The Diplomat
The Dominican Republic Embassy, the Dominican Foundation (FUNDO) and Casa de América, in collaboration with the magazine Soy Caribe Premium, successfully held the panel Roots and Horizons: Integration and Culture of the Dominican Community in Spain, a meeting that took place in the Simón Bolívar Room of Casa de América and which brought together leading figures from the cultural, academic and diplomatic fields.
The welcome was given by Moisés Morera, director of programming at Casa de América, who highlighted the importance of creating spaces that promote intercultural dialogue and the visibility of Ibero-American communities.
Then, the ambassador of the Dominican Republic, Tony Raful, addressed the opening words in which he highlighted the active role of the Dominicans in Spain, their adaptability and the value of their cultural and social contribution to the host country.
Moderated by journalist Crismeidy Ureña Zapata, founder and director of Soy Caribe Premium and president of the Dominican foundation in Spain, FUNDO, the panel addressed key issues such as cultural identity, migrant resilience, sense of belonging, and the challenges and opportunities facing Dominicans in their integration process in Spain.
During the day, speakers shared personal experiences related to migration, adaptation to new environments, professional challenges and achievements from different disciplines.
Participated in the panel Julio de Castro, distinguished professor with the chair José Mario Álvarez de Novales, and director of the PhD program at IE Business School, IE University; Laura Gómez, Dominican actress with international career, known for her role in Orange is the New Black and other productions such as Upon Entry and Ash in the Mouth; Dr Electa Navarrete, aesthetic physician and author of the book Climbing Everest with Heels, a work on self-improvement and personal motivation, and Lia Chapman, actress, screenwriter, director and producer, with presence in cinema and television in Spain and Latin America.
This panel was consolidated as a space for reflection and testimony that highlighted how the Dominican community in Spain keeps its identity alive, while enriching the social, cultural and economic environment of the country that hosts them.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Institute of Dominicans Abroad (INDEX), the Consulate General of the Dominican Republic in Madrid, and other diplomatic and cultural entities.
