HAITI OPEN Fall 2022

Attorney KERTCH J. CONZE SHARES HIS JOURNEY

INTO POLITICS

By Martine St. Hilaire + Photos by Mackinley “Spex” Madhere

Kertch

J. Conze, Esq. is the founder of the Law Offices of Kertch Conze, P.A. He achieved a bachelor’s degree in French Literature with a Minor in Criminal Justice from Florida Atlantic University in 1994. He also holds a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad Law Center, which he earned in 1999.

Mr. Conze is licensed to practice law in the state of Florida and for the Federal Court for the Southern and Middle District of Florida. During his distinguished legal career, he has worked in both the private and public sectors. He began his career as an Assistant State Attorney, prosecuting misdemeanor cases ranging from trespassing to D.U.I. charges. He also prosecuted felony cases ranging from possession of illegal substances, grand theft and burglary, to kidnapping, rape, attempted murder, and murder. During his tenure at the State Attorney’s Office, Mr. Conze tried over forty-five bench trials and over 25 jury trials.

Mr. Conze left the State Attorney’s Office in 2003 to join the Office of the General Counsel in Coral Gables, Florida, working in insurance defense. While working as an InHouse Counsel in Coral Gables, he tried over twenty civil jury trials. Since leaving the State Attorney’s

Office, he has tried hundreds of civil cases.

In his practice, Mr. Conze represents property owners, medical providers, and individual clients. He concentrates in criminal law, real estate, personal injury, and family law.

While Mr. Conze is known as a general civil and criminal litigator, he takes a special interest in advocating on behalf of the Haitian migrant workers found in the sugarcane plantations in the Dominican Republic. He is a founding member of the Haitian American Professionals Coalition (HAPC). In 2006, he became a Board Member for HAPC and advocated in Washington, D.C. before the General Commission for the Organization of American States (OAS) for better living and working conditions for Haitians in the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic.

In 2009, Mr. Conze was honored by Success South Florida Magazine as one of South Florida’s “40 Under 40 Leaders of Today and Tomorrow”. In 2015, he presented the plight of Dominicans of Haitian descent in the Dominican Republic at the Congressional Black Caucus Conference. Later, in 2021, he was present to give legal advice to the Haitian migrants found under the bridge in El Paso, Texas. In 2022, Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam presented him with the Haitian Heritage Award.

Mr. Conze was the president of the Haitian Lawyers Association (HLA) and also served on the Executive Board for HLA from 2002 until 2006. He was the host of the wellrespected “Chronique Judiciaire”, which is broadcast daily on Radio Mega 1700 AM.

Attorney Conze comes from a middle-class Haitian family.

Unfortunately, he lost his father about three years ago. He cherishes his mother, who is still alive. He is married to Daphnee Gonzales Conze, also an attorney, and is the proud father of four girls: Kashia, Kelsey, Noel, and Chloe.

Attorney Conze has decided to embark on a political journey to become Commissioner of Miramar, Florida. He typically asks many of his friends to run for office, knowing it is a huge sacrifice for anyone to undertake. This time, he decided it was his time to run. “I can do a better job than the sitting commissioner,” Mr. Conze said. When he told his wife about his decision, to his surprise, she was very supportive. He couldn’t ask for anything better from his wife. He is truly grateful for all the support he receives.

The way Mr. Conze plans to represent the interests of his constituents is to emphasize affordable housing in Miramar. “It’s not acceptable that a person who works in Miramar cannot afford to live in Miramar,” he says. He wants the Commissioner of Miramar to be more accountable to the people. He will also strive to realize his mantra “One Miramar,” meaning there will be no division between East and West Miramar.

If elected, Mr. Conze’s top priorities for Miramar residents are affordable housing for residents, economic empowerment, and fostering more trust in Miramar commissioners.

What makes Mr. Conze a fine candidate for this position is that he approaches issues and concerns differently. Thankfully, he’s not a closed-minded person, as he feels some are in the commission. His 22 years of legal experience allows him to understand the city and its charter better than his counterparts.

In his spare time, Mr. Conze enjoys taking his twins horseback riding every Saturday. He’s also a big basketball and football fan. He recently became a Formula One fan as well.

Attorney Conze has decided to embark on a political journey to become Commissioner of Miramar, Florida. “I can do a better job than the sitting commissioner,” “It’s not acceptable that a person who works in Miramar cannot afford to live in Miramar,” said Mr. Conze.

Conze & wife

Daphne Gonzalez-Conze

Photo by JAZZYsFotografi JAZZYsFotografi

Dolsaint Rodhero

rhodero

Photo by Jameson Thermitus JamesonThermitus

Nancy Phanord sexy_nanoue

Photo by JAZZYsFotografi JAZZYsFotografi

Photo by Romero Giovanni Jadotte MUA simisola_mua Designer simivisuals

SHOP HAITIAN | 24

Debbie Toussaint - Karabela Glam Srane E. Dessables - Saveurs Lakay Jhonson Napoleon - Kola Choucoune Cher Archange - Hair Care Beauty Chiline Pierre - Blue Kollection Kassandra Ceneas - Sommelier Beatrice Cazeau - Koze Legal

Magda Guillaume - Yoto & Claire Cricilia Ladouceur - Chris Food Johane Herard - The Glory Candle

Dr. Juliette Nelson - Nurilens Loyola Philogene - Paradi's Kremas Cynthia Lestrade - Delightful Vibes

Roosevelt Remfort - MNR Beauty Forever Carla, Cassandra, Phanyola - Chicmoiselle

ADVERTORIALS |

Samiantha Desravines Jean Marc Sorel

Andre Guy Farreau

Dr. Alande Brezault Dr. Claude Innocent

Dr. Lumana Joseph Dr. Jim Francois Yveta Brise Jacky Catule Dr. Romane Joseph

BEAUTY

Abigail Pierre-Louis -

Mideline Phelizor - Miss Universe

EVENT PHOTOS

Dîner

HACCOF

2022 WEDDINGS

Edeline

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JEAN ALFRED DELVA Editor-in-Chief Delva@HaitiOpen.com

Cover

MIDELINE PHELIZOR Miss Universe Haiti 2022

Cover Photographer Leonardo Alfonso Montero leoalfonsom

Graphic Designers

AL MOMEN Mendes Chevalier mendes_1812

Proofreaders ALEC ROSS SARA BIGLEY

Layout

MOHAMMAD "MA" ALAUDIN

Photographers: MACKINLEY 'SPEX' MADHERE JAMESON THERMITUS JAZZYSFOTOGRAFI LEONARDO ALFONSO MONTERO RICARDO SAINT-CYR

Writers: MARTINE ST. HILAIRE ALEX POPA THALIE MPOUHO DR. ROMANE JOSEPH DR. JIM FRANCOIS

Haiti Representative: PETERSON AGERNORD, PORT-AU-PRINCE +509-3488-2714

DEBBIE TOUSSAINT THE QUEEN OF KARABELA FASHION

By Martine St. Hilaire

Haitian culture through fashion.

Debbie has seen many Haitian women wearing other cultural styles, such as African ankaras, Indian saris, Japanese kimonos, etc. However, she hasn’t seen enough Haitian women wearing traditional Haitian Karabela clothing. Karabela fashion is diverse in styles, making

WHY DEBBIE TOUSSAINT SELLS KARABELA DRESSES

WHO IS DEBBIE TOUSSAINT?

Debbie Toussaint sells traditional Haitian garments, commonly known as Karabela. This type of attire is traditionally hand-sewn and hand-painted by Haitian artisans from various parts of Haiti. The main reason Debbie sells Karabela dresses is to promote

it equally as beautiful and great in quality. To increase awareness, Debbie started her company Karabela Glamour LLC, better known as Karabela Glam.

The Karabela Glam website (karabelaglam.com) was launched on September 2019. It’s an online boutique that sells custom Karabela garments. Most of Debbie’s inventory is “ready-to-ship” meaning if you place an order by 2PM, EST, it will ship the same day. This helps eliminate the hassle of searching for a seamstress to make a dress. The site allows customers to easily find any piece at an affordable price without compromising quality.

Unfortunately, an influx of imported used clothes from the U.S. took over and destroyed the thriving garment industry Haiti once had. To do her part in restoring the crisis, Debbie engages with various Haitian organizations, both in the U.S. and in Haiti. Her business welcomes patrons from all over the world year round. “You can’t miss our tent during a Caribbean/Haitian Festival,” Debbie proudly stated. She plans to network with as many business owners, in the Haitian community, as possible. Debbie supports Haiti’s economy by sourcing her inventory and employees from Haiti.

Debbie takes pride in personally hiring her staff. As she expected, the manufacturing location in Haiti has gradually expanded since inception. Despite ongoing issues and political unrest, her team in Haiti has yet to fail to deliver orders on time. “My team is a group of amazing people who go above and beyond to ensure we keep the business going so that they may continue to have a source of income due to the constant challenges Haiti faces,” says Debbie.

There are endless admirable reasons to support Karabela Glam. For starters, you can endorse Haitian culture through

Every Karabela Glam piece is handmade and of great quality.

Debbie Toussaint

As a special discount, exclusively for our readers, use coupon code “HAITIOPEN” to get free shipping on domestic orders from www. karabelaglam.com.

fashion. This means you can use this opportunity to educate your children, other family members, friends and colleagues alike about traditional Karabela attire and its rich history. The next worthy reason to support Karabela Glam is one word, “handmade.” According to Debbie, “hand-designed is the new form of luxury.” Every Karabela Glam piece is handmade and of great quality. Customer reviews received have reassured Debbie and her staff to continue to never compromise on quality and craftsmanship of a traditional Karabela ensemble.

Another great reason is product diversity. Karabela Glam doesn’t just design dresses, there’s a line of painted dusters, maxi skirts and men’s shirts, too. Any Karabela Glam piece will make a great conversation starter. It’s often because people observe and want to compliment your style. The most important reason to shop at Karabela Glam is that you’ll be supporting various

Haitian artisans who are paid for their incredible work.

Debbie’s team of leaders have accomplished hiring talented young artists (often young men) to custom paint the fabrics. This opportunity allows misguided young men to stay off the streets and away from gang activity. Refreshingly, the young artists take great pride in what they’re doing and are always happy to receive feedback on how they can further develop their talents.

THE IMPACT DEBBIE TOUSSAINT WANTS TO MAKE

Debbie’s ultimate goal is to have more people wearing Karabela fashion. She envisions her impact mission crossing over to the realms of streetwear and couture.

Debbie will continue to have a positive effect in Haiti by employing more staff members and extending

KARABELA

living assistance to Haitian employees in need. In the U.S., she will build a narrative that will spread awareness of the Karabela culture.

Through technology, Debbie is able to conduct video conferences and group chats to ensure she keeps an open line of communication with her team. She also supports the Haitian economy by purchasing the fabric and sewing materials direct from Haitian businesses.

Karabela Glam’s demographic is mostly women. It extends to performers who are often high school or college students. Parents who order for their children’s cultural events in school or church enjoy the line, too. Debbie’s repeat customers come back to purchase more because of the compliments they receive and to place orders as gifts for friends and loved ones.

CONTACTS: karabelaglam.com karabelaglam

We sell these products to connect Haitians in the diaspora with quality products from back home, says Srane.

Meet the Queen of Kremas SRANE E. DESSABLES Owner of Saveurs Lakay

By Martine St. Hilaire

WHO IS SRANE E. DESSABLES?

Srane

E. Dessables is the proud business owner of her own version of Kremas, a sweet and creamy alcoholic beverage popular in Haiti. Made from creamed coconut, rum, cinnamon, lemon, sweetened condensed milk, and secret ingredients, Kremas (or Crémas) is a traditional holiday drink.

Srane’s small business is called Saveurs Lakay. Based in South Florida, it’s served thousands of customers. Srane is proud to bring her product to everyone, especially the Haitian diaspora, who enjoy the sweet and exotic taste of the beverage that reminds them of their native country.

The origin of the Saveurs Lakay phenomenon was nothing more than a feeling of homesickness. It wasn’t a grand dream that eventually came

to fruition, but a simple moment of remembrance for Srane’s country, Haiti. Saveurs Lakay was established in 2019 and relaunched in 2020.

Balancing family life, education, and entrepreneurship hasn’t slowed Srane’s momentum because her mission is clear: she believes no migrant should lose or forget their culture after leaving their motherland. Her Haitian-owned business is a powerful reminder of that.

WHY CHOOSE SAVEURS LAKAY OVER OTHER BRANDS?

Srane’s main goal is to promote Haitian culture worldwide, which is one reason why Saveurs Lakay typically sources its products directly from farmers in Haiti. Buying this way supports hundreds of families in need. Saveurs Lakay sells liqueurs including the following:

• Kremas (Original, Kafé, Ginger, Chokola, and Passion Fruit)

• Kafe Peyi (imported from Haiti)

• Chokola Peyi (imported from Haiti)

• Haitian Manba

• Noyau

Natural

Srane E. Dessables

“We sell these products to connect Haitians in the diaspora with quality products from back home,” says Srane. She wants to be the central hub for high-quality Haitian products. Her goal is to scale to a larger audience

Saveurs Lakay has over 3000 customers, and over 6000 people have tasted free samples. Srane’s goal for the next two to three years is to scale her business up to at least 20,000 clients.

of at least 100,000 consumers and encourage them to think about Saveurs Lakay each time they think of purchasing a Haitian liqueur. She also wants to partner with other sellers in the market to collaborate in advertising.

Saveurs Lakay’s popularity isn’t only due to its delicious flavor and sweet aroma. Its flagship product, Kremas, is creamy, sweet, and scrumptious. The woman behind the formula and distribution of the beverage also deserves a round of applause for her leadership in building her company and spreading love on a global level for her home country.

Srane devised a superior customer relationship management system that relies on customer feedback to improve her company’s services. The formula for her products remains the same, but her customer service has steadily improved over the years. Srane is determined to innovate Saveurs Lakay as much as possible and obtain international recognition for the quality of its products.

WHAT IMPACT HAS SAVEURS LAKAY KREMAS MADE?

Saveurs Lakay is becoming a standard among other Kremas beverages. Srane may have stumbled from failure to failure to find the perfect formula for her products, but her hard work has paid off. Now, anyone can order Saveurs Lakay by visiting www.freekremas.com or www.saveurslakay.com.

Srane allows consumers to request two free samples of her products. They can be shipped anywhere in the U.S. as a gift directly from her, the owner. A nice touch!

freekremas.com, saveurslakay.com saveurslakay

JHONSON NAPOLEON

He established a new website, www. choucounekola.com, for the company in mid-2021.

WHY RE-LAUNCH KOLA CHOUCOUNE?

By Martine St. Hilaire

WHO IS JHONSON NAPOLEON?

Anentrepreneur is the only thing Jhonson Napoleon knows how to be. Before becoming one, he had only worked

that same period, other young men started to purchase their own bicycles in the village, and he realized there was a problem: when their bikes had issues, there was no one in the area

There are two other Caribbean-based soft drink brands known in the Haitian community. One is Cola Couronne, the oldest manufactured soft drink in Haiti. The other is Cola Lacaye, now owned by a Cuban firm. All three are B2B (business-to-business) companies, meaning they sell to other businesses that resell their products. Jhonson’s approach is different; he not only built a distribution network in Miami but also in Chile, Brazil, and Canada.

After he researched the competition, Jhonson realized the Haitian community in the diaspora is getting old; however, they still love their Caribbean soda even though the current offering does not suit

one job—as a security guard for a Florida department store in 1994.

How he became an entrepreneur is probably more important than the businessman he is today. It started in 1986, at the age of 12, when his aunt sent him a bicycle. He did not know how to assemble it, and he did not speak English, so he hired a bicycle repairman in the area to do the job. The next day, he took the bicycle with him to his hometown. That is when he realized the bike was not properly assembled.

Realizing the only choice he had was to assemble the bike himself, he did. This time, it worked properly. During

to fix them, so he used the knowledge gained while assembling his bike to launch the first bike repair shop in the village. As Jhonson put it, he discovered entrepreneurship then— the ability to solve a problem and charge a fee for the solution. He made $75 to start, but most importantly, he discovered the joy of using his mind to make his own money.

Fast-forward to the present day: Jhonson is now the CEO of Azure Group, a company that invests in education, media, and the production of Kola Choucoune, the all-natural soft drink company he relaunched in April 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

their new health reality. Additionally, he noticed that the current healthy eating craze has also reached the young Haitians in the diaspora…in his words, something was missing, and that’s how he discovered a niche for Kola Choucoune. Together with his team, he developed Kola Choucoune: 100% natural flavor, non-GMO, 40 calories per serving, low sugar of only 10 grams, and no high-fructose corn syrup with the same refreshing Caribbean taste. In this way, Choucoune is a solid alternative for consumers who suffer from high blood pressure or high blood sugar.

CEO of Kola Choucoune, Relaunches the All-Natural, Non-GMO Soft Drink Company

Jhonson wants to show the Haitian diaspora a different way of being part of the business world… [as] We rarely see Haitians involved in manufacturing and distribution, and that’s where the money is.

Jhonson Napoleon

“A portion of the Haitian community is growing older, especially the ‘boat people’ generation,” says Jhonson. Caring for the well-being of this demographic mattered. Many of them grew up drinking Haitian soft drinks. For nostalgic reasons, these same people, along with future generations, still want to drink their favorite beverages and not feel guilty. Jhonson had the risky chemicals removed from his formulas, which led to the launch of Kola Choucoune’s plantbased, non-GMO formula containing delicious, all-natural flavors.

THE IMPACT JHONSON NAPOLEON WILL MAKE

Jhonson wants to show the Haitian diaspora a different way of being part of the business world. He says that when we come to this country, we tend to become involved in the services industry: we work in hotels or restaurants, and when we decide to open a business, we open real estate offices, rarely exploring real estate development. We go to school and earn a mortgage or insurance broker’s license, but rarely do we start our own mortgage lending company or insurance company. We rarely see Haitians involved in manufacturing and distribution, and that’s where the money is.

My goal in being very public with Choucoune and his process

of manufacturing and distributing a product is to tell my young, new Haitian generation that you don’t have to limit yourself to one thing. You are in the United States, and you can go to a bank, borrow money, and become a player in the manufacturing and distribution game. You have an American passport, and you can travel to Europe or China to buy the necessary equipment to build a manufacturing plant. The consumers are Haitian like you, the consumers are Caribbean like you, and you can target those markets; especially in this new world of social media advertising, use the opportunity you have now to create generational wealth.

Jhonson is now selling his products in local supermarkets, on amazon. com, and walmart.com. In the coming months, he will launch an all-natural

what makes us all want to rebuild our country and return to live there, and our food and lifestyle. He wants his soft drinks and other products to prompt Americans to explore Haiti because of its rich culture and not stereotype the country based solely on negative media reports.

COMMUNITY SERVICE IS KEY Giving back is a large part of Jhonson’s life. He has about 700,000 followers on two Facebook pages where he communicates with them every day. He freely shares knowledge that people would pay for in business school. That’s one of the many ways he gives back.

The main challenge Jhonson faces as a B2B owner is meeting the demand for his products. “I can’t produce the soft drinks fast enough,” he says. Though this is an issue, it’s a good one to have. To rectify it, he’s exploring new ways of selling.

Currently, Kola Choucoune sells about 1,000 to 2,000 cases a week. His goal is to sell over 100,000 cases per month in the next five years.

malta, Malta Choucoune, and an allnatural energy drink, Baton. When an American picks up a bottle of Kola Choucoune, Malta Choucoune, or Baton energy drink, his goal is to share with them what makes Haiti great,

This past summer, Jhonson successfully raised $23,000 on Go Fund Me to help clean CapHaïtien, Haiti, also known as Okap. He matched the donations he received with $20,000 of his own money, then purchased two dump trucks and shipped them to the mayor of Okap to support the clean-up effort. The Okap community needed to know this effort came from sales of Kola Choucoune products.

When Jhonson’s not working, he enjoys spending time with his three sons. He’s also a motivational speaker who loves to share his experiences in business with aspiring professionals from around the world.

CONNECT

Natural & Flowing Hair with CHER ARCHANGE BEAUTY

By Alex Popa

Archange Beauty opened its doors to the public on March 10th, 2021, after its owner decided to offer products that were more natural than what the hair product industry was typically selling. Cher Archange is a young Haitian-American entrepreneur with a big dream – to provide alternatives to artificial hair products that are too harsh for your scalp. She’s confident that her shop is the best one-stop shop for highquality and natural hair products!

Cher

WHO IS CHER ARCHANGE?

Cher Archange started her business to help people with hair problems restore their hair. She also started a non-profit initiative, #Chermission, to help people open their own businesses and make it on their own. Cher Archange also wants to open an orphanage in Haiti, a major goal she’s working toward.

The Haitian-American community is very dear to Cher and she’s interacted with countless people through social media and her giveaways. At the moment, Cher Archange Beauty is donating the proceeds of every order made on the online store. It all goes back to

She aspires to have her hair products in multiple beauty stores, supermarkets like Target and Walmart, and a physical location in Miami. Currently, Cher Archange Beauty is online only.

the community that nurtured her success!

WHY NATURAL HAIR PRODUCTS?

Cher Archange says she decided to make her natural hair products

after damaging her hair with harsh chemicals in traditional hair products. “Seeing that others were struggling to find good hair products, I was inspired to build a brand of natural haircare products with no side effects.”

Her decision turned out to be excellent, as many men and women were just as disillusioned with the hair products they were using. They welcomed Cher Archange Beauty instantly and enthusiastically took to its products. Cher’s products are more effective and affordable than what’s currently out there. Most importantly, she only uses natural ingredients that won’t damage your hair.

WHAT DOES SHE WANT TO ACHIEVE?

Cher Archange’s goal is to help people care for their hair naturally, with as few side effects as possible. “I want you to feel confident in your skin, to get your hair back, and to be happy with yourself,” she says. Her products have a lot of potential, considering that they’re all-natural and not harmful. Cher Archange Beauty’s best customers are HaitianAmericans and people who are tired of burning their hair with traditional hair products.

Archange

Black Friday.

the #Chermission

BlēuKolleCtion Be Loving, Expressive, & Unique with Chilline Pierre

By Alex Popa

Chiline Pierre

ChillinePierre is a young HaitianAmerican entrepreneur and the proprietor of the BlēuKolleCtionline of clothing. Chilline is a strong advocate of expressing one’s uniqueness through clothing and hopes her online store will become known across America in the future.

WHO IS CHILLINE PIERRE?

Chilline is a hardworker with big dreams. She wants to create a business model centered around the motto “Be Loving, Expressive and Unique.” Her clothing line, which she founded in November 2018, focuses on uniqueness, ingenuity, and

practicality. She wants her clients to feel liberated through clothing and accessories such as custom-made jewelry.

“I want the people who wear my brand to be able to say they feel unique, expressive, and loving in every waking moment!” says Chilline about BlēuKolleCtion. Chilline is also heavily invested in the Haitian community, especially in addressing the challenges young Haitians often face, from depression to low selfesteem and financial hardship. She wants to make a positive impact on their lives by producing clothing that lifts their spirits.

WHY SELL CLOTHES?

Chilline believes clothing and personal accessories allow people to express themselves and the way

they think, their goals in life, and how they want others to perceive them.

I want the people who wear my brand to be able to say they feel unique, expressive, and loving in every waking moment! says Chilline about Bl ē uKolleCtion.

The more beautiful and unique the clothes they wear, the better people feel. Through BlēuKolleCtion, Chillinewants to promote a loving and expressive attitude in her clients by helping them wear their thoughts, loud and proud!

She wants people to feel empowered, bold, educated, and inspired by wearing her clothes and accessories. She wants to create networking opportunities with other young Haitian entrepreneurs and relationships with other business partners to spread more happiness through her clothing line.

WHAT DOES SHE WANT TO ACHIEVE?

Chilline has worked hard to make BlēuKolleCtiona success, which to her means “having a positive impact on the world starting with helping people lead happier lives through what they wear.” She wants her clients to feel connected to her

clothes. To this end, he’s redoubled her focus on expanding her market reach, rebranding, and promoting her services.

Over the next 2-3 years, she also wants to open several physical locations across America where people from all walks of life can enjoy unique clothes. For the upcoming holidays, BlēuKolleCtion will have discounts and sales. Secretly, Chilline also wants to set up local and regional conferences to promote the core values of her motto – “Be Loving, Expressive and Unique.”

She wants to create networking opportunities with other young Haitian entrepreneurs and relationships with other business partners to spread more happiness through her clothing line.

THE ART OF WINE TASTING WITH KASSANDRA CENEAS

By Alex Popa

Ceneas is a sommelier, one of the rarest professions in the world. From harvesting to the crushing, pressing, and fermentation of grapes, she’s an expert in every aspect of the wine production process. She also tests wines and teaches others how to do it. Sommelier Valley – where wine lovers can gather to enjoy the best wine has to offer – is her brainchild.

Kassandra

WHO IS KASSANDRA CENEAS?

“I wanted to educate individuals like myself on the finer details of transforming grapes into wine,” says Kassandra. She’s an entrepreneur who built her business from the ground up with effort, mental toughness, and skill. Kassandra says that to succeed, every good entrepreneur needs these traits and a relentless attitude because “a successful entrepreneur relishes the daily challenge of

Sommelier Valley – where wine lovers can gather to enjoy the best wine has to offer – is her brainchild.

pushing forward.”

A Haitian-American, Kassandra has been keen on interacting with the Haitian community. After all, winemaking and tasting tend to bring together people from all walks of life. Kassandra is proud that Sommelier Valley has achieved this feat. She’s also proud that she’s able to educate people about Old-World wines from Asia, Africa, Europe, and other exotic places. In other words, Sommelier Valley is an excellent place to taste wines from all over the world and learn more about the history of wine-making.

WHY SELL WINE?

“There is virtually no other drink with such a complex bouquet of flavors and notes other than wine,” says

Kassandra

Ceneas

Kassandra. Her passion for wine brought Sommelier Valley to life, and her continuous work makes it the best winetasting experience around. She wants to build a Sommelier Valley chain where vintage wine drinkers and new wine aficionados can discuss the finer details of wine creation.

Kassandra’s wine business delivers a certain ambiance of serenity and ancient history that encourages you to stick around and taste her wine. For good reason, her painting classes and wine-tasting sessions have also captivated the public! Other than wine, Sommelier Valley provides wine-related information that helps you recognize good wines based on their fruitiness, acidity, bitterness, sweetness, and other notes.

WHAT IMPACT DOES SHE WANT TO MAKE?

Kassandra dreams of sharing the wondrous history of wine with the world and introducing wine tasting to

everyone who’s interested in the subject. Her goal is to create a Sommelier Valley franchise in the next two to three years so she can form strong partnerships and expand her business. For the 2022 holidays, she’ll be offering special discounts and sales daily for both Old and New World wines.

Sommelier Valley has online store (sommeliervalley.com) and a physical location in North Miami. Kassandra hopes to expand her business with multiple stores in the next year because she’s confident in the potential of her business. “Wine has a special allure that commands attention and passion,” says Kassandra. She’s not worried about finding new clientele – her passion for wine and high-quality products always attracts the right customers!

I wanted to educate individuals like myself on the finer details of transforming grapes into wine, says Kassandra

Attorney BEATRICE

Cazeau launched the Koze Legal online store in November 2021. The online store is an extension of her weekly YouTube talk show, “Koze Legal Avek Maître Beatrice Cazeau,” where she educates the Haitian-American community on pertinent legal topics and current events. She says this decision was born from her desire to encourage and inspire people to stay strong and informed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beatrice

WHO ARE BEATRICE CAZEAU AND KOZE LEGAL?

Ms. Cazeau has been a licensed attorney in Florida for the past 23 years. She is the founder and managing partner of the Law Offices of Cazeau & Associates, PLLC. Ms. Cazeau has always supported her community because she says the community has helped her to become who she is today. During the pandemic Ms. Cazeau began to think of different ways she could help her community and this is how the idea of streaming Koze Legal live on social media started. Through her talk show and online shop, Koze Legal, Ms. Cazeau hopes to empower

By Alex Popa

Ms. Cazeau also wants to bring more awareness to her talk show, Koze Legal, where she discusses legal topics and offers commentaries on legal events. Beatrice believes her experience as an attorney can provide valuable information to her community and anyone else who listens.

WHAT IMPACT DOES BEATRICE CAZEAU WANT TO MAKE?

Ms. Cazeau’s mission has always been to empower the Haitian American community through education and valuable information. She believes knowledge is power. She wants people to know that there’s always hope, even in the most desperate situations, and that there’s always a way to achieve your goals, even if they appear impossible.

the Haitian-American community and bring a ray of hope to them.

The store focuses on top-quality products aimed at bringing a dose of happiness to their future owners. Ms. Cazeau says, “People should support my store because they like the products and messages they convey. Our best customers are repeat customers who tell others about the quality of our products.”

As for Koze Legal online store, in the next 2-3 years, Ms. Cazeau wants the store to increase its product inventory, boost its sales, and amass a bigger customer base.

If you want to support Beatrice Cazeau and Koze Legal, you can find them on social media at “@Kozelegal.”

Yoto and Claire Natural Solution for Splendid Hair and Skin from MAGDA GUILLAUME

By Alex Popa

quality products for their clients. Next year, Yoto and Claire plans to donate a portion of its revenues to the Eco-Ecole D’Amitie in Haiti.

Magda is proud to have received encouragement from the HaitianAmerican community. “They gravitated toward us immediately, and once they learned that some of our ingredients are from Haiti, they either made a purchase, followed me on Instagram or Facebook, or encouraged me to continue doing this,” she says.

Magda

Guillaume is an American-Haitian entrepreneur who is decided to market natural hair and skin products to the world. This is how Yoto and Claire came to be. After researching the ingredients of common hair and skin products, she and her sister decided to find natural substitutes. And that’s how their company quickly became highly sought-after, especially among Haitian-American clients.

WHO IS MAGDA GUILLAUME?

Magda Guillaume was born in Portau-Prince, one of several siblings. When her parents immigrated to the U.S., Magda‘s parents kept their children true to their Haitian culture. “Americanized at school and Haitians at home, we lived in two worlds, and this gave us a complete perspective on things,” Magda says about her childhood. She remembers their mother using Lwil Maskriti (Haitian Black Castor Oil) to comb their hair and when they were sick the same oil was used to improve their immune system.

That might have done a lot for their immune systems because they were not often sick. The Lwil Maskriti (Haitian Black Castor Oil) did wonders for their hair. It’s also the best-selling product for Yoto and Claire. They officially started making hair and skin products in 2017 and shared them with friends. After receiving a lot of positive

feedback, they decided to broaden their audience.

WHY SELL PERSONALIZED CARE PRODUCTS?

After extensive research into traditional hair and skin products, Magda and her sister realized that many contained ingredients that had serious side effects. It made sense to the sisters to start their own product line and use natural ingredients instead of man-made chemicals.

They sell their personalized care products for a good purpose – to heal, protect, and strengthen the body. Men are mostly interested in the Haitian Black Castor Oil for hair and beard grooming, while women love body scrubs and butters. There’s something for everyone, and the two sisters are eager to expand their product line.

WHAT IMPACT DO THEY WANT TO HAVE?

Yoto and Claire is a Haitian company that sources most of its ingredients in Haiti, thus helping boost the country’s economy. Magda and her sister are collaborating with local farmers and vendors to make

“Due to our organic ingredients, you always know what you’re putting on your skin, and there are no risks whatsoever!”

Magda Guillaume

Piment Lacaye

The

CRICILIA LADOUCEUR

By Alex Popa

ChefCricilia Ladouceur has owned Chris Food & Products since 1995, but in 2015, she also started selling online and in supermarkets. Her most successful product is the “Piment Lacaye” pikliz, which has reached the meat markets across South Miami and Orlando. She plans to add more food products to the menu and expand the business to other areas in Florida.

WHO IS CHEF CRICILIA LADOUCEUR?

Cricilia started her food truck business in 1995 with a van. She started selling her special pikliz and plan om, two of the products that would become wildly popular among her clients. After redesigning the business with her husband, Cricilia launched the products online (chrisfoodandproducts.com) – and that’s when the business took off. She loves serving and satisfying her customers.

Her most successful product is the “Piment Lacaye” pikliz, which has reached the meat markets across South Miami and Orlando.

Chef Cricilia believes “you can be anything you want to be if you believe in God and yourself.” She’s especially confident in the potential of Haitian American immigrants who doubt their gifts and often don’t achieve their dreams. She’s determined to change that! She’s a serious community worker with big plans.

WHAT MAKES CHRIS FOOD & PRODUCTS SPECIAL?

Ladouceur says food and cooking have always been her passion. “Making people happy through something that I make has always awoken a feeling of deep satisfaction inside me,” she says. Cricilia knows that cooking is a fine art that, when mastered, results in wonderful culinary experiences.

She has a close connection to the Haitian-American community. When she started her business, her most staunch supporters were the Cayards Market in Little Haiti and Cayards Bakery in North Miami. But she’s also been the one doling out support; she opened a school for children in Haiti, and she’s also proud of her daughter’s book, “Lady Lia’s Pikliz,” which recounts Cricilia’s journey in the food business.

WHAT IMPACT DOES SHE WANT TO MAKE?

Cricilia Ladouceur loves her customers and wants to offer highquality food that people love. She also wants to use some of her profits to help Haiti by going on missionary trips and donating to non-profit organizations. She’s also involved with a non-profit ministry that engages in humanitarian projects in Haiti. To support Cricilia’s good works, Chris Food & Products will have special sales through Amazon Prime.

Lastly, chef Cricilia wants to dispel Haiti’s negative image and encourage Haitians to pursue their dreams. Rebuilding Haiti would be a dream come true, in her view, especially if she can work together with her fellow Haitians to make this goal a reality. But first, she says, the young generation must understand their and the country’s place in the world.

Johanne Herard and The Glory Candle are a match made in heaven. Johanne, a young entrepreneur, is in love with the therapeutic effects of aromatic candles and wants to share them with her community. Through her online store theglorycandle. com, she hopes to make a positive impact on others and raise money for community projects.

WHO IS JOHANNE HERARD?

Johanne Herard is the proprietor of The Glory Candle, an online store that sells high-quality aromatic candles that everyone can use. After a year of researching candle-making and aromatherapy, Johanne devised the perfect candle – one that even people with allergies can use. “It’s a cleaner candle that doesn’t have side effects and burns to improve your life for the better!”

Johanne is a full-time student, and one reason she started The Glory Candle was to obtain an additional source of revenue for her family. Before launching the store in 2021, Johanne used to sell candles to family and friends. The birth of her daughter encouraged her to make cleaner, allergy-friendly candles that anyone could use.

WHY CANDLES?

“Candles soothe the soul and liberate you from stress and worry,” says Johanne, who has always incorporated aromatic candles into her self-care routine. Another reason why she sells candles is her desire to help the Haitian American community cope with difficulties and let them know they’re not alone. Most of the profits from her online store go towards community projects.

Johanne’s online candle store helps her earn money for her family and give back to the community that fostered her. Her love of candles drove her to learn candle-making, do the necessary research, and come up with cleaner and higher-quality candles.

The Glory Candle Rekindle Your Inner Peace with JOHANE HERARD

By Alex Popa

WHAT DOES SHE HOPE TO ACHIEVE?

The Glory Candle’s mission is to provide education for underprivileged children. Johanne aims to support more schools around the world and provide free education to young people and adults, as she believes “education is the most powerful tool to eliminate poverty.” A significant portion of her profits from the online store will go toward the Delmas Community School in Haiti.

In the next two years, Johanne wants to impact the Haitian community even more! The Glory Candle will offer coupon codes for Haiti Open customers and may also offer promotions for small

businesses on Saturdays. Over 99% of their clients are Haitian Americans, but the store is open to everyone. And remember – with every candle buy, money goes to the Delmas Community School in Haiti.

“Candles soothe the soul and liberate you from stress and worry,” says Johanne,

NURILENS

Solution

JULIETTE NELSON

By Alex Popa

In November 2020, Dr. Juliette Nelson officially launched NURILENS, a Haitian-American eyewear company whose key product is handcrafted wooden eyewear with blue-light blocking solutions in every pair. Dr. Nelson guarantees you’ll get a quality pair of glasses, with or without a prescription!

WHO IS DR. JULIETTE NELSON?

Dr. Nelson is a lifelong learner, an industrial & organizational psychology practitioner, educator, entrepreneur, and published author who is passionate about empowering people to achieve their fullest potential. Through her extensive experience, she hopes to equip individuals with the means to change their lives for the better. Dr. Nelson sees herself as an agent of encouragement, inspiration, and motivation to others.

Through NURILENS, she combines her love for culture and timeless natural materials with her challenge toward her customers to “see through the lens of their purpose” by being true to who they are and impactful in the spaces around them. She

also works to promote awareness about eye health because “most people, especially in black and AfroCaribbean communities, are not even aware of the extent to which our eyes and vision are intertwined in our dayto-day lives or other aspects of our health.”

WHY DOES SHE DO IT?

Dr. Nelson founded NURILENS because of her love for unique, fashionable eyewear and to address the issue of overcharging on a quality pair of prescription frames, which makes some people unable to benefit from a full range of vision solutions. Everyone deserves quality eyecare, in her view. NURILENS solves the affordability problem by applying transparency in pricing to offer premium features for great results.

Wooden eyewear is more sustainable but retains similar benefits and features as a standard pair of eyeglasses. Dr. Nelson is confident that NURILENS will become a household

name in the eyewear industry because it it’s a more stylish, performant, and sustainable solution. The lenses in each pair especially, are blue-light blocking, among other features, which offer protection from the effects of digital eye strain. And the benefits flow both ways: since its establishment, her company has nearly doubled its revenue.

WHAT DOES SHE HOPE TO ACHIEVE?

According to Dr. Nelson, even the smallest activities can impact your eye health in the long run. For those with compromised eyesight, she offers eyewear solutions that are both sustainable and transparent in terms of pricing.

Over the next two or three years, she’s hoping to implement strategies that improve the customer experience and increase sustainability. She also hopes to foster the next generation

of black and Afro-Caribbean eye care professionals, of which she says there are too few. All of this would lead to further growth and increase her standing in the community, especially among the Haitian-American households with whom she’s tightly associated. Participating in Haitian community events hosted by the Association of Haitian Professionals and Komite Ayiti has also helped her connect to diaspora members, whom she’s very thankful for.

PARADI’S KREMAS A Taste of Divine Haitian Kremas with LOYOLA PHILOGENE

By Alex Popa

with various organizations over the years to help her community. She’s also interested in connecting with Haitian professionals in her industry to expand her business.

WHAT DOES SHE WANT TO ACHIEVE?

Paradi’s

Kremas is an authentic Haitian crème liqueur created by Loyola Philogene, a young entrepreneur looking to provide

Her philosophy is to instill her product with a sense of familiarity and authenticity, a feeling that a real person is behind Haitian Kremas. Quality matters above all else to Loyola, as she’s a long-time believer in the importance of customer satisfaction. That’s why she’s adapted her premium Kremas formula based on client feedback multiple times.

WHY SELL HAITIAN KREMAS?

high-quality products to her community. Kremas is incredibly popular, and Loyola aims to “provide the real island experience through a taste of paradise” by making the drink accessible year-round, not only during the holidays.

WHO IS LOYOLA PHILOGENE?

Loyola Philogene started Paradi’s Kremas in July 2018 after several months of selling the popular drink. She’s a longtime supporter of Haitian Americans and has worked

“Kremas is Haiti’s most popular holiday drink,” says Loyola. “It’s a part of the people there, a piece of their soul that I want to spread to the world.” She wants to make Haitian Kremas a mainstream product that everyone knows and enjoys with their loved ones.

Even though she had a rough start – juggling a full-time career and opening a business was a challenge!

– Loyola says she’s more than satisfied with the current state of her business and the support she’s received. She tells us her friends in Maryland are longstanding customers, but she’s open to any clientele, Haitian American or otherwise.

Through Paradi’s Kremas, Loyola aims to build a platform where she can shed light on Haiti’s political and economic troubles. She wants to push people to change for the better and aspire to bigger dreams. On one hand, Loyola wants to spread Haitian Kremas to other cultures; on the other hand, she wants to spread awareness about the corruption in Haiti.

By expanding to other geographical markets, Loyola wants to introduce Paradi’s Kremas to different cultures. You can help her do that by following Loyola Philogene on Instagram or joining her mailing list by visiting her website paradiskremas.com, as she’ll have a Thanksgiving Sale in November!

Loyola aims to “provide the real island experience through a taste of paradise”

Loyola Philogene

CynthiaLestrade owns Delightful Vibes, an online store (delightfulvibes.shop) that “fosters self-expression through everyday items using simple arts and creativity.” Cynthia is a purveyor of homey objects that are as unique as their owner’s creativity!

After launching the store in February 2021, she expanded her product line to include phone cases, Air Pod cases, mouse pads, laptop bags, water bottles, and more.

WHAT IS DELIGHTFUL VIBES?

Delightful Vibes is a place that “makes the ordinary extraordinary,” according to Cynthia. It’s an online shop that specializes in making everyday items unique, delightful, and authentic. Every product you purchase from Delightful Vibes can serve as an extension of your individuality and self-expression.

DELIGHTFUL VIBES FROM MUNDANE TO EXTRAORDINARY WITH CYNTHIA LESTRADE

By Alex Popa

This is what Cynthia is after: to elevate common objects to a level of true elegance and beauty.

Cynthia Lestrade is a self-made entrepreneur who realized she had a talent for transforming the mundane. Her childhood taught her that most ordinary objects have the potential to be far more than they seem. The creative process is what appeals the most to Cynthia, who says that with the right skills and imagination, you can transform anything into a work of art.

WHY DID CYNTHIA CREATE DELIGHTFUL VIBES?

Cynthia’s products are all uniquely designed and handmade. She wants her clients to express their creativity through her articles. Every item has an idea built into it, and it’s up to the buyer to discover what it is and add their own ideas to it. Heartfelt emotions are what Cynthia is after. Every item she creates should evoke powerful feelings of belonging in its owners. “I know you’ll love every item as much as I do,” she says. “I can’t wait for you to experience the joy they bring into your life!”

WHAT DOES SHE HOPE TO ACHIEVE?

Aside from fostering self-expression in her clients, Cynthia Lestrade wants to support a cause that promotes the liberal arts, especially Haitian arts. Her best customers are either Haitian people or people who love Haitian culture. Whoever

appreciates simple yet unique designs will learn to love Haitian culture through her items.

Cynthia also wants to paint a positive picture of Haiti and its people to change the world’s view on what it means to be Haitian. Ultimately, she wants to make ordinary things take on extraordinary qualities, a notion that applies to Haitian art as a whole.

MNR Beauty Forever Personal Beauty Care with ROOSEVELT REMFORT

By Alex Popa

RooseveltRemfort is the owner of MNR Beauty Forever, an online store founded in November 2015 that sells skincare and beauty products. Roosevelt and his wife Michelle-Ange always wanted to create a place to help people find what they need to keep looking good. This is how MNR Beauty Forever was born – it’s a place where all your skin care needs are taken care of.

WHO IS ROOSEVELT REMFORT?

Roosevelt Remfort is a Haitian American business owner who, alongside his wife, runs MNR Beauty Forever. His target clientele is young women ages 20-45 who want natural beauty products. Product accessibility was the driving factor that led to MNR Beauty Forever.

Roosevelt attributes most of MNR Beauty Forever’s success to his selfmotivation and focus on customer satisfaction. “Client satisfaction and product quality are the most important things to me, and I’ll always follow these principles,” says Roosevelt. He’s very active in the Haitian community through social media and hopes to help others become entrepr eneurs.

WHY SELL BEAUTY PRODUCTS?

Their primary motivation is selfimprovement and helping others obtain quality products in an

accessible and professional setting. MNR Beauty Forever offers just that. Roosevelt hopes people will support the business because he aims to give customers the best products and shopping experience. His return customers are already giving him great feedback. To thank them, during the 2022 Christmas season, MNR Beauty Forever will offer 20-30% discounts and free shipping for a limited period.

WHAT DOES HE HOPE TO ACHIEVE?

Roosevelt Remfort also wants to teach the Haitian American community about entrepreneurship. He wants to create jobs and show young Haitians how to become entrepreneurs who run successful businesses. To that end, during the next 2-3 years, Roosevelt hopes to make MNR Beauty Forever a popular brand in the beauty industry, which he says will help spread the word

about the business and offer proof that anyone can do it.

He also wants to promote the idea that everyone deserves to be pampered. Beauty products allow you to renew yourself by giving yourself a new and fresh look. MNR Beauty Forever is after long-term gains and customer satisfaction. If you want to support them, visit their website!

“My spouse and I started to sell in the beauty industry because it enhances our creative skills and allows us to help others,” says Roosevelt.

Michelle-Ange & Roosevelt Remfort

Chicmoiselle Boutique WHERE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION IS EVERYTHING WITH CARLA, CASSANDRA, AND PHANYOLA

By Alex Popa

Carla and Cassandra Simplice, along with Phanyola Joseph, are young entrepreneurs with a deep passion for fashion and everything it entails. They opened their online store, Chicmoiselle Boutique (chicmoiselleboutique. com), on March 6, 2021, and, ever since, they’ve been enjoying wild acclaim from their public. The three women have clothing and hair lines, and they sell chic clothes and hair products of the highest quality.

WHO ARE CARLA, CASSANDRA, &PHANYOLA?

Carla, Cassandra, and Phanyola are three Haitian-American ladies who decided to put their love of fashion to work for them. They’ve been in love

with clothing, hair products, and style ever since they were little kids, always trying out new makeup routines and dressing to impress. Since starting Chicmoiselle Boutique, they’ve delivered top-notch hair products and clothes to their clients, earning many returning customers over time.

During the upcoming 2022 holidays, Chicmoiselle Boutique will be conducting a big sale and promoting its newer products to the public. They have said that the Haitian-American community comprises a large part

They’ve been in love with clothing, hair products, and style ever since they were little kids, always trying out new makeup routines and dressing to impress.

Carla Simplice

We

DRESSES, SETS, TOPS

of their clientele, and they may have special discounts for them.

WHAT DO THEY AIM TO ACCOMPLISH?

Satisfaction and happiness are the things that Carla, Cassandra, and Phanyola target with their products. Hair regimes and clothing are second nature to them, and they found it natural to spread their passion for fashion to other people. Chicmoiselle Boutique was built with the ideals of excellence and top-tier products from which clients can benefit the most.

Currently, Chicmoiselle Boutique has one physical location and an online store. Still, the two women hope to expand their business to multiple states in the next few years. So far, they’ve had great success with their clothing and hair lines, and they haven’t forgotten to give back to the community that raised them.

WHAT IMPACT DO THEY WANT TO HAVE?

Carla, Cassandra, and Phanyola are humble about their success and say that it couldn’t have been possible without the support of the HaitianAmerican community. They’ve been very supportive of their products on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, which has helped them tremendously. They took this to heart, and they started supporting their community as well.

They’ve organized several pop-up shows in which entrepreneurs have a chance to display and sell their products, and they’ve also sponsored back-to-school giveaways. Further contributions are planned in the future, but, first, they want to expand Chicmoiselle Boutique and reach more people. In the end, customer satisfaction is everything to Carla and Cassie Simplice!

CONTACTS:

111 NW 183rd St #422, North Miami Beach, FL 33169

Cassandra Simplice

Hair

REAL ESTATE AGENT SAMIANTHA DESRAVINES

GOES ABOVE & BEYOND

By Martine St. Hilaire + Photos by Jerry Lentz Rocher

Samiantha

Desravines was

born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and has lived in Florida for over twelve years. She has two siblings, a brother, and a sister. Her father is a mechanical engineer and entrepreneur, and her mother is currently in college to become a fulltime nurse like she was when she lived in Haiti.

Samiantha’s greatest academic accomplishment was obtaining a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing. Her greatest professional achievement to date is becoming a real estate agent and notary public. Within the next three to five years, Samiantha

EXP, Samiantha offers her clients effective marketing plans to help them sell their houses for top dollar. “We call it the 89 marketing plan, or 89 ways to market your home,” she says.

SAMIANTHA’S EXAMPLE MARKETING CHECKLIST FOR CLIENTS

• Safety first: respect CDC Guidelines (use masks, gloves, booties, and wipes)

• Virtual tours w/ a virtual open house

• Distribute postcards in surrounding neighborhoods

• Send an email blast to other real estate associates

• Contact current owners/ renters around the area to advertise

• Proactively advertise the condo through door-to-door marketing

• List the property on MLS, internationally, and 900+ real estate websites

• Professional photos with videos

• Create a specific web link for the home

• Create a 3-D rendering of the home for virtual tours

• Print custom flyers and brochures for private showings

hopes to be one of the top-producing realtors in South Florida.

Samiantha was introduced to the real estate industry at the age of 14 by her parents. In college, she took real estate courses, and by the time she graduated she was licensed in the state of Florida.

“I believe my purpose in this world is to help others,” says Samiantha. Working as a real estate agent has allowed her to fulfill her purpose. She takes pride in helping people successfully buy or sell a home.

Samiantha’s main focus is her clients in South Florida, specifically Miami, Palm Beach, and Broward counties. She’s affiliated with the brokerage EXP Realty. Through

What distinguishes Samiantha from other agents is her passion and the purpose behind what she does. She doesn’t see herself as just a listing agent. She wants to help every client in every facet of real estate, whether it involves selling, buying, or investing.

Samaintha interacts with the Haitian community through many different social media sites, networking events, and church and community service events. She’s never been shy or afraid to reach out because she finds genuine comfort in speaking and interacting with her people. She always educates the people she meets, regardless of what stage they’re at in life. They can already own a home, be looking to purchase one, or just want

“I believe my purpose in this world is to help others,” says Samiantha.

information for a future purchase.

Samantha has noticed how poorly the Haitian community is represented in the real estate industry. She’s excited to help change that. One of her major concerns is that she often sees her community focusing on building houses back in Haiti and forgetting

their lives or their children’s lives in America. Samantha’s ultimate goal is to see all Haitians in Florida own at least one or more properties. Most importantly, she wants Haitians to be well educated about real estate so they can have financial freedom. Entrepreneurship requires great effort and patience – and more

than just a good idea. It requires the willingness to commit time to grow the business. Samiantha is a big supporter of anyone considering a real estate career and advises young people trying to get into real estate to be passionate about whatever they put their time and effort into. She tells them to

believe in themselves and never get discouraged. Understanding the work takes time and is the key to success. The best gents require years of hard work and dedication to become masters of their trade.

Outside of work, Samiantha enjoys outdoor activities like bike riding every Saturday morning, playing tennis, and drawing. She’s also learning to play piano.

CUSTOMER TESTIMONIAL

“My experience with Samiantha was phenomenal, she was just superb at her job. She was quick to answer any questions. She was also good at working with our schedules. She made the home-seeking process so easy. I’d definitely recommend her and will be back!”

CONTACT: 754-368-2567 samiantha.sdc@gmail.com samiantha.d LinkedIn: samiantha-d

“My goal is to not just provide real estate services,” she says. “I sincerely want to help make a change in my community.” She’ll provide the Haitian community with any real estate information they need.

FIRST CLASS ENTERPRISE EXPANDS TO BROWARD

By Alex Popa + Photos by GP Photography

Health Insurance/Obamacare Real Estate (Buying, Selling) Health Insurance/Obamacare Home and Auto Insurance

EVERYONE DESERVES FIRST CLASS SERVICES

First Class Enterprise’s client based in Palm Beach and Port St. Lucie counties and the surrounding areas, we here to help you file individual, business, and corporate taxes in all 50 states, and we can help pick the right insurance for you. Our real estate agents are also a good fit for your needs, whether buying or selling. We value professionalism and customer satisfaction because we think everyone deserves first class services!

Thanks to our new office in Tamarac, Broward, we’ll be able to provide real estate, insurance, and income tax assistance to a broader client base.

First Class Enterprise hopes to see you in our new office in Broward. Jean Sorel is a certified real estate agent, income tax preparer, and health insurance agent with decades of experience in these fields. He offers impeccable solutions to clients who need a professional opinion and expert help.

FIRST CLASS SERVICES

Our company focuses on providing clients with ideal solutions to their problems while ensuring a comfortable experience. We can help you: choose appropriate health insurance buy or sell a property in Florida file your income tax forms complete immigration papers choose the best auto and homeowner insurance policies

CEO, Jean M. Sorel

ABOUT FIRST CLASS ENTERPRISE

Based in Miami, First Class Enterprise offers real estate, health, immigration, income tax, auto, homeowner, and life insurance services around the clock. Our offerings are robust and we always provide “first-class” assistance to our clients.

The company was founded by Jean M. Sorel, a visionary Haitian businessman with big dreams. Over time, the firm evolved into a multi-service company with a diverse array of services that have helped countless clients. Our motto is “Everyone deserves first-class services”, and we live this principle every day.

First Class Enterprise offers five main services: Income Tax Preparation

Our team can also help you with immigration services or choose a fitting health and life insurance package, depending on your needs.

Real estate is a complex industry, so having a knowledgeable real estate agent to guide you is a must. Sometimes, a property looks too good to be true or is overpriced. Our real estate agents can steer you in the right direction to ensure you strike the best bargain! No matter your needs, First Class Enterprise is up to the task.

Jean Sorel and his team are a great team, whether you’re looking to buy real estate or acquire life or home insurance. We value professionalism and excellence above all else, which means our clients deserve first-class treatment. We can also file your income taxes for you in as little time as possible.

With the opening of our new office in Broward, our firm is ready to take on new clients and provide top real estate, insurance, and income tax preparation services in Florida. We’re always ready to help!

First Class Enterprise has moved into a new office in Broward to address the increasing demand for real estate, income preparation, and insurance advisory services in the area.

Eversince

Andre Guy

Farreau moved to South Florida, he’s been helping individuals solve their issues related to insurance and real estate. He also helps clients find the right schools for their children, assists them with immigration services, food and housing, deals with language barriers, and notarizes documents pro bono.

As an honored Port-au-Princeborn Haitian, Andre’s greatest academic and professional accomplishments have taken him far. He earned a bachelor’s Degree in Business with a Minor in International Real Estate from Florida International University in 2009. He received a Master’s degree from UAC Global School of Management in 2015. He worked at State Farm Insurance for almost

PHILANTHROPIC ENTREPRENEUR,

ANDRE GUY FARREAU Shares His Success Story

By Martine St. Hilaire + Photos by Mackinley “Spex” Madhere

ten years, then left that position to open two independent insurance agencies: Insurance Savers, which services the local community; and Skybridge Title, an escrow and real estate company that services all of South Florida.

Insurance Savers opened its doors in January 2011. The services Andre’s first business provides include the following:

• Property and Casualty Insurance

• Personal, Commercial, and Business Insurance

• Automobile, RV, and Motorcycle Insurance

• Homeowners Insurance (Condos, Renters, Flooding)

• Worker’s Compensation

Skybridge Title launched in February of 2022. Its primary services are escrow, title, and settlement. This includes include title searches, municipal lien searches, title encumbrances, real estate closings, and document recording. Additionally, Skybridge Title provides services for homeowners who are selling without a real estate agent (sale by owner), short sales, and foreclosures.

Haitians truly appreciate Andre’s two businesses. The respect they have for him is what keeps him going. Many Haitians feel at home at his offices for excellent reasons, the most important being the quality service they receive. He proudly provides bi-lingual services in both English and Haitian Creole. He’s also a business owner who helps clients with random services such as reminding them to renew their

driver’s license, submit their car registration on time to prevent any issues with the law. Sometimes he refers clients to other offices for services he does not provide. His customers rely on him, and he feels it’s his duty to serve them.

Andre has lived in South Florida for over twenty years. He’s happily married with two children, a boy and a girl. His family makes it their obligation, for both the summer and holiday seasons, to travel and distribute toys, backpacks, clothes, and goods to Haitian children and families in need. “I personally support five young students in Haiti by contributing to their school tuition, food and uniforms annually,” says Andre.

Andre attributes his success to his diligence and the continued confidence placed in him by the people he serves. The Haitians in the community receive both Insurance Savers and Skybridge Title with open arms. “People always feel welcome and appreciated,” says Andre. Often, clients come to his businesses for insurance or settlement needs, but they always leave with more knowledge and feeling like they’ve had more than just a business transaction. Andre takes pride in establishing trusting and friendly relationships with his clientele.

What differentiates Andre’s companies from his competitors is the emphasis on superb customer

WHAT DIFFERENTIATES ANDRE’S COMPANIES FROM HIS COMPETITORS IS THE EMPHASIS ON SUPERB CUSTOMER SERVICE.

service. His staff’s dedication to helping and educating prospects and clients about the products and services offered by both companies is another reason they stand out. Andre wants both offices to be known as premiere insurance and title servicing agencies. “We are and we will stay a spot where customer satisfaction is key,” says Andre.

All Insurance Savers and Skybridge Title customers are Andre’s best customers. He’s honored to have his businesses be their reliable agencies. He works with carriers like Progressive, Infinity, Bristol West, Citizens, and many more to conduct business in the realms of property and casualty insurance. As for the title underwriter, he primarily uses First American, one of the best companies in the market.

Andre advises young people who want to start their own business to have a goal and put it into perspective. One must be ready to face challenges and tackle them one step at a time. He also recommends that future business owners should find a business model that correlates with their business idea so they can observe how it’s done. Being open to constructive criticism is critical when starting a business. And, lastly, if you fail, don’t give up. Keep trying until you make your dreams come to fruition, he says.

Within the next three to five years, Andre envisions both companies scaling up and thriving.

He projects their positive trajectory will allow him to become the owner of two highly acknowledged toptier agencies with three offices in South Florida. He looks forward to providing the highest standard

of service and a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.

In his spare time, Andre enjoys reading, watching documentaries, hanging out with friends and family, and traveling.

DR. ALANDE BREZAULT

Considers Expanding his Medical Practice to Serve Even More Haitian Communities

By Martine St. Hilaire

Alande

Brezault, M.D. was born and raised in Port-auPrince, Haiti. He is happily married and has two

daughters. His greatest achievement is becoming the recipient of the 2020 Clinical Faculty Teaching award at AUC School of Medicine. His other

achievements include becoming Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at FIU, St. Georges, AUC, and Ross Medical School. He won the Resident of the Year award at UPMC Harrisburg Hospital in 2000. That same year, he took his board certification exam and received his certification from the American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. He is also a fellow of the American College of Physicians and Chairman of the Department of Medicine at North Shore Medical Center. In 2011, he became vice chief of staff at North Shore. In 2012, he became Medical Director of Utilization Review at Jackson North Medical Center. In 2016, he became a governing board member at North Shore.

As for his philanthropic work, Dr. Brezault currently serves at the ISA Foundation: Medical School Alumni Association to help medical school students in Haiti. He also promotes medical education domestically and abroad and contributes to local nonprofit organizations.

Dr. Brezault has interacted with the Haitian community by hosting radio and TV shows. He’s been promoting the community for the past ten years. He also participated in various relief efforts, including providing healthcare services to patients infected with cholera and effective immunization education on COVID-19. He’s gained support from politicians and elected officials committed to serving the Haitian community.

In 2002, Dr. Brezault opened I and B Medical Associates with a fellow Haitian doctor, Claude A. Innocent, M.D. Just before he opened the Miami practice, he

…..recipient of the 2020 Clinical Faculty Teaching award at AUC School of Medicine.

trained in internal medicine at University of Pittsburg Medical Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, then worked in Pennsylvania for two years before moving to South Florida. He contributed to a cultural representation of the Haitian community through his medical practice. In the beginning, the entire medical team faced the same sorts of financial limitations that many new businesses face. He was also up against fierce competition, but he persevered and maintained a focus on high-quality service in a highly regulated industry.

The Haitian population has received I&B so well that Dr. Brezault and his team have introduced multiple tag lines throughout the years that resonated with the community. They include phrases like, “Lakay Se Lakay,” “Santem Sé

Pi Gwo Richesse Mwen,” “I and B Se Lavi,” “Tout Pasyan Sé Fanmi,” “Health and Wellness We Do It Best,” and “Come Here, Come to I and B Medical.”

Dr. Brezault considers himself a servant to the Haitian community. His commitment to excellence in healthcare delivery and customer care is what makes him stand out from his competitors. He believes there’s always room for improvement when running a business. “We truly love our patients and want them to have the same or better care that patients of other communities receive no less,” he says.

The advice Dr. Brezault would give to a young person trying to start a business is to work hard, not cut corners, follow the rules, respect and treat your staff fairly, invest your profits back into the

business with a focus on constantly improving your processes, keep the work environment clean – and always remember that the client is the true boss.

In the next five to ten years, Dr. Brezault plans to establish other medical centers of excellence on par with other communities. His goal is to promote wellness, prevention, and sound medical care to the Haitian community and others. I&B will continue to serve the Haitian community. It will also be scaled and expanded into other neighborhoods to better serve even more communities.

In his free time, Dr. Brezault enjoys watching the NBA, NFL, cooking, dining at restaurants, traveling, reading, and playing board games with his family.

“We truly love our patients and want them to have the same or better care that patients of other communities receive no less,” says Dr. Brezault.

DR. CLAUDE A. INNOCENT

Successfully Represents Haiti Through Medical Practice

By Martine St. Hilaire

ClaudeAlain Innocent, M.D. was born in New York but grew up in Port-au-Prince, Haiti most of his life. Dr. Innocent moved to the United States to complete his residency in internal medicine at Sound Shore Medical Center of Westchester in NewRochelle, New York with honors. He’s married and has two children, a son and a daughter. His wife is an

occupational therapist, and both of his parents were in the medical field: his father was a dentist and his mother was a laboratory technician. He currently resides in Florida, where he has lived for 22 years.

At the end of Dr. Innocent’s third year of postgraduate training, due to his outstanding track record as a resident he was selected to be the chief resident for an additional

year. In August 2000, he took his board certification exam and was certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, and in 2012 by the American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

His greatest achievement is successfully representing the Haitian community through a medical practice he co-owns with another Haitian doctor, Alande Brezault, M.D., in Miami called I and B Medical Associates (I&B). His other achievements include becoming the vice-chief of the medical staff and chairman of the credentialing committee at North Shore Medical Center. He’s also an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.

I&B was established in 2002. Dr. Innocent and his medical team faced the same financial constraints most new businesses face – and a steep learning curve. They also had fierce competition, but they persevered. “We put our community first and aim to represent it well in everything we do,” says Dr. Innocent.

Dr. Innocent treats all types of various health conditions in the realm of internal medicine. Specifically, he’s dedicated to the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity and its associated complications. He displays compassion and innovation on a regular basis. His focus is on wellness and encouraging his medical team to maintain a united spirit that will allow them to offer the best possible healthcare services to their patients.

As for humanitarian efforts, Dr. Innocent’s provides constant financial support to communities

“We put our community first and aim to represent it well in everything we do,” says Dr. Innocent.

in Haiti, medical missions, and educational initiatives in Miami directly through AMHE (Association Médicale Haïtienne à l’Etranger) and I&B. He’s interacted with the Haitian community by creating and producing content for several educational media platforms such as Island TV, Radio Mega, Radio Piman, and AMHE.

The advice Dr. Innocent would give to young Haitians is to aspire to become inspired. “Put down your distractions, work hard, dream big, read a lot, and develop a strong discipline in everything you do,” he says. He also encourages young people to exercise to keep healthy and aim to help others as much as possible.

Dr. Innocent is an avid learner who continues to update his skills, knowledge, and understanding of others for the benefit of the community he serves. In his ideal healthcare environment, patients would be empowered to create and maintain the health they deserve.

In five to ten years, Dr. Innocent plans to scale I&B’s business model of high-quality healthcare and wellness services to other South Florida locations. He intends to remain in the healthcare industry, but he’s also interested in exploring other life sciences.

In his spare time, Dr. Innocent enjoys spending quality time with his family, traveling, exploring other

cultures, power yoga, meditation, spending time at the beach and swimming. He takes pride in working hard but also knows how to enjoy life to the fullest.

“Put down your distractions, work hard, dream big, read a lot, and develop a strong discipline in everything you do” –says Dr. Innocent to young adults.

DR. LUMANA JOSEPH

Makes Waves as Founder of Lumana Physical Therapy & Wellness Center

By Martine St. Hilaire + Photos by Mackinley “Spex” Madhere

Dr. Lumana Joseph, PT, DPT was born in Dessalines, Haiti. She was raised in a large and very loving family. Her parents migrated to the U.S. in the late 1970s in search of a better life. She’s the first of ten children (seven girls and three boys). Her father had three previous children for a total of 13 children. She and three of her siblings were left behind in the care of her uncle, aunts, and grandparents. She finally migrated to the U.S. and has lived here for the past 37 years.

Dr. Joseph’s greatest academic

accomplishment so far is graduating from Florida International University with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences and a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy. She

completed her Transitional Clinical Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy from the University of South Florida in 2016.

Dr. Joseph founded Lumana Physical Therapy & Wellness Center in 2009 to provide equal access to anyone who seeks quality rehabilitation services to restore optimal function and promote independence. Lumana Physical Therapy & Wellness Center’s core services include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and wellness programs.

As President and CEO of Lumana Physical Therapy & Wellness Center, Dr. Joseph serves as a clinical instructor of numerous universities and colleges. She mentors Doctor of Physical Therapy students and Physical Therapy Assistant students throughout Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Dr. Joseph has been a clinical instructor for 13 years. She takes great pleasure in mentoring students and watching them evolve into professionals. She provides constructive guidance to assist them in their growth. She also encourages them to involve themselves in their community. “Some students I take with me to events, and others work on projects with my staff,” she says.

Lumana Physical Therapy & Wellness Center offers internships for college and high school students throughout the academic year and summer internships for high school students. Dr. Joseph aims to equip students with positive values, team-building opportunities, and social responsibilities while helping them contribute to society. Her objective is to model positive values and the commitment students need to succeed in the rehabilitation realm and their lifetime.

Dr. Joseph also founded the Lumana Foundation in 2020 to increase awareness and assist underserved populations by educating, facilitating, and providing them with the tools they need to enrich their lives. Her other accomplishments include serving as the Chairwoman of the Haitian American Chamber of Commerce of

Florida (HACCOF), Board Treasurer for House of New Vision and Hope Organization, Vice-Chair for the Greater North Miami Chamber of Commerce from 2020-2022, and sitting on various boards for the city of North Miami and collaborating with the city in various capacities to deliver benefits to the community.

As Chairwoman of HACCOF, Dr. Joseph collaborated with Miami Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Commissioner Jean Monestime of District 2 to initiate HACCOF Scale Up 305 business incubator program that provides training, coaching,

and mentoring to small-business owners. She’s also provided a wide range of employment opportunities, collaborated with the YoPro (Young Professionals) to enhance the community, and is currently working on a project with Commissioner Jean Monestime to facilitate a scholarship program for college students in Miami-Dade County.

What makes Lumana Physical Therapy & Wellness Center different from its competitors is its family-friendly environment, the professionalism of the staff, services offered in three languages (English, Haitian-Creole, and Spanish), the cleanliness of the facility, and the personalized care and attention given to each patient.

Dr. Joseph assists patients with ailments that affect their daily living. Within the next five years, she plans to expand her practice nationwide and globally to leave a legacy for her family and the Haitian community. She also plans to explore other business opportunities and invest in the communities she’s served.

The Haitian community is extremely pleased with Lumana Physical Therapy & Wellness Center. “Once you enter the Lumana Therapy facility, you are family” “and patients adopt us as a family as well,” says Dr. Joseph, noting that her patients always come back and refer their friends and relatives. Some even battle with their medical providers or insurance carriers to remain a patient at Lumana Physical Therapy & Wellness Center.

Juggling a family as a single parent and managing work-life balance while building the practice is challenging for Dr. Joseph, but she makes it look easy. She is a mother of two accomplished young men. Her eldest is a doctor who received his

doctorate in physical therapy, and her youngest is a high school senior and football player. She loves being a part of a large family and always gets together with them for special occasions and holidays.

The secret to her success is to always place God first and to surround herself with like-minded and accomplished people. “It’s imperative to be open to learning and trying new things,” she says. The most important advice Dr. Joseph provides is to never forget your roots while you’re fulfilling your dream.

“Once you enter the Lumana Therapy facility, you are family” “and patients adopt us as a family as well,” says Dr. Lumana Joseph

Do you know that foot problems can lead to neck and shoulder pain, upper and lower back pain, hip, and knee pain. Your feet normally function as a shock absorber while walking, which help decrease stress to the joints of the lower legs and back. The type of foot you have, whether it is a high arch foot or abnormally flat foot or one leg longer than the other, can cause pain due to lack of support or increased stress to the above joints.

3 examples of abnormalities that can lead to pain are:

1. Pes cavus (high arch foot)

2. Pes planovalgus (abnormal flat foot)

3. Leg length inequality (one leg longer than the other)

Pes Cavus (High Arch Foot)

In a pes cavus type foot, the longitudinal arch is abnormally high and mostly leads to:

1. Abnormal weight-bearing stress (pain to the side of the foot, heel pain [plantar fasciitis])

2. Ankle pain/instability

3. Knee pain

4. Sciatica

5. Low back pain

6. Restricted foot mobility and difficulty in fitting shoes

Neuromuscular issues can also be associated with pes cavus; therefore, a thorough assessment is necessary.

Pes Planovalgus (abnormal flat foot)

Flat foot is normal and can be seen in infants, children, and some adults. The problem is when the rearfoot turns inward, it will lead to:

1. Part of the midfoot to collapse

ARE YOUR FEET THE CAUSE OF YOUR LEG PAIN, KNEE PAIN, HIP, LOW BACK PAIN AND NECK/SHOULDER PAIN?

Dr. Jim Francois, DPM

The type of foot you have, whether it is a high arch foot or abnormally flat foot or one leg longer than the other, can cause pain due to lack of support or increased stress to the above joints.

length inequality (One leg longer than the other)

The leg length inequality creates a muscle imbalance which not only can lead to muscle spasm and low back pain but to increased weight-bearing on the longer leg causing more stress

arthritic changes to the knees, hips, and vertebral column.

Surgery as the last resort

In my practice, we try to treat the causes not the symptoms for long lasting relief. So, stop by to see what we can do for you.

ABOUT JIM FRANCOIS, D.P.M., P.T, PA

Podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon

Jim François, DPM, PT, PA offers a full range of foot and ankle procedures to patients in and around North Miami Beach, Florida. From treating tendonitis to caring for diabetic foot wounds, Dr. François provides the type of care and concern for patients he’d like to receive himself.

At his practice, Dr. François offers traditional podiatric medicine procedures and treatments. He addresses patients’ needs regarding foot deformities, including

bunions, hammer toe, and flat foot. He also provides care for acute foot and ankle problems and injuries, including sprains, strains, breaks, and inflammation issues, like tendinitis, as well as sporting injuries.

Dr. François began his medical education in physical therapy at Florida A&M University. He then attended podiatry school at Barry University in downtown Miami.

With almost a decade of practicing foot and ankle surgery and podiatry in southern Florida, Dr. François has a reputation for compassionate and comprehensive care. Whether patients need treatment for a fungal nail infection or a reconstructive surgery after a severe break, they get the thorough and effective care they need and deserve with Dr. François.

Dr.François also serves the communities of Aventura, Miami, Miami Gardens, Miami Lakes, North Miami, Opa-Locka, and Sunny Isles, FL.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Jim Francois, DPM, PT, PA

Florication Locations:

150 NW 168th St, Ste 303, North Miami Beach, FL 33169-6037

2866 Tamiami Trail, Ste C, Port Charlotte, FL 33952

100 Madrid Blvd., Ste 312, Punta Gorda, FL 33950 (786) 657-2757, (941) 629-3535, (941) 639-3323

It is a good idea to check with your Podiatrist for a comprehensive assessment. Pain medications and injection are not the long-term solution.

PROMOTING HAITIAN CULTURE BY EMPOWERING ITS FUTURE COMMUNITY LEADERS

By Alex Popa

time,” Ms. Brise told us.

Ms. Brise also told us that Creole Tutors offers age-based courses to children aged 4-7, 8-12, 13-18, and 18-up. Every age group will have the same learning options:

• BONJOU – Intro

• M AP VINI – Beginner

• M AP VINI – Beginner – Level 2

• MWEN LA – Intermediate

• MWEN LA – Intermediate – Level 2

• M AP VANSE – Advanced

• M AP VANSE – Advanced – Level 2

Ms.

Yveta Brise is the operations and marketing director at Creole Tutors, an online platform that teaches Creole to willing participants aged 4-18 and up. Its mission is to foster the next generation of Creole community leaders and to promote Haitian culture to Haitian Americans. The online courses are taught by certified Creole speakers with extensive teaching experience, so the quality of the classes is guaranteed.

WHO IS YVETA BRISE?

Ms. Yveta Brise is a Haitian educator with over 10 years of experience in elementary education and leadership in the U.S. Being a bilingual herself, she understands the perks of mastering two languages. So, she made it her lifelong dream to promote Haitian culture by teaching its language to young Haitian Americans. This will give students a more thorough understanding of Haiti’s history and culture while giving them an edge in the workplace environment.

Under Ms. Brise’s guidance, Creole Tutors is a place of linguistic expertise, cultural empowerment, and disciplined enthusiasm. Thanks to her experience as an educator, she understands best how to foster a growth-focused learning environment where every student receives a quality education. “Enrolling at Creole Tutors will have you speak the language in no

Every course lasts 30 minutes, just enough to retain the students’ full attention and provide quality lessons!

WHY DID SHE START TEACHING CREOLE?

“It is my goal to empower and promote the Haitian culture through language proficiency,” Ms. Brise told us. As a Haitian American herself, she knows the difficulties most young Haitian Americans go through. She wants to help young people gain another skill and learn self-confidence by teaching them about their ancestral culture. Learning a new language is also a change of paradigm that opens new opportunities in the workplace environment.

Ms. Brise would like to foster a new generation of Haitian leaders by reconnecting young Haitian Americans with their culture. Bilingualism is also a highly soughtafter skill these days. Furthermore, Haitian Creole isn’t a difficult language to learn, according to Ms. Brise: “Haitian Creole is a phonetic language and does not have an overwhelming number of rules. With the assistance of our knowledgeable tutors, Haitian Creole isn’t difficult to learn.”

She told us that Haitian Creole courses focus on getting new students acquainted with all aspects of linguistic proficiency. As such, the course curriculum has been devised with this idea in mind:

Unit 1 – People

Unit 2 – Travel Unit 3 – Activities

Unit 4 – Places to Know

Ms. Brise’s goal is to empower Haitian Americans to take pride in their culture. Creole Tutors fulfill that purpose splendidly! Every unit is split into multiple chapters for more accessibility and ease of use. Certified tutors will follow the student’s progress at every step of

the journey, answering questions and guiding them toward true linguistic proficiency.

WHY IS CREOLE TUTORS BETTER THAN OTHER TEACHING PROGRAMS?

Ms. Yveta Brise prides herself on turning Creole Tutors into the best online teaching community. This is largely due to the certified tutors in charge of teaching the students. The fun yet rigorous curriculum was created with the idea of engaging learning in mind. “Our students deserve a flexible and engaging learning environment, and both our curriculum and tutors deliver that in a manageable form!” says Ms. Brise.

Enrolling in Creole Tutors is a simple process. We’ve detailed it below in 3 simple steps:

Step 1 – Register to become a student

Step 2 – Select a learning option, either One-on-One or Group Session

- Step 3 – Book a trial first lesson for $15

Ms. Brise wants to foster her students to become advocates for the Haitian generations to come, individuals who take pride in their culture and master Haitian Creole in all its forms. To this end, the tutors at Creole Tutors use innovative teaching techniques and focus on the student’s learning preferences.

Creole Tutors is always looking for prospective tutors who share the same values and have specific skills. Strong communication skills, enthusiasm, real-world experience with Creole, discipline, and knowledge of the subject matter count among the qualities that Ms. Brise is looking for when hiring new tutors for Creole Tutors. The ability to offer differentiated learning based on the student’s learning preferences is also a plus!

Ms. Brise is hopeful for the future of Creole Tutors: “In the next 2-3 years, I see our curriculum being taught in public and private schools, with students from all over the world taking virtual Creole lessons at Creole Tutors.” The online teaching platform is a wonderful opportunity for young Haitian Americans and not only!

Visit us online:

(877) 627-3653

Yveta Brise

JACKY CATULE SHARES HIS SUCCESS HISTORY

By Martine St. Hilaire + Photos by Mackinley “Spex” Madhere

Jacky Catule was born in Haiti but has been living in Florida since 2003. He traveled from Haiti to settle down with his family,

who was already living in the U.S. He married his beautiful wife Laura in 2001, and they have two children, J-Shamar and Kyra.

In Haiti, Jacky studied Telecommunications at HaitiTec. When he came to the U.S., he enrolled in DeVry University to study Information System Security. He’s now pursuing a degree in Accounting at Broward College. He’s a licensed Life and Health insurance agent in the states of Florida, Indiana, Texas, California, Georgia, and New Jersey. He’s also a real estate agent and professional tax preparer.

Jacky has worked in the financial services industry since 2013, the year he started his company, JCKC Financial Services. What he enjoys most about his career is receiving feedback from clients expressing their satisfaction with his company’s services. “We’ve been helping the community with Medicare and Obamacare since 2013, and we’ve added more services along the way,” he says proudly.

JCKC Financial Services has an excellent team of dedicated staff members who provide services in the following areas:

• Medicare

• Obamacare

• Life Insurance

• Income Tax

Estate

Translation

Notary

been helping

with

since 2013, and we’ve

along the

Jacky says proudly.

years were especially hard. At the time, few people knew about JCKC, but Jacky has always understood that it takes time for people to trust you and your business. Now, he considers himself blessed to have found success. When it comes to marketing, Jacky chooses to interact with the Haitian community mostly through traditional media outlets such as radio and television. He’s currently working on a social media project that’s expected to launch this fall.

The continuous support from the Haitian community fuels Jacky to keep going. “Too often I hear other people say that Haitians don’t support other Haitians. My experience is different,” he says. About 60% of his clients are Haitians. Not only do his Haitian clients happily patronize his services; they also send referrals his way. Jacky’s secret to success is simple. He treats people with honesty and dignity.

He believes people focus more on what you do than what you say. It’s important to Jacky to be recognized for his integrity and for being a loving and compassionate individual.

Jacky treats his customers with the highest respect. He takes pride in treating every person that way because he believes that every human being is created to the image of God, hence every human being as a masterpiece of the creation deserves to be treated with dignity. He loves people so much that he shares his blessings by continually donating to organizations designed to improve people’s lives.

Three to five years from now, Jacky expects JCKC Financial Services to have grown considerably. The company’s tagline is “Your Financial GPS” –and Jacky hopes to ensure JCKC truly serves as the Haitian community’s financial GPS.

Jacky’s real estate journey started in 2015. What he enjoys most about being an agent is helping people realize their financial dreams. He

loves providing clients with useful information on buying or selling property anywhere in Florida (with a focus on Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties).

Ultimately, Jacky’s vision is for all of his lines of businesses to provide 5-star service to all clients. “Because we live and breathe this vision, over 50% of our new clients are referrals,” he says. Jacky’s best marketing plan is to focus on providing excellent customer service. The quality of service he provides is key. The Haitian community trusts JCKC, and

he doesn’t take this trust lightly. Jacky advises young people to follow their dreams and never give up. He cautions that when starting a business, the first few years might be very difficult. Jacky believes if you are persistent, determined, work diligently every day, and are self-disciplined, you’ll be successful. If something isn’t working, you’ll probably have to change your strategy, because success belongs to those who work hard and are smart.

In his free time, Jacky focuses on equipping himself with anything that will allow him to serve the community better. He also adores gardening and taking time to observe the wonders of nature.

Jacky advises young people to follow their dreams and never give up… if you are persistent, determined, work

every day, and are selfdisciplined, you’ll be successful.

GASTRIC BALLOON

• There is NO surgery involved: Simple, Easy, and Effective

• The BALLOON is placed temporarily and then removed

• No Need for Incisions, Stitches, or Scars.

• A deflated balloon is inserted into your stomach, and it is filled to the size of a grapefruit. The entire process usually takes 15-20 minutes, and most people go home hours later.

• The gastric BALLOON procedure is less costly than a surgical option

• Some patients that are not eligible for surgery may be suitable for the gastric BALLOON procedure

• The gastric BALLOON produces permanent weight loss results: lose 30-60 lbs.

• On average, the gastric BALLOON for weight loss allows patients to lose 3.1 times the weight they would through diet and exercise practices alone.

We will help you RETRAIN your appetite, adopt new nutritional habits, and establish a reasonable exercise routine that will be essential to your long-term success. The JS Gastric BALLOON program is used to minimize the risks of surgical complications associated with obesity Joseph Surgery Gastric Balloon Program helps healthier eating habits become second nature.

You will learn to listen to your body and feel when your stomach is full. The weight loss will start immediately, and habit building continues for years.

NOT PERMANENT

After the first six months of the weight loss program the stomach BALLOON is carefully removed, and the aftercare program continues.

RATES OF WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMS ARE HIGHER WITH THE HELP OF JOSEPH SURGERY AND CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN KEEPING YOUR WEIGHT OFF.

Gastric Balloon

Joseph Surgery Weight Loss Management with the Gastric BALLOON Program is a good option for you:

CHANGING YOUR HABITS

For the next six months the BALLOON is inside your stomach, reducing the amount you can eat, and re-training your brain to better anticipate when your stomach is getting full.

It’s during this time that open and constant communication with your support team is crucial to maximizing the benefits of JOSEPH SURGERY Weight Loss Management. This means regular face-to-face sessions with your treatment team, dietician, fitness trainer, psychologist, and Surgeons. During these first six months, with the stomach BALLOON and support team working in tandem, patients see the most drastic results - Losing 30 to 50 pounds (sometimes even more).

This comprehensive weight loss program DOES NOT FOCUS ON SURGERY BUT empowers you to change your relationship with food. It is a unique weight management program personalized to help you achieve and maintain your weight loss goals.

CONFIDENCE TO CHANGE… JOSEPH SURGERY

Change is one of the hardest things we can do, especially when it comes to something as emotional and tempting as food. One of the greatest tools our Specialists find they provide patients, is the confidence that they can change. At Joseph Surgery, we will be with you in this journey.

GET OUR PERSONALIZED SUPPORT TO HELP YOU SUCCEED.

Our team of experts focus not on surgery but encourage and support behavioral change to help patients realign their relationship with food and enjoy a healthier lifestyle and long-lasting weight loss results. Your connection with your team is always available one phone call away. This easy accessibility makes JOSEPH SURGERY one of the strongest and best weight loss resources you have available to you to achieve your goals.

Your success is our PRIORITY.

GET THE BOOST YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR and LOOSE THE WEIGHT: JOSEPH SURGERY GASTRIC

PROGRAM

Abigail Pierre-Louis has won the crown of Miss Heritage Global 2022, a pageant held this September in Limpopo, South Africa. A 25-year-old with family roots in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Abigail highlighted her international marketing background and multicultural studies and came out forcefully to show a positive image of Haiti to the world.

Abigail is proud of her Haitian culture and hosts a podcast called “The Homegirl Hustlers”, which guides hard-working women to pursue their passions without allowing limitations to get in their way.

GET TO KNOW ABIGAIL PIERRE-LOUIS MISS HERITAGE GLOBAL 2022

By Martine St. Hilaire

While running a digital marketing agency called “Boost Your Brand”, Abigail has been driven to help Haitians become entrepreneurs, regardless of obstacles. She also teaches digital entrepreneurship

Abigail’s victory means much to the Haitian community, as she has become a voice for the small island. She’s made a big impact, and her many supporters have been sharing her success with the world.

seminars in partnership with Sakapfet OKAP, a multimedia platform dedicated to North Haiti, its inhabitants, events, history, culture and values. The organization’s name is derived from the name of the city of Okap (or Cap-Haitien).

For the past ten years, the Miss Heritage Global organization has used its global stage to educate the masses about heritage and diversity. Its 2022 pageant was hosted by actress and television host Khanyi Mbau and comedian Mpho Popps. The Kalahari Waterfront Lodge was brimming with excitement as Abigail’s name was called. She couldn’t contain her excitement as the former Miss South Africa 2020, Shudufhadzo Musida, crowned her. Abigail

walked away with a “Thohoyandou” crown designed by Akapo Dibenya Jewellers and a cash prize of $10,000.

In the future, Abigail hopes to share Haiti’s light in different parts of the world, just as her predecessors have done in the past. “As we move forward, Haiti will have a louder, more elevated voice in many nations as we trailblaze to illuminate Haiti as the amazing pearl that it is,” says Abigail.

Abigail is honored to have represented Haiti at the 2022 Miss Heritage Global Pageant, so her goal is to communicate her accomplishments with everyone. Her achievements include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Teaching digital entrepreneurship seminars in Haiti in collaboration with Boost Your Brand & Sakapfet OKAP

• Portray Haitian in a positive light in the media to advance tourism (in the safe parts of the country) and share the word with multiple Haitian businesses

• Donate soccer balls to local kids in Cap-Haitien

• Attend and host local events at the Little Haiti Cultural Center

• Attend press conferences and media shows to promote Haiti

Abigail would not be where she is without the love and support of her family, friends, mentors, and community. Thanks her support

systems and amazing sponsors, Abigail has shone a positive light on Haiti and all that the country can achieve when its community comes together.

My Lifesyle Magazine & Agency in partnership with Jabalí Private Aviation and Creative Affairs NYC.

Sendwave, an application that safely and quickly sends money from North America and Europe to numerous countries across

Africa and Asia.

Stylist Maritza Boudoir

Make Up Patrica Canvas

Designer Hermilia Yves

Designer Phelicia Dell

Designer Richard Petit, Papillon

Designer Dayanne Danier, Bien Abye

Luggage BVstylez

Trainer HaitiFit , Carlos Elie

Boost Your Brand Digital Marketing

As we move forward, Haiti will have a louder, more elevated voice in many nations as we trailblaze to illuminate Haiti as the amazing pearl that it is, says Abigail.

Group Sakapfet OKAP

Sunglasses

Brown Collection

Video Production Mike Sauers

Photo Jameson Thermitus, Verse Citi & Joe Wesley

Athleisure Wear Rebels and Stone

Nails & Hair ReNu Beauty Lounge

Safe Trips Haiti John-Wesley Pierre

FOLLOW

MIDELINE PHELIZOR

By Martine St. Hilaire

ideline Phelizor has taken a serious interest in beauty pageants because competing in them allows her to strengthen her self-confidence and project a positive image of her country, Haiti. The success she has achieved with modeling and the encouragement from her father motivated her to enter the beauty pageant world. In 2018, Mideline became a delegate at Miss World Haiti 2018 and was named first runner-up.

MISS UNIVERSE HAITI 2022 SHARES HER JOURNEY TO THE CROWN

Photo by Romero Giovanni Jadotte

“The hardest part is making the choice.” After a decision is made, it’s all about willpower and perseverance.

Mideline’s most cherished wish is for Haitians to return to the glory that characterizes the country’s history. Her desire is for Haitians to find a path to peace through effective dialogue and solidarity.

Maybeline Dugué Despagne

Photo by Romero Giovanni Jadotte

The Silhouette Agency Foundation is one of Mideline’s greatest accomplishments. It is a pleasure and a privilege for her to share her knowledge with over 50 young girls and boys. As leader of this organization, she prides herself in helping children improve their

walking techniques, posture, and overall stage presence. She feels this work contributes greatly to youth empowerment in general.

What gives Mideline added satisfaction is being an agent that children can depend on. She loves seeing the smiles on their faces whenever they are contracted for an industry gig she orchestrated. “Their reactions every time I find them paid contracts, which is very difficult and exceptional in Haiti, is why I do this,” says Mideline. It brings her joy to train and guide talented young people.

Mideline has advocated for children, especially orphans, since she was a child. At the time, she didn’t have her own non-profit organization, but that changed after she established the Silhouette Agency Foundation. She’s convinced the foundation will make a great impact in the Haitian community because she can reach many more people and sensitize them to respect the rights of children, especially orphans. “Silhouette Agency will help me formalize my actions and commit to more human and material resources around my ideals,” she says.

Mideline recalls that the moment she was crowned the Miss Universe Haiti in August 2022, time stopped. In shock, she said to herself, “Am I seriously the new Miss Universe Haiti?” She was elated to win the crown but, more importantly, learned an invaluable lesson that has become her new mantra: “The hardest part is making the choice.” She believes decision-making is the most difficult part of any dream one wants to achieve. After a decision is made, it’s all about willpower and perseverance.

For the first time, Mideline whole-heartedly enjoyed her beauty pageant experience from beginning to end. She has grown tremendously since she secured the 2022 crown. But don’t be fooled by her apparently effortless success. She experienced a high level of stress during the event. The way she faced her challenges

was by putting everything into perspective. She believes this led her to win the crown. Today, her primary objective is to continue to work hard so she can go as far as possible and represent Haiti to her fullest capacity.

In addition to maintaining international beauty standards, modern judges typically want to crown a contestant who has an appealing personality and intelligence. When we asked Mideline which of these qualities are more important to her and why, she replied that beauty and intelligence are not contradictory. In other words, intelligence helps her manage her beauty. These qualities complement each other. “In the past, women were told, ‘Be beautiful and shut up’ but fortunately those days are gone,” she says. These days, having a healthy mind and body is widely promoted throughout the Internet and in mass marketing.

Mideline plans to support women’s empowerment first, by promoting access to equal professional opportunities and pay equity. Pay equity is the concept of compensating employees who have similar job functions with comparably equal pay, regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, or other status. Mideline believes women should be paid exactly what they’re worth and that only women can determine that worth, especially if it’s a current occurrence in their lives.

When Madeline has the time, she relaxes by reading. She likes to learn as much as she can, and feels reading is the path to achieving that goal. “You learn so many things when you read more,” she says. Though she loves American television series, watching TV is more of a hobby, and one she’s been neglecting. She also enjoys playing games and partaking in sports to stay healthy.

Mideline plans to support women’s empowerment first, by promoting access to equal professional opportunities and pay equity. Pay equity is the concept of compensating employees who have similar job functions with comparably equal pay, regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, or other status. Mideline believes women should be paid exactly what they’re worth and that only women can determine that worth, especially if it’s a current occurrence in their lives.

MODE, CONCOURS DE BEAUTÉ ET CULTURE

By Thalie Mpouho + Photos by Sean Simpson of Creativ Magazine Inc

Enl’espace de 2 semaines, Haïti a fait l’actualité sur le sol étranger. Dans le sillage de la Fashion Week de Paris, l’équipe de CREATIV MAGAZINE de Miami en Floride a touché terre le 9 septembre pour lancer sa 52ème édition à Paris, France. Composé de Corhinn Brunot, fondatrice et rédactrice en chef, Jimmy Moïse, directeur du marketing, Sean Simpson, responsable de la photographie, Mike Sauers, responsable de la vidéographie, Maritza Guerrier, directrice de la mode créative avec des invités spéciaux Miss Heritage Haïti 2022, Abigail Pierre Louis, Fritz Gerald Gesse représentant haïtien d’Islande et Mercia Deroches de New York.

Cette délégation a été reçue à bras

ouverts par le Consulat d’Haïti à Paris dirigé par Monsieur James Samuel R. JULES, Ministre Conseiller et Chef de poste où la discussion sur les projets d’avenir a été le sujet brûlant de la soirée. Avec la présence de Miss Heritage Haïti, Abigail Pierre-Louis, la fierté et la gratitude se faisaient sentir dans la salle.

En collaboration avec la marque de lunettes solaire CLEGG fondée par la créatrice haïtienne Macdieunette Brutus et la companie de production ParaNews fondé par Tony Para et son associée Sonia Sadi, “2 Brands 1 Launch” est devenu le coup d’envoi de la Fashion Week de Paris. C’était la production de la saison avec la participation des noms les plus en vue de l’industrie de la mode parmis

lesquels ZACOMETI un designer Haitien et le compositeur et chanteur Haitien James Germain.

Après un premier défilé sur les Champs Elysées en Octobre 2021 CLEGG vient de confirmer son ascension fulgurante. Le 9 septembre, le célèbre salon des Miroirs de Paris accueillait le second défilé de la marque. Plus de 200 invités en ont pris plein la vue grâce à une nouvelle collection chic et haute en couleur de cette marque qui se veut inclusive.

Plusieurs mannequins, adultes comme enfants, ont représenté la diversité de Clegg en dévoilant de nouveaux modèles aux designs ambitieux : formes atypiques, montures singulières, mélanges de matériaux… La jeune marque est parvenue à séduire ses invités, parmi lesquels de nombreux influenceurs et personnalités françaises telles que Maxime Dereymez, ancien danseur de danse avec les stars ou encore l’animateur Vincent Mc Doom. Plusieurs membres de direction d’hôtels de luxes parisiens comme le Ritz ou le George V ont également

répondus à cet appel solaire de la mode. Côté ambiance, l’audience a été divertie avec des performances musicales interprétées par la chanteuse lyrique Nathalie Leonoff ainsi que les artistes pop Luc Nguyen et Rayno. Partenaire principal de l’événement. Le magazine américain CREATIV Magazine a également dévoilé en avant première son numéro de novembre avec en couverture la créatrice de Clegg. Une surprise à laquelle la créatrice ne s’attendait pas.

Bien que Clegg n’en soit qu’à son second défilé, la marque compte ouvrir par la suite des boutiques éphémères dans plusieurs villes françaises comme Paris, Lyon ou encore Marseille. L’objectif? Aller à la rencontre des clients Clegg, qui souhaitent s’affranchir des codes de la société avec des produits audacieux et de qualité.

La cerise sur le gâteau a été le suivi de Miss Heritage Haïti Abigail Pierre Louis, qui a remporté le concours de cette année en Afrique du Sud. Soutenue par une équipe de designers talentueux, de chefs, de coachs et d’autres services tous réalisés par des Haïtiens, elle a rayonné et illuminé la salle non seulement par sa beauté mais aussi de son intellect. Après avoir remporté la couronne, elle portera fièrement le manteau jusqu’à l’année prochaine tout en répandant l’amour et l’unité de notre héritage dans de nombreux autres pays.

800 Guests Attend Dîner en Blanc in Cap-Haïtien at Sold-Out Event

By Alex Popa

This year’s Dîner en Blanc was held in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, bringing together a few hundred Haitian Americans from around the world. With fine dining, good music, spectacular shows, and a city tour, Dîner en Blanc provides many opportunities for fun and enjoyment. All attendees must wear all-white clothing and bring their own tables, chairs, and picnic mats.

This year’s event is estimated to have contributed more than $600,000 to the Haitian economy.

WHAT IS DÎNER EN BLANC?

The chic outdoor dinner party originated in Paris in 1988 as a humble gathering of friends but has evolved into an international phenomenon held in more than 80 cities in 30 countries. Anyone can reserve a spot for in the majestic all-inclusive tour that lasts six days and five nights. Every group at the event has a table leader who must accompany them and bring them to the location.

The location remains a secret until the groups arrive. The event is shrouded in mystery from start to finish. After everyone has gathered, the official schedule begins. This year’s itinerary included:

A Tour of Okap City: a walkthrough of Place d’Armes, a public square that hosted many military executions in the 18th century;

Labadie Beach Tour: A day at the beach to enjoy the sun and the bluest waters of the Caribbean and sip on local beverages;

A Dîner en Blanc picnic party with group theme accessories; National History Park tour: hiking, horseback riding, and other adventures;

A Shopping Tour through Haiti’s best shopping centers to support the local economy.

WHY IS DÎNER EN BLANC ORGANIZED?

Every year, Dîner en Blanc is hosted in a random location worldwide, with invitees not knowing the exact location until they arrive. The general goal of Dîner en Blanc is to find a moment of respite and enjoy an unforgettable picnic and city tour, surrounded by the crème de la crème.

The main event, the Dîner en Blanc picnic, brought together more than 800 people this year, with 30% being local, 60% from the U.S. and Canada, and the rest from Europe. There has been an increase of approximately 63% in reserved spots since the 2019 edition. The sophisticated

event is enriched by the all-white apparel that everyone is required to wear, and the high-class events organized throughout the city.

The tourists had an excellent time touring the city and, fortunately, no unforeseen incidents interfered with the festivities. The local police and a private security force hired by the event organizers saw to that! The event organizer said everyone was thoroughly satisfied with the shopping tour because they got to play a small role in supporting the local economy.

HELPING HAITI IN ANY WAY

Interestingly, many event participants already contribute to

The main event, the Dîner en Blanc picnic, brought together more than 800 people this year, with 30% being local, 60% from the U.S. and Canada, and the rest from Europe.

Haiti’s economy, education, and social life. Angie Bell uses tourism events like Dîner en Blanc to promote efforts to keep the CapHaitien streets clean, while others engage in initiatives to help Haiti. Either way, every participant has been more than happy to help rebuild Haiti’s economy.

While posh and luxurious in its nature, this year’s Dîner en Blanc was more a philanthropic act than anything else. “To be completely transparent, Haiti is the least moneymaker for us,” said the organizer. “But the satisfaction comes with the impact it has on the local economy.” She also mentioned that this year she wanted to encourage Haiti’s economic revival by supporting local businesses.

While posh and luxurious in its nature, this year’s Dîner en Blanc was more a philanthropic act than anything else.

KEEP YOUR SPARK HACCOF’s YoPro 2022 Award Honorees

By Alex Popa

This year, on September 24, the 7th Annual Event of the Haitian American Chamber of Commerce of Florida (HACCOF) took place, a glamorous celebration of the top 20 under 40 Haitian American professionals. The Award Gala began with the keynote speaker, Gary Coichi, the founder of POD Digital Media, giving an encouraging remark to the YoPros: Keep Your Spark!

WHAT ARE HACCOF AND YOPRO?

The HACCOF is a leading American organization that advocates for the business ventures of Haitians and Haitian Americans. They’ve been holding Award YoPro Ceremonies since 2016. During the award galas, they award the top 20 Haitian American entrepreneurs under 40 for their profound impact on the community and achievements.

This year’s gala offered a glimpse of the future for the new generation of Haitian Americans. Katia M. Philippeaux, a former YoPro in 2017, did the opening sequence, where she explained more about HACCOF and what it does. Miss Katia was followed by HACCOF’s Chairwoman, Dr. Lumana Joseph, and the ViceChair, Prinston Jean-Glaude. They congratulated the young Haitian entrepreneurs on their achievements and wished them success further down the road. As leaders of the Haitian American community, it is their responsibility to inspire the next generation and

pave their way to a better future by building partnerships, organizing philanthropic initiatives, and giving back to the community.

WHAT DOES HACCOF WANT TO ACHIEVE?

The Haitian American Chamber of Commerce of Florida was created as a bridge between Haitians and America to encourage the development of new talents and celebrate their achievements. The organization is dedicated to improving the current state of the Haitian American community by helping young people become better people, professionally and socially.

So far, most of the HACCOF 20 under 40 YoPros have been involved, in some way, in community work. Either they contributed indirectly to humanitarian or philanthropic initiatives or took a more direct approach to helping the community. The HACCOF offers a sense of belonging, kinship, and community to those involved and fosters the idea of cooperation to reach success.

The HACCOF’s 2022 Annual Event celebrated this year’s YoPro generation, which, according to Gary Coichi, “is an amazing group of individuals, and it never ceases to amaze me how celebrative of our people we are.” He continued by saying that, in his view, this year’s YoPro individuals were the most ambitious and innovative he’s ever seen.

WHO ARE THE 2022 YOPRO AWARD WINNERS?

During the HACCOF Award Ceremony, the following individuals qualified for the YoPro 20 under 40 awards:

Rebecca Beliard: Entertainment attorney, public speaker, and business coach

Joane D. Celestin: Serial entrepreneur and human rights activist

Kristoffer Doura: Motivational speaker, financial consultant, and former football player

Vee Escarment: Entrepreneur, speaker, author, empowerment coach, and SAG AFTRA actress

Cassandra Esperant: HIV awareness advocate and practicing pharmacist

Martine Gordon: Volunteer, advocate for autism, child abuse, and domestic violence, and mentor

Tachana Joseph: Criminal policy analyst, photographer, philanthropist

Fosie Joseph-Norton: Executive Director at We Are Essential, LLC, and Deputy of Operations with the State of Maryland Department of Health

Job Jules – Credit consultant, life coach, community leader

Dr. Daniella Lamour: Emergency physician, published medical researcher

Dr. Deborah Elvire Lolo: Pharmacist, consultant, community leader

Whitney Lubin: Coding instructor, content creator, writer, entrepreneur

Marline Monestime: Community leader, environmental awareness advocate, Executive Director of the Haitian American Professionals Coalition

Claudia Norvilus: Volunteer, mentor, and Senior Product Marketing Manager for Locus Robotics

Rebecca-Beliard

Cassandra Esperant

Job J. Jules

Marline Monestime

Michaelle Darley Pierre

Sabrine Semoin MD

Vladimir St. Louis

Michaèl’s Déborah Saint -Vil

Claudia Norvilus John K. Philome

Dr. Daniella Lamour

Whitney Lubin

Ketia Pierre

Dr. Deborah Elvire Lolo

Martine Gordon Tachana Joseph-Marc Fosie Joseph-Norton, MPH

Celestin, Joane

Kristoffer Doura

Vee Escarment

John Philome: Parking Enforcement Specialist, Citizens Patroller, Crime Prevention Specialist, and Civilian Commander

Ketia Pierre: Operations Director of the Miami Workers Center, community leader, Women of Color Empowerment of Institute Fellow

Michaelle Pierre: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist,

Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and Ph.D. in Family Therapy

Michaèl’s Déborah Saint-Vil: Immigration Legal Services Manager in the Office of New American Division in Miami-Dade County

Dr. Sabrine Semoin: Board Certified General Surgeon, veteran of the United States Air Force, community leader

Vlamidir St. Lous: Special Agent with the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, community leader, and legal educator.

Every one of these individuals is a 2022 YoPro Award winner for good reasons, and we hope they’ll continue to improve the Haitian American community in the future!

2022 Valedictorian Dr Sabrina Semoin

2022 Valedictorian Dr. Sabrina Semoin

Crowd Shots from the event

2022 YoPro Class

2017 YoPro Chairwoman - Katia Philippeaux

Crowd Shots from the event

2022 Honorary YoPro Dr. Jeff Rocker

Bright Star Award Recipient Samaelle Louis

Crowd Shots from the event 2

HACCOF Founder Philippe R. Armand, MBA

HACCOF Chairwoman Owner of Lumana Physical Therapy Dr Lumana Joseph

HACCOF Vice Chairman CEO and Co-Owner of Primary Medical Center Prinston Jean-Glaude Keynote Speaker Gary Coichy

HACCOF Chairwoman Owner of Lumana Physical Therapy Dr. Lumana Joseph

Performance by Enposib

2022 Daniel Fils-Aime Award Recipient Stephane Rosaroin

2022 International YoPro Samuel Darguin

2022 Valedictorian Doctor Sabrina Semoin 2017 YoPro Chairwoman Katia Philippeaux

Chairwoman Dr. Lumana Joseph with former chair and Yopro creator Jeff Lozama

SUDDEN PASSING OF HAITIAN ICON MIKABEN LEAVES HAITIAN COMMUNITY REELING

By Martine St. Hilaire

On October 15, Haitians everywhere were shocked and saddened by the untimely and tragic passing of Michael Benjamin, professionally known as Mikaben. The multitalented singer, 41 years old, was performing at Paris’ Accor Arena with the Haitian compa band, CaRiMi, when he collapsed onstage. According to Miami Herald, he died shortly after the concert ended. As medics worked to revive him with CPR, fans were asked to leave the venue. A cause of death has not yet been revealed.

Mikaben was a multitalented polyglot artist who performed in English, Creole, French, and occasionally Spanish. He gained fame as a vocalist, songwriter, composer, and producer. Accompanied by his guitar or a full band, Mikaben had successfully managed to become one of the rare artists of his generation to excel in several musical genres. His catalogue comprises of compa direct, World Music, Antillean Zouk, dancehall, reggae, R&B and hip-hop.

Mikaben was born in Port-auPrince, Haiti on June 27, 1981. He was the son of the legendary Haitian singer Lionel “Pére Noël” Benjamin and his wife, Roseline Dupoux Benjamin. Mikaben’s wife, Vanessa Fanfan, was pregnant with the couple’s second

biological child at the time of his passing. The baby is due in December 2022. They have a daughter named Leia Benjamin, and Mikaben’s son, Gabriel Benjamin, was born from a previous relationship.

Mikaben was known as a man of the people, and many of his followers have reached out to contribute to his family in any way they can. Vanessa has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of concern and care from everyone her husband touched with his amazing soul.

Mikaben played multiple instruments including the guitar, keyboard, bass, and drums. He discovered his passion for music at

Following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, he recorded “Ayti Se” (Haiti is) and played it in front of former U.S. President Bill Clinton and a multitude of mourners during a remembrance of the devastation that killed over 300,000 people and displaced 1.5 million.

the age of 15 and was soon performing in public. At 16, he traveled to Canada to continue his education and indulge in the arts. In Montreal, he participated in an annual holiday competition where the music was sponsored by TELEMAX, a recognized Haitian television station. Michael’s song, “Nwèl Tristès,” was ranked in fourth place. Mikaben produced and performed on several songs by CaRiMi. Their collaboration “Baby I Miss You” has over 3 million views on YouTube. The song “Fanm sa Move” has over 2 million views. Mikaben multiplied his success by collaborating with amazing talents including his musician father T-Vice, J. Perry, Leila Chicot, Kreyol La, Bélo, Alan Cave, Stanley Georges, Izolan, Olivier Duret, and Wesli Band, among others.

After experiencing some success in Canada, opportunities appeared quickly for Mikaben. He was convinced he was destined to pursue a professional music career and recorded his first solo album, “VWAYAJ”, in Montreal. The album was released in December 2000 and sold more than 70,000 copies – a record for a Haitian. This catapulted Mikaben’s fame.

In May 2004, Mikaben launched his second album, “MIKA.” His established success in Canada allowed him to perform in Les Francofolies, an annual music festival usually held in July that aims to promote Frenchlanguage music. This festival typically tours Chicoutimi, Ottawa, Quebec and Montreal.

Mikaben returned to Haiti in March 2005 after being urged by his cousin,

David Dupoux, an instrumentalist, to join his band, Krezi Mizik. Being the family-oriented man that he was, Mikaben agreed to temporarily put his solo career on the back burner. Since the group’s launch in May 2005, they have found great success. Mikaben released two albums with them, one studio-recorded and one live. He and the band toured the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, France, and Belgium.

In 2010, after the earthquake, Mikaben expressed his sorrow for the victims through a poignant composition entitled “Yon Ti Souf Pou Ayiti.” This experience inspired him to launch Ti Souf Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to bring joy to the children of Haiti. In the summer following the earthquake, he released an album entitled “Atis Lokal Pap Janm Lague,” which became

a huge success in Haiti.

Mikaben released his final album, “MKBN”, in 2018. He started touring to promote it and performed in both Haiti and the U.S. He was planning future tours in Canada, Europe, the French Antilles, and Africa. With over 15 years of experience in music, he charmed music lovers worldwide. Since his death, tributes have poured in on social media. Wyclef Jean called Mikaben “one of the most inflectional and inspirational young artists of our generation.”

During his free time, Mikaben was committed to charitable work, joining organizations like Fleur De Vie to support children during backto-school events. “Mikaben’s strong personality and charisma were undeniable,” his label, PlaybookMG, said in a statement. For more than two decades, he dedicated himself to generating positivity through platforms that connected him with people around the globe.

The Benjamin Family expressed gratitude for all the support and requested patience in a statement. They also advised followers to avoid contributing to false GoFundMe accounts in Mikaben’s name. They want to have one specific place to go for anyone wants to contribute. “We appreciate your understanding in allowing the family to grieve privately,” a family member said in an October 18 statement.

On October 28, a memorial in his honor took place at the Little Haiti Cultural Center in Miami. Miami artists honored his memory in a special musical homage. “Guests had the opportunity to lay roses at the Little Haiti Memorial Living Wall,” said promoter Terry Louis, according to the Miami Herald.

Michael “Mikaben” Benjamin will forever be remembered and loved. Proceeds from donations will be allocated to his three children’s college funds and the Ti Souf Foundation.

Wyclef Jean called Mikaben “one of the most inflectional and inspirational young artists of our generation.”

Mikaben’s wife, Vanessa Fanfan, was pregnant with the couple’s second biological child at the time of his passing. The baby is due in December 2022.