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Haiti: Understanding the Issues, Challenging the Narratives

Thursday, October 29 — Friday, October 30
Green School International Pavilion (SIPA II, Room 102)
Florida International University, 11200 SW 8 Street, Miami, FL 33199

This Teach-In brings together experts from FIU, Haiti and the Haitian Diaspora to explore the forces shaping Haiti today and their impact on Haitians at home and abroad. Speakers will draw on their research, professional expertise and lived experience to deepen understanding of Haiti's history and contemporary realities.

KG-LACC Teach-In Series | October 29 | 9:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m. 

Register here

The KG-LACC Teach-In Series brings together experts from FIU, Haiti and the Haitian Diaspora to explore the forces shaping Haiti today and their impact on Haitians at home and abroad. Speakers will draw on their research, professional expertise and lived experience to deepen understanding of Haiti's history and contemporary realities.

  • Opening

    9:00 – 9:25 AM — Continental Breakfast

    9:25 – 9:30 AM — Welcome

    José Miguel Cruz, PhD, Director, Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC), Florida International University (FIU)

  • Session I: Enduring Myths of Haiti

    9:30 – 10:45 AM — Session I – Enduring Myths of Haiti

    Moderator

    Nadève Ménard, PhD, École Normale Supérieure, Université d'État d'Haïti, Haiti and Visiting Scholar, LACC, FIU

    Roundtable Members

    Ambassador Jean Casimir, PhD, Professor, Faculté des Sciences Humaines, Université d'État d'Haïti, Haiti

    Sabine Lamour, PhD, President, Solidarité Fanm Ayisyen, Haiti and Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Montreal, Canada

    Kettly Mars, Poet and Novelist

    Claudine Michel, PhD, Editor, Journal of Haitian Studies & Professor Emerita of Black Studies, University of California-Santa Barbara

  • Session II: The History of Haiti & How We Got Here

    11:00 AM – 12:15 PM — Session II – The History of Haiti & How We Got Here

    Moderator

    Chantalle Verna, PhD, Associate Professor, Departments of History and Politics & International Relations and LACC Affiliated Faculty, FIU

    Roundtable Members

    Victor Benoit, Former Minister of Education and Social Affairs and Co-Founder, Collège Jean Price-Mars, Haiti

    Laennec Hurbon, PhD, Director of Research, CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique), France and Founding Member and Professor, Quisqueya University, Haiti

    Felix Jean-Louis, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of History, University of California-Irvine and LACC FLAS Fellowship Alumnus

  • Lunch

    12:15 – 1:30 PM — Lunch (SIPA II Room 103)

    Keynote Speaker

    Commissioner Marleine Bastien, District 2 Commissioner of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners.

  • Session III: Public Policy and the State of Affairs in Haiti and the US

    1:45 – 3:30 PM — Session III – Public Policy and the State of Affairs in Haiti and the US

    Co-moderators

    Ambassador Watson Denis, PhD, Professor, History and International Relations, Faculté des Sciences Humaines, Université d'État d'Haïti, Haiti and Visiting Scholar, LACC, FIU

    Ambassador Frank O. Mora, PhD, Professor, Department of Politics & International Relations and LACC Affiliated Faculty, FIU

    Roundtable Members

    Nixon Boumba, Member, Kolektif Jistis Min nan Ayiti, Haiti

    Guerline Jozef, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Haitian Bridge Alliance, San Diego, CA 

    Djems Olivier, PhD, Professor, Faculté des Sciences Humaines and Faculté d'Ethnologie, Université d'État d'Haïti, Haiti and Journalist, 91.1 CKXL Public Radio, Manitoba, Canada

    Kesner Pharel, Chairman and CEO, Groupe Croissance, Haiti

  • Session IV: Diasporic Testimonies: Miami, Springfield, New York and Tijuana

    3:45 – 5:30 PM — Session IV – Diasporic Testimonies: Miami, Springfield, New York and Tijuana

    Moderator

    Carl Juste, LACC Community Partner

    Roundtable Members

    Viles Dorsainvil, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Haitian Support Center, Springfield, OH

    Bishop Pierre-André Dumas, Bishop, Diocese of Anse-à-Veau-Miragoâne and Vice President of the Haitian Bishops’ Conference, Miami, FL

    Garry Pierre-Pierre, Founder, The Haitian Times, New York, NY

    Vivianne Petit-Frère, Owner, Restaurante Lakou Lakay, Tijuana, Mexico

    Elsie Saint-Louis, Executive Director and CEO, Haitian Americans United for Progress (HAUP), New York, NY

  • Closing

    5:30 – 6:00 PM — Wrap-up, Open Discussion and Call to Action

    Co-moderators

    Chantalle Verna, PhD, Associate Professor, Departments of History and Politics & International Relations and LACC Affiliated Faculty, FIU

    Santra Denis, Executive Director of the Miami Workers Center

    6:00 – 6:45 PM — Reception

    6:45 PM — Adjourn

Emerging Scholars Workshop | October 30 | 12:00 — 2 p.m.

Register here

On day two, take part in our Emerging Scholars Workshop, led by four accomplished scholars from across disciplines whose expertise includes Haiti, the Caribbean, and the African Diaspora. Through engaging conversations, skill-building sessions, mentorship, and breakout activities, participants will learn from diverse career trajectories and develop practical strategies for strengthening their research and sustaining and advancing their work across academic and other professional settings.

  • Workshop Details

    The KG-LACC Emerging Scholars Workshop will be led by four leading scholars with expertise on Haiti, among other areas, from across disciplines. It is designed to support graduate students, recent PhD recipients, and early-career scholars as they navigate the diverse professional pathways available beyond the completion of a graduate degree. The workshop will provide practical guidance on developing sustainable careers, strengthening research and teaching portfolios, publishing and disseminating scholarship, pursuing fellowships and grants, building professional networks, and translating scholarly expertise for audiences beyond the university. Through conversations, skill-building and mentorship breakout activities, participants will have opportunities to reflect on their individual goals, learn from varied career trajectories, and develop strategies for sustaining and advancing their work on Haiti, the Caribbean, and the African Diaspora across academic and other professional contexts.

    Speakers

    Manoucheka Celeste, Associate Professor, Gender and Women's Studies, University of Illinois

    Charlene Desir, Professor, College of Education and School of Criminal Justice, Nova Southeastern University

    Nathalie Frédéric Pierre, Assistant Professor of History, Howard University

    Regine Zamor Jurgensen, Director of Development, Summits Education

Co-sponsored by the African & African Diaspora Studies Program and the Public Humanities Lab.