In vote push for Democratic ticket, Patrick drops in on Haitian seniors

Gov. Patrick at Sant Belvi: Gov. Deval Patrick visited the Sant Belvi Adult Day Center for Haitian elders on Tuesday to deliver a stump speech on behalf of the Democratic ticket. Photo by Lauren Dezenski This article originally appeared in the Oct. 23, 2014 edition of the Dorchester Reporter. The path to the corner office runs through the Haitian community for any aspiring governor, according to Gov. Deval Patrick – and he would know. “You cannot win without the Haitian community. You shouldn't even try without the Haitian community,” he says.

Oct. 22 lecture on Toussaint L'Ouverture's years as a slave

Harvard lecture Harvard Fellow Philippe Girard will present a colloquium on Toussaint Loverture's early life as a slave on Wed., Oct. 22 at 12 p.m. The event is free and open to the public . Dr. Girard is an esteemed historian of Haiti who is the head of the History Department at McNeese State University. He is presently working with Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. at Harvard's W.E.B. DuBois Research Institute at the Hutchins Center. The event will take place at the Thompson room, Barker Center, 12 Quincy St. Cambridge, MA.

Cambridge event on Saturday to celebrate Haitian language

Cambridge eventAn event billed as the "first annual celebration of Haitian Creole month in Massachusetts" takes place on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. at the Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge. The event will include lectures, discussions, books and cultural presentations by Haitian artists, writers, publishers, musicians, and scholars of Haitian culture. The program is free and open to the public. Invited guests include Prof. Marky Jean-Pierre, Dr. Louise Evers, Prof. Yvon Lamour, Prof. Merites Abelard. Moderators are Dr. Sophia Cantave and Dr. Lunine Pierre-Jerome. Boston-area author & editor Tontongi (Eddy Toussaint), will present the latest books from Trilingual Press, vanguard publisher of texts in Haitian Creole. Tontongi’s new collection of politico-literary essays, Sèl Pou Dezonbifye Bouki and the Haitian Creole translation of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet by Nicole Titus (author of the first Haitian Creole translations of Plato). Publisher Roosevelt Desronvilles, presenting books in Haitian Creole from JEBCA Editions. Writers at the event will include Jean-Dany Joachim, Charlot Lucien, Fred Edson Lafortune, Ewald Delva, Patrick Sylvain, Nicole Titus, Doumafis Lafontant, Margela Olivier Galette, presenting their published work in various genres, in Haitian Creole or bilingual editions.

US to begin long-awaited Reunification program for Haitian families

After years of lobbying by Haitian leaders and activists, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has finally agreed to launch an official effort to reunify Haitian families displaced by the catastrophic earthquake of Jan. 2010. In a statement sent to the Reporter this morning, the department says that the Haitian Family Reunification Parole (HFRP) Program will begin in spring 2015. The program will "expedite family reunification for certain eligible Haitian family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents of the U.S. and to promote safe, legal and orderly migration from Haiti to the United States." The program will impact "eligible Haitian beneficiaries" in Haiti who have been pre-approved for family-based visas. They will be allowed entry to the United States "up to approximately two years before their immigrant visa priority dates become current," according to the Homeland Security department. In announcing the program, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas emphasized that Haitian migrants should not attempt to come to the Unites States before the program begins.

Haitian man indicted for causing trans-Atlantic flight to be diverted to Boston

A 60 year-old Haitian man was indicted on Oct. 10 for allegedly "interfering with flight crew members" on a trans-Atlantic flight from Miami to Paris. The Aug. 27 incident caused the flight to be diverted to Boston.

Reflections on the Death of an Unpunished Dictator

Patrick SylvainI was barely five years old when François Duvalier died and his nineteen year-old-son was sworn in as President in April 1971. This was done after the Haitian constitution was amended with neither national referendum nor proper parliamentary procedures to account for the dramatic change in the age requirement, from forty years of age to nineteen. I remember my mom dressing me up for school: I had on a new pair of ankle-high black boots, khaki shorts and a white shirt. We had barely reached the first bend in the road when my grandfather quickly ran after us, ordering us to come back. I knew something was wrong, as other families scurried back into their homes. It was the first time that I recollect seeing my family gathered around a large radio in the living room; it was then that I had learned of the passing of a President.

Saturday forum takes aim at Domestic Violence

The Association Haitian Women of Boston —also known as AFAB— will host their annual Violence Prevention Forum this Saturday, August 9 at the Whittier Street Health Center, 1290 Tremont St. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Founded in 1988, the Fuller Street-based organization has dedicated itself to empowering low-income Haitian women and their children. In collaboration with other Haitian agencies, AFAB also works to educate Haitian women on the dangers of domestic violence.

Haiti's first Cardinal comes to Boston this weekend

Cardinal Chibly Langlois, the first Cardinal named from Haiti, will be the main celebrant at this weekend's annual Mass to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The Mass will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 22 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica (Mission church), 1545 Tremont St. Boston. Cardinal Langlois, who is from the Lavalle area near Jacmel, was named to the College of Cardinals this year by Pope Francis.

Second wave of Haitian nursing students arrive at Regis College

Regis College Haiti Project Advisory Board gathers this week to meet the second wave of Haitian nursing educators doing their summer semester on the College’s Weston campus. The first cohort graduated under Regis College mentorship from the University of Haiti in Port au Prince in February. They were the first Master’s in Science in Nursing professionals educated in a joint project between Haitian hospital schools of nursing, the Haitian ministry of health, and Regis College. Several of the first graduates are back on campus this month helping to mentor the next group.

Prime Minister Lamothe addresses recovery in Boston speech

Prime Minister Visits Boston: PM Laurent Lamothe, Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry, former State Rep. Marie St. Fleur, and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh at a Boston Foundation forum on Thursday, June 5. Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe visited Boston yesterday to speak at Haiti Funders Conference at the Boston Foundation. Lamothe, who was appointed prime minister in May 2012, was introduced by Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry (D-Boston), and gave an address entitled “The Priorities of the Government of Haiti and Alignment of Private Philanthropic Efforts for Lasting Impact."

Boston Haitian Reporter