Forward We Go
Who We Are
Dominica-America Scholarship and Culture, Inc. is a non-profit and non-political organization founded in 2003 (and granted 501(c)(3) status in 2013) that operates exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. Membership is limited to people who are Dominican by birth, naturalization, marriage or family , or who claim Dominican citizenship and are interested in sharing and upholding Dominican and Caribbean culture.
MISSION
To foster cooperation and goodwill among Dominicans, other Caribbean peoples, and fellow Americans through (a) promoting educational, recreational, and social interaction, (b) sponsoring charitable programs for the needy in Dominica and the U.S. and (c) preserving and celebrating Dominican culture.
OBJECTIVES
To establish a bond among people of Dominican heritage and provide a support system to encourage friendship and goodwill between Dominicans and the American people.
To promote recreational and educational interaction among those people
To sponsor, when possible, charitable or other programs for Dominica’s needy
To provide college scholarships to graduating high school students in St. Lucie County
To preserve and celebrate Dominican culture including, but not limited to, customs, language, dance, food, and folklore and educate and expose those attributes to the American community
What We Do
DASCI is a 100% volunteer-run organization. Its success in raising funds for college and high school scholarships is entirely dependent on the work of its members and the generosity of a growing community of supporters that believe in DASCI’s mission.
Since 2007, DASCI has awarded a total of 135 scholarships valued at US$88,450. One hundred eighteen (118) awards valued at US$72,950 have been made to primary school graduates entering high school in Dominica and 19 awards valued at US$15,500 have been made to college-bound high school graduates in St Lucie County in Florida. All US scholarships are targeted to African American students.
DASCI also undertook a special project that provided emergency supplies to Dominicans after Tropical Storm Erika in 2015. More recently, after the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017, DASCI, through special fund raising efforts, including a GoFundMe drive, purchased, shipped and distributed 1200 backpacks with school supplies to students at 10 primary schools in Dominica.
