Today's speaker was Liz Rooney, Executive Director and founder of Dove Youth Development, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. This organization serves about 150 children living in the poorest parts of Puerto Plata. They offer educational and development programs focused on education support, personal growth, health and vocational skills, empowering children to break the cycle of poverty. They have created a vocational training center for youth 13-18 years old to expand their income generating potential in cosmetology and computer programming. Liz was accompanied today by board member Sue Congdon. Sue has developed a passion for this organization because of her own challenges growing up in an alcoholic household. She managed to work her way up to becoming president of a publicly held garage door company in the Twin Cities. This required a lot of grit on her part but she noted that at least in the U.S. there are opportunities for kids like her to pursue. She noted that in the Dominican Republic, there just are not the same opportunities for kids to work their way out of poverty. Dove Youth Development works to provide those opportunities.