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Editorial

Finding An Agent That’s Right For You

The Haitian Congress to fortify Haiti is a not

for profit 501© 3 organization in existence

since 2005.Its mission is to mobilize Haitians

in the Diaspora as well as our friends,

children and allies to help develop Haiti.

HCFH is governed by a 13-board members

led by its executive committee to implement

the board’s decisions and oversees the

different areas of work. These areas include

Homeland, Civic Engagement, Youth,

Community and Culture. In our last retreat,

we consolidated our committees by merging:

homeland and Civic Engagement;

Fundraising, Community and Culture and

Membership, Youth, Newsletter and

Newsletter. Our goals for this year are:

1611 Simpson St

Evanston Il 60201

To For t i f y Ha i t i

Haitian Congress

to strengthen the organization’s existing

relationships and foster new alliances. We

are aiming to have our feet implanted firm in

Haiti and to continue our advocacy work on

agriculture, the reconstruction process and

immigration.

www.Haitiancongress.org

Newsletter Editor:

Chris Jeanty

Fortify

in this issue >>>

In The Next Issue

Welcome

Annual Gala

The progress of the Reconstruction

Member spotlight

Civic Engagement

Youth Committee

Dual Citizenship, cont’d

Editorial

Member Spotlight

Unity Day

Chicago Haiti Charities

Community and Culture

Youth Committee

Civic Engagement

Soon after HCFH’s inception, Judge

Jean-Baptiste would serve as its first

elected chair of the organization. He

worked tirelessly to make the

organization as a recognized force of

change not only in Chicago, but the US

and Haiti. One of the principle goals set

under his leadership was for Haiti to

recognize dual citizenship amongst its

native born people now living abroad.

The idea at its core is to ensure Haitians

abroad to continually have a genuine and

a continual psychological bound. In 2009,

HCFH achieved success, with the Haitian

legislator amended the Haitian

Constitution of 1987 in favor of dual

citizenship. He also led the

organization’s effort to send to Haiti four

40 foot containers filled of supplies and

essentials to be distributed in Haiti after

the devastating earthquakes of January

12, 2010.

Judge Jean-Baptiste continues with us

helping the Haitian Congress to Fortify

Haiti thrive as a member and we thank

him for it.

By Joël Augustin

Welcome to the first Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti newsletter. Our Mission is ”to

mobilize ourselves as Haitians in the Diaspora as well as our children, friends and allies of

Haiti to make a positive contribution towards the creation of a stable, peaceful, prosperous

Haiti”.

Providing quarterly updates on all of the events, activities and pressing discussion

topics of the premier Haitian cultural group servicing the Chicago-land area

Haitian

An organization is only as strong as its

members. This rings true for the Haitian

Congress to Fortify Haiti. The HCFH

continues to thrive because of the

commitment, sacrifices, passion of its

members. This has been the case from

the beginning for the HCFH. The HCFH

traces its roots to the devastation of

Gonaives by hurricane Jeanne in 2004.

The Haitian community of Chicago

came together and rose funds and

supplies for the families of the victims.

It was during this time came to the

realization that the community needed

to be more proactive and had to have a

more comprehensive approach toward

Haiti.

A group of the most determined activists

who were leading the relief efforts made

the call for a meeting in order to build

an organization that is apolitical,

inclusive, and respectful of each other’s

opinions. The Haitian Congress to

Fortify Haiti was born.

The effort was well coordinated. They

met for a year of monthly meeting,

devising the organization’s strategic

plan, its by-laws and participants. This

was to ensure an organization that

would be built to last.

We want to just take a moment and

thank everyone who has been involved

with the organization up to now. We do

not name anyone specifically only

because we desire not to exclude anyone

and cause offense. From those founding

members, to those who joined

afterwards and to those who have

donated and participated during the

organization’s and Haiti’s most trying

times. We thank you.

We hope in the future that everyone

continues to provide how they can in

whatever capacity they can expend.

Joel Augustin

Chairman

to Contact us at 847-475-5856

A Semi-Annual Status Update

coming soon >>>

Haiti Member Spotlight >>> Lionel Jean Baptiste

Starting this issue, we will discuss a

member of the Haitian Congress to Fortify

Haiti (HCFH), both to highlight their work

and effort within the organization, but also

to share their efforts to all. We must

appreciate this talent that has fortunately

abounded within the HCFH. In this issue,

we will do the profile of Judge Lionel Jean-

Baptiste, one of the founding members of

the HCFH.

Judge Jean-Baptiste has a long history

within the Chicago and Evanston area. He

grew up in the Chicago area, and graduated

of Evanston Township High School where

he was also Student Council President. He

then graduated from Princeton University

and returned to Chicago to attend Chicago-

Kent College of Law. He practiced law in

Evanston, with an emphasis on helping

many Haitians with immigration issues. He

later became an Alderman of the City of

Evanston, and served in that capacity for 10

years. All the while organizing and

remaining active towards the cause of

assisting Haiti itself.

Joël Augustin

Chairman

Congress...

Unity Day and Independence Day

The Homeland and Civic Engagement

Committee initiated in February its collaboration

with leadership in Haitian civil society to

encourage the publication of the amendments to

the country’s 1987 constitution. The publication

would grant, amongst other things, the right to

multi-nationality for all Haitians and their

children. Recall that in May 2011 Haiti’s 49th

Legislature voted in favor of a number of

constitutional amendments that have yet to be

adopted following an error-ridden publication of

the vote in the official gazette of the republic, Le

Moniteur. A campaign advocating for dual

citizenship has been the Congress' flagship issue

since 2005 and progress through by Committee’s

leadership. Our current collaboration seeks to

articulate solidarity for the publication of the

amendments amongst Haitian civil society groups

both in Haiti and abroad. We have written an

open letter to the President of the Republic,

Michel Joseph Martelly, and have had it sent

directly to him urging him to publish the

corrected version of the amendments, Our next

step is to have it published in national media

sources in the near future.. Our current

collaboration seeks to articulate solidarity for

Youth Committee >>>

Upcoming Events >>>

Youth Initiatives

Attend and Participate

Chez Violette Restaurant

Chicago’s Finest Haitian Cuisine

By Jason Coupet

Chair - Youth Committee

The Haitian Congress Youth Committee is working closely with the Civic

Engagement committee to provide advocacy and gather input on policy issues

from the many Haitians on the South Side of Chicago, with a particular eye toward

building coalition with youth committees and organizations serving immigrants

and other allies. We are hosting a roundtable discussion based around civic

engagement and socio-cultural events affecting Haitian communities. We’ve been

Everyday lunch and dinner, Dine-in, Take

outs, Deliveries, Catering and party room.

2311 West Howard Street

Chicago Il 60645

773961-7275

The Haitian Congress celebrated the Black

History month on 1611 Simpson, in

Evanston. A panel focused on the

Intersection of Haiti's Black History and the

rest of the world. The history of African-

Americans and the African Diaspora are

given close attention during Black History

Month. Haiti has a special place in history

because Haiti is the world’s first black

republic. African-Americans could have

easily ended up in Haiti instead of the United

States; it all depended on where the slave

ship stopped. In addition, there is another

connection in that we naturally identify with

the Haitians because we are a part of the

African Diaspora. Without a doubt, Haiti was

treated differently because they were a black

nation. America refused to trade with the

new black republic simply because they were

black. America occupied Haiti from 1915

until 1934. Then America supported a series

of dictators until 1990. African Americans

share that legacy of struggle with the

Haitians. It is understood. There is a shared

sense of pride also have a sense of pride in

that Haitians seized their own destiny by

fighting for their freedom. It should not be

forgotten of the slave rebellions that took

place in the South. There was always

resistance. It was these slave rebellions and

the Civil War prompted Abraham Lincoln to

free the slaves. Slaves played a big role in

freeing themselves. Again, Haiti is an

important part of African-American History.

Keep Haiti in your prayers.

Haitians in Chicagoland coming together for a cause.

Annually, the HCFH holds a collaborative

event amongst all the Haitian groups within the

Chicago/Evanston to celebrate Haiti’s

independence. Since the Earthquake, the event

has had extra significance, not only to get

together with other civically minded and

engaged Haitians, but it has also served as a

remembrance and ceremonial event. This

event, called Unity Day Celebration, drew a

large crowd and was well attended, due in part

to the extra effort was made to involve the local

organizations in the planning process Speakers

included Consul Leslie Conde, Judge

Lionel Jean-Baptiste and Monique Germain as

key note. Both Conde and Jean Baptiste spoke

of the desire of continued renewal towards the

commitment of everyone in attendance to Haiti.

Ms. Germain from MAHAW words on the

topic were the most inspiring

As usual squash soup was served.

Haitian Independence History:

Liberty or Death! was the slogan

chosen and inscribed by Dessalines on

the native flag when he tore the white

from the French tricolor. In thus

adopting a new rallying sign for his

army he notified the French enemy of

the resolution he and his lieutenants had

irrevocably taken to proclaim Saint-

Domingue’s independence after the

victory. It would have been absurd for

them to resist and emerge victorious in

order to remain under the domination of

France. The metropolis had too far

abused its power by acting against the

rights acquired by the black race, and

which it had recognized, not to provoke

that separation, which had become

indispensable for the maintenance and

preservation of those rights.

What is more, the conquest, the

fortunate fruit of a just war, had

resolved the problem posed since 1789

between the oppressed and the

oppressors. It was every bit as

legitimate for the men of the black race

to rise up as it had been for the English

colonies of North America, who had

risen in revolt against their metropolis’

oppression for causes far less important

in the eyes of humanity.

And who had more of a right to the

noble mission of proclaiming the so

bravely obtained independence than the

chiefs of the army who had spilled their

blood on the battlefield while leading

their brothers’ efforts? They were the

natural representatives of the

sovereignty of the nation that was to be

established in the middle of the

Caribbean. It was up to them alone to

manifest its will in these circumstances.

building bridges with allies on several

fronts, including a promising

partnership with Juan Diego Centro

Comunitario on 8812 S. Commercial

Avenue in Chicago. Collective efforts

have included immigration, translation

services, and agricultural development.

We are very excited to be hosting a

documentary viewing! We are

partnering with Juan Diego Centro

Comunitario to screen “Speaking

Freely”, a documentary discussing the

role of the International Monetary Fund

in events in the developing world. The

screening will take place on the eastside

of Chicago, and will include Pot Luck

treats, as well as a panel of economists

and historians to facilitate discussion at

the community level. Look for regular

updates on Radio Vwa Lackay, 88.5

FM in the city, Saturdays at 4:30pm.

Civic Engagement and Homeland the publication of the amendments amongst

Haitian civil society groups both in Haiti and

abroad. Locally, the Committee has also been

building a partnership with our Hispanic allies

on Chicago’s south side at the Centro

Communitario Juan Diego where a food pantry

serves local residents including Haitians.

A documentary screening of “Speaking Freely”

has been scheduled at the center to occur in the

coming months. The documentary by former

international NGO consultant John Perkins

takes aim at himself, confessing his role in

helping organizations such as World Bank and

the IMF drive poor nations into crippling debt

while enriching U.S. corporations. Follow up

discussions will be led by Economist Ludovic

Comeau (DePaul University) & Professor

Leslie Balan-Gaubert (University of Chicago).

The Haitian Congress and Lott-Carey Baptist

Coalition will host the second Summit On

Advocacy For Haiti in Washington D.C.,

March 29-31. This Summit will bring together

African-American and Haitian/Haitian-

American leaders and advocates to advance a

coherent and compelling advocacy agenda

to the United States Government and the

International Community. The Committee also

continues to develop its partnership with Haiti

Operasyon Men Nan Men (Hand in Hand) to

build and provide green homes to Haitians

who have lost their homes.

Alexandre Viard

Chairman, Homeland & Civic Engagement

Committee

Here in Chicago, many local

organizations are seeking volunteers and

donations as they escalate their aid efforts

for Haitians. These are just a few of the

groups who are going above and beyond

their normal charitable efforts, and who

need whatever help you can give.

[The American Red Cross of Greater

Chicago] The local branch of the Red

Cross has committed "significant financial

support" to the relief effort in Haiti, and

says the best way for Chicagoans to help

is to make a donation.

[Soul Vegetarian Restaurant] Chicago, IL.

On the South Side, the Soul Vegetarian

restaurant has seen an outpouring of

community support since the disaster. The

eatery, located at 205 E. 75th St. has been

accepting donations since news of the

disaster hit home. The restaurant is

working with another organization with

airplane access to send the goods to Haiti.

They are accepting cash, checks, food,

clothing and any other items that can be

used.

[Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach],

Springfield, IL. HSMO is using its

longstanding relationships with other

charities to help aid arrive promptly in

Haiti. Volunteers in the Springfield area

can work directly with the organization,

or can donate at their website.

Chicago Haiti Charities

June

o Family Night – 15th

o General Meeting - 30th

July

o 4th

of July

o Retreat

Issue

Two

Black History Month & Haiti