Held in New York City, the fourth annual “Index Somos Todos” Outstanding Dominican Abroad Recognition ceremony brought top Dominican government officials together with members of the country’s vast global diaspora to celebrate the achievements and contributions of 14 exceptional Dominican professionals based in the United States. Leading the event were Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader, First Lady Raquel Arbaje, and Foreign Minister Víctor “Ito” Bisonó, with the program organized by the Institute of Dominicans Abroad (Index), the government body dedicated to connecting the nation with its global community of expatriates.
The 2025 cohort of honorees spans a wide range of professional sectors, reflecting the diverse impact of Dominican diaspora members across U.S. society. Recognized leaders include New York Police Department Lieutenant Gypsy Pichardo, pulmonologist and academic professor Wilson Arismendy Quezada, prominent businesswoman Bernarda Rodríguez, public health coordinator Yraida Aponte, communications strategist Mayra Serafina Linares, senior technology executive Jorge Ulloa, primary care physician Yohanna Olivo, and bodega industry leader Carlos Elpidio Herrera. The list of honorees also includes actress and entrepreneur Lorena Jorge, U.S. military veteran Alfonso Geomar Matos Mesa, physician Agustín Apolinar Rojas, Union City Public Works Commissioner Wendy Arelis Mesa Grullón, educator and author Berkis Contreras Suriel, and behavioral health executive Ertuania Jorge Ghosh.
During his remarks at the ceremony, Foreign Minister Bisonó underscored the Dominican government’s ongoing commitment to deepening and strengthening ties with the Dominican diaspora, a community that numbers more than three million people spread across 129 countries and territories around the world. Bisonó emphasized that the contributions of Dominican expatriates extend far beyond the critical economic support of remittances, noting that diaspora members also drive growth through cross-border investment, entrepreneurial innovation, and the sharing of specialized knowledge and professional expertise built through their careers abroad.
He highlighted that annual remittances from the diaspora are projected to reach approximately $11.9 billion in 2025, with the vast majority of that funds coming from Dominican communities in the United States. The packed ceremony drew a diverse audience of attendees, including senior Dominican government delegates, U.S.-based community leaders, family members of the honorees, and representatives of the large Dominican diaspora community across the United States.