CUNY Unanimously Approves the Creation of the Haitian Studies Institute (HSI)
(Brooklyn) On Monday, May 2 at their board meeting the CUNY Board of Trustees voted to unanimously approve the creation of the Haitian Studies Institute (HSI) at Brooklyn College.
Brooklyn is home to the largest concentration of people of Haitian descent in New York State. The Institute hopes to become a leading international research institute in Haitian Studies, supporting scholars and scholarship concerned with the discipline and to connect research through community outreach around policies that affect the lives of Haitian-Americans and Haiti.
"Last week marked an important occasion in the evolution of the Haitian Studies Institute with the opening ceremony of a two-day conference hosted by Brooklyn College and sponsored by the Haitian Studies Institute planning committee. I was joined by scholars, and other public officials to celebrate their contributions to the creation of this conference and the Institute. I was elated after hearing about the Board's decision. This is a dream come true," said Assembly member Bichotte.
"The Haitian Studies Institute would not exist had it not been for the contributions of a committed group of people. I want to start by acknowledging and thanking Vice Chancellor of CUNY, Jay Hershenson, as well as Dr. Karen Gould, President, Steven Schechter, Executive Director of Governmental and External Affairs, and Dr. Richard Greenwald, Dean of the School of Humanities and the Social Sciences -- all of Brooklyn College. They were so receptive to the idea of this Institute, which had been looking for a home for many years, and finally took root here in the heart of one of New York's largest Haitian communities. I also want to thank the Executive Committee, the planning committee, the conference planning committee who put in so many hours over the past several months to bring all of this to fruition. Last, but not least, I want to thank State Senator Kevin Parker, City Councilmember Jumaane D. Williams, Dr. Jean-Yves Plaisir, and Edu Hermelyn who have been incredibly supportive as well."
4 Haitian entrepreneurs made Forbes magazine 30 Under 30 class of 2016 Among 600
Published: Thursday, 12 May 2016
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. May 11, 2016: Forbes magazine recently introduced readers to its 30 Under 30 class of 2016. Among the 600 of the brightest young entrepreneurs, breakout talents and change agents in 20 different sectors chosen, at least seven were born in the Caribbean or are of Caribbean roots. Meet them here:
1: Azede Jean-Pierre
Young Haitian-born womenswear designer Azede Jean-Pierre.
Young womenswear designer Azede Jean-Pierre madeArts & Style List. Jean-Pierre, 27, was born in Pastel, Haiti but raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She attended Savannah College of Art and Design and in her third year decided to pursue the launch of her own label. Jean-Pierre and honed her skills interning at Ralph Rucci and Ohne Titel before branching out on her own and debuting her New York City-based label at the Fall/Winter collection in February of 20l2.
The collection, which utilized high-end luxurious fabrics, was well received by the press & was immediately photographed by some of the industry’s leading publications; landing the cover of Women’s Wear Daily after NY fashion week. Since then, Jean-Pierre’s collection has been picked up by Moda. Jean-Pierre says her label is “committed to celebrating the sensual femininity of its customer and dedicated to pushing the boundaries of functionality and innovation through exploring technique and achieving balance in wearability and design.” The label has also been featured in many more major publications and has become a red carpet favorite for several very stylish and influential celebrities like Solange Knowles, Lady Gaga and First Lady Michelle Obama.
2: Jason Derulo
Jason Derulo has Haitian roots.
Making the Music list is singer, songwriter, and dancer Jason Derulo. Derulo was born in Miramar, Florida to Haitian parents. He started singing at a young age and attended performing arts schools in Florida. The 26-year-old has sold over 50 million singles since his 2009 break out and has achieved eleven career platinum singles, including “Wiggle,” “Talk Dirty,” “In My Head,” and “Whatcha Say.” In 2015, Derulo released his single “Want to Want Me” and announced his fourth studio album, “Everything Is 4,” which was released in June 2015.
4: Christine Souffrant
Vendedy founder Christine Souffrant is of Haitian heritage.
Haitian-American, Dubai-based businesswoman Christine Souffrant made the top 30 list for Retail/e-commerce. Souffrant owns Vended International and the platform Vendedy and was born to Haitian street vendors. Vendedy is a platform for street vendors across the world to sell handicrafts using the digital economy. To fund her venture, Souffrant received support from the Clinton Global Initiative. She also reached out to her professional business network in an email, asking investors to come forward. “Vendedy,” she says, “aims to digitize the $10 trillion dollar street market economy and make it accessible to all. With over 200,000 street markets globally, there is no limit to what you will find and the stories you will share!”
5: Nedgine Paul
Twenty-nine-year-old Nedgine Paul made the list for education. Nedgine-Paul is the Haiti-born co-founder and CEO of Anseye Pou Ayiti
Twenty-nine-year-old Nedgine Paul made the list for education. She is the Haiti-born co-founder and CEO of Anseye Pou Ayiti, which seeks to raise education outcomes in rural Haiti by promoting teacher excellence and student success-rooted in Haitian culture, customs, and community. Nedgine moved to the U.S. at a young age and maintained ongoing leadership roles in community service and youth development programs, particularly within the Haitian communities of Stamford and Norwalk, Connecticut.
She has a B.A. in History from Yale College and an Ed.M. in International Education Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In 2014, she was named among the top global social innovators by Echoing Green. She is passionate about joining forces with others to continue pursuing her deep commitment to the expansion of high-quality educational opportunity in Haiti.
Rihanna Sets Up Scholarship Programme For Caribbean Students
Singer Rihanna has announced a scholarship program to send well deserving students from the Caribbean, US and South America to college.
The Barbados-born beauty is awarding up to $50,000 (£35,000) through her Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) for students in Barbados, Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, Guyana, Jamaica, or the US.
“To be able to give the gift of an education is actually an honour,” the 28-year-old said on her new scholarship program.
“Higher education will help provide perspective, opportunities and learning to a group of kids who really deserve it. I am thrilled to be able to do this.”
In order to be eligible, applicants must be residents of Barbados, Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, Guyana, Jamaica, or the US, and have already been accepted into a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States for the 2016-2017 year.
The scholarship is based on need and the number of students will vary, but the goal is to accept as many students as possible, according to the announcement.
Scholarships granted will range from $5,000 to $50,000 and may be renewed for up to three additional years or until a bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first.
Applications for the full-tuition grant are open now through June 10, 2016.
A committee will screen 50 finalists based on academic performance, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, work experience and a personal essay, and the scholarship winners will be announced by August, 2016.
In Haiti’s public hospitals, a strike still lingers but the prospect of recovery is on the horizon.
Sanitation authorities began last Thursday to distribute medicine and supplies in the public hospitals with the prospect of resuming work.
For more than a month, these hospitals were paralyzed by a strike of the residents (doctors) who demanded among other things better working conditions and a considerable increase of their salary from 7,500 gourds to 150,000 gourds.
A physical altercation between a resident doctor and the director of the hospital of the state university of Haiti brought about the strike.
Last Thursday, during the delivery material including beds, fans and medicine, the executive director, Dr. Maurice Fils Mainville said he hoped the negotiations with the residents were successful in order for the hospitals to be able to serve the public as soon as possible.
Nevertheless, the members of the labor union of health care workers wanted to add a condition before they returned to work. They are demanding a draft agreement be signed for pay raises.
They are asking for a minimum of 30,000 gourds per month (approximately $ 510 dollars a month), explaining that the small amount which they earn now doesn’t allow them to make ends meet.
The next little reassuring season of hurricanes
While the Hurricanes Season officially begins on June 1st, 2016, the Haitian government and its partners are pursuing preparation efforts and are being vigilant following some worrisome weather forecasts.
Experts at the University of Colorado are anticipating a much more active hurricane season this year, compared to 2015 when there was only one recorded hurricane - Erika. For 2016, the experts expect a total of 12 named storms, and 5 hurricanes including 2 major ones.
For Haiti, the scenario for the 2016 hurricane season could mean that approximately 500,000 people will be affected by floods and other hydro-meteorological systems. The departments of the North, the Northwest, the Artibonite and the West are particularly vulnerable in heavy rain, winds, floods and landslides.
In preparation, the national System of Risk Management is implementing several activities to limit the possible damage that the forecasted active hurricane season might bring.
THREE electoral advisers leave Haiti to go observe the elections in Dominican Republic
The President of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), Léopold Berlanger, vice-president, Carlos Hercule, and general secretary, Marie-Frantz Joachim, left the country, on Friday, May 13th, to go observe the general elections in Dominican Republic, on Sunday, May 15th, according to AlterPresse.
They were scheduled to return to the country Monday, May 16th.
This trip was to allow the Haitian electoral advisers to learn from the Dominican Republic’s advances in holding elections. The neighboring nation is now experimenting with the digital technology, announced the spokeswoman for the CEP, Nicole Siméon, during a press conference last week.
The electoral advisers, accompanied with the director of the electoral register, Philipe Augustin, had an opportunity to witness the process of electronic voting set up in nearby Republic, explained Siméon.
The publication of a timetable for the second round of the elections of 2015 is planned by the electoral authorities between May 15th and 31st, 2016.
Haiti-Elections: Security Council Press Statement
The members of the Security Council expressed their deep disappointment that Haitian actors failed to meet the election and inauguration deadlines agreed upon in the February 5 political accord, the Haitian-owned and -led roadmap for the swift conclusion of the current electoral cycle, and called on all Haitian actors to ensure the prompt return to constitutional order.
The members of the Security Council welcomed, however, the reconstitution of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) and noted the establishment of a commission to evaluate and verify the elections held in 2015, stressing the need for the commission to be technical, apolitical, transparent, and complete its work within its 30-day mandate.
The members of the Security Council noted the increasing number of challenges Haiti faces; they can be best resolved through close coordination between a democratically elected Government, Haitian civil society, and Haiti’s international partners.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their strong condemnation of any attempt to destabilize or manipulate the electoral process, in particular through violence, and urged all candidates, their supporters, political parties and other actors to refrain from violence or any action that can further disrupt the electoral process and political stability, and to resolve any electoral disputes through constructive engagement and the appropriate legal mechanisms and for the Government of Haiti to hold those responsible for any violence accountable.
The members of the Council commended the Haitian National Police, with support from the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), for their efforts to maintain peace and protect the civilian population.
The members of the Security Council welcomed the continued efforts of the United Nations, other multilateral agencies, regional organizations and United Nations Member States in supporting Haiti’s critical needs.
The members of the Security Council looked forward to the planned field visit of USG Ladsous in Haiti, aimed at conveying to Haitian actors the sense of urgency expressed by the Council towards a swift conclusion of the electoral cycle as well as at assessing MINUSTAH’s contribution to the overall situation on the ground, with a view towards his providing options that could inform future steps towards its appropriate configuration.
The members of the Security Council expressed their intention to continue to follow closely the situation in Haiti.
May 13, 2016