January 7, 2015, Lawrence, MA- Mayor Daniel Rivera will travel to the Dominican Republic next week to announce a new collaboration between the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo and Northern Essex Community College. The Mayor will also take the time he is there to meet with various dignitaries and business, elected and political leaders throughout Santo Domingo and the Dominican Republic. Mayor Rivera, accompanied by State Representative Marcos Devers and officials from Northern Essex Community College, including NECC President Dr. Lane Glenn will tour higher education institutions and visit with the Vice Minister of Higher Education Dr. Rafael Sanchez Cardenas to announce the details of the collaboration.
“With so many of our new immigrants coming to Lawrence every day from Dominican Republic insuring a good program that can recognize their educational attainments from there, to institutions here is critical,” said Mayor Daniel Rivera. “While the focus of the visit will be higher education, we will also be checking in with some dignitaries and business, elected and political leaders to see if there are any other opportunities for collaboration between Dominican Republic and the City of Lawrence.” Included in the list of dignitary visits is a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, James Brewster, to discuss the State of Dominicans in Lawrence and anything that the City of Lawrence may be able to help with in education, commerce, immigration and development and vice versa.
Below is a list of elected officials Mayor Rivera will meet with while in the Dominican Republic:
- Dominican President Danilo Medina, Dominican National Palace, Santo Domingo
- U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic James Brewster
- Former Dominican President Hipolito Mejia and current presidential candidate Luis Abinader from the Modern Revolutionary Party
- Former Dominican President Dr. Leonel Fernandez Reyna at Global Foundation for Democracy and Development
- Senate President Cristina Lizardo
- Speaker of the House Abel Martinez Duran
- Honorable Gilberto Serulle, Mayor, Santiago de los Caballeros City
- Visit to Dr. Felix Antonio Cruz Jiminian Foundation in Santo Domingo
- Visit Lic. Enrique Ramírez Paniagua – Administrator General – Banreservas Reserve Bank of Dominican Republic
The visit is from 1/11/2016 – 1/15/2016. In accordance with section 4.10 The Council president has been notified of my absence. Following his trip, Mayor Rivera will be available for phone interviews.
