By Dessalines Ferdinand
On Saturday, November 18, 2023, the Association of Miramar Haitian-American Residents and Business Owners (MHARBO) hosted its annual Haitian Resources Fair of Broward at Saint Bartholomew Catholic Church Parish Hall.
For the Executive Board members, attendance at this second edition, organized in partnership with the office of Florida State Representative Marie Paule Woodson, was good, considering that it was a rainy day in the southern part of Broward County. This weather condition undoubtedly impacted the turnout.
MHARBO’s main mission is to enhance the representation of Haitians living and conducting business in the city of Miramar through advocacy, community leadership, education, economic development, and government relationships.
In addition to speakers from the City of Miramar government and the office of Haitian-American Florida State Representative (District 105) Marie Paule Woodson, MHARBO brought representatives this year from other high-level elected officials’ offices in South Florida, including U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus McCormick (Florida District 20th), U.S. Congresswoman Deborah ‘Debbie’ Wasserman Schultz (Florida District 25th), and Broward Commissioner Tim Ryan (District 7).
During the event’s introduction, Ms. Farah Larrieux, Chair of the Executive Board, highlighted the association’s goals, which include representing the interests of the Haitian community within the city of Miramar, providing networking opportunities, strengthening the city’s economy, and developing community leaders.
Ms. Larrieux proceeded to introduce the founding members and shared some of MHARBO’s accomplishments since its establishment in 2019. The Chairwoman of the organization expressed sincere gratitude to those who, she mentioned, volunteered, sacrificed their time, and worked diligently to ensure that this second Haitian Resources Fair of Broward was once again a success. Other board members, including Vice-Chair Romane Petit Joseph, Secretary Lucner Nelson, Treasurer Ernst Montoban, and Advisor Margarette Nerette, echoed the same sentiment. They also extended their appreciation to sponsors, the Haitian media, exhibitors, and vendors for their valuable contributions.
Many speakers who have embraced MHARBO’s vision addressed the audience on that Saturday, sharing valuable information and available resources with the residents of Miramar. These speakers included elected officials, government agency representatives, and business partners offering free services. U.S. Congresswoman Deborah ‘Debbie’ Wasserman Schultz was the first to address the participants, followed by Florida State Representative (District 105) Marie Paule Woodson, the only Haitian-American from Broward County in the Florida House.
“I am all about services. MHARBO is a Haitian-led organization. They are helping everyone, but they are focusing on the Haitian community because, as a Haitian-American elected official, I can say that because the language is not ours, it is harder for us to know about some of the resources that are available. And there is nothing better than we can do to educate our people as well so they can get full access to the system that we have,” Woodson said. “Let’s stick together. Let’s work with all the other community groups to educate all the communities. I want you to continue to support MHARBO, to give MHARBO the support that it needs to fulfill its mission.”
“Let me tell you something: Haitians are here to stay. We are not going anywhere. We have contributed at all levels of this United States of America,” she later added.
Among other speakers who addressed the participants were representatives from the office of U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus McCormick, Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam’s office, Miramar Vice-Mayor Yvette Colbourne’s office, and the Miramar Police Department.
Representatives of several local organizations, such as the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC), Broward Supervisor of Elections, Broward Office of Economic and Small Business Development, and Broward Supervisor of Elections, also addressed the gathering.
The event provided an opportunity for numerous local vendors and organizations to showcase their products and share resources with participants. Among them were Career Source of Broward, Memorial Health System, Haitian Lawyers Association, Thelar Management Group, City of Miramar, 1199SEIU, and Hispanic Unity of Florida.
MHARBO is a crucial component of the city of Miramar and a valuable resource for its residents, particularly members of the Haitian community. However, its impact extends beyond Haitian-Americans to include all Americans and immigrants striving to make Miramar and the rest of South Florida a wonderful place to live, raise a family, and build a business.
It is imperative for each of us to support organizations like MHARBO, become members, and attend events like this. When our political leaders see increasing numbers of us participating, it sends a clear message to pay attention and not ignore such a worthy cause. Let’s unite as a community to support MHARBO and the work it’s doing on our behalf, demonstrating our support in all weather conditions, because they consistently support us.
