State Rep. Marie St. Fleur, lauded by Haitians across the U.S. for her pioneering role as the nation's first Haitian-American lawmaker, gained further strides in the Massachusetts Legislature in 2003. A key lieutenant to powerful House Speaker Tom Finneran, St. Fleur was once again elevated to a leadership position, this time as chairwoman of the Legislature's Committee on Education.
The presenters discussed topics ranging from democratic reform and transition in Haiti to health concerns in the Haitian diaspora. One presentation by Lunine Pierre-Jerome, Ed.D., titled "Identity Development among Low-Literacy Haitian Adolescent Newcomers: Collective and Integrative View of the Self" was particularly poignant. Dr. Pierre-Jerome's case study explored how low-literacy Haitian adolescent newcomers identify themselves; their perceptions of family, peer relationships, community and schooling; and their opinions about attending a literacy program.
