"I know he's looking down now on [President Obama] saying, 'Good job Barack, but you've got a lot more to do,'" said [Joseph Biden], who was introduced by the university's interim president, Sandra T. Thompson. "It's not merely the news reel, this is zeal," he said of the earthquake's impact on Haitian-Americans. "It's about their brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers." Of his visit to Miami's Haitian community, the vice president said his attempt to participate in an "off-the-record" visit to a church so that he could attend a Catholic Mass in Little Haiti resulted in Haitian-Americans demonstrating tremendous generosity, "even in the midst of their grief."
MIAMI - Haiti Kids Foundation Chairman Jesse Johnson cycled into Toussaint L'ouverture Elementary School in Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood last month, ending his 4,000-mile in 40 days cross country "Bike for Haiti Kids" trip. "My hope all along was that people will be inspired by this ride to learn more about the children of Haiti, and get involved in making life changing improvements in their lives," said Johnson. "Even if people contribute only a few dollars, that money will make a difference to a child in need."
[Jean Louis]' photography's diverse portrayal of Haiti is why [Eveline Pierre] chose to showcase his work during the week of the internationally renowned art exhibit, Art Basel. "We just felt it was really important to capitalize on this time," explained Pierre, "to...give the community an understanding of who the Haitian community is through this artist."
"She's a storyteller and what she has done over the years is to bring Haiti's story back home," [Audra DS Burch] said in an interview. "She's an intrepid reporter, she's smart, she's dogged. She has an energy about her that really comes through in her writing. And she's humble." "I don't think either one of us expected the amount of death that we saw," [Patrick Farrell] said. "The flooded river had dragged these kids out of their homes. At one point, we saw 12 bodies. [[Jacqueline Charles]] was so cool under pressure, especially since these are her people. You could see the emotion was there but it wasn't going to stop her from doing her job." A TEAR FOR HAITI: A cousin's death in Haiti made Miami Herald reporter Jacqueline Charles understand even more the pain of a nation. Here she is being interviewed for a Miami Herald video documentary, Nou Bouke ("We are Tired"), shot by Jose A. Iglesias of El Nuevo Herald. Photo used with permission of The Miami Herald.
The study found that Creole and French-language media in Miami have a significant dual function for the Haitian community, "fostering societal cohesion and immigrant incorporation" while, at the same time, helping Haitians living in Miami to "keep informed about and participate in what is happening in Haiti." "We wanted to look at the Haitian media in greater Miami because the community is the largest Haitian community in the country and the second-largest national origin group in Miami Dade County, yet little is known about its media in the larger society." "In the first days of the catastrophe, they all went to English-speaking television, whether they could understand it or not," said Tsitsi Wakhisi, associate professor of Professional Practice in Journalism at the U.M. School of Communication and another co-author of the report. "The people were looking for on-the-ground coverage, while using their cell phones to try to reach people in Haiti. Once American networks stopped their coverage, they relied on Haitian media."
This year's Miami concert is a continuation of this ongoing goodwill project, bringing together a host of internationally renowned celebrities, reggae, R&B, and hip-hop artists in an all-day Carnival event with food, arts, crafts, and a vast array of entertainment. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Wyclef Jean Foundation and be donated to charitable organizations. Proceeds from last year's Miami Carnival were given to VHI's "Save The Music" and Oeuvres de Petites Ecoles de P. Bohnen (through Fondation Artistes Creation, a not-for- profit Haitian organization). "Guantanamera," a single from "Wyclef Jean Presents the Carnival," featuring Celia Cruz and Jeni Fujita, was nominated for the Best Rap Performance By A Duo or Group. The following year, Wyclef Jean's single, "Gone Till November," was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Rap Solo Performance category.
