New York.- In a initiative led by the Dominican Consulate General in New York, the top 30 Dominican-descendant students in New York City will travel to the Dominican Republic this August. The program aims to strengthen their emotional and cultural connection with their heritage, many of them having never visited their parents’ homeland.
Announced by Consul Jesús Vásquez Martínez during the “Coffee with the Consul” event in Brooklyn, the initiative will include meetings with President Luis Abinader, top government officials, and tours of iconic institutions like the National Palace and National District offices. Each student will be accompanied by a parent and paired with a high-achieving peer from the same Dominican province as their family to encourage personal, meaningful cultural exchange.
The event also addressed other diaspora concerns, notably real estate scams affecting Dominicans abroad. Vásquez Martínez confirmed that the consulate is actively working with industry leaders to reduce fraud and protect investors. The initiative is part of a broader effort to foster national pride and ongoing engagement between the Dominican Republic and its diaspora.