Four candidates for governor commit to help displaced Haitians

GBIO forum brings candidates together: All four pledged to oppose ballot questions 2 & 3. Photo by Erik JacobsGBIO forum brings candidates together: All four pledged to oppose ballot questions 2 & 3. Photo by Erik JacobsGreater Boston religious leaders this week asked the four candidates for governor to pledge that, once in office, they will create a comprehensive dwelling strategy for Haitian refugees and advocate at the federal level for legal status that will allow these families to work. All four candidates – Gov. Deval Patrick, the Democratic incumbent, Republican challenger Charlie Baker, independent candidate Timothy Cahill, and Green Rainbow Party candidate Jill Stein – said “yes” at a Sunday forum at the Temple Israel of Boston.

Delahunt, Lynch, Olver: Flawed Haiti election is a "recipe for disaster"

Forty-five members of Congress— including three delegates from Massachusetts—sent Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton a strongly-worded letter this month expressing deep concern over the upcoming November presidential election in Haiti and the exclusion of more than a dozen political parties— including Fanmi Lavalas— from the ballot.

Erick Jean remembered fondly as mentor to city youth

Erick JeanErick JeanErick Jean, a Haitian-American mentor and dedicated community servant, passed away on September 15, 2010 at age 48. Jean was a graduate of Boston Trade School and a college graduate of Northeastern University. While enrolled at Northeastern, Erick pledged Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, Chi Chapter. He remained very active and worked hard to represent the fraternity’s mission and values throughout his community service.

Erick earned his law degree from Suffolk University Law School and became the first Haitian-American to have a law firm in the downtown Boston area. He practiced law for nine years. He started a law firm, Jackson and Jean, one of the premier African-American real estate law firms, servicing banks such as Bank of Boston and Fleet Bank.

UMass focuses on improving and rebuilding Higher Education in Haiti

The higher education system in Haiti, which faced numerous structural challenges and academic difficulties prior to the earthquake last January, collapsed. The major task ahead is to rebuild a higher education system conducive to the future economic, political, and social development of the country. Improving and rebuilding Haiti’s education system, particularly higher education, is at the core of helping the country to realize progress and strengthen its evolving democracy.

Haiti Initiative launched at Brown University

Edwidge Danticat speaks at Brown University, Oct. 4, 2010Edwidge Danticat speaks at Brown University, Oct. 4, 2010On Monday October 4th, Brown University launched a Haitian Initiative with two special events featuring Edwidge Danticat, acclaimed Haitian-American author and Paul Farmer, UN Deputy Special Envoy to Haiti and co-founder of Partners in Health. The University’s Department of Africana Studies also announced a new visiting fellow, Haitian recording artist Wyclef Jean.

Wyclef’s bully pulpit could be put to better use

On November 28, Haiti faces one of the most important elections since its first democratic election in 1990. Wyclef Jean’s run for President of Haiti was entertaining and brought a few weeks of limelight to the crucial elections. Before the media attention dies, a few minutes should be spent talking about the real issues involved – that the elections, which will provide the political foundation and accountability for the use of earthquake recovery funds, will likely be a sham.

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