; Whereas Cayena Publications is a publishing firm based in Washington Heights and founded by Mary Ely Peña-Gratereaux that shines a light on the immigrant experience by supporting literary works that project a positive representation of Dominicans and other Latinos in the United States; Whereas author and activist Angie Cruz is a native of Washington Heights whose books, Soledad , Let It Rain Coffee , and Dominicana , highlight the issues of working-class life, gender, and race in New York City; Whereas the Dominican Film Festival in New York showcases filmmakers from 21 countries including the Dominican Republic who reflect the city’s diverse and multicultural population; Whereas Semana Dominicana en Estados Unidos (Dominican Week in the United States) has been celebrated for 25 years, highlighting the social and cultural ties between the Dominican Republic and the United States, in addition to economic, commerce, and academic collaboration; Whereas the Dominican Day Parade in New York City has celebrated the vibrant Dominican heritage through history, traditions, and music since its beginnings in 1982 on Audubon Avenue, and now attracts thousands of people who gather to enjoy the reverence of Dominican culture on the Avenue of the Americas; Whereas 3-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) Alex Rodriguez and 4-time Major League Baseball All-Star Dellin Betances of the New York Yankees were born in Washington Heights, and Manny Ramirez, the award-winning MVP and 12-time All-Star baseball player, moved from the Dominican Republic to New York City where he attended George Washington High School in Washington Heights and became a baseball prodigy; Whereas Guillermo Linares became the first Dominican elected to public office in New York City in 1991, and also served on President Bill Clinton’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans