Michael's Legacy: Jackson 5, MJ had huge impact in Haiti

You’ll probably never forget where you were or what you were doing when you heard the news. I was sneaking a little time on Facebook enjoying a conversation with a fellow musician who was gigging in Switzerland. We were enjoying a nice chat when she suddenly typed “They’re saying Michael Jackson’s dead?” Of course, active consumer of American media that I am, I immediately thought it was half-true and that Michael was probably sick. Too young to die! No way. We haven’t seen each other in a while, but we’re growing old together.

Life Outside of Pearl: From Dream to Film Reality

Uscla "Johnny" Desarmes: Director of "Life Outside of Pearl"With such a small Haitian population out here in Los Angeles, you cannot imagine the excitement shared by my wife and me as we stood in the lobby of Uscla “Johnny” Desarmes’ home in Hollywood waiting to meet him. When you’re far away from home — which in my case is the northeast, the Mecca for Haitians in the U.S.— you’re never sure what to expect from your fellow countrymen.

Time for immigration reform is now

Editor’s Note: This editorial was produced in association with New America Media (newamericamedia.org), a national association of ethnic media, and was published by ethnic media across the country this week to bring attention to the urgency of immigration reform.

Kerry, Kennedy urge Obama to grant TPS to Haitians

Senators Edward Kennedy and John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) have joined a growing chorus of Congressional voices urging President Barack Obama to grant temporary protected status (TPS) to approximately 30,000 Haitians living in the U.S. illegally. The protection would allow them to work legally and send money to home.

Five candidates seek public office across Eastern Mass

Candidates 2009: Five candidates for public office have emerged for seats in four different communities in Massachusetts this year. From left to right: Fred Fontaine, Ricardo Bonachy Telemaque, Nekita Lamour, Jean-Claude Sanon and Marc Lucas.Four Haitian-American candidates running for office greeted a largely Haitian-American audience during a unique gathering in Dorchester last month. The forum at Sant Belvi Senior Center was organized by one of the candidates, Jean-Claude Sanon, in order to introduce the candidates, who collectively form the largest field of Haitians running for seats at one time in the state. All of the candidates with Haitian roots who are running this year are first-time candidates. Two — Fred Fontaine and Marc Lucas— are running for at-large seats on the Brockton City Council.

Christmas morning tragedy hits close to home

Mother, son die in freak tree accident in N.J. Christmas morning should be a time for unwrapping presents, preparing for an afternoon meal, and enjoying the company of close family and friends. This year, the peace of those special hours came to a sudden halt when a terrible overnight accident claimed the lives of two beloved members of Boston’s tight-knit Haitian American community.

An Appreciation: Father's faith, focus on education served family well

On February 12, 2009, an extremely amazing man left his family and this world due to complications resulting from a blood clot and subsequent stroke. He was my father, a person whom I loved, respected and cherished dearly. He was a family man, a person who greatly believed in education and most importantly a man of God. Rest in peace dad, I’ll continue to hope, aspire and act in a fashion that can result in me being at least half of the man that you were.

Immigration Q & A: TRAVEL TIPS FROM THOSE IN CHARGE

Q. I’m planning on a vacation trip out of the United States soon. Is there anything in particular that I should keep in mind? A. You didn’t mention your immigration status, which is, of course, a key fact. In any event, as it happens US Customs and Border Protection (CBP – the officials you encounter when entering the US) have just released a list of travel tips because this is spring break season at US colleges. Here is what they said: • Make sure that you have the proper travel documentation, both for the country you are visiting, as well as for your return.

US to play Haiti at Gillette Stadium

The US men's soccer team will play Haiti in a first-round match of the CONCACAF Gold Cup at Gillette Stadium. The July 11 game will start at 7 p.m. and be followed by a match between Honduras and Grenada. The US, Haiti, Honduras and Grenada make up Group B in the 12-team tournament that gets under way on July 3. Gillette Stadium in Foxborough is one of 13 venues for the biennial tournament. The Gold Cup final will be played July 26 at Giants Stadium.

St. Fleur leads colleagues on tour of Haiti

Children running around naked and washing themselves in puddles in dirt roads, outside homes made of aluminum siding and cinderblocks. Those were some of the images that remain stuck in state Rep. Marty Walsh’s mind after his five-day trip to Haiti last month. Walsh joined fellow state Reps. Marie St. Fleur and John Quinn, education officials from UMass-Boston and Westfield State and others on the trip to the Caribbean country. “There’s blocks and miles and miles and miles and miles of poor people,” Walsh said after returning on Sunday. “The poverty was just so unbelievable.”

Boston Haitian Reporter