By Clara Galvano Rivera
TÚ PUEDES! ATRÉVETE A TRIUNFAR!!
In 2011 something really exciting happened in the province of Azúa de Compostela in the Dominican Republic. About 100 people, a mix of adults and youths, showed up en masse at El Restaurante Mesón Suizo. They had heard about a new, free program that could help them with their personal development. Wilton Cedeno, who coordinated the launch of this motivational program entitled CURSO ATRÉVETE A TRIUNFAR with his sister, Sandra Céspedes, an economist and expert in human development, was elated, but stunned. He never expected so many to show up! “Invitamos a los niños, pero todo el mundo quería ver lo que estábamos ofreciendo. It was amazing.” The following day, the press received the following: “En el desarrollo del curso motivacional, la profesora Céspedes comenzó distinguiendo entre actitud y aptitud como elementos clave para lograr el éxito en la vida y la importancia de aprender a desarrollar la mentalidad de abundancia que les permita hacer los cambios de paradigmas necesarios para lograr resultados de calidad.” Whew! Did you get that? Positive changes are coming!
Cedeno knows the value of helping others and, after a pause, relates this great example: “When I was growing up in NYC, my mother’s apartment was like a hotel. Everyone she knew that was arriving stopped first at our house and stayed until they were working. Some stayed weeks, some months. Everyone was welcome. Dominicans are a tight-knit group and continue to help each other, even though conditions have changed because as a group, we have progressed and those arriving have more information that enables them to find living quarters and jobs much faster.”
Cedeno’s journey has been long and fruitful. He is currently at Consolidated Edison. His responsibilities are many and include working on state regulatory affairs, developing and implementing internal and external communication strategies and advocacy related to state energy policy, including developing company positions on state energy policy issues. A seriously busy man, he makes time to support the youth as a board member of the Brooklyn Technical High School Alumni Foundation and as a judge in the FIRST Robotics Competition in New York City Regional. He is also the founder of the Cooperative Technical High School Intern Program, which enables high school students to work at Con Edison.
“Yo nací en el campo de Santo Domingo; no había luz ni agua, pero en mi trabajo con Con Edison, tengo la responsabilidad de proveer la luz a muchos. Quiero ahora que otros tengan las mismas posibilidades. Cuando nos organizamos, podemos llegar lejos y ayudar a otros. No solo para los Dominicanos, pero todos los Latinos. Uno se tiene que superar y la gente joven son el futuro.”
A member of the American Association of Blacks in Energy, he is a past president of the organization. “Yo quería progresar en la rama de energía, so I joined the AABE thinking I would learn more about the industry. What I found was inspiration, a brotherhood that welcomed me with open arms and wonderful friendships. I was a little surprised when I was voted in as President. When I joined, I think I was the only Latino there. I served for two years and it was one of the best experiences I have ever had.”
Another great experience has to be when he was appointed to the New York Economic Development Corporation’s Board of Directors. On June 24, 2015, the de Blasio administration announced the appointment of ten new members and Cedeno was the only Latino in the group.
This is an important board. As the primary economic development vehicle, NYCEDC leverages the City’s assets to create good jobs and drive growth, ensuring equitable and sustainable development across all five boroughs. “Fue un gran honor. La junta está haciendo un gran trabajo. They want to ensure that 30-40 years down the road, everyone has enough energy. There is work to do there.” Simple words from an amazing man who is highly valued not only in business, but for creating Tú Puedes! Atrévete a Triunfar, which is helping his fellow Dominicans back on the island succeed.
LT: Are you connected to the Island and if so, how do you maintain that connection?
WC: “The plan is to develop the program [Curso Atrévete a Triunfar] in different areas of the Dominican Republic. Right now, we are focusing on success principles, because they are desperately needed, but we will be looking to start providing skills such as speed coding and more in future training seminars.”
LT: Do you think Dominicans are united as a group?
WC: “Absolutely. You see it everywhere. Dominicans help each other with housing, jobs, education, language. We are a tight-knit group. We have to be.”
LT: What would you point to as notable progress among Dominicans in the U.S.?
WC: “Education. We are making education a goal and that is what will allow us to progress further and further.”
→See for more of this story in this month’s issue of LatinTRENDS Magazine.
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