2018 LEADERSHIP RETREAT "United We Stand" JANUARY, 26-28 NORTH MIAMI, FL CITY HALL 776 NE 125 STREET NORTH MIAMI, FL 33161 (305) 893 - 6511 WWW.NORTHMIAMIFL.GOV nhaeon | leadership retreat 2018 WELCOME FROM NORTH MIAMI MAYOR Dr. Smith Joseph, D.O. Pharm D. Mayor Dear Friends, It is with great pleasure that I welcome the members of the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network (NHAEON) to the city of North Miami. On behalf of the more than 61,000 residents, I am thrilled you are visiting our great City. As we gather for the NHAEON Leadership Retreat, I commend each of you for your hard work, and dedication. As a City with a large Haitian-Americans population, the initiatives discussed and approved "May we continue to by NHAEON Leadership Retreat, will advance the livelihood of communities like North Miami. May we introduce and pass continue to introduce and pass policies that policies that progress the Haitian communities within the United States. progress the Haitian communities within I wish all attendees a great experience within the city of North Miami. the United States." 1 Welcome nhaeon | leadership retreat 2018 WELCOME FROM 2018 CHAIRMAN Alix Desulme Councilman, District 4 On behalf of the organizing committee, it is our pleasure to welcome you to this year’s retreat. We are delighted that you will be joining us in our beautiful City of North Miami, the most diverse city in the State of Florida. The City of North Miami is also the city that most Haitians and Haitian-Americans called home in the country. The National Haitian American Elected Officials Network (NHAEON) "We want to encourage was founded in 2009 to bring Appointed and Elected officials of Haitian thoughtful Decent together for a common cause. We do not participate in political activities nor do we support candidates. Our sole mission is to improve conversations, lively relationships between the United States and Haiti. workshops, and Our Retreat is designed with you in mind, we will have a chance to discussions, and, most gather and discuss issues affecting our communities which we serve and Haiti. The motto for Haiti is "L ‘union fait la force" and “United we importantly, the full Stand” makes up our theme for this year’s Retreat. The significance of engagement of our us coming together for a common cause show our unity and displays the real meaning of we are stronger together. member-colleagues in If you have any logistical questions, please don’t hesitate to contact any both content and member of the committee. We have worked for several months to put process. Please together an exciting and focused agenda bringing together visionaries and leaders such as yourself together for the betterment of the Republic remember to also have of Haiti, its people and our constituents here in the US that we serve. We fun and enjoy our hope you will have an interesting, exciting few days in the Sunshine State. beautiful city". Finally, I extend a warm welcome to all our colleagues, special guests, community members’, and visitors to North Miami. Sincerely, Office of the Mayor and Council 776 NE 125 Street I North Miami I Florida I 33161 Office: 305.895.9815 | Fax: 305.892.9899 E-mail: [email protected] | Web: www.northmiamifl.gov Alix Desulme, 2018 NHAEON Retreat Chair Councilman, District 4 Welcome 2 nhaeon | leadership retreat 2018 Larry M. Spring City Manager On behalf of the city of North Miami, please allow me to extend a warm welcome to the entire National Haitian-American Elected Officials Network (NHAEON). NHAEON is a priority of the City and we understand the importance of having the Haitian community represented in every level of government on key legislative, diplomatic, security, economic and human right issues. We look forward to the continued growth of NHAEON as well as continuing a great partnership. We welcome the future opportunities to work with "We welcome the future NHAEON to both enhance the quality of life for our opportunities to work residents and work on exciting projects that will with NHAEON to both change the face of our community. enhance the quality of We would like to thank you for allowing us to life for our residents and participate and partner in your 2018 Leadership work on exciting Retreat. May the Welcome Reception as well as the projects that will change Leadership Award Dinner be a success. the face of our community." 3 Welcome nhaeon | leadership retreat 2018 Congratulations, I am happy to extend my warmest congratulations on your installation as a leader of National Haitian American Elected Officials Network (NHAEON). As you know NHAEON has long been a priority of mine. As the first Haitian American elected to the Florida Senate, I understand the importance of having our community represented in every level of government. This term it is my hope that NHAEON will continue its commitment to bring a renewed national and local focus on key legislative, diplomatic, security, "This term it is my economic and human right issues facing Haiti and the hope that NHAEON world. will continue its I am confident that NHAEON's new officers will commitment to represent this organization well and I am happy to bring a help advance the mission of NHAEON however I can. renewed national and local focus on Again Congratulations and I wish you much success key legislative, in your current terms! diplomatic, Warmly, security, economic and human right issues facing Haiti Daphne Campbell and the world." State Senator District 38 Welcome 4 nhaeon | leadership retreat 2018 Greetings, It is my absolute pleasure to welcome you to Miami-Dade County for the 2018 National Haitian American Elected Officials Network (NHAEON) Retreat. If you are a visitor to Miami-Dade County, know that you are at the gateway for the Caribbean and Latin America. If you are a resident of Miami-Dade County, rest assured that I will continue to work on your behalf to improve your quality of life. It is a true honor to be the host venue for this year’s NHAEON Retreat and I look forward to showcasing the beauty and hospitality that make Miami-Dade County one of the leading destinations in travel and tourism. I wish to thank "I wish to thank NHAEON for NHAEON for the leadership, vision and foresight to the leadership, vision and unite so that we can strengthen relations between the United States and Haiti. I would also like to foresight to unite so that we give a congratulatory mention to all of our elected can strengthen relations officials for your achievements thus far. between the United States On behalf of the Mayor, the Board of County and Haiti. I would also like to Commissioners, and the 2.7 million residents of Miami-Dade County, I welcome you, I thank you, give a congratulatory and I commend you for being part of the mention to all of our elected conversation. officials for your Respectfully yours, achievements thus far". Jean Monestime Commissioner Miami-Dade County, District 2 5 Welcome nhaeon | leadership retreat 2018 Dear Colleagues, Congratulations on the 2018 National Leadership Retreat of the National Haitian Elected Officials Network (NHAEON). Thank you for honoring me with the Lifetime Achievement Award. As the seminal convener of NHAEON, I deeply regret that prior commitments prevent me from joining you this weekend. I am proud to share the genesis of NHAEON with many colleagues who were part of the inaugural meeting in Washington D.C. on October 29-30, 2009. Elected to the Massachusetts House of Representative in June 1999, it was wonderful to be celebrated as the first Haitian American Elected to State Office. I am proud of Senator Linda Dorcena Forry, the first Haitian American Senator in Massachusetts. The responsibility for being the first however, did not fully reveal itself until my visit to Haiti in 2007. I fell in love with Haiti. "This weekend’s Leadership Retreat Between 2008 and my departure from elected office in June 2010, I introduced over 50 friends and colleagues in government to Haiti, is a testament of our creating new ambassadors. Shortly after returning with my resolve to stand colleagues from a trip to northern Haiti in March 2008, a series of together for Haiti hurricanes decimated the city of Gonaives that September killing regardless of our many, wiping out bridges, roads, and livelihoods. The Massachusetts Friends of Haiti coalition was launched demanding that foreign aid differences, party be used strategically to help rebuild Haiti. affiliations or politics. It is without doubt - The idea for NHAEON sprouted in many conversations with Alix Cantave, former Associate Director of the Trotter Institute at Haitian American University of Massachusetts, Boston and Alix Desulme former City elected officials Clerk, North Miami during that organizing effort. Part of the strategy for present, past and The Massachusetts Friends of Haiti coalition was outreach to congressional delegations in states with the largest Haitian future, love Haiti! " populations. Although we had the full support of colleagues who were Friends of Haiti, it was clear then that a united effort by St. Fleur, NHAEON, January 26, 2018 Haitian elected officials reaching out to our Federal colleagues was unprecedented and very impactful. Thus, the idea for NHAEON took root. Welcome 6 nhaeon | leadership retreat 2018 Continued... In the spring of 2009 a small planning committee was formed. As the Coordinator of Outreach Alix Desulme, helped identify Haitian American elected officials in key states, and was assisted by Judge Lionel Jean-Baptiste formerly an Alderman in Evanston IL. Over a period of six months we reached out personally to colleagues to gauge interest.