To celebrate the Dominican Republic Independence, in 1999 Chicagos' Dominicans invited the Dominican Ambassador to Washington, Lic. Bernardo Vega, to speak on the U.S. Dominican community. In this transcendental speech, Ambassador Vega focused on the migration trends by Dominicans and other Caribbean peoples to the United States. At the end of his presentation he urged all Dominican residents to become naturalized citizens because only then they could exercise their inalienable right to vote. He went to assert that upon achieving citizenship, they will have a voice that U.S. politicians will irremediably will have to listen to.

This speech inspired local Dominican-Americans and Dominicans who had been debating similar initiatives on an informal basis. There were members of existing organizations, government, university, medicine, and businesses. This coterie moved from discussion to incorporation to be known as Dominican-American Midwest Association (DAMA). With Ambassador Vegas' support, DAMA established initial links with the Dominican-American National Roundtable (DARN).

Founded as a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, DAMA seeks to address the needs of all Dominicans and Dominicans-Americans in the Midwest region of the U.S. Specifically, DAMA will create an avenue for analysis, planning, and action concerning political, educational, economic, and health-related issues that affect their lives. DAMA will strive to create an awareness in the Dominican-American community that rights and duties permeate all social, cultural, economic, and political activities. Once it outlined its mission, DAMA set up as goal the empowerment of Dominican-Americans and Dominicans.

The seeds have already begun to sprout. DAMA already spearheaded in Christmas La Posada Charities Drive at Casa Central and the Three Kings Day Celebration in which important political personalities participated, such as U.S. Senator Richard Durbin, Cook County Board President John Stroger, Jr., and Cook County Commissioner for the Eighth District Roberto Maldonado. Thousands of toys were distributed to Latino children. Currently DAMA is attempting to speak with legislators about passing a House bill that would reduce the annual income level for a family to petition Dominican relatives. In the near future the organization will strive to establish a Dominican-owned savings cooperative and a Dominican Chamber of Commerce. To accomplish other activities being planned, DAMA aspires to consolidate and extend its network of contacts and cooperation with all Dominicans living in the Midwest.