Nancy RousseauSoon after an earthquake devastated Haiti in January, three thousand people packed Hibernian Hall in Roxbury. The high turnout, with only a few days notice, was in part thanks to Mattapan resident Nancy Rousseau and several others who organized the event.
“It was challenging to pull off that event in such a short time and be the anchor of the event on that day,” says Manolia Charlotin, Rousseau’s friend and colleague. “She was so calm. It really impressed me that she could maintain that level of calm on such a hectic day. I suppose that’s because for Nancy her work is about the people she’s helping. It keeps her focused.”
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Jun 17, 2010
Nancy RousseauSoon after an earthquake devastated Haiti in January, three thousand people packed Hibernian Hall in Roxbury. The high turnout, with only a few days notice, was in part thanks to Mattapan resident Nancy Rousseau and several others who organized the event.
“It was challenging to pull off that event in such a short time and be the anchor of the event on that day,” says Manolia Charlotin, Rousseau’s friend and colleague. “She was so calm. It really impressed me that she could maintain that level of calm on such a hectic day. I suppose that’s because for Nancy her work is about the people she’s helping. It keeps her focused.”
Read more Jun 15, 2010
State Rep. Marie St. Fleur: Will not seek re-election to the House of Representatives this year.State Rep. Marie St. Fleur — the first Haitian-born state official elected in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts— resigned from her Fifth Suffolk district seat that she'd held since 1999 on Friday, June 11. St. Fleur this week started a job in the Menino administration as its chief of advocacy and strategic investment. Today, she delivered a customary farewell address to members of the House of Representatives in Boston's State House. Below is a summary of her remarks as reported by the State House News Service. Via the Dorchester Reporter's Lit Drop: Read more Jun 14, 2010
Belle Epoque Grand Opening: Brockton Mayor Linda M. Balzotti cut a ceremonial ribbon at the grand opening of the new Haitian-American restaurant and bakery Belle Epoque on Saturday, June 12.
Brockton's latest Haitian-American owned business celebrated its grand opening on Saturday with encouragement from city and state leaders who turned out to welcome Belle Epoque to its new home in the Massasoit Plaza on Crescent Street. The business— which features both table and take-out service— is operated by the Devaris family, which already boasts a large client base through its catering business of the same name. Pictured above, left to right, at the ribbon cutting are Brockton City Council member Dennis DeNapoli, Mayor Balzotti, Andrew Calixte, Djennan Devaris-Calixte, owner-chef Mrs. Carolle Devaris, Kenson Calixte and his son Matthew, Brockton state Rep. Christine Canavan, State Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry and Cathy Auguste.
The restaurant and cafe specializes in a wide range of culinary tastes with a Haitian flair. Mrs. Devaris is an accomplished baker with a specialty in custom designed cakes. The cafe also features a menu of Haitian-American lunch and dinner favorites. Belle Epoque is located at 793 Crescent Street, Brockton. The phone number is 508-580-0020. Read more
May 14, 2010
Six and Counting for Haiti: The Boston-based group includes members Darnell Williams of the Urban League, Herby Duverne, Sabine St. Lot, Sandy Cody, Gerald Reid, and Charlotte Golar Richie with their hosts Bob and Magalie Hyppolite and Haitian Minister Edwin Paraison (far left). Photo by Joel Theodat.
Sabine St. Lot and Charlotte Golar Richie recently returned from Haiti with their group, Six and Counting for Haiti; members Sandy Cody, Herby Duverne, Dr. Gerald Reid and Darnell Williams contributed to this article.
Why We Went
In less than a minute, on a late Tuesday afternoon in mid-January, Haiti experienced one of the worst natural disasters in modern times. Struck by a very powerful earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.0, nearly a quarter of a million people died (numbers vary), and homes, schools and churches instantly vanished. Port-au-Prince, Leogane, Jacmel and Petit-Goave were severely crippled and will never be the same.
Thankfully, the world responded and thousands of people from far and wide have traveled to Haiti to assist with clean-up and rebuilding efforts. And so did we: three Haitian-Americans and three African-Americans from Massachusetts, who traveled there, three months after the earthquake, from April 19th to the 23rd, to deliver tents and supplies to people in need.
Not there to compete with the large international relief organizations, which have been steadily transporting water, tents, tarps and supplies to the capital and other communities, the members of our group were determined to do what we could to lend a helping hand. In doing so, we experienced a journey that was heart-wrenching, awe-inspiring and motivating. It also was challenging. And our visit is one we will never forget.
Read more May 12, 2010
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, May 22 at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Dorchester for victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti. The Mass, which will be celebrated by Fr. William Joy of St. Read more
May 4, 2010
Unity parade set for May 16: The annual parade features marching bands, floats, dancers and dignitaries- all celebrating Haitian and Haitian-American culture. Photo by Don WestGovernor Deval Patrick will serve as the grand marshall of the 10th annual Haitian American Unity Parade, which will be held on Sunday, May 16 in Mattapan and Dorchester. The parade steps off from Mattapan Square and travels up Blue Hill Avenue beginning at 1p.m. Organizers say this year's event is an occasion for support and solidarity with earthquake victims.
"This year, because of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, and several surrounding areas on January 12, 2010, the annual Haitian Heritage Month/ Flag Day celebration will be focused on that tragic catastrophe," said Wilner Auguste of Haitian-Americans United, Inc., which organizes the parade.
The 15th annual Haitian Flag Raising Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 14 from 12 to 2 p.m. at Boston City Hall Plaza. It will be a memorial ceremony for those who died in the January 12 earthquake in Haiti. The Haitian flag will be flown at half- staff for the occasion. A quilt of Massachusetts residents’ relatives who died in the earthquake will be displayed at the ceremony, Auguste said. Read more Apr 23, 2010
The nation’s top immigration official appealed for help last week as his agency struggles to convince undocumented Haitian nationals living in the U.S. before last January’s earthquake to apply for temporary legal status. Read more
Apr 20, 2010
Northeastern University will host a special free program with journalists and photographers from the Boston Globe sharing recent stories and images from Haiti on Wednesday, April 28 from 6-8 p.m. Read more
Mar 30, 2010
Boston's Irish-American community is organizing a large event in Quincy to assist orphans and other victims of the Haitian earthquake. Irish Hearts for Haiti - set for Sunday, May 2, will include live entertainment and dancing from 2-8 p.m. Read more
Mar 23, 2010
A town hall meeting entitled "Haitians Building Haiti:Towards Transparent and Accountable Development" will be held on Friday, March 26 at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College. Read more
Mar 11, 2010
Nurse 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
Mar 9, 2010
(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.
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Feb 24, 2010
The Archdiocese of Boston says it expects that its special collections at local Catholic parishes will net Haiti relief efforts in excess of $2 million. Read more
Feb 24, 2010
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 de Read more
Feb 24, 2010
Congressman toured Haiti capital with eye on troop levels, relief Read more
Feb 20, 2010
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.
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