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Haitian-American nurse shares tale of compassion, heartache

March 11, 2010 by Yolette Ibokette, Reporter Contributor

Nurse Dana Bordenave with CNNs Dr. Sanjay GuptaNurse Dana Bordenave with CNNs Dr. Sanjay Gupta“January 12, 2010 will always be with me,” says Dana Bordenave, a Haitian-American registered nurse who recently returned from Haiti after helping earthquake survivors. She shared her experiences last month at a fundraiser in Randolph organized by Georja Joseph, owner of Tete-a-Tete Beauty Salon. Bordenave went to Port-au-Prince with the Haitian-American Nurses Association ten days after the earthquake hit the island nation.
“I wasn’t prepared for what I encountered. The magnitude of the problem is beyond words,” said Bordenave, who works at Rhode Island Hospital. She last visited Haiti in 1989. Upon her arrival this time, she had to wait at the airport for five hours before being taken to the General Hospital, where her group set up shop. Read more

Read the March edition online

March 11, 2010 by Reporter Staff

BHR 3-10BHR 3-10The March edition of the Boston Haitian Reporter, in circulation since last Friday in print form, is now available for online readers as a PDF.

St. Fleur inspired generation of young Haitian-Americans

March 11, 2010 by Fafa Girault, Special to the Reporter

Fafa GiraultFafa GiraultMarie St. Fleur’s election to the House of Representatives in July 1999 made her the first Haitian-American elected official in Massachusetts. That distinction also makes her planned departure — at the end of the current term next January —significant.
Some will say “ who cares” and “why is this important.” I’ll tell you why: For years she has been our liaison with the government here in Massachusetts. I question if her leaving will create some sort of a gap. Will her leaving inspire someone of Haitian decent to step up to the plate? I know she has definitely inspired me. We as a people have come a long way. Her being a woman of color is a big deal to me. Her being Haitian is an even bigger deal.
I decided to talk to some Haitian Americans between the ages of 18 to 35 to get their views. I asked how her position has impacted them and whether her departure affect our community in any way. Read more

Connecting with a voice from Haiti's grassroots

March 11, 2010 by Manolia Charlotin, Special to the Reporter

Manolia CharlotinManolia CharlotinEarly Tuesday morning I finally received the call I had waited anxiously for. “Koman ou ye, Manolia?” Melinda excitely boomed through the cell phone. “M’ap kenbe” I responded.  
Melinda Miles, co-founder and executive director of Konbit Pou Ayiti (KONPAY), had finally called to brief me on Haitian grassroots relief efforts in Port-au-Prince and Jacmel.  She was actually in the States, preparing for her testimony to the U.S. Congress.  She hoped her testimony would shed a light on the ineffective practices that disable widespread distribution of aid in Haiti.  The international distribution system lacks the community building aspect that allows Haitian community organizers (also known as Animators) to effectively participate in relief efforts.  Read more

Reflections on the "Hibernian Miracle" and its follow-up

March 11, 2010 by Nancy Rachel Rousseau, Special to the Reporter

Nancy Rachel RousseauNancy Rachel RousseauOn January 16, over 85 organizations pulled together in response to the earthquake that hit Haiti just four days earlier.  What is now being referred to as the “Hibernian Miracle” by some was an event that galvanized the humanitarian efforts of over 3,000 people.  There is no other way to describe it: the collaborative effort was extraordinarily amazing and overwhelmingly emotional. Read more

Presidents meet: Obama hosts Préval at White House

March 9, 2010 by Reporter Staff

(Updated March 10)- President Obama hosted Haitian President Rene Préval at the White House today (March 10). In a summary of their remarks issued by the White House, President Obama discussed the ongoing American response, warning that "people should be under no illusions that the crisis is over." He added: "The challenge now is to prevent a second disaster" and said, "America’s commitment to Haiti’s recovery and reconstruction must endure and will endure." Full remarks after the break. Read more

Letter to Obama: Haiti should become temporary "protectorate" of U.S.

March 11, 2010 by Guerton Auguste

The following excerpts are from an open letter to President Barack Obama shared with the Reporter by Boston resident Guerton Auguste.
Dear Mr. President,
As the crisis in Haiti, brought on by the earthquake of January 12, 2010, continues to evolve, we in the Haitian community are just beginning to comprehend the magnitude of the calamity that has stricken our fellow human beings—our children, our brothers and sisters, uncle and aunts, nephews and neighbors. Mr. President, I am proud and grateful to say that the American people and their president did not stay neutral but in fact stood tall to show the world what it means to have Americans as friends and neighbors. You particularly, went beyond the call of duty and responsibility. Read more

Rep. St. Fleur will not seek re-election this year

February 20, 2010 by Reporter Staff

State Rep. Marie St. Fleur: Will not seek re-election to the House of Representatives this year.State Rep. Marie St. Fleur: Will not seek re-election to the House of Representatives this year.Updated Feb. 25— State Rep. Marie St. Fleur, who became the first Haitian-American state elected official ion Massachusetts history in 1999, will not seek re-election to the Massachusetts House of Representative this year. St. Fleur delivered the news to a gathering of Dorchester Democratic party activists on Saturday morning (Feb. 19), according to our sister newspaper, the Dorchester Reporter, which has a full report on her announcement here. St. Fleur did not say what she plans to do after her term expires in January 2011. Read more

Kerry presses money transfer companies to drop fees

February 24, 2010 by Reporter Staff

A pair of US Senators — including Massachusetts' own John Kerry, who is Chairman of the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee— are urging Western Union and MoneyGram to "eliminate or reduce the fees for money transfers to Haiti through June 2010 after the devastation of last month's earthquake." In a statement issued Tuesday by Kerry's office, the Senator and his colleague Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, were critical of the current fee structure that has been re-instated by the companies after they initially reduced or eliminated fees in the aftermath of Jan. 12.
"Current fees give 7 to 9 percent of remittances people send to loved ones in Haiti to the money transfer companies instead of going directly to the recipient or to the Haitian relief effort," the statement noted. "While we appreciate your initial efforts, the need for a longer commitment is great because for many Haitians remittances will act as a lifeline. With your help, Haitian Americans who sacrifice to send remittances will see more of that money reach their families in Haiti who are in desperate need."
The full text of the letter- provided to the Reporter by Kerry's office- is below: Read more

Capuano sees progress during one-day tour of Haiti

February 24, 2010 by Bill Forry

Congressman toured Haiti capital with eye on troop levels, relief
U.S. Representative Michael Capuano visited Haiti last Friday and says he is encouraged with the progress he witnessed. Capuano, who represents parts of Boston, Cambridge and Somerville in Massachusetts’ Eighth district, joined several other members of Congress to meet with senior U.S. diplomats and military leaders in and around Port-au-Prince.
“They are making relatively good progress in a relatively short time,” Capuano told the Reporter, adding that he was especially heartened to learn that there has not been a significant outbreak of disease among survivors. “Sanitation is better than it was. At the same time, they’ve really turned their focus into shelter with the rainy season coming. Everyone knows it there. We will have to wait and see how well we do it.” Read more

Children's Hospital blog documents commitment to help Haiti

February 19, 2010 by Bill Forry

Nelson Aquino, a nurse anesthetist from Children’s Hospital Boston, went to Haiti last month with a group of Children’s clinicians as part of a disaster response team. Now, after two weeks back in the United States, he reflects on the life-altering experience in the video above. For many more accounts of the way Children's Hospital Boston has helped respond to the disaster, please check out their blog dedicated to Haiti. Thank you to our friends at Children's Hospital Boston for their ongoing efforts.

Gov. Patrick: Fed dollars will go to local groups for mental health, social services

February 18, 2010 by Reporter Staff

More than $500,000 in federal funding will be distributed by state officials in the coming weeks to assist with mental health counseling and other social services related to the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti. According to Gov. Deval Patrick's office, funds "will be used to support activities related to":
• Providing mental health services to those directly affected by the earthquake in Haiti;
• Convening mental health clinicians, religious leaders and pastoral counselors, and other related professionals within the community to serve the mental health and trauma recovery needs of the local Haitian-American population;
• Providing training, clinical supervision and support to mental health and related professionals as they work to address post-disaster counseling and education to members of their local Haitian-American communities;
• Addressing the specific needs of youth and children affected by the earthquake; and
• Creating public information, outreach and recruitment programming to help communities understand the effects of trauma on individuals, families and neighborhoods; promote trauma intervention services; convene community-level discussions of the impact of the earthquake on the local Haitian-American community; and coordinate access to information about mental health services available to individuals and families. Read more

Ruth's Recipes: Especially in our grief, we must eat well for our health

February 11, 2010 by Marie Ruth Auguste, Reporter Columnist

Marie Ruth AugusteMarie Ruth AugusteThese last few weeks have been painful for so many of us. Sooner or later, however, the body demands nutrients to stay alive and well; mind, body and soul. For many of us (myself included) when we’re experiencing shocking, stressful, emotionally painful times loaded with anxiety, the appetite shuts down and the body says “no” to eating. From the lump that you feel in your throat to the seemingly yet vivid tightening knot in your stomach, food is the last thing on your mind and nothing will go down. Read more

Mission 4636: An overview of the project that YOU can assist from here

February 3, 2010 by Reporter Staff

The folks who developed the Mission 4636 project — which is helping Kreyol-speaking Haitians and Haitian-Americans in the States direct help to earthquake survivors. This video gives an overview of the project and gives guidance on how we can help.

Mission 4636 from CrowdFlower on Vimeo. Read more

Poll: Two-thirds of Haitian-Americans willing to return to Haiti to help

January 28, 2010 by Reporter Staff

A poll sponsored by New American Media and released today gives new insight into just how deeply the American Dyaspora has been affected by the Jan. 12 earthquake.The poll, conducted last week in both English and Kreyol, suggests that "three out of five respondents said they had lost some of their 'loved ones.' Two-thirds felt the situation in their country was so dire they were willing to move back to Haiti for a period of time to help with the reconstruction. Read more

In Delmas, it's Haitians helping Haitians with no sign of outside help

January 16, 2010 by Bill Forry

Boston transplant Rich Innocent relays a tale of survival, teamwork among the people of Delmas
Richardson Innocent: Proud Bostonian, Haitian now searching for survivors in DelmasRichardson Innocent: Proud Bostonian, Haitian now searching for survivors in DelmasFor the third consecutive night, Richardson Innocent will rest his head tonight underneath a tree in Delmas, a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. There’s a machete and a chisel close by his side. Clustered around him is his cousin, Norton, and a frightened family he has known for only a few weeks.
All over the neighborhood, a rumor has spread that another aftershock is coming tonight at midnight. No one will sleep indoors for fear of being entombed in rubble like so many others all around them if another one hits.
Innocent, 36, isn’t sure what to think any more. A longtime Boston resident who just moved back to his native Haiti last month, he’s not the superstitious type. But, after the events of the last 60 hours, he’s not taking any chances. He and a group of nine others will sleep under the tree tonight, far enough away from a nearby house, one of the few still standing in Delmas 35.
In the morning, Richardson and his cousin will rise early and hit the streets of this community on the outskirts of Haiti’s destroyed capitol city. They will spend their daylight hours searching for survivors and for supplies to help feed their friends and neighbors.
Every able-bodied person in the neighborhood is doing their part. Without any discernable help from the outside world — there are no rescue teams, no soldiers, no heavy equipment in Delmas yet— Haitians are helping Haitians. Read more

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