Nicknames: Rafo, Rafa, Rafi, Rafelito

Birth date: January 13, 1986

Community: Batey Libertad

Family

Parents: Mother, Nanota, works as a cook and with a women's group in the community. Father, Israel, deceased, was a farmer.

Siblings (in age order): Jaecen (m), Tony (m), Juan "Tuito" (m), Yuly (f), Rafo, Ketna (f), Milanda (f), Willy (m), Wilena (f), Wilki (m), Naty (f), Mileni (f), Diana (f)

Education

Level: University (UTESA)

Major: Law

Favorite class: History

Difficulties faced as a student: "The fear of failing a class; the little faith that some community members have in us students; lack of a desk to use in my room."

For Fun

Favorite movies: action movies and ones based on real events

Favorite music: romantic ballads and classic rock

In my free time... "I like to help out other students with their homework, play soccer or basketball, and be together with my friends in the batey."

Personal hopes: "After my graduation, I want to have my own law office in the batey to be able to help people of the community. This is one of my greatest goals and dreams."

Anything else? "I want everyone to know that we are currently going through a very difficult situation, a situation of racism against persons of Haitian descent and Haitian-Dominicans like myself. The power of the state is depriving us of our rights as citizens, such as the expediting of documents: passports, birth certificates and identity cards. It's to such a point that we won't be able to marry legally." (To read more about this situation, visit Where We Work.)