Past Events

Haiti in Crisis: The Search for a Way Forward (May 30, 2023)
Haiti is experiencing one of the most difficult moments in its troubled history. In the aftermath of the July 2021 assassination of President Moïse, political instability and criminal violence affect all aspects of daily life. Gang activity has all but incapacitated efforts to provide food and medical supplies. Homicides and kidnappings have skyrocketed. Calls for an international rescue effort have not yet been answered. The international community is struggling to find a way to support restoration of the rule of law, provide urgently needed humanitarian assistance, and strengthen the government of Haiti’s capacity to govern. The United Nations’ Integrated Office in Haiti noted last year that “the current situation … demonstrates the extent to which political, security, development and humanitarian dimensions are intertwined and mutually reinforcing…”.

Haitian-American Heritage Month: “All Eyes on Haiti” Virtual Panel Discussion (May 25, 2023)
Haitian-American Heritage Month: “All Eyes on Haiti” Virtual Panel Discussion.

From Statelessness to Global Black Solidarity (May 18, 2023)
In 2013 the Dominican Republic’s Constitutional Tribunal denationalized more than four generations of Black Dominicans of Haitian descent rendering them stateless. This ruling commonly referred to as “La Sentencia” was the result of a series of xenophobic and racist administrative rulings and policies, which throughout the twentieth century sought to systematically marginalize Haitian migrant laborers and strip their Dominican born children of citizenship.
Through a discussion with Ana María Belique and Epifania St. Chals, leaders of the Reconoci.do movement, this talk will explore the impact of La Sentencia on Black Dominicans of Haitian descent, historical linkages between the US, Haiti and the Dominican Republic and draw on Global Black Solidarity as a tool of resistance and liberation.

Lunch & Learn with Local Haitian Civic Leaders (May 10, 2023)
Anseye Pou Ayiti is a grassroots movement of Haitian civic leaders working together to transform the nation’s education system as a lever toward justice and liberation.
We are equipping civic leaders who will transform Haiti’s classrooms and communities into spaces that will be foundational to Haiti’s citizens reclaiming their identity and agency. We believe that education will be the next cultural revolution in our mighty Haiti. We know Haiti’s potential and, for almost ten years, our network of now 450+ civic leaders have been contributing to community transformation.
Our new series of “lunch-n-learn” sessions are meant to help us continue to build meaningful allyship as we expand connections that reinforce and elevate the work of APA’s civic leaders.

Emerging Scholars Café (Apr. 28, 2023)
The Emerging Scholars Committee would like to invite you to our first Emerging Scholars Café of this year on April 28, 2023 at 2:00 pm EDT on Zoom.
We welcome Dr. Kapriskie Seide, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology at Davidson College, on the topic “Disability related to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti” and Pascal Dafinis Ph.D Student, Global Studies, University of Irvine, on the topic “Haitian Migration through Latin America”. We also welcome Dr. Darlene Dubuisson, Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, as a commentator for this panel. Presentations will be in English and French and will be followed by a discussion in all three languages (English, Creole, French). We look forward to your attendance.

Conversation with Jean Abel Pierre (Apr. 19, 2023)
Conversation with Jean Abel Pierre about his book ‘Sociologie critique de la corruption: Comment Haïti est pris au piège de la pauvreté’
Kwazman Vwa is delighted to welcome author Jean Abel Pierre. Pierre will be with us to discuss his recent book, Sociologie critique de la corruption: Comment Haïti est pris au piège de la pauvreté. Corruption is a subject that concerns us all, and somehow, our preoccupation with limiting its effects and abuses never seem to fully eliminate it entirely. In Sociologie Critique de la Corruption, Pierre charts a roadmap for understanding how development, “good governance,” and neoliberalism further instill corruption in our political and economic systems. With a specific focus on Haiti, Pierre shows how corruption is something more than a colonial inheritance, rather, it is part of an economic framework cultivated by domestic and international forces. Our guest will be in conversation with Erika Serrato and Nathan Dize, and the event is kindly sponsored by the Department of French and Italian at Oberlin College.

Information Forum: Helping Newcomers Find Community Support (Apr. 16, 2023)
April 16, 2023 at 5-6:30 ET
CUNY Haitian Studies Institute of Brooklyn College and the Haitian Studies Association invite you to this information forum to discuss ways to help newcomers to find various support in communities around the U.S.

Emerging Scholars Workshop: Writing Successful Abstracts (Mar. 31, 2023)
The Emerging Scholars Committee of the Haitian Studies Association (HSA) invite you to participate in our series of mentorship activities where we will reflect on key topics and issues for emerging scholars.
In March, we will discuss strategies for preparing successful abstracts for conferences or other calls for papers. Scholars from several disciplines will share reflections and tips based on their experiences.
Bring your draft abstracts for HSA’s 35th annual conference Ayiti Se Tè Glise: Im/Migration, Movement & In-Betweenness which are due April 15th, 2023.

Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival (Mar. 3 – 12, 2023)
Miami Film Festival is a world-class platform for International, American, and Ibero-American films. The special 40th edition of the Miami Film Festival occurs from March 3-12, 2023.
The following is a small collection of films screened that may be of interest to our readership. You can see the entire schedule here.
‘The Gravity’ and ‘Me Little Me’ will include a Q&A after the screening.

World Humanity & Economy: Haiti – In Person Film Screening & Panel (Feb. 21, 2023)
This program looks at how the historic challenges of Haiti informs their modern economy. But the program also looks at humanity, spirit and activism in Haiti that keeps them fighting towards social justice and economic equity.

Creating Communities of Welcome: Sponsoring Haitian Newcomers (Jan. 30, 2022)
I am requesting that you please join Haitian Bridge Alliance and Welcome.US, on Monday, January 30th, at 7:00pm ET for a joint webinar, “Creating Communities of Welcome: Sponsoring Haitian Newcomers.”
As a founding member of the Welcome council, I am pleased that HBA is a partner with Welcome.us to make sure on how we can make sure people seeking safety are sponsored through this program. I have been working with our team at HBA and Welcome.us since the announcement of the UforU program in anticipation of the inclusion of Haiti for the Humanitarian Parole Program.

Haitian Studies Wednesday Writing Group, Spring 2023
Writing assignments can be easier to complete when you have a regular schedule and become a part of a supportive community. If you are looking for an hour of distraction-free time to write, read, or plan your scholarly activities, please join the Haitian Studies Wednesday Writing Group. All scholars are welcomed. The spring 2023 writing sessions will be every Wednesday (January 25th -May 3rd, 2023) at 12:00 PM Eastern Time.

An Island in the Chain: Haitian and Dominican Relations in the 21st Century (Jan. 12, 2023)
Traditional analyses of Haitian-Dominican relations accentuate the white supremacist anti-Black discourses and practices in the Dominican Republic that target “Haitian-looking” people. This panel will historicize Dominican state-sanctioned violence against its Black denizens by exposing its political and economic roots and the complicity of the U.S. and Haitian states. And most importantly, the panel will also showcase the resistance of organized groups on both sides of the island and their respective diasporas.

Haiti Independence Day Celebration! (Jan 1, 2023)
Happy Haitian Independence Day! Here is information for a presentation that will be held on Sunday January 1, 2023 from 2-3:30 p.m. (EST) for an on-line event with one of our cherished members, our HSA 2022 President, Dr. Regine O. Jackson, Professor and Dean at Morehouse College. The event will be hosted by former HSA President Dr. Charlene Désir, Professor at Nova Southeastern University and founder of T.E.N. Global. Dr. Malu Modeste from Xavier University (Louisiana) will also be a panelist. We welcome all of you to join us for this special Independence Day event, organized by another HSA member, Natacha Brookshire.