An early Dominican Day Parade in New York City; among its numerous features, the new online platform looks at the origins of this vibrant celebration and its role in shaping Dominican identity in the city.
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the City College of New York-based CUNY Dominican Studies Institute is partnering with Google Arts & Culture to create a groundbreaking digital hub. The collection features archival treasures and stories spanning migration, innovation, culture, and activism. It will offer unprecedented access to Dominican history, culture, and contributions in the United States and beyond.
The collaboration places Dominican voices and experiences on a global stage, offering audiences everywhere a dynamic exploration of the Dominican journey through archival treasures, cultural icons, and interactive storytelling.
The new online platform features:
- Early Dominican Day Parades in NYC – A look at the origins of this vibrant celebration and its role in shaping Dominican identity in New York;
- Sazón y Trayectoria: The Culinary Legacy of Chef Persio Féliz – Showcasing Dominican food culture and the life of one of its most celebrated chefs;
- Félix Antonio Nolasco – Honoring a pioneer whose work broadened the appreciation of Dominican music and culture;
- Tumbando Puertas: The Santiago Cerón Story – Tracing the career of the acclaimed salsero and his lasting influence on Dominican music in the U.S.;
- Nuestra Fe, Nuestra Voz: The Dominican Presence at Saint Rose of Lima Church – Highlighting the role of faith and community in Dominican immigrant life;
- Club Deportivo Dominicano: A Cornerstone of Culture in Washington Heights – Celebrating an institution that nurtured sports, camaraderie, and pride among Dominican New Yorkers; and
- Louis Arcadio Espinal – Profiling an artist whose creative legacy resonates across the Dominican community.
Together, these stories weave a powerful digital archive of Dominican resilience, creativity, and legacy.
“The Dominican Studies Institute occupies an important space between academic research and community outreach, using the most sophisticated research currently available to benefit community interest in their history and culture,” said City College President Dr. Vincent Boudreau. “The digital hub that will emerge through this partnership with Google Arts and Culture will insure that the cultural, historical resources of the Institute are easily accessible to all members of the community—access that is especially necessary in moments when communities of new Americans are fearing that their histories are being segregated from the story of America. This essential resource is an important and visionary remedy for that feeling.”
"This collaboration is a dream come true, as it enables us to connect with every person of Dominican ancestry, no matter where in the world they reside, and to share with all the richness and treasures of our historical and cultural legacy," said Dr. Ramona Hernández, Director of CUNY DSI and professor of sociology in CCNY’s Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership.
Led by Jhensen Ortiz, Librarian at CUNY DSI, and Martha Alburquerque Borish, Director of Special Projects, this initiative is the product of sustained effort and heartfelt dedication, placing our commitment to the Dominican people at the center of our work.
This launch is part of Google Arts & Culture’s Hispanic Heritage Month activation, placing Dominican voices and legacy within the larger contributions made by people of Latino ancestry worldwide. Click here to visit the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute on Google Arts & Culture and to explore the full collection and stories.
About the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute
Founded in 1992 at The City College of New York, the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute (CUNY DSI) is the nation’s first university-based research institute devoted to the study of people of Dominican descent in the United States and around the globe. CUNY DSI’s mission is to advance and share scholarship about Dominicans and the Dominican Republic through cutting-edge research, publications, and public programming. The Institute is home to the Dominican Archives, the first and only of its kind outside the Dominican Republic, and the Dominican Library, the largest repository of bibliographic resources in the U.S. on Dominican Studies. Together, these unique institutions preserve and provide access to primary and secondary source materials documenting the Dominican experience. CUNY DSI also curates art exhibitions, lectures, and conferences, creating vital spaces for dialogue on culture, history, and identity. Under the leadership of renowned sociologist and public intellectual Dr. Ramona Hernández, CUNY DSI continues to be a national leader in shaping understanding of Dominican and Latino communities.
About Google Arts & Culture
Google Arts & Culture puts the treasures, stories, and knowledge of over 3,000 cultural institutions from 80 countries at your fingertips. Since 2011, its mission has been to make the world’s art and culture accessible to anyone, anywhere. The Google Arts & Culture app is free and available worldwide.
About The City College of New York
Since 1847, The City College of New York has provided a high-quality and affordable education to generations of New Yorkers in a wide variety of disciplines. CCNY embraces its position at the forefront of social change. It is ranked #1 by the Harvard-based Opportunity Insights out of 369 selective public colleges in the United States on the overall mobility index. This measure reflects both access and outcomes, representing the likelihood that a student at CCNY can move up two or more income quintiles. Education research organization Degree Choices ranks CCNY #1 nationally among universities for economic return on investment. In addition, the Center for World University Rankings places CCNY in the top 1.8% of universities worldwide in terms of academic excellence. Labor analytics firm Lightcast puts at $3.2 billion CCNY’s annual economic impact on the regional economy (5 boroughs and 5 adjacent counties) and quantifies the “for dollar” return on investment to students, taxpayers, and society. At City College, more than 16,500 students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in eight schools and divisions, driven by significant funded research, creativity, and scholarship. In 2023, CCNY launched its most expansive fundraising campaign ever. The campaign, titled “Doing Remarkable Things Together,” seeks to bring the College’s Foundation to more than $1 billion in total assets in support of the College's mission. CCNY is as diverse, dynamic, and visionary as New York City itself. View CCNY Media Kit.
Jay Mwamba
p: 917.892.0374
e:
jmwamba@ccny.cuny.edu