NORTH MIAMI (Le Floridien) — Since its official luncheon last summer, MJC Wellness and Community Center, a local not-for-profit organization lead by the young and dynamic Emmanuela Fleurimont -better known in the Haitian Community as ‘Manou’- has not stopped in fulfilling its main mission to provide services and health-related information to seniors and immigrants so they can live full, healthy lives.
Throughout 2018, MJD Wellness and Community Center was very active in the community. Most every last Saturday of each month, members of the board and dozens of volunteers gathered at a community location such as Saint-James Catholic Church in North Miami and City of Miami Little Haiti Net Office for its monthly “Health and Wellness Food Drive” where participants received free basic medical checkups and food.
Some events were larger than these food drives, though. For example, two major events didn’t avoid notice this past year: The Community Health and Wellness Fair held on Saturday, August 25 at the Miami Little Haiti Net Office in Little Haiti, and the “3rd Annual Health & Wellness Festival” held at Griffin Park in North Miami on Saturday, October 13. These were just two events that boost the importance of this local organization in the eyes of the South Florida Haitian Community. While music was part of those two events, with performances by many well-known artists, more importantly, the participants received many free services [Citizenship Drive, Vision Screen/Dental Cleaning for Kids and Adults, HIV and STD Screening, Health Insurance Application Enrollment, etc.] at both events. Enjoying a good time in a community environment with free food and drink, participants also had the opportunity to get tested for some diseases in order to better understand their current health condition.
Itʻs important to note that MJD Wellness and Community Center board members alone cannot do this work by themselves. The support of some volunteers is to be taken into consideration regarding the success of the organization.
Psychologists contend that gratitude is more than feeling thankful for something; it is more like a deep appreciation for someone (or something) which produces longer lasting positivity. That is why, on Saturday, December 8th, the board organized “The Volunteers Celebration Party” at Griffin Community Center in North Miami to show their appreciation to six volunteers for their tremendous support to the organization. Myrlouse Forestal, Delince Jean Baptiste, Andrew Elijah Joseph, Rachel Tanis, and Manuela Victor-Tern received the “Volunteer Award” during the celebration. Mrs. Rose Coriolan, General Manager at WSRF AM Planet Radio 1580 AM, received the ‘Board Member of the Year Award’ for her three years of dedication and commitment to the organization.
This last activity of the year 2018 was a great celebration where attendees had a chance to listen to numerous speakers and enjoy five hours of wonderful entertainment, food, and festivities during the holiday season.
MJD Wellness and Community Center is also considered a training academy for devoted young volunteers to learn about social and community involvement. Some volunteers seemed to be especially grateful for the opportunity offered by this local not-for-profit organization.
Anne Noel, who has been involved with the local organization for a year as Registration Manager, praised the board members in an email: “Volunteering for MJD gave me a sense of purpose again, it helped developed my character as a Christian, it also thought [sic] me that working was not mainly about making money and providing a living for myself. It prepared me for the job I was going to get a month later knowing that who I work for and serve is more important than what I do.”
As 2019 has just started, positive sentiment among the board is already high for the new year. The local organization has published its events calendar, a total of seventeen for 2019. HEALTH EXPO and HEALTH WELLNESS FOOD DRIVE (taking place essentially each month), the 2ND ANNUAL HEALTH & WELLNESS FAIR AT LITTLE HAITI, the 4TH ANNUAL HEALTH & WELLNESS FESTIVAL NORTH MIAMI, and the VOLUNTEERS APPRECIATION DAY Party are the various activities members of the community should take part in this year.
MJD Wellness and Community Center continue to lead the way for a stronger, better, healthier community. As members of that community, it’s our responsibility to remain diligent, support these worthy causes and events, share information about them with friends, family, and neighbors, and to consider offering our time wherever we can be. With leaders like MJD Wellness and Community Center, our potential is only limited by our capacity to do good for and to one another.
May 2019 be a year to remember for our community.