Domingo Cruz | Executive Director
About Domingo Cruz
Domingo Cruz is an artist and educator who was born in Harlem, raised in Washington Heights, and resides in the South Bronx. For nearly two decades, Cruz has helped young and fellow artists realize their potential. He has worked with numerous community institutions and organizations in the area, including the Dominican Alliance Cultural Center, the BELL Foundation, Rutgers University, the Department of Education, ExpandED Schools, and City Lore.
As an artist, Cruz's work is inspired by New York City and Dominican culture. He specializes in using sustainable materials to create artwork and deploys creative methods to engage and educate a broad spectrum of audiences.
Laura Acosta | Foundress
Laura, born in Santiago, Dominican Republic, immigrated to New York at 12. She developed a passion for public service while helping her mother navigate life in the U.S. Laura served as Deputy Chief of Staff to NYC Public Advocate Letitia James and was the founder of the Juan Pablo Duarte Foundation, supporting Latino students in the U.S. and Dominican Republic. She has led field operations for key political campaigns and played a pivotal role in electing prominent Dominican leaders. Laura earned a B.A. in Human Services from Metropolitan College of New York. Her favorite song is "La Vida es un Carnaval." Laura now serves a senior advisor to the executive director of the Juan Pablo Duarte Foundation.
William Garcia | Board Member
William is one of the founding members, and a former chair, of The Juan Pablo Duarte Foundation. He has worked in, and actively served the, Washington Heights and Inwood communities in various capacities for over 25 years. He is the current chair of the board of directors of Viva Uptown, a local non-profit church collaborative focusing on youth mentoring, among other services. He is also a member of the board of directors of Manhattan Legal Services, a provider of free legal services to low-income residents of Manhattan; a member of the Encourage Judicial Service Committee of the New York City Bar; and a member of the Character and Fitness Committee of the Appellate Division, First Department. In the past, Mr. Garcia served as a member of the Judicial Hearing Officers Selection Advisory Committee of the Appellate Division, First Department; a member of the board of directors of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone (UMEZ); a member and chair of the board of directors of the Business Resource & Investment Service Center at UMEZ (BRISC); and a member and chair of Community Planning Board 12, Manhattan. As an attorney in private practice with Garcia & Kalicharan, P.C., Mr. Garcia counsels and represents clients in complex litigation matters, commercial and real estate transactions, estate and probate proceedings, as well as immigration removal, visa, adjustment, and citizenship proceedings. He received his undergraduate degree from New York University and his law degree from the Maurice A. Deane