The second annual International Congress of the Haitian Diaspora will take place August 6-9, 2009 at Trump International Beach Resorts in Miami Beach, Florida.  The purpose of the event is to capitalize on the resources that the Diaspora can bring to help build Haiti’s economy.  The agenda includes a variety of issues such as boosting tourism, stimulating agricultural production, restoring forests and ecology, managing water supplies, preparing for disasters, achieving literacy, and job creation.  A schedule of events is copied below.  If you would like to participate, you can register here. Contact information is listed below if you want to volunteer. Read more »

Haiti Pro is new website for entrepreneurs interested in private sector solutions to Haiti's developmental challenges.  Haiti Pro Members can easily share videos of their ideas and efforts.  There are already a number of interesting clips on topics including dairy franchising, wood charcoal alternatives, reforestation, and women's groups.  Below are summaries of the clips that are in Kreyol and/or French.  Consider joining if you are interested in small business development in Haiti.

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The Annual National Congress & Convention of Haitian-Americans is a partnership between the Haitian League and the Haitian-American Leadership Council.  From October 10-12, members of the Haitian Diaspora came together to discuss how they could contribute to Haiti's development.  Topics discussed included remittances, direct investment, development assistance, dual citizenship, and adovcacy.  Below is a summary of the discussion and a list of next steps.  The Diaspora has much to offer and forums such as this help to keep Haitians abroad connected.  Read more »

There have been many changes at Haiti Innovation over the past year.  With the invaluable assistance of Development Seed, the organization which designed the Haiti Innovation website, we've effectively made the transition to a no cost, non profit consultancy.  We now regularly provide technical assistance, guidance and contacts to individuals and organizations who are currently working in Haiti or interested in doing so. We also speak frequently with journalists to help impart a more balanced view of Haiti and the developmental challenges the country faces.  And of course, we continue to blog.  Haiti Innovation is growing and we want you to be an active member of our community. Read more »

Every county has a Diaspora.  The governments of some countries such as El Salvador actively encourage their Diaspora to participate in the country by voting, investing, and applying (or runnning for) government positions. Haiti is behind the curve in this respect.  However, the Haitian Diaspora has knowledge, skills, and resources with which to make a difference.  The Internet is an excellent way to engage them.   An entrepeunerial individual from Thomonde where I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer has created Thomonde.com.  It could be a model for other Diaspora communities. Read more »

The International Crisis Group, an NGO with expertise on preventing and responding to emergencies, has released a report entitled "Peacebuilding Haiti: Including Haitians from Abroad" The report argues that the Haitian government needs to implement a long term disaspora policy with the support of the international community.  With the Diaspora being over three million strong and possessing skills, connections, and resources that would be useful in the reconstruction of the country, we could not agree more.  Seeting aside one day a year for the Diaspora is not enough - we need ongoing engagement. Read more »

Members of the Haiti Innovation Community are by now no doubt familiar with the organization Partners in Health and the pionerring work their team has done in Haiti bringing community based health care to  the lowest possible resource settings, and in particular, developing novel new approaches to treating both HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis.

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Partners in Health, the Haitian organization which pioneered community based treatment of HIV/AIDS in low resource settings, is now operating in a third African country, Malawi. Read more »

Read more »Greetings, it is my honor to inform you about the 10th Annual National Haitian Student Conference. This event will be taking place on March 2 - 4, 2007 at Pennsylvania State University. This event is being hosted by the Pennsylvania Haitian Student Association, a statewide organization dedicated to the empowerment of Haitian/Haitian-American students as well as the development of the Haitian community in Pennsylvania.

Migration is an interesting lens with which to view Haiti and the United States, Neither would exist without migration. Immigrants to each country displaced Native Indian populations. Slaves were forced to come to each. People in Haiti and the US are mobile. Read more »