Port-au-Prince streets
Activity on the streets of Port-au-Prince earlier this month. Photo by Genevieve Joseph, The Haitian Times

MIAMI — As chaos unfolded in Haiti last week, numerous organizations in Haitian communities across the United States took part in meetings to commiserate and discuss solutions to help. However, few clear next steps have emerged from the mostly virtual conclaves as activists say they’re aiming for a long-term, “sustainable” approach to respond to Haiti’s crises.

Among the meetings was a Zoom call organized by the North Miami-based Haitian American Chamber of Commerce (HACCOF) titled, “SOS Haiti - A Call to Action.” Moderator Leonie Hermantin, a longtime community activist, said they brought people together in response to calls from Haitians in the diaspora crying and asking, ‘"What do we do? We are getting SOS from Haiti."

Overview:

Groups met over the weekend as a result of the chaos in Haiti.

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J.O. Haselhoef is the author of “Give & Take: Doing Our Damnedest NOT to be Another Charity in Haiti.” She co-founded "Yonn Ede Lot" (One Helping Another), a nonprofit that partnered with volunteer groups in La Montagne ("Lamontay"), Haiti from 2007-2013. She is a 2022 Fellow for the Columbia School of Journalism's Age Boom Academy. She writes and lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Ashley Miznazi is a Report for America corps member covering the Haitian community in the South Florida/Miami area for The Haitian Times. Her work will heavily feature photography, video and other multimedia storytelling. Previously, Ashley was a multimedia fellow at The Texas Tribune, where she reported on DACA, Afghan resettlement and the foster care system.