Celebrating Haitian women from across the spectrum

Haitian women come in all hues, shapes, sizes and skill sets. As we celebrate International Women’s Month, The Haitian Times is pleased to highlight just a few across backgrounds, careers and lifestyles that we see making a difference in their chosen fields and how they live. Some are prominent, others not so much. They all share a passion for seeking to make a positive impact as they move through the world, and we will feature some of them throughout the month.

Know a Haitian woman who should be included on this list? Email submissions@haitiantimes with a little bit about them. 

Name: Nance Mai Pretto

Profession: International entrepreneur

City/country of residence: Splits time between New York, N.Y., Washington, D.C., USA; Montréal and Toronto, Canada

Ties to Haiti: Both parents born in Haiti

Notable achievements: Owns and operates multiple businesses; only Black female-owned and controlled franchisee of Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins; owns businesses in Toronto and Montrèal, including the Carefree Boat Club.

Impact: Through her nonprofit in Haiti, the Go Figure Foundation, she hosts the annual “Skate for Something Great” benefit to help facilitate youth empowerment; through the National Advancement for Haitian Professionals, advocates for female entrepreneurship in Haiti; works to fight racism and discrimination in corporate environments.

Name & Age: Gessica Généus, 36

Profession: Director, actress

Cities/countries of residence: Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Montréal, Canada; Paris, France

Ties to Haiti: Born in Haiti

Notable achievements: Recent film “Freda” featured at the Cannes Film Festival and by the Golden Globe Awards; 2011 scholarship from the Acting International de Paris; documentary “Douvan jou ka leve” appeared in over 20 festivals and won six awards.

Impact: Addresses issues of socio political reality in modern-day Haiti and women in Haitian society; works for the UN to help implement programs for reconstruction after 2010 earthquake; elevates awareness and knowledge of Haiti through international cinema.

Name: Nedgine Paul Deroly

Profession: Nonprofit leader

Ties to Haiti: Born in Haiti, raised in Connecticut

Notable Achievements: Was named a Forbes Magazine “30 Under 30” social entrepreneur in 2016 and an Obama Foundation fellow two years later. 

Impact: Deroly’s organization, Anseye Pou Ayiti, promotes teacher excellence and student success to raise educational outcomes in underserved and rural areas in Haiti.

Name: Karine Jean-Pierre

Profession: Media specialist, campaign organizer

Ties to Haiti: Born in Martinique to Haitian parents, raised in Queens Village

Notable achievements: As a deputy White House press secretary, in 2021 Jean-Pierre became the first Black woman in 30 years to lead a press briefing. 

Impact: Jean-Pierre previously served as an adviser to the Biden and Obama presidential campaigns. She also served as chief public affairs officer at MoveOn.org and was a political commentator with MSNBC.

Name: Yvrose Pierre

Profession: Mayor of Cap-Haïtien

City/country of residence: Cap-Haïtien, Haiti

Ties to Haiti: Born in Haiti

Notable achievements: First woman elected Mayor of Cap-Haïtien in 2020, President of the Association of Women Mayors of the North.

Impact: Destroyed Shada 2, a slum where gang activities was spreading, in June 2020; distributed masks and hand sanitizers and set up hand-washing stations at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Name: Marie Ghislaine Mompremier

Profession: Minister of Women Condition and Women’s Rights, Lawyer

City/country of residence: Cap-Haïtien, Haiti

Ties to Haiti: Born in Haiti

Notable achievements: Certified nurse; was the minister of Social Affairs and Labor from January 2021 to November 2021 while being the minister of Women Condition and Women’s Rights.

Impact: Fight for women’s rights in Haiti; initiated a program to enable nurses to become certified midwives.

Name: Charnette Frederic

Profession: Irvington, N.J. council member, chairperson for the National Haitian-American Elected Officials Network

City/country of residence: Irvington, N.J., USA

Ties to Haiti: Born in Cazale

Notable achievements: First Haitian-American woman elected to office in N.J.; instrumental in helping to make Irvington environmentally sustainable; named a Sustainability Hero in N.J.

Impact: Works to elevate Haitian-American voices in national political landscape; leads initiatives like helping to translate voter ballots into Creole; organizes Haitian Independence Day celebrations.

Name: Judith François

Profession: Author, writer, educator

City/country of residence: Chicago, I.L., USA

Ties to Haiti: Born in Haiti

Notable achievements: Author of children’s book series, “Meet the Three Princesses”; author of poetry collection “Breakthrough to New Beginnings”; plans to start a nonprofit organization to contribute to spreading literature and better education in Haiti.

Impact: Through her books, celebrates Haitian culture and the sacrifices Haitian parents make to give their kids a better life; organized successful Kickstarter campaign to donate 500 copies of her childrens’ books in French and Creole to Haitian children; wants to empower Haitian children to see themselves in a more positive light.

Name: Haitian Ladies Network

Cities/countries of residence: Haitian women throughout the world

Notable achievements: Have led statewide national and political campaigns to craft global policy; some members are former U.S. presidential appointees; helped curate art and culture at public institutions, including the Embassy of Haiti.

Impact: Spread awareness and advocacy for Haitian women on a worldwide level; bring Haitian women together to network and establish community; work to actively promote and celebrate Haitian culture.

Name & Age: Ruthzee Louijeune, 35

Profession: Boston City Council Member

City/country of residence: Boston, M.A., USA

Ties to Haiti: Haitian-American

Notable achievements: First Haitian-American to serve on the Boston City Council; student attorney at the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau; senior counsel for Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 Presidential Campaign.

Impact: Helps low-income individuals in Massachusetts find affordable housing; actively advocate for Haitian-American immigrants in Boston; addresses racial justice and equity.

Name: Marie Danielle Dorvilier

Profession: Leader of woman’s network Manman Troll, runs nonprofit in Cité Soleil, Ligue des Femmes de Cité Soleil

City/country of residence: Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Notable achievement: Candidate for co-mayor of Cité Soleil in 2016

Impact: Actively works to promote female entrepreneurship, children’s education and vocational training throughout Haiti

Name & Age: Elsy Dinvil, 50 

Profession: Chef, author, food technologist

City/country of residence: Portland, O.R., USA

Ties to Haiti: Raised in Jérémie

Notable achievements: Ran Haitian food pop-ups at Tamale Boy; successfully branched out to start her own Haitian food business, Creole Me Up; featured multiple times in Portland Monthly

Impact: Celebrates Haitian cuisine through her business; works to fight stereotypes about Haiti prominent in mainstream media

Name: Anne Piervil

Profession: Attorney

City/country of residence: Orlando, F.L., USA

Ties to Haiti: Haitian-American

Notable achievements: 2020 Equal Justice Works Fellow sponsored by the Florida Bar Association; successfully advocated for the re-launch of the Farmworker Advisory Council in Florida

Impact: Works to significantly improve the lives of Haitian-Americans in Florida and expand the legal resources available to them, spent her academic career advocating for Haitian immigrants

Name: Esther Piervil

Profession: Division Director of Research, Graduate Medical Education at HCA Healthcare

City/country of residence: Atlanta, G.A., USA

Ties to Haiti: Haitian-American

Notable achievements: Certified Health Education Specialist and Project Management Professional with more than 10 years of experience designing and conducting Community Health research; significant experience working in chronic disease prevention and management in high risk populations

Impact: Works to streamline wellness programs and health initiatives via the application of evidence-based theories and innovative, culturally-tailored implementation models, has written academic papers advocating for more healthcare resources provided to Haitians and the Black community at large

Name: Edvige Jean-François

Profession: Journalist, Media Consultant, Television Producer, Content Creative

Ties to Haiti: Born in Haiti

Notable achievements: Award-winning multilingual journalist who has received recognition for her reporting, including eight regional and national Emmy Awards nominations, several Tellys, a NAMIC Vision Award, and was a contributor to a CINE Golden Eagle Award and a Peabody Award, while a Senior Producer at CNN.

Impact: Groundbreaking reporter known for highlighting important stories in Haiti, including the 2010 earthquake. She has covered the White House, developments at the U.S. Congress, and news and features in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East.

Name & Age: Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, 43

Profession: Representative for Florida’s 20th Congressional District (Broward and Palm Beach Counties)

City/country of residence: Miramar, F.L., USA

Ties to Haiti: Haitian-American

Notable achievements: Only Haitian-American Democrat elected to Congress; Chief Executive Officer of Trinity Health Services Incorporated; Founding member of McCormick Law Firm

Name: Gepsie Metellus

Impact: Actively works to fight against racism and hate crimes, proudly advocates for Haitian population in her district; works on addressing issue of access to health care

Profession: Executive Director of Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center

City/country of residence: Miami, F.L., USA

Ties to Haiti: Born in Port-au-Prince

Notable achievements: Named Woman of Impact by In the Company of Women; awarded the distinction of Miami Icon; recipient of Florida International University’s Kal Kovens Distinguished Community Medal

Impact: Frequently present on national media talking about issues that impact the Haitian-American community, advocates for the well-being of Miami’s Haitian community, provides resources for education, employment and health care through Sant La 

Name & Age: Edwidge Danticat, 53

Profession: Novelist and short story writer

Ties to Haiti: Born in Port-au-Prince

City/country of residence: Miami, F.L., USA

Notable achievements: Yale University honorary degree; 2017 Neustadt International Prize for Literature; 2019 National Book Critics Circle Award for “Everything Inside”

Impact: Author of dozens of award-winning novels addressing issues of Haitian national identity, mother-daughter relationships, and the Haitian diaspora, advocates for issues impacting Haitians at home and overseas, addresses impactful elements of Haitian society, including the role of trauma in national consciousness

Name: Danielle Legros Georges

Profession: Poet, essayist, academic

City/country of residence: Boston, M.A., USA

Ties to Haiti: Born in Gonaïves

Notable achievements: Awarded title of Boston’s Poet Laureate in 2015; Champion of Artists Award from the Massachusetts Artists Coalition; received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Emerson College in 2016

Impact: Through her novels and poetry, highlights issues like racism, oppressive tropes about Haiti and the devastating aftermath of the 2010 earthquake; promotes the importance of literature and history throughout the world; has established scholarship programs for writers of color

Name: Elsie St. Louis

Profession: CEO/Executive Director of Haitian Americans United for Progress

City/country of residence: New York, N.Y., USA

Ties to Haiti: From Gonaïves

Notable achievements: HAUP honored by the New York Mets at Citi Field in 2010; appointed by former Mayor Bill de Blasio to his transition team of 60 prominent backers to help select city’s next mayor in 2013; President Council of York College

Impact: Through HAUP, helped bring essential supplies to Haiti following last year’s earthquake; under her guidance, HAUP has received awards for social services provided to Haitian-Americans in Cambria Heights, including immigration and health programs; actively works on connecting New York’s Haitian community with info and resources about COVID-19

Name: Marleine Bastien 

Profession: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Executive Director of FANM

Ties to Haiti: Born in Pont-Benoit

Notable achievements: Founding member of Haitian American Grassroots Coalition, worked on The Haitian Immigration Refugee Fairness Act of 1998, received the “Stanley Milledge Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2015 from the ACLU.

Impact: Lifelong activist working tirelessly for issues directly impacting Haitian-Americans throughout the country, including TPS, parents rights and support for those diagnosed with HIV.

Name: Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn

Profession: Politician

Ties to Haiti: Haitian-American, raised in Brooklyn, New York

Notable Achievements: The first Haitian-American elected to the New York State legislature from New York City, Bichotte-Hermelyn currently represents District 42 in the assembly. In January 2020, she was selected to chair the Brooklyn Democratic Party, making her the first Black woman to chair a county party. 

Impact: As a District 42 Assembly Member, Bichotte-Hermelyn serves on multiple committees and chairs the Subcommittee on Oversight of Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBE). Prior to politics, she taught math in city public schools and worked as an engineer in the telecommunications industry.

Name: Farah Louis

Profession: Politician

Ties to Haiti: Haitian-American, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York

Notable achievements: Became the first Haitian-American woman elected to the New York City Council in 2019. 

Impact: As a council member for District 45, Louis chairs the Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Sightings and Maritime Uses.

Name: Marie Woodson

Profession: Politician

Ties to Haiti: Born in Port-de-Paix, currently resides in Hollywood, Florida

Notable achievements: In November 2020, Woodson became the sole Haitian-American representing Broward County in the Florida House of Representatives. She formerly chaired the Miami-Dade County Commission for Women, a government board.

Impact: Woodson represents District 101 in the Florida House. She serves on multiple committees and subcommittees devoted to children’s issues, health care and education.

Name: Marjorie Valbrun

Profession: Managing Editor, Inside Higher Ed

City/country of residence: Washington, D.C., USA

Ties to Haiti: Haitian-American

Notable works: Recipient of 2014 Perry and Alicia O’Brien Fellowship in Public Service Journalism; award recipient for international, feature and editorial writing; former Alicia Patterson Fellow, former Nieman Fellow

Impact: Has written impactful stories about everything from the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake to disparities in higher education

Name: Lody Jean

Profession: Judge at Miami-Dade County Court

City/country of residence: Miami, F.L, USA

Ties to Haiti: Raised in Haiti to Lebanese parents

Notable works: First Haitian-American woman to serve on the Miami-Dade County Court; recipient of Haitian Lawyers Association law school scholarship while attending St. Thomas University; former chair of the Florida Bar’s Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee

Impact: Works to provide civil services to immigrants throughout Miami-Dade County, including assisting people of Haitian descent apply for naturalization; addresses issues of deportation at forums; focuses on other legal issues like eviction and TPS

Name: Valery Gabriel

Profession: K-12th grade educator

Ties to Haiti: Haitian-American, born and raised Haiti

City/country of residence: New York City, N.Y., USA

Notable works: Life changer of the year 2021-2022 Nominee, Today’s Students Tomorrow’s Teachers Five Year Recognition Award 2021-2022

Impact: A first-generation teacher and former ENL student, she has traveled to 25 countries, many of which she taught abroad; encouraged her students all over the world to become the best version of themselves; takes a keen interest in their social and emotional well-being; continues to advocate and empower Haitian youth through numerous organizations she volunteers for by organizing toy drives, scholarships and by helping to raise funds through the Rockland County Haiti Relief

Quote: “We rise by lifting others up” – Robert Ingersoll

Name: Jenny Menelas

Occupation: Transportation Coordinator for Jaspen Group and Public Relations Specialist/Project Coordinator for Haitian Association of Indiana

City/country of residence: Indianapolis, I.N., USA

Ties to Haiti: Born in Haiti

Notable works: Volunteer Natural Helper at Indianapolis’ Immigrant Welcome Center

Impact: Central to welcoming Haitian immigrants and Haitian Americans to their new city by acknowledging needs and directing them to appropriate services

Name: Rose Gbadamassi

Profession: Executive Director Haitian Community of Minnesota

City/country of residence: Minneapolis, M.N., USA 

Ties to Haiti: Born in Haiti

Notable work: Volunteer, community organizer and activist for past 22 years.

Impact: Raising funds and awareness to support Haitian-Americans living in Minnesota, and Haitians living in Haiti, transforming their lives positively.

Name & Age: Sandra Jean Charite, 38

Profession: Mental Health Counselor

Ties to Haiti: Haitian-American

City/country of residence: Miami, F.L., USA

Notable works: Former journalist, has created inspirational journals for young girls and women, blogger, songwriter, podcaster and author of three books: “Broken Crayons Still Color,” “Picking Up My Pearls from the Altar,” and “The Lies I Told Myself: Only Truth Can Set You Free.

Impact: Writing compelling books to inspire and encourage people on their spiritual journey.

Name & Age: Delphine Gardère, 37

Profession: Owner and CEO of Société du Rhum Barbancourt

City/country of residence: Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Notable works: Won legal victory to assume full control of Société du Rhum Barbancourt, the oldest and biggest run exporter in Haiti; ensured the company hired 500 people and works with 3,000 farmers in a co-op manner, working to expand Rhum Barbancourt through new products and international development

Impact: As the second woman to run the company, actively strives to promote women’s empowerment throughout Haiti, works on other social issues, including education, funds mobile medical clinics for Rhum Barbancourt employees and their families

Name & Age: Dotie Joseph, 42

Occupation: Representative for Florida’s 108th House District

City/country of residence: North Miami, F.L., USA

Ties to Haiti: Born in Haiti

Notable achievements: Recipient of “Women on the Rise Award” from the Dade County Bar Association, “Woman of Substance Award” from Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners, named a Florida Legal Elite Government Attorney by Florida Trend magazine

Impact: Civil rights activist focused on gun control legislation, tenant protections and fair treatment for disabled individuals

Name: Ibi Zoboi

Occupation: Author of young-adult fiction

City/country of residence: Maplewood, N.J., USA

Ties to Haiti: Born in Haiti

Notable works: New York Times bestselling author of “American Street,” National Book Award finalist, co-author of Walter Award-winning “Punching the Air”

Impact: Has established community-based programs for teen girls both in New York and Haiti, actively works through her stories to raise representation of Haitians in literature, magnifies discussion about the intersection of cultural identity, gentrification and class status

Name & Age: Jocelyne Palenquet, 63

Profession: Human Rights Officer at the United Nations

Ties to Haiti: Born in La Montagne, Jacmel

Notable works: Founded GRAEFES (Groupe d’Appui et d’Encadrement aux Femmes) in 1997, organized first meeting of Haitian and Dominican women in 1999 for a symposium aimed at strengthening laws to fight violence against women 

Impact: For years, has been advocating for the reform of Haiti’s educational system, mainly on a primary level

Name: Barbara Jacques 

Profession: Founder and Creator of JACQ’S

City/country of residence: Miami, F.L., USA

Ties to Haiti: Haitian-American

Notable works: Awarded “Top 40 Under 40” by Miami Herald Business Journal in 2012, selected by Legacy Magazine the following year as one of “South Florida’s 40 Under 40 Leaders of Today & Tomorrow,” JACQ’S is a Green America-certified business approved by PETA

Impact: Actively works to change the way the beauty industry views skincare for women of color, strives to eliminate toxic chemicals in cosmetics frequently used by Black women, volunteers as a reading mentor for elementary students and at-risk youth

Name: Nzingah Oniwosan

Profession: Entrepreneur, inspirational speaker, holistic health-and-wellness coach

City/country of residence: Fort Lauderdale, F.L., USA

Ties to Haiti: Haitian-American

Notable works: Creator of 365zing app helping Black women achieve their health goals, creator of “Yes Baby I Like It Raw” brand, founded Sankofa’s Child cultural arts company

Impact: Helps women of color heal their physical bodies by addressing mental, emotional and spiritual issues, utilizes art to help transform lives, facilitates entrepreneurship throughout Haiti

Name: Karm Syndia-Augustin

Profession: Founder of Espwa Demen

City/country of residence: Boston, M.A., USA

Ties to Haiti: Born and raised in Haiti

Notable works: 2012 OPACH Award for outstanding contributions and dedication to Haitian national folklore and heritage, 2013 Dean Award from Pine Manor College for outstanding contributions to the community, 2016 Partners in Excellence Award by Partners Healthcare

Impact: Through Espwa Demenn, helps children in rural Haiti to pursue education, works to actively promote Haitian culture in entertainment, art and dance

Notable quote: “Know yourself: no one can take that away from you when you know who you are.”

Name & Age: Ertha Pascal-Trouillot, 79

Occupation: Haiti’s provisional president of Haiti for 11 months in 1990 and 1991.

City/country of residence: Haitian, living in Port-au-Prince

Notable works: Haiti’s provisional president of Haiti for 11 months in 1990 and 1991, Justice of the Haitian Supreme Court (1988-1990), Judge of the Federal Court of Haiti (1975-1988) 

Impact: Leadership and occupational role model for women worldwide.

Notable quote: Regarding her acceptance of the presidential position, she said, “I accepted the position in the name of Haitian women. I did it as a service to my country. I did it with love and determination.”

Name: Michelle Lisa Polissaint

Occupation: Education and Community Engagement Manager at Oolite Arts, Visual artist and arts organizer

Ties to Haiti: Haitian-American

City/country of residence: Miami, F.L., USA

Notable work: Resident artist at Bakehouse Art Complex, 2018 Creator Award Winner, Oolite Arts.

Thoughts on her work: “At its simplest and most honest, my work responds to my experiences. Utilizing photography, textiles, and community engagement, my practice reflects the world through my black, queer, Haitian lens.”

Name: Marie-Marcelle Deschamps

Occupation: Deputy Director of GHESKIO

City/country of residence: Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Notable works: Chosen by senior Haitian and U.S. doctors to complete fellowships at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Walter Reed Military Hospital, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; received the Legion of Merit award in 2004 from former French president Jacques Chirac for her work regarding AIDS care and research.

Impact: Pioneering medical doctor in Haiti responsible for creating a bevy of social services, including primary school for orphaned and destitute students, a vocational program for former commercial sex workers and microfinance for women entrepreneurs; renowned internationally for her groundbreaking research on HIV/AIDS.

Name & Age: Bayyinah Bello, 73

Occupation: Founder of historical research organization Fondasyon Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité Bonheur Dessalines, professor of history at the State University of Haiti

City/country of residence: Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Notable works: Honoree in 2014 at the Gala des Femmes en Flammes for humanitarian work in Haiti, author of “Jean-Jacques Dessalines: 21 Facts About His Life”, holds lectures across the world about Haitian and Pan-African history, as well as linguistics

Impact: Internationally-renowned scholar, author and activist known for pioneering educational studies about Haitian history and culture

Name: M. Florine Démosthène

Occupation: Artist

City/country of residence: Haiti/New York, N.Y., USA

Ties to Haiti: Raised in Port-au-Prince

Notable works:“Between Possibility and Actuality” exhibition in Chicago, “When We Gather” exhibition in Washington, D.C., “In the Realm of Love” series showing in Europe

Impact: Versatile and multi-faceted artist exploring a variety of subjects through mixed media, including the African concept of love, the role of self free of societal constructs and the narratives of Black female heroines.

Name: Guerline Jozef

Occupation: Co-founder and executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA), a US-based nonprofit organization advocating for fair and humane immigration policies. 

City/State: San Diego, C.A., USA

Ties to Haiti: Haitian-American 

Notable works: To be honored by the Women’s Refugee Commission at its Voices of Courage Awards luncheon, May 3. The annual event distinguishes those women fighting for the rights of displaced women and girls. 

Impact on the community: HBA featured significantly during the Del Rio bridge crisis in September of last year, providing social services and advocacy to the many immigrants who crossed the southern border into the United States.

Josef has dedicated her life to bring awareness to issues that affect us all locally and globally such as Immigration, Social justice, Domestic Violence, Child Sexual abuse.

In addition to her work at HBA, Josef also co-founded the Black Immigrants Bail Fund — a national project of the HBA in response to the high bond amount required of Black immigrants to provide free assistance and relief. And with the support of Black-led organizations is involved with the African Bureau for Immigration and Social Affairs to promote social and economic justice, civic participation & empowerment of Black and African immigrants and refugees.

Name: Régine Michelle Jean-Charles

Occupation: Director of the Africana Studies Program at Northeastern University 

City/country of residence: Boston, M.A. USA

Ties to Haiti: Haitian-American

Notable works: Has written multiple books focusing on the Haitian diaspora, France and Caribbean literature, including “Conflict Bodies: The Politics of Rape Representation in the Francophone Imaginary,” “A Trumpet of Conscience for the 21st Century” and “Looking for Other Worlds: Black Feminism, Literary Ethics, and Haitian Fiction” 

Impact: Actively explores a variety of important subjects through her literary work, including Black feminism in Haitian literature, as well as the intersections of gender, justice and race 

Name & age: Jessie Woo, 35

Occupation: Comedienne, media personality and singer 

City/country of residence: Miami, F.L.

Notable works: Became a viral sensation on social media through her comedic alter ego, Cadouskha Jean-Francois, which lead to a stint as a red carpet host for BET and supporting cast member of two seasons on Love & Hip Hop: Miami.

Impact: Uses her celebrity platform to be a “loud and proud” Haitian.

Name & age: Mackensia Fontaine, 35

Occupation: Nurse; midwife, responsible for maternity department at Saint Therese Hospital in Hinche

City/country of residence: Hinche, Haiti

Impact in the community: Helps to reduce the mortality rate of mother and child. 

Notable work: To promote health generally and help through the noble profession of midwifery. 

Haitian proverb to live by: “You may hate the dog, but you must admit that its teeth are white.”

Name: Maryse Jean-Jacques, 72

Occupation: Social Worker, Former Executive Director at the Centre d’Education Speciale (CES) in Haiti 

City/country of residence: Haiti

Notable achievements: Worked with CES on the “Ecole Inclusive” program, making sure that children with disabilities are accepted in traditional schools throughout Haiti; helped establish CES as a training center for parents of children with disabilities and other institutions throughout Haiti working with disabled children 

Impact: Instrumental in making sure children with disabilities, who are oftentimes marginalized, are recognized and accepted into Haiti’s school system.

Name & Age: Nadia Lafleur, 40

Occupation: Executive Director of Sant Magali pou lavi, a shelter for women and girls who are victims of violence

City/country of residence: Jacmel, Haiti 

Notable achievements: With Sant Magali pou lavi, she established a partnership with two organizations (Brigade Protection des Mineurs and Institute du Bien-Être Social) where they rely on her and Sant Magali pou lavi when they meet victims of violence; provides training to other women organizations in Grand Anse and Gonaives to help victims of violence and establish shelters; amember of FANM DESIDE Women organization in southeast Haiti.

Impact: Has been an emotional and psychological pillar of support to young women by helping them to regain self-confidence.

Name: Leonie Hermantin

Occupation: Director of Development, Communications & Strategic Planning at Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center

City/country of residence: Miami, F.L., USA

Ties to Haiti: Born in Haiti

Notable achievements: Named as up-and-coming leader by the Miami Herald; worked as Deputy Director for the Lambi Fund of Haiti from 2008-2011, works with PRODEV, an organization working to help children in Haiti have access to education.

Impact: Works to help Haitians in the diaspora overcome obstacles and accede to positions of leadership.

Name & Age: Pascale Bélony, 28

Occupation: RN and beauty queen

City/country of residence: Gainesville, F.L., USA

Ties to Haiti: Born in Haiti

Notable achievements: Founding member of P4H Global, an organization that works to alleviate poverty in Haiti through educational programs; Miss Haiti at Miss Universe pageant in 2021; served as a Gator Nurse Student Ambassador at the University of Florida.

Impact: Passionate about bringing quality healthcare to Haiti; organized health education workshops in Haiti from 2012-2015.

Name: Jacqueline Charles

Occupation: Journalist

City/country of residence: Miami, F.L., USA

Ties to Haiti: Haitian-American, has covered Haiti and the Caribbean for 14 years

Notable achievements: Has won numerous awards for her reporting, including NABJ Journalist of the Year for her coverage of 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2011 Paul Hansell Award, a finalist for the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for her earthquake coverage and the 2018 Maria Moors Cabot Prize for coverage of the Americas.

Impact: Renowned for her groundbreaking coverage of both Haiti and Haitian communities in Florida.

Name & age: Elsie Hernandez, 60+

City/country of residence: Chicago, I.L., USA

Ties to Haiti: Haitian-American

Notable achievements: Co-founder and Board President of Haitian American Museum of Chicago

Impact: Created an institution that holds Haitian and Haitian Diaspora programs and exhibits contributing to the rich multicultural tapestry that is Chicago

Other notable work: Bilingual nursing instructor and consultant for International Educated Nurses assisting them in obtaining their Illinois Registered Nurse licenses.

Haitian proverb to live by: Men anpil chay pa lou, many hands make the load light.

Name & age: Ruth Jean-Marie, 32

Occupation: Development consultant

City/country of residence: Brooklyn, N.Y., USA

Ties to Haiti: Daughter of Haitian immigrants

Notable achievements: Recognized by Forbes magazine in its 2021 Next 1000 list of up-and-coming entrepreneurs, won a 2019 Nike competition to design a limited-edition sneaker inspired by the Haitian revolution. 

Impact: Consults with individuals, organizations and governments to maximize the social value of development projects through her philanthropy startup, The August Project. 

Name: Jacqueline Gautier

Occupation: National Director of Health at NPH Haiti responsible for St. Damien Children’s Hospital (Haiti’s only pediatric specialty hospital)

City/Country of Residence: Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Notable works: First medical director of St. Damien Hospital, transitioning the hospital from a hospice center for dying children to a well-known pediatric hospital for Haiti’s vulnerable children.

Impact: Established HIV/AIDS department of St. Damien, caring for nearly 500 children receiving life-saving HIV therapy Impact (on community, profession, country, world, etc.), began a pediatric residency program at St. Damien to train a new generation of pediatricians.

Name: Lanise Antoine Shelley

Occupation: Artistic Director of The House Theatre of Chicago, actress, playwright and visual artist

City/country of residence: Chicago, I.L., USA

Ties to Haiti: Born in Haiti; adopted and raised in the U.S.A.

Notable works: Podcast: When They Were Young: Amplifying Voices of Adoptees, Artistic Director for the upcoming “The Tragedy of King Christophe” at The House Theatre of Chicago.

Impact: Her art making leads her back home to The Haiti Home for Children in Port-au-Prince from where she was adopted and for which she is an advocate.

• Name: Margareth Corkery, mid-50’s
• City/country of residence: Detroit, M.I., U.S.A.
• Ties to Haiti: Haitian-American
• Notable work: Co-founder, vice-president of the Haitian Network Group of Detroit 
• Impact: For the past 21 years, actively promotes Haitian culture, provides an environment for Haitians and friends of Haiti to network, and contributes to the welfare of Haitians worldwide.
• Favorite proverb: Bonjou se paspò ou (Your greeting is your passport).

Name & age: Marla Louissaint, 24

Occupation: Performer, artist and CEO of Claim Our Space Now, an organization focused on elevating BIPOC voices.

City/country of residence: New York, N.Y., USA

Ties to Haiti: Born in Haiti

Notable achievements: Recipient of 2015 Jimmy Award for excellence in musical theater, 2015 Gershwin Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in “Caroline, or Change”, cast member of the off-Broadway show  “Kurt Vonnegut’s God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater” at New York City Center, part of the touring cast of “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, cast member of Netflix’s crime drama “Seven Seconds.”

Impact: Works to liberate and elevate BIPOC voices throughout the world from the “throes of capitalism, white supremacist delusion and the patriarchy by living boldly and unapologetically through my art.”

Name & Age: Myriam Chancy, 52

Occupation: Novelist, Chair in the Humanities at Scripps College

City/country of residence: Upland, C.A., USA

Ties to Haiti: Born and raised in Port-au-Prince

Notable achievements: Choice’s 1998 Outstanding Academic  Book Award for “Searching for Safe Spaces: Afro-Caribbean Women Writers in Exile”, 2004 Phoenix Award for Editorial Achievement from the Council of Editors of Learned Journals, 2011 Guyana Prize in Literature Caribbean Award for “The Loneliness of Angels”, 2014 John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation fellow.

Impact: Renowned for her explorations of different aspects of Haiti, including women within Haitian society, the role of spirituality in Haitian life, and the impact of the 2010 earthquake on the lives of Haitians in the country and throughout the world.

Name: Marjorie Joseph

Occupation: Community organizer, poet

City/country of residence: Houston, T.X., USA

Ties to Haiti: Haitian-American

Notable achievements: Recently honored as a guest speaker at the Houston Chapter of the United Nations Association (UNA-USA) last year, received the organization’s Global Citizen award for her work with Houston Coalition Against Hate (HCAH), HCAH won the 2021 Juneteenth Ally Award by The Center for the Healing of Racism.

Impact: Passionate activist working throughout the country to facilitate transformative shifts against institutionalized racism.