DWDC in Santiago
Board Members
Mrs. Rita Mella , Chairperson: Mrs. Mella has over 20 years of experience in the field of Law Enforcement. She graduated Summa Cum Laude in the UNPHU University in 1983, with a degree in Education, and a minor in Social Sciences. She worked as a researcher for the Center for Feminist Investigation and Action (CIPAF) and as a community worker in barrios of the National District. She obtained her masters in Caribbean History at Florida State University in Gainesville, Florida. In 1991, Mrs. Mella graduated from The City University of New York’s (CUNY) school of law and has spent many years of her professional career in the New York courts in civil, penitentiary and family law, among other responsibilities. Jointly with her law and judicial career, Mella has an ample record in community and academic work.
Ms. Maria Herminia Grateró, Member: Ms. Graterol has committed more than 12 years as a human rights lawyer with expertise in women’s rights, development (ESC) and gender equality; over 10 years experience building capacity of non-profits, government and UN agencies to use the human rights framework to inform litigation, law and policy reform; and led training, campaigns, action-oriented research, advocacy and program evaluations. She has considerable experience working across cultures and in diverse settings.
Ms. Andel Nicasio, Treasurer: Ms. Nicasio has a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation and School Counseling. She is a former employee of the DWDC where she worked in various capacities; including the anti-domestic violence program, the prevention of child abuse and neglect and foster care placement, and as the Health Promotion Program Director where she worked in the first stages of the development of a curriculum to train community.health workers (CHWs or Promotoras) to provide Genetics and Health Awareness Education. She is presently working at the New York State Psychiatric Institute at New York Presbyterian Hospital for Center of Excellence for Cultural Competence as a Project Manager/Community Project Associate.
Ms. Denise Dominguez, Member: Ms. Dominguez has over 14 years of experience in the field of Law enforcement. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, graduated Magna Cum Laude from John Jay College. She also has a J.D. from The City University of New York’s (CUNY) school of law. Ms. Dominguez currently has her own law office where she represents individual clients, small businesses and corporations in criminal defense, derivative actions, matrimonial, family and landlord tenant matters.
Ms. Laura Sterling, Member: Ms. Sterling has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Lehman College. She has over 12 years of Head Start fiscal management experience and excellent knowledge of nonprofit setting.
Ms. Misha Norman: is the Chairperson of the Parent’s Council of the Mama Tingo Home Based Early Head Start Program and represents the parent’s voice on the board. For the past 10 years Misha has been working in program development and implementation. She currently volunteers as a GED instructor for low income individuals. She has been living in New York with her husband for two years and is the mother of one of our Mama Tingo students with another on the way. She has a Bachelors from the University fo Massachusetts and a Masters in Educational Psychology from the University of British Columbia. She is a fellow Canadian planting roots in Washington Heights and working on her Spanish.
Ms. Ivelisse Vargas: Ms. Vargas is an Accounting and Business professional with 28 years of experience in her field. She has a degree in Accounting and Business management from Bronx Community College. Ivelisse also holds a NJ real estate sales license and uses her knowledge to support minorities in accessing grants and making wise choices when buying a home. She believes in the goodness of human kind and the importance of supporting one another. Joining the DWDC board helps solidify her commitment to supporting the Dominican/Latino community.
Former Board Members: we are eternally grateful to the following board who even though they were not co-founders or are now not present on the board played a significant role:
- Clara Lavergne
- Elena Mojica
- Fior Cruz
- Miriam Mejia
- Julissa Reynoso
- Lilliam Perez
- Raquel Cepeda
- Estela Vasquez
- Milagros Ricourt
- Ana Jimenez
- Fredesvinda Guerreo