May 2025 Newsletter

One of the biggest challenges in Nuevo Renacer, Dominican Republic, is the environmental crisis. Each rainy season, tons of trash wash down from upstream communities, settling on the beach and in the estuary. What should be a place of beauty and pride instead becomes a dumping ground.

But Rosanna Morel refuses to let this reality go unchallenged. With determination and teamwork, she has mobilized her community to take ownership of their environment, proving that small actions can lead to big change.

Our recent beach clean-up was a powerful step forward, not just in removing waste, but in reinforcing our long-term commitment to improving waste management and conservation. Thanks to the collaboration of local and international partners, including The Search D.R., Corito Sostenible, Rescate Ambar, and students from Kennesaw State University, the clean-up was more than just a day’s work. It was a statement of what’s possible when people come together with a shared purpose.

We’re especially grateful for our partnership with Delta Vacations, whose commitment to going Beyond The Flight is helping bring Rosanna’s story to a global audience. Their support underscores the importance of sustainable travel and the powerful role tourism can play in uplifting communities.

We are honored to stand beside Rosanna and the people of Nuevo Renacer in this ongoing fight for a cleaner, healthier future.

In this Edition:

• Georgia State Respiratory Therapy
• Delta Vacations Service Trips 
• Virtual Map Tour
• 2025 Heath Summit – Save the date!

Recently, a team of respiratory therapy students and faculty from Georgia State University joined Comunidad Connect and our local partners in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, for a week of hands-on service, learning, and collaboration. 

Throughout the week, the team trained over 125 local nursing students, conducted hospital assessments, and facilitated community health screenings in local neighborhoods. Their presence helped build knowledge, capacity, and trust, strengthening health systems at the community level and beyond.

A particularly meaningful visit took place at Rescate Ambar, a volunteer paramedic organization delivering critical first aid services across the region. Meeting and working alongside their dedicated volunteers offered a firsthand look at the challenges and successes of emergency response in the Dominican Republic. The partnership between GSU and Rescate Ambar reflects what is possible when local leadership and global allies come together with a shared goal of advancing community health.

The growing partnership with Delta Vacations took another exciting step forward with our first collaboration in Punta Cana. 

A group of 40 volunteers gathered at Casa Esperanza, a shelter for girls in vulnerable situations. Together, they revamped the girls’ closets, refreshed the living spaces with new paint, and added color to the dining area of the educational center that supports their studies. They also spent meaningful time with the girls through art and creative play. This project came to life with the help of the Rotary Club of Punta Cana, who helped identify the opportunity.