After presiding over Sunday’s annual Haitian Unity Parade on Blue Hill Avenue, Mayor Martin Walsh made good on a campaign promise on Monday evening, appearing before a large gathering of Haitian community members for a wide-ranging discussion about community’s wants and needs.
More than 250 people— many of them elderly— greeted Mayor Walsh at Kay Pam Adult Day Health on Livingstone Street as he talked about City Hall’s approach to tackling affordable housing, improving education, and new immigrants’ integration into the community through the Office of New Bostonians.
Walsh listened to remarks from members of the community about issues facing the city’s burgeoning Haitian population and then took a handful of pre-submitted questions.
“We need to make sure young people have good, strong, quality education so these young people can have the same opportunities that Linda had, that I had,” Walsh said later, referring to State Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry, who is married to the Reporter’s publisher and editor, Bill Forry. Sen. Forry introduced Walsh at the event, calling him “no stranger to our community.”
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News
May 19, 2015
Mayor Walsh at Sant BelviMayor Martin Walsh met with more than 250 Haitian community members last evening (May 18) at a large assembly at Sant Belvi, the Haitian Adult Day Care Center on Frontenac Street in Dorchester.
The mayor led yesterday's Haitian Unity Parade in Mattapan and Dorchester. Walsh is no stranger to Haitian American issues. He traveled to Haiti in 2009 as a state representative.
Read more May 18, 2015
Mayor Martin Walsh will meet with Haitian community members this evening at an assembly planned at Sant Belvi, the Haitian Adult Day Care Center on Frontenac Street in Dorchester. The gathering will take place from 6-9 p.m. Read more
May 15, 2015
Ile-a-Vâche, a tiny 20 square mile piece of paradise in the Southwest of Haiti has been captivating the imagination of curious or daring travelers for years.
For history buffs, it may evoke the infamous British pirate Henri Morgan (1635-1688) who lost some vessels near the island in the midst of his illegal ventures. Or the intricate dealings of US President Lincoln and Haitian president Geffrard with investor Bernard Koch who attempted in 1862 to relocate some 5,000 emancipated blacks from the US on the island in an ill-fated project to grow and export fine Haitian cotton to US markets.
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May 15, 2015
Haiti’s newest hotel is a destination in its own right.
The Marriott Port-au-Prince Hotel— the result of a philanthropic collaboration between Marriott International, Digicel Group and The Clinton Foundation — opened its doors in March. The 175-room Marriott is the first of its brand in the country and aims to bring sustainability to the people of Haiti by employing primarily Haitians and enlisting local businesses for goods and services whenever possible.
Located just 7 miles from the Toussaint L’Ouverture International Airport, the Marriott Port-au-Prince offers guests easy access to the city’s commercial district as well as a wide variety of outdoor activities like hiking and swimming. It boasts the popular La Sirene Bar and Restaurant, with a variety of traditional Haitian items in addition to popular international dishes. It also features five elegant meeting rooms for corporate and social events of any size.
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May 15, 2015
May 2015 editionThe special May edition of the Boston Haitian Reporter is now available. This Haitian Heritage Month edition features special coverage of this weekend's celebrations— and expanded coverage of the growing travel trade between Boston and Haiti, including:
- New direct flights between Boston's Logan and Port-au-Prince, launching in June via JetBlue.
- Haiti's first-ever Marriott Hotel, now open in Port-au-Prince.
- A feature on the magical island of Ile-à-Vâche by Charlot Lucien.
Plus: A focus on the women of Boston's Haitian community who made news and history over the last year.
Pick up the BHR today at one of the dozens of stores, bakeries, and supermarkets all across Boston including: Tropical Foods in Roxbury, Mattapan Square's Le Foyer and Farmer's Market, Boston City Hall, and Codman Square Health Center. Or click on the image above to download a digital edition of the Reporter.
Read more May 14, 2015
A Boston-based philanthropic effort that was launched in the immediate aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti will transition into a new institute over the next two years, according to leaders with the Boston Foundation, which hosts the initiative. The Haiti Fund, which has distributed more than $2.1 million in grants— most of them to existing, Haitian-led organizations in rural Haiti— will be phased out over the next two years as its board pivots into a new, permanent organization that will be called the Haiti Development Institute.
“We are looking to give Haiti an independent institute that will serve local communities throughout the country while also supporting in long run the public sector by pushing issues and hopefully changing public policies,” explained Pierre Noel, who is the executive director of the Haiti Fund at the Boston Foundation. Noel, who will serve as grand marshal of this weekend’s Haitian Unity Parade in Mattapan and Dorchester, will relocate to Haiti next year to finalize the establishment of the institute.
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May 7, 2015
The New England Revolution have signed midfielder Zachary Herivaux to their team this week. The 19 year-old Brookline resident has Haitian roots and played on the Haiti national U-20 team in the 2015 CONCACAF Championship. He appeared in all five of Haiti’s games at the competition, starting games against El Salvador, Cuba and Honduras.
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May 5, 2015
There has been a change in leadership at the Boston office of the Haitian government. Marjorie Alexandre Brunache, who served as consul since 2011, has been re-assigned. Marie Weslyne Nicolas is presently serving as the interim consul until a new permanent consul is assigned to the post.
Brunache ended her duties in the last week in February, according to Nicolas, who worked in the office under Brunache. A new appointment will come from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Haiti, said Nicolas.
“Everything is the same” at the Back Bay offices, where Haitian nationals often frequent to apply for visas, update passports and conduct other official business.
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Apr 30, 2015
Fritz Orvil: His band Mélanj, with guest vocalist Rebecca Zampa, perform in Mattapan on Saturday. This Saturday all eyes – and ears – will be on Mattapan as the jazz appreciation coalition JazzBoston winds up its 9th annual JazzWeek with its 2015 theme, “Jazz in the Neighborhoods.”
The William E. Carter American Legion Post (1531 Blue Hill Avenue) will be the host of a free all-ages afternoon (1 p.m. to 6 p.m.) spotlighting some of Mattapan's most talented musicians and guest artist friends.
On the bill will be Fritz Orvil and his band Mélanj, with guest vocalist Rebecca Zampa. They will play in two popular Haitian styles: “kompa” (a modern meringue musical genre with European and African roots) and “troubador” (“twoubadou” in Kreyol), another guitar-based méringue combined with Cuban guajiro traditions).
Also, Frank Wilkins and WeJazzUp will perform with guest pianist Rollins Ross and vocalist Athene Wilson. Members of the audience can then take the mic during the WeJazzUp Vocal Showcase.
Read more Apr 27, 2015
PORT-AU-PRINCE— The wife of Haitian President Michel Martelly registered to run for the Senate in her first attempt at elected office.
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Apr 22, 2015
PORT-AU-PRINCE— The Haitian government will appeal a widely criticized decision by a judge to dismiss charges against two men in a high-profile kidnapping case, the justice minister said Wednesday.
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Apr 22, 2015
Haitian-Americans United, Inc. (H.A.U.) will host a series events organized in celebration of the 2015 Haitian Heritage Month in Massachusetts. H.A.U. Read more
Apr 22, 2015
DotHouse Health will celebrate the official dedication of its new name with a ribbon cutting event on Tuesday, April 28 at their Dorchester Avenue facility. Former Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy will officiate at the 12 p.m. event.
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Apr 22, 2015
NASSAU, Bahamas— The Bahamas says 178 Haitian migrants have been detained by local authorities over the last several days.
In a Sunday statement, Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell said the archipelago off Florida's east coast has been "dealing with a deluge of illegal migrants who have breached our borders over the past week.'' Read more
Apr 17, 2015
Northeastern University hosts a conversation about the Haitian refugee crisis on 1991-94 and the decision made by the US government to detain thousands of Haitian-born migrants on Guantanamo before repatriating them back to Haiti. Free and open to the public. Sat., April 18, 2 p.m. Visit Confrontingguantanamo.com to register.
Northeastern University event
From Mattapan to Somerville, Roxbury to Cambridge, Greater Boston is home to the third-largest Haitian community in the United States. Northeastern University welcomes Boston’s Haitian and Haitian-American residents in a dialogue about the community’s past, present, and future.
The conversation will address the Haitian Refugee Crisis (1991–94) and the decision made by the U.S. government to detain thousands of Haitian-born refugees on Guantánamo before repatriating them back to Haiti. How has this wrongdoing been overcome? How should we—as a society and a city—remember and address such injustice?
Speakers include Dumas Lafontant, Director of the Lower Roxbury Coalition, Ninaj Raoul, cofounder and community organizer at Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees (HWHR), and community-activist Jean-Claude Sanon.
The event is free and open to the public. Advance registration is encouraged. Space is limited.
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Northeastern University event
From Mattapan to Somerville, Roxbury to Cambridge, Greater Boston is home to the third-largest Haitian community in the United States. Northeastern University welcomes Boston’s Haitian and Haitian-American residents in a dialogue about the community’s past, present, and future.
The conversation will address the Haitian Refugee Crisis (1991–94) and the decision made by the U.S. government to detain thousands of Haitian-born refugees on Guantánamo before repatriating them back to Haiti. How has this wrongdoing been overcome? How should we—as a society and a city—remember and address such injustice?
Speakers include Dumas Lafontant, Director of the Lower Roxbury Coalition, Ninaj Raoul, cofounder and community organizer at Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees (HWHR), and community-activist Jean-Claude Sanon.
The event is free and open to the public. Advance registration is encouraged. Space is limited.
Read more Apr 16, 2015
Our sister paper the Dorchester Reporter has launched a new feature called The Relay, a weekly newsletter covering the latest news on Boston’s bid for the 2024 Olympic Games. Read more
Apr 16, 2015
Charles Yancey, the longest-serving member on the City Council, is facing a formidable challenge for his Fourth District seat from political newcomer Andrea Campbell.
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Apr 16, 2015
In an effort to include community input into the transit-oriented development of the commuter parking lot next to Mattapan Station, MassDot will host a public meeting at the station’s community room next Tuesday (April 22) at 5:30 p.m.
“Any future development will need to continue to provide for safe and efficient station operation and maintenance, pedestrian and vehicular access, bus circulation and a minimum of 50 commuter parking spaces,” said the agency in a posted notice. Read more
Apr 16, 2015
The former mayor of North Miami is appealing her conviction and prison sentence in an $11 million mortgage fraud scheme.
An attorney for Lucie Tondreau recently filed a notice of appeal, which will be considered by the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Tondreau was convicted by a federal jury in December of working with her ex-fiance and two other men to trick banks into loaning them $11 million between 2005 and 2008. The 55-year-old Tondreau was a widely-known and respected member of South Florida's Haitian community who used a local radio show to find straw buyers. Read more
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