(NORTH MIAMI BEACH) — This year’s Thanksgiving celebration is going to look very different – compared to last year – for the residents of North Miami Beach, as Haitian-American Commissioner Paule Villard has proudly partnered with the office of Miami-Dade County District 2 Commissioner Jean Monestime and well-known South Florida entrepreneur Prinston Jean-Glaude, CEO and President of Primary Medical Care Center, to host the 1st annual North Miami Beach Thanksgiving Block Luncheon.
The community event, which is scheduled for Saturday November 20th, will take place at Philippe Derose International Flowering Tree Garden (1300 NE 159th St, North Miami Beach, FL 33162) from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The gathering will be an opportunity for the organizers, particularly Commissioner Paule Villard, the first female of Haitian descent to be elected to the city’s council, to honor Philippe Derose, a trailblazer.
“One of the main reasons I took the initiative to organize this community luncheon is a way to bring the government to the community,” explained Commissioner Villard.
“This event will definitely be an occasion for elected officials and residents to socialize, meaning eating and enjoying a good moment together in the spirit of Thanksgiving.”
“This will also be a great occasion for the residents of the city to have some conversations with the members of the government, where they (residents) can ask questions about some issues and concerns they may have,” added the first Haitian-American female ever elected to the North Miami Beach City Council.
According to Commissioner Villard, several local vendors will be there to give away their products and let people know about the services their companies provide.
While the participants will enjoy a free meal, more than one thousand turkeys will be given away. The guests will also have a chance to participate at a raffle to win some free flat screen TVs.
Entrepreneur Prinston Jean-Glaude, CEO and President of Primary Medical Care Center, and the office of Miami-Dade District 2 Commissioner, Jean Monestime, are the ones who sponsor the free turkey and free meal event.
There will be musical entertainment, arts and crafts, and games. It is going to be fun, especially for the kids, since there will be a lot of activities for them, including face paintings.
Tabou Combo singer and percussionist Yvon ‘Kapi’ André will sing the national anthem of Haiti (La Dessalinienne). The American anthem will be sung by another local artist. DJ Paz and ‘Rara Lakay’ will bring full music animation to the event. Participants will enjoy a memorable good time at Philippe Derose International Flowering Tree Garden for the four-hour event.
For Commissioner Villard, the choice of honoring the former Village of El Portal mayor and North Miami Beach Commissioner Philippe Derose at this first edition of North Miami Beach Thanksgiving Block Luncheon is significant.
“Philippe Derose is the one who was brave enough to run for public office in the early 90’s, almost three decades ago, when the Haitian community did not have the number of votes it has today,” said Commissioner Villard. “Derose is really a trailblazer whom, we as a community, need to never forget that he had broken the barrier in US politics for this new generation of Haitian-American elected officials. If we have so many Haitian-American elected officials in the United State of America today, particularly the southern region of Florida, we have to remember that Derose is the one who opened the door for us. Therefore, we need to show him gratitude while he is alive.”
Philippe Derose, the first Haitian-American elected into public office in the United States
Philippe Derose was born on November 22, 1952 in the commune of Liancourt, Haiti. He grew up in the town of St. Marc. Desiring to come to America in search of a better life, he moved with his wife, Marie, from Haiti to Brooklyn, New York in 1974. He completed his high school equivalency in 1976 and from 1977 to 1979, Derose attended York College. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Psychology at California Coast University.
In 1990, while he was living in the Village of El Portal, Derose noticed at the time that there was a small Haitian community in the area. When he began to attend Homeowner’s Association (HOA) Meetings in his residential community, he developed his passion as an advocate for the community and after garnering support from his peers, he became a voice for the community.
In 1990, Philippe Derose ran his first political race, attempting to be elected to the city council of the Village of El Portal. He was unsuccessful. He ran for city council again in 1991 and was unsuccessful for a second time.
With two years of unsuccessful attempts at securing a position in public office, Derose changed his strategy when he ran for city council a third time in 1992. In the first two years he had campaigned, he concentrated solely on Haitian-American voters. When he re-developed his campaign strategy in 1992, he realized he needed to gain the support of the Anglo and Hispanic voters, so his new strategy included targeting all ethnic groups.
In 1993, after a strong campaign with this new strategy, he came in first (obtaining the most votes) member of the Village of El Portal City Council), becoming the first Haitian-American elected to public office in the United States.
After serving as Mayor of the Village of El Portal for one year, Derose voluntarily vacated his seat and was elected to the North Miami Beach City Council.
As a Councilman for the City of North Miami Beach, one of Derose’s major platforms was the beautification of the community, especially the planting and healthy maintenance of trees, shrubs, and greenery. A nature-lover, Derose commemorated Arbor Day by orchestrating community initiatives to plant trees and distribute seedlings to residents.
Derose served on the North Miami Beach City Council as Councilman between 2003 and 2013.
All are welcome!
The North Miami Beach Thanksgiving Block Luncheon, on Saturday November 20th, is the kick-off of what is expected to be an annual community gathering on Thanksgiving week at Philippe Derose International Flowering Tree Garden. Each year, according to Villard, a community builder or a trailblazer will be honored for his/her contribution in the progress of South Florida’s Haitian community.
This event will celebrate the city of North Miami Beach’s Haitian community and is made possible through the generosity and support of caring individuals and organizations throughout the South Florida region.
Thanksgiving is a time in the United States when we are reminded to be grateful not just for the incredible freedom, hope, and opportunity provided us in this country, but also to remember and honor the men and women who have gone before us, paving trails where none had existed before and creating a light that others can follow. When one man or woman opens a previously closed door, it inspires, so let us be inspired this year by Philippe Derose and his wonderful contributions to the Haitian-American community of South Florida as well as the rest of the US.
Join the entire government of the city of North Miami Beach for a Thanksgiving luncheon! Bring family and friends to celebrate together and give thanks. All are welcome!
Dessalines Ferdinand / Le Floridien
