Arelis Peña Brito is originally from the Dominican Republic. She has a bachelor’s degree in science in Social Communication from the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo, and a Master’s in Corporate Communication, with a double degree, from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra, in Santo Domingo, and the School of Business Administration, in Barcelona, Spain. She also earned a certificate in Community Development from the School of Continuing Studies at Roger Williams University, in Rhode Island, and a diploma as a Community Interpreter by Pinpoint Translation Services, at Dorcas International Institute. The George Washington University have also trained her in political marketing, in Washington.
During her career of over 25 years, she has worked in all areas of journalism, including radio, television, newspapers, specialized magazines, and digital media. She has also worked as a Public Relations Agent and communications consultant for important business groups. In the Dominican Republic, she served as deputy director of the newspaper El Caribe, one of the most important printed media in the country, forming part of a small group of women that has held similar command positions in written media of a national circulation.
She is co-founder and publisher of the printed version of the Spanish-language newspaper Acontecer Latino, in Rhode Island, alongside Maria Isabel Brito. Currently, she serves as Community Outreach Coordinator for the Office of Governor Dan McKee, besides working as a translator and content creator for different private businesses.
Her career has made her worthy of multiple national and international awards and recognitions, including:
“Extraordinary Women Award,” by the Institute for Women Development;
"Metcalf Award for Diversity in the Media," awarded by Rhode Island for Community and Justice;
"Journalist of the Year", from the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic
"Gold Winner for Excellence in Journalism", of the Caribbean Hotel Association, in Puerto Rico
"First place of the Epifanio Lantigua Tourism Award", from the Dominican Tourist Press Association, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic;
"Award for Journalistic Excellence", Counterpard International, in Saint Lucia;
"Outstanding character of the year", given by the organization Senderos del Mundo, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic;