March 6, 2025
Councillor Julia Mejia (center) with students from Boston International Newcomer’s Academy (BINCA) in Dorchester, including Community Hub School Coordinator Ja-Han Wang. More than 40 percent of the school’s students have Dominican roots.
Residents and elected officials with roots in the Dominican Republic gathered in Dorchester last Thursday morning (Feb. 27) for a second annual breakfast celebrating Dominican Independence Day that was hosted by Dorchester City Councillor Julia Mejia.
The event at the IBEW Hall on Freeport Street was heavy with Boston-area Dominican leaders in politics, business, and community affairs and it took on a regional scope in partnership with the city of Lawrence and the state of Rhode Island with Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos in attendance.
Mejia, a Dorchester resident, said last year that she and others in the Dominican community wanted to honor their Independence Day, but also highlight the accomplishments and outstanding efforts by people of Dominican descent across New England.
“We took some paint from [State Sen.] Nick Collins with the St. Patrick’s Breakfast and the three Dominicans on the Boston City Council collaborated to start this event, and it was very successful,” she said. “This year out of respect and to honor we are co-hosting with the city of Lawrence that has the largest population of Dominicans. Half of the program this year will be dedicated to Lawrence. Next year we’re going to partner with Rhode Island and Lt. Gov. Matos.”
After performances of the American and Dominican National Anthems, and youth traditional dance group Ritmo Canela, community awards were given to Juana Matias, Rafael Ruiz, Tony Barros and Daniel Peralta, Francia Gonzalez, Vilma Martinez-Dominguez, Melvin Vargas Tineo, and Pedro Pinales Martinez.
Added Lawrence state Sen. Pavel Payano: “We are not just part of the story; we are leading it.”
The Fernandez family were front and center at the celebration, including Daniel, Jose, Ambiris, and Nelson. Seth Daniel photos
Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne – who got her start running a non-profit at Dorchester’s St. Mark Church – and Oscar Guerrero, director of Dominicans Living Abroad Index Boston.
Chanda Smart of the Kraft campaign, and Yudith Alvarez, of Hispanic Image Magazine.
Youth dancers from the Ritmo Canela group performed a traditional Dominican dance.
