the work in partnerships with associations of Dominican professionals in Puerto Rico, Miami, Washington and New York, including the promotion of national art and culture in those cities.

What has impressed me the most was the tribute and recognition of Dominican teachers in the city of New York, exalting those Dominicans who have kept alive the flame of Dominican identity in their students.

Dominican Week has left as main legacy having contributed to improving the self-esteem of the Dominican Diaspora in the USA, be it professionals, teachers, players, designers, painters, writers, musicians, councilmen, community leaders, traders, small and medium entrepreneurs, recognizing at public events and ceremonies their values, sponsoring contacts and relations with the Embassy and Consulates of our country in the USA.

As a member of the Executive Committee of Dominican Week, I will never forget the emotional impact aroused in the public in Miami by the concert conducted by Maestro Carlos Piantini also the Piano concerto performed by Michael Camilo at the Benjamín Franklyn Hall at the State Department in Washington, the concert at the Kennedy Center led by Maestro Jose Antonio Molina interpreting our folk music and the concert by baritone Obed Ureña, and violinist Aisha Sayed at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York amongst other cultural activities such as the satisfaction of having brought to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington, DC, the painting exhibition by Mastro Jaime Colson.