Franklin Center

Past Headlines

Remarks presented by Dr. Lisa Fannin in Honor of International Women’s Day

On Friday, March 14, Ambassador P. Robert Fannin and Dr. Lisa Fannin hosted a reception in honor of International Women’s Day. During the reception, Dr. Fannin honored Belgica Mirabal Reyes – Dedé Mirabal - for her contributions to the process of peace and reconciliation in the country.

Recital at Ambassador’s Residence

Ambassador P. Robert Fannin and his wife, Lisa Fannin, hosted a recital with musicians from the Manhattan School of Music. The event was coordinated by the Embassy’s cultural section.

Rice Remarks on Release 2007 Report on Human Rights Practices

SECRETARY RICE: Good afternoon. I am pleased today to join Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor – Jonathan Farrar – in announcing the publication of the Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2007.  In every region of the world, men and women are working peacefully, and often at great risk to themselves and their families, to secure human rights and fundamental freedoms, to follow their consciences and speak their minds without fear, to choose those who would govern them and to hold their leaders accountable and to achieve equal justice under the law.

(full text of remarks)

Report on the Dominican Republic

Ambassador Fannin Gives Speech Before the American Chamber of Commerce

The Ambassador of the United States of America, P. Robert Fannin, gave his first speech before the American Chamber of Commerce focusing on the four pillars in Dominican-US relations: the consolidation of democracy, the promotion of prosperity, investing in people, and the protection of the democratic state.

IRC Working with Ministry of Education

Close to one hundred ESL (English as a Second Language) regional supervisors and coordinators from the Ministry of Education participated in an IRC presentation at the Ministry’s national ESL program meeting. Participants where able to learn about the many resources available, especially on English teaching, online in the Virtual Library and our library. Feb 19, 2008

Ambassador Fannin Travels to Puerto Plata

Members of the U.S. Mission held a town hall event for American citizens at the Sea Horse Ranch in Sosua on February 12.  Highlights included introductory remarks from Ambassador Robert Fannin, and a ceremony of tribute to former Consular Agent Bill Kirkman who retired after 20 years of service.  Mr. Kirkman is succeeded in this role by new Consular Agent, Ted Foster, who also addressed the gathering.  Nearly 200 American citizens attended the town hall meeting at which mission members discussed topics such as USAID projects, security issues, visa matters, and citizen service issues such as voting.  Given the high turnout and request for more such outreach, planning for future town hall events is underway - stay tuned.

Kelley Johnson Quartet Wows Santo Domingo Audiences

The Kelley Johnson Quartet captivated three SRO performances in Santo Domingo, Feb. 4-7, at the Casa de Teatro and the Cinemateca Dominicana. Bringing her special warmth and intimacy to the music, Kelley created a bond with audiences rarely seen here. The performances drew overwhelmingly young audiences (under 30), including to two master classes. The vocal class attracted 40 would-be Dominican Idols. The musicians are in the midst of a five-week tour of Central America and the Caribbean.  The Centro Franklin of the US Embassy in Santo Domingo sponsored the Kelley Johnson Quartet’s visit to the country.

US Embassy Sponsors Kelley Johnson Quartet Concerts in Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo - The Centro Franklin of the US Embassy in Santo Domingo sponsors the Kelley Johnson Quartet’s visit to the country. This jazz group will offer a concert on Wednesday, February 6 at Cinemateca Dominicana and on Thursday, February 7 at Casa de Teatro. Both concerts are totally free.

(full text in Spanish)

Poster announcing master classes

U.S. and D.R. Governments Expand Fulbright Programs

Centro Franklin and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology signed an agreement of collaboration that more than doubles the amount of Fulbright scholarships to be awarded on 2008. Presided by President Leonel Fernández, the Minister of Higher Education, Ligia Amada Melo de Cardona, and Ambassador P. Robert Fannin signed this agreement on Friday, January 18th 2008.

President Bush Delivers State of the Union Address

THE PRESIDENT: Madam Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens: Seven years have passed since I first stood before you at this rostrum. In that time, our country has been tested in ways none of us could have imagined. We faced hard decisions about peace and war, rising competition in the world economy, and the health and welfare of our citizens. These issues call for vigorous debate, and I think it's fair to say we've answered the call. Yet history will record that amid our differences, we acted with purpose. And together, we showed the world the power and resilience of American self-government.

(full text of Address)

Ambassador Fannin Visits Santiago

U.S. Ambassador P. Robert Fannin, and his wife, Lisa Fannin, visited the non-government organization “Accion Callejera”, a local institution that works with street children in the city of Santiago. For the past three years “Accion Callejera” has been sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). During his first visit to Santiago, on January 11-12, Ambassador and Mrs. Fannin also met with executives from Santiago’s Chamber of Commerce and Production, with academics from the city’s most important private Catholic University (Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra, PUCMM), and with the Council for the Strategic Development of the City and Municipality of Santiago. They also participated, this past January 11, in the opening ceremony of the baseball exhibit “See You at the Ballgame”, sponsored by the “Centro Leon,” Santiago’s most prestigious cultural museum.

U.S.-DR Partnership in Education

On January 14, U.S. Department of Labor Deputy Undersecretary of International Affairs Charlotte Ponticelli and Ambassador Fannin met the Minister of Education, Alejandrina German to discuss the U.S.-DR partnership in education programs. Ms. Ponticelli visited the Dominican Republic to launch the US$4 million project "Combating Child Labor through Education." In the photo are Ms. Ponticelli, Ambassador Fannin, and the Dominican Education Minister Alejandrina German.

Centro Franklin on the Road

Staff from the Information Resource Center and the Academic Section visited regional UASD campuses in Nagua and San Francisco on December 5 - 6. Centro Franklin staff was able to share all resources and scholarship opportunities with audience members.  More that 35 faculty members participated in Nagua’s workshop. In San Francisco, Centro Franklin team met with the UASD Academic Director and programmed a second visit for January 2008.

Forty-two students from APEC University visited the IRC for a presentation showcasing the wide range of information resources available at PAS Virtual Library.  They were especially interested in resources to learn English and in becoming familiar with the use of databases as a research tool.

New U.S. Ambassador Presents Credentials

The new Ambassador of the United States of America in the Dominican Republic, P. Robert Fannin, presented his credentials to President Leonel Fernández on December 18. Ambassador Fannin was accompanied by a team from the diplomatic mission in the country.

Embassy Working with University Developing Shipwreck Site

An underwater archaeology team from Indiana University (IU) invited by the GoDR announced on December 13 the discovery of the remains of a 17th century ship thought to belong to the infamous Captain Kidd. IU marine protection authority Charles Beeker (in photo) said his team has been licensed to study the wreckage and to convert the site into an underwater preserve, where it will be accessible to the public. Beeker said it is remarkable that the wreck has remained undiscovered all these years given its location, just 70 feet off the coast of Catalina Island in the Dominican Republic, and because it has been sought actively by treasure hunters. The Embassy set up a news conference for IU on December 14 and has been responsive to requests by the IU team in arranging appointments with university and tourism officials.

(full text)

New U.S. Ambassador Arrives in the Country

Santo Domingo -- The new U.S. Ambassador of the United States of America, P. Robert Fannin, arrived on December 13 via the International Airport Las Americas.  Ambassador Fannin was received in the terminal area by the executive team of the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo and by the representative of the Dominican Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Rogert Espaillat.  Upon arriving in the terminal, Ambassador Fannin made a brief statement on the challenge ahead of him as the new representative of his country in the Dominican Republic. He said: "My wife and I promise to do all we can to strengthen the bonds that unite our people and our nations."  Ambassador Fannin was confirmed on October 26 by the Senate of the United States as the new representative of the diplomatic mission of the United States in the country and sworn in on November 15 by Under Secretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns in the headquarters of the State Department.

U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo Supports World AIDS Day Dec. 1

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) led U.S. Embassy efforts in Santo Domingo to commemorate World AIDS Day on Saturday, December 1. See events.

An Op-Ed by the USAID Director published December 1 in Diario Libre (http://www.diariolibre.com/app/article.aspx?id=129733).

Fact Sheet: World AIDS Day 2007

US Government Donates US$1.3 million in Vaccines

The US Embassy in the Dominican Republic and the US Southern Command donated 35,000 doses of high quality typhoid vaccines. With this donation the assistance provided by the US government to the Dominican Republic as a response to Tropical Storm Noel surpasses US$3 million. Chargé d’Affaires Roland Bullen presided over the official donation of the vaccines to Dr. Nelson Rodriguez, Under-Secretary of Public Health, in the office of the local immunization program.

Chargé d'Affaires, Roland W. Bullen, Keynote Speaker at American Chamber of Commerce Luncheon

It is an honor to address the members of the American Chamber of Commerce. I would like to thank Chris Paniagua, the AmCham President, and the Board of Directors for inviting me to speak.  First, on behalf of the United States Embassy I wish to offer my condolences to the government and people of the Dominican Republic for the loss of those who perished during Tropical Storm Noel. So far my government has given nearly 3 million dollars in aid for those who are displaced or suffering.

(complete text of Mr. Bullen's remarks)

New York Yankees and USAID Join Forces to Help Victims of Tropical Storm Noel

On November 14, the orphanage Santo Domingo Savio School hosted New York Yankees ballplayers, who along with USAID and the foundation "Food for the Poor" joined forces to help people affected by Tropical Storm Noel and, at the same time, put on a baseball practice for the kids. USAID Director Richard Goughnour accompanied the ballplayers (player Robinson Canó and coach Tony Peña) during the visit. The Yankees contributed $25,000 and USAID $10,000 to Food for the Poor.

Swearing in New U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo – Under Secretary Nicholas Burns performed the swearing in November 15 for P. Robert Fannin, the new Ambassador of the United States of America in the Dominican Republic.  The ceremony took place in the State Department of the United States in Washington, D.C.

(full text)

President Bush Discusses Cuba Policy

On Wednesday, President Bush said, "Few issues have challenged this department -- and our nation -- longer than the situation in Cuba. Nearly half a century has passed since Cuba's regime ordered American diplomats to evacuate our embassy in Havana. This was the decisive break of our diplomatic relations with the island, a troubling signal for the future of the Cuban people, and the dawn of an unhappy era between our two countries. In this building, President John F. Kennedy spoke about the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba's dictatorship. And it was here where he announced the end of the missile crisis that almost plunged the world into nuclear war. Today, another President comes with hope to discuss a new era for the United States and Cuba. The day is coming when the Cuban people will chart their own course for a better life. The day is coming when the Cuban people have the freedom they have awaited for so long."

(full text)

Op-Ed on Cuba by Chargé d’Affaires Roland W. Bullen published October 31, 2007 in Listin Diario

Centro Franklin and the National Classical Ballet Co-Sponsor Gala Performance

The Centro Franklin brought American dancer Tanya Widerman to Santo Domingo for master classes and performances with the National Classic Ballet from October 22 to November 4, 2007.  To conclude the training the Ballet gave a gala performance “Dance:  Four Styles,” which presented ballets choreographed and performed by Ms. Widerman, as well as by the rest of the company.  At the gala the Director of the National Classical Ballet, Monika Despradel, presented a “Pointed Friends” award to the Centro Franklin in recognition of its support.

U.S. Officials Visit Migrant Worker Shantytowns

On October 26, 2007, officials from the U.S. Mission in Santo Domingo and the U.S. Department of State in Washington visited six shantytowns, referred to as “bateyes,” in order to examine and discuss the living conditions of migrant workers employed at sugar plantations. In the photograph Mr. Roland W. Bullen, the Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. of the American Embassy, talks with students at the “Space to Grow Pre-School” (Pre-Escolar Espacio para Crecer) in the shantytown of Cayacoa.

NASA “ViewSpace” Presents Space and Earth Imagery at Museum

The American Embassy in Santo Domingo has collaborated with the Dominican National Museum of Natural History to present ViewSpace, an educational service of NASA, in its Hall of the Universe. ViewSpace was unveiled during the hall’s re-inauguration on October 25, 2007. ViewSpace sends recent and historic images from American space missions and from satellites such as the Hubble Space Telescope to museums and planetariums across the U.S. This is the first such placement in Latin America. The fulltime video service, presented on a plasma screen, is a powerful new tool to educate museum visitors, especially students, about science and issues impacting our Earth. During the ceremony, Mr. Roland W. Bullen, the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. embassy, underscored America’s commitment to research and the advancement of knowledge.

President Bush Discusses Free Trade Agreements

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you for the warm welcome. It's great to be in Miami. I've been looking for my little brother. (Laughter.) He must have finally found work. (Laughter.) Just kidding, Jeb.  I thank the Center for Hemispheric Policy and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring this event. And I appreciate you all coming. I appreciate the support that you give for enterprise here in South Florida.

(full text of speech)

Chargé d'Affaires, Roland W. Bullen, Keynote Speaker at Port Security Conference

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Roland W. Bullen was the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony of the II Congress of the Business Alliance for Secure Commerce (BASC), held in Santo Domingo on October 18. The event, directed at entrepreneurs, exporters, importers and academics, among others, promotes and supports the strengthening of supply chain security standards. The main goal of the congress was to encourage the development and implementation of voluntary steps to address the risks of narcotics and merchandise smuggling through legitimate trade, as well as the threat of a disruption in the global economy brought by terrorism.  The Business Alliance for Secure Commerce (BASC) is a cooperation program between the private sector and national and international organizations, created to promote a secure global supply chain. BASC is recognized as a global model of international private-public sector cooperation, as a result of its success in bringing together business and customs, governments and international organizations to develop supply chain security standards and procedures.

Rescued U.S. Kidnap Victim Thanks DR Police

Mrs. Susan Rash, a U.S. citizen living in the northeast of the Dominican Republic, met with the Dominican Chief of Police, Major General Rafael Guillermo Guzmán Fermin, on October 10, 2007. Mrs. Rash thanked Major General Guzman Fermin for the successful efforts by the Dominican National Police in rescuing her unharmed from kidnappers in September 2007. 

See TV interview with Mr. and Mrs. Rash.

US Embassy Celebrates “Second Alumni Conference of Exchange Programs”

Santo Domingo -The Franklin Center of the US Embassy in the DR celebrated the "Second Alumni Conference of ex-recipients of the exchange programs,” sponsored by the US Embassy. The theme of this year’s conference  was "Entrepreneurship.”  The guest speaker was Ms. Janet Cronick, an expert in this subject.  Mrs. Cronick is president of the "Ultimate Gifts" company and is a consultant to small and large companies and non-profit organizations. 

The objective was to reunite former scholarship recipients and to offer them a space where they could discuss ideas on “Entrepreneurship.”  Another goal was to show the audience the steps that are necessary to initiate a new project.  Mrs. Chronik emphasized the importance of the creation of new jobs for the country’s development.

US Expert on Family Violence Works with Santo Domingo’s DA’s Office to Open Men’s Rehabilitation Center

The Franklin Center of the US Embassy, jointly with the US Agency for International Development, sponsored the visit to Santo Domingo of Ms. Shirley Jones, a US expert on family violence therapy. In a press conference held Thursday, October 11, Santo Domingo’s District Attorney, José Manuel Hernández, said that Ms. Jones’ visit to the country will be of great help in their efforts to establish a special center where men who batter women will be able to receive special therapy and orientation.

Vice Consuls Start New Radio Show on Visas

A vice consul from the Immigrant Visa Section of the U.S. Embassy and another from the Non-Immigrant Visa Section participated in a ground-breaking radio show "Ask the Consul" on Friday, September 28 on 106.5 FM. The host of the show, Dr. Rafael Molina Morillo, is an award winning journalist and the Editor of the daily El Dia.  The vice consuls answered questions about the visa process, some drawn from questions sent over the internet. The "Ask the Consul" show is one of many outreach efforts by the Consulate, many designed to allow Dominicans to pose their questions about visas and consular issues directly to the persons making the decisions.

Astronaut Dr. Ellen Baker Visited the Dominican Republic

NASA astronaut Dr. Ellen Baker visited the Dominican Republic from September 24-26 to participate in the Fifth World Congress of Scientific Youth “Science at the Service of the Environment, Life and Peace”. Dr. Baker’s visit was sponsored by the International Federation of Scientific Societies and the Cultural Section of the Franklin Center of the US Embassy in Santo Domingo.  Dr. Baker joined NASA in May 1981, and became an astronaut in June 1985. A veteran of three space flights, Dr. Baker has logged over 686 hours in space.

Dominican Cultural Elite Turns Out for “New York, NY”

Some 400 Dominican artists, photographers and cultural leaders attended the gala launch of Santo Domingo’s annual Month of Photography that featured the opening of the traveling exhibition “New York, NY,” September 4. Centro Franklin organized the event to honor three exhibitions, including those at the Museo de Casas Reales and at the French Embassy in a cultural and diplomatic first here – shared programming. The Chargé d’Affaires of the US and French embassies addressed the festive crowd that went on to enjoy American food donated by McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Dominos Pizza, the Jaragua Marriott and Baskin Robbins. The Landmarks exhibition is being presented through October 4 in the Capilla de los Remedios, the second oldest religious structure in the Americas, located in the heart of the colonial zone. The joint opening included live musicians and vocalist performing Broadway tunes and culminated with fireworks.

Video Conference on Money Laundering Presented to Dominican Government Officials, Press

Centro Franklin presented a video conference to 15 representatives of the Dominican office of the Attorney General, the Superintendent of Banks and the National School of Public Ministries, as well as the media, on August 29. The American presenters were Jean-Paul Duvivier, Senior Adviser for Policy at the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, and Jennifer Showell of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. The 90 minute conversation discussed targets and methods used by US authorities to address these areas and cooperative opportunities to collaborate between the US and the Dominican Republic. Among participants was the head of the National School of Public Ministries who was involved in drafting a new Dominican Penal Code that includes harsh punishment for money laundering and terrorist financing.

Bernardo Vega Thanks Centro Franklin for Research Assistance with New Book, Trujillo and Haiti

Bernardo Vega, former Dominican Ambassador to Washington, just published his latest book entitled “Trujillo and Haiti” Volume III (1936-1946). The author sent the Information Resource Center of Centro Franklin a thank you note recognizing the valuable assistance received in providing electronic information of chapters from 11 volumes of the series “Foreign Relations of the United States" (FRUS) published by the State Department. He states that although these documents are easy to get in any US public library, he greatly appreciates the IRC’s efforts in providing electronic copies of the chapters he needed. “Had it not been for the IRC, I wouldn’t have been able to access that information without having to travel to the U.S.”

American Museum Professional Conducts Two Weeks of Workshops and Consultations on Installation

Centro Franklin presented Ricardo Viera, professor of museum studies and director of the Lehigh University Art Galleries, for a two-week workshop with 34 museum staffers from 14 museums, July 9-20. The first week consisted of meeting in a different museum each day with subgroups of participants identifying and offering solutions for installation challenges they found there. During the second week, Viera visited museums around the country advising staff on ways to make their installations more effective, educational and safer for the collections.

Participants gave Viera a rapturous farewell. He had accomplished a rare thing in this country: brought museum staffers together across lines of discipline, educational and experience level, and resources and forged a new sense of collaborative possibility for the future.

American Speaker Addresses Freedom of Information Law, Strengthening the Culture of Transparency in the Dominican Republic

Centro Franklin hosted University of Minnesota ethics and law Professor Jane E. Kirtley, July 16-18, for a series of programs on FOIA with journalists, government/private public relations officers, directors of FOIA offices in various government secretariats/directorates, attorneys, academics and students. Programs were held in Santo Domingo and Santiago. Kirtley spoke on the benefits of the Freedom of Information Law (introduced in 2004 in the DR). She emphasized that FOIA laws are not the exclusive property of journalists, but rather of the entire citizenry. She led a full-day workshop for some 60 journalists, lawyers, professors and students on “How to Use the FOIA Law,” and delivered a half-day symposium on the “Use of the FOIA Law to Support and Strengthen Transparency and Trust in Public Administration” for another 60 experts. Professor Kirtley was interviewed by journalists from three different newspapers and one magazine, resulting in one front-page article, one editorial inspired by her interview, and a half-page spread in “La Informacion.”

Donation of Scholastics book collections to Elementary and Junior High School

Centro Franklin Director PAO William Millman delivered three collections of Scholastics books in Spanish to the MOVEARTE school in Santo Domingo.  MOVEARTE was founded and is maintained by Father Manuel Ruiz, who built it and has kept it running with donations from different sectors.  It serves about 750 students from the surrounding neighborhoods--a mix of low and middle-low income sectors.  In addition the school offers education to more than 200 adults from those communities.

American and Dominican Youth Make Beautiful Music Together

Centro Franklin provided a modest grant to the music department of La UASD to support a week-long student collaboration among American and Dominican youth, June 24-30.  The project, organized by the wife of a USAID officer, brought 20 American teenagers together with 40 Dominican counterparts to create a youth orchestra that performed classical music throughout the capital.  The project, which received substantial press coverage, included a performance in a church in Gualey and culminated with a gala performance at the Aula Magna of La UASD.  Accompanying the students were six parent chaperones and three American music teachers. 

PA Donates Youth Book Collection to Orphanage School

PAO William Millman presented a book collection of over three hundred titles for the school at the SOS Village orphanage in Los Minas, in Eastern Santo Domingo.  Millman exhorted the kids to have fun reading while learning at the same time.  The three distinct Scholastics collections cover classic literature, art, history, science, greography, sports and biography.  This donation is part

of a PA program to promote reading among Dominican youth.

Dr.  José del Carmen Ariza, former Dominican ambassador in Washington, DC and member of the board of directors of the orphanage, Mrs. Josefina Delgado, national director and Mrs. Juana Alvarez, school director received the donation.

American Bluegrass Band Wows July 4 and Dominican Audiences in Three Cities

Centro Franklin invited Bob Perilla’s Big Hillbilly Bluegrass Band to perform at the Embassy’s official July 4 reception for 1000 guests. The quintet also gave three public concerts at Centro Leon in Santiago, at the Centro Cultural Fermoselle in San Pedro de Macoris and at the Cinemateca Dominicana in the capital, including two master classes for musicians and students on July 5-7. The band has toured extensively for the US State Department. Extensive coverage in the print and electronic media, including a 15 minute appearance on “Divertidas con Jochy,” Canal 11, which boosted public attendance.

English Teaching Conferences Draw 700 Teachers

Public Affairs Co-sponsors English Teaching Conferences

Public Affairs co-sponsored a week of English teaching conferences at the binational centers in Santiago and Santo Domingo in early June, bringing two U.S. experts to present their recent research at the conferences. Dr. MaryAnn Christison (picture) and Dr. Adrian Palmer, both from the University of Utah, joined other international experts in English teaching during a week focused on “Global Perspectives on English Language Teaching.”

“Traveling Notes” Presents an Evening of Classical Music

Santo Domingo.- “Traveling Notes”, a new international exchange program for young musicians presented an evening of classical music to raise funds   that will support the developing music learning by young people. Young students from the School of Music of the Autonomous University, the Dina Institute and The Gocessa School of Music  participated in the event. 

The Executive Director of “Traveling Notes”, Mrs. Ellen Brager, explained that the idea of “Traveling Notes” is to encourage  musical exchanges between Dominican and US students.

DR Cadet is Admitted into Military Academy at West Point, only Three Were Accepted in Latin America

Santo Domingo – The US Embassy in Santo Domingo and the National Army of the Dominican Republic are proud to announce that Alexis Ovalle Beato, a young Dominican Army cadet, was one of three Latin Americans accepted into the US Military Academy at West Point for the class of 2011.  The Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, Roland Bullen, US Military Attaché Lt. Colonel Michael E. Knutson and the DR’s Army Chief of Staff, Major General Juan A. Campusano Lopez, participated in a brief ceremony at the US Embassy where Ovalle Beato was formally handed his letter of admission from West Point.

IRC Shares Resources with UTE (Third Age University)

The IRC carried out a dynamic two hour workshop with 50 members of the UTE university faculty, doing online demonstrations of the Virtual Library resources and databases and an active discussion about research tips and experiences. Among the attendees where vice rectors, deans, directors and group leaders. May 19, 2007.

Expert on Free Trade Agreements Visits the Dominican Republic

The Santiago Chamber of Commerce and Production of Santiago presented Professor Terry McCoy, an expert on international free-trade agreements in the Americas who spoke on “The Benefits of the Free-Trade Agreements for Developing Economies”.

Professor McCoy holds a doctorate in Political Science and is Professor of Latin American Studies and Political Science at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Professor McCoy visited the Dominican Republic invited by the Franklin Center of the US Embassy.

During his presentation, Professor McCoy discussed the impact these free-trade agreements have had on Chile and Mexico, and how their particular experiences could help the Dominican Republic now that it has entered into a free-trade agreement with the US and Central America.

Warhol Exhibition Sets Records

A loan exhibition of artworks by Andy Warhol at Santo Domingo’s Museum of Modern Art, supported in part by a grant from Centro Franklin, broke attendance records. The exhibition drew more people during its first weekend than it does in a normal month.

About two-thirds of visitors were student groups. For many, this was the first time they had seen an exhibition of an American artist. The last time a solo American exhibition has been seen in this country was in 1989. The show generated lavish publicity in the electronic and print press. Given the popular nature of the imagery, stories appeared in non-traditional publications like bar guides and was satirized by the fashion press. Agregado Cultural Rex Moser gave weekly tours through the exhibition.

American Choreographer Conducts Workshops for Student and Professional Dancers

Denver choreographer David Keener was invited by Centro Franklin to provide daily workshops to student and professional dancers during the annual Mes de la Danza in the capital, April 16-20. The workshops were intended not only to improve dancers' performance skills, but also to assist emerging choreographers in development and teaching of new work. An interview with Mr. Keener was published in daily Listin Diario on April 21 and the embassy was recognized for its contributions in press releases and at public performances. The Mes de la Danza is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture to promote classical and folkloric repertory, as well as performance and teaching skills.

American Screenwriter's Workshop Supports President Fernandez's Cultural Agenda

Centro Franklin invited University of Puerto Rico professor Marel Malaret to conduct a week-long workshop for screenwriters at FUNGLODE, the thinktank founded by President Leonel Fernandez, Apr. 30-May 4, 2007. The workshop, scheduled to coincide with the 10th International Santo Domingo Book Fair, supports the government's cultural, educational and economic priorities to improve the skills of local filmmakers to stimulate the country's production capacity and as a location for foreign films. Twenty-three participants worked on scripts for 10-minute films of their own devising. The students were so enthusiastic about the program that they insisted on MORE class time! Prof. Malaret expanded the class hours from four to six each day. The proof of her effectiveness was that every student who began the workshop completed it. Prof. Malaret spoke on local radio and was interviewed for next month's issue of Mujer Unica. Centro Franklin will collaborate with other embassies to develop a more expansive workshop of film specialists to coincide with the international film festival this fall. In further support of this national initiative, Centro Franklin is seeking matching funds from the Dominican government to enable Dominican filmmakers to participate in the Fulbright program at American film studies departments, and is speaking with those film schools about possible links to local universities.

More 2007 PA Activities

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