By Dessalines Ferdinand
On Saturday, March 25th, the Center for Haitian Studies (CHS), a duly registered non-profit health and social service organization founded in 1988, hosted an invitation-only Gala at FIU Kovens Conference Center in North Miami to celebrate its 35th anniversary.
With the purpose of serving the disenfranchised Multi-Ethnic populations of Little Haiti/Little River in Miami, Florida, with a focus on undocumented individuals, the CHS clinic not only provides health services free of charge, but it also provides patients with a culturally sensitive atmosphere.
The health and human services Little Haiti-based community center takes care of anyone who needs medical attention.
The event provided an opportunity to reflect on its storied history, commemorate achievements made on behalf of members, recognize its partners, and honor the many people who have helped to shape the trajectory of the center in the region.
The evening also highlighted many past and former board members who have advocated for a better healthcare system for the underserved population in Miami-Dade County, while raising awareness for the organization’s work to drive meaningful, transformational change for the healthcare industry in the region.
The theme of the gala was, “Passing the Torch.” The social and cultural event was a great occasion for attendees to get to know about the valuable works this amazing non-profit organization has been doing in the health sector in South Florida region. It was the first-ever ‘genre’ event held by the Center for Haitian Studies during its more than three decades of existence. The invitees were more than happy to share this wonderful moment with the administrative and medical staff, understanding that their work deserves acknowledgement and appreciation.
The event started around 7pm with a reunion and networking opportunity among the attendees in the large lobby of the Kovens Center, where delicious wine and savory appetizers were passed around. The atmosphere from the start of the evening was charming and the people were cordial and easy-going. Engaging, and respectful conversations surrounded the event.
It was exactly 8:37pm when CHS’s longtime board member and grassroots community organizer Leonie Hermatin took the stage to officially welcome more than 250 guests before introducing North Miami City Clerk Vanessa Joseph, Esq. as the Mistress of the Ceremony.
Ms. Joseph placed the Saturday night event in its proper context. She went on to paint a picture about the foundation of South Florida’s Haitian Community in the early 1970’s, and the role the Center for Haitian Studies, Health & Human Services, has played to contribute to this vibrant community.
Keeping up with protocol traditions, the MC took some time to acknowledge the few elected and appointed officials who were in attendance, such as Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade District 2 Commissioner Marleine Bastien, Miami-Dade District 3 Commissioner Keon Hardemon, US States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe, and North Miami Mayor Dr. Alix Desulme. As a CHS family event, many former and present employees at all levels were also in attendance.
Among the speakers was Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. Addressing the crowd, the honorable mayor highlighted the valuable work CHS has been doing, especially during the Covid crisis period and how the health center helped people get vaccinated. “It’s been a great honor to partner and support this great organization,” said the first female mayor of the most populated county in Florida. “By helping to get the resources they need, whether funds or other assistance, my former colleague Commissioner Jean Monestime had always pushing us to do the right things, and we are always proud to do the right thing because CHS is doing the right thing to help those in need.”
Father Reginald Jean-Mary, administrator of Notre Dame d’Haiti, Mission in Miami, was then called to the podium to deliver the invocation. Following the priest’s benediction, a recorded documentary played which featured many people, former and present staff members, telling stories of the contributions of CHS in the health sector in South Florida, and also of patients giving testimonies about how the Little Haiti-based organization helped them improve their health after confronting some medical issues.
In his address, Dr. Larinus “Larry” Pierre, M.D., M.P.H., Founder and Executive Director for the Center for Haitian Studies, elaborated on the pivotal role played by the Center to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in the region starting in the late 1980s when Haitians were stigmatized and erroneously identified by the US government as one of the four risk factors for contracting the disease. He sadly recalled how many Haitians in Miami-Dade County who died from the disease were afraid to seek help because of their undocumented immigration status. However, he proudly enumerated the many accomplishments of the community health organization in the health sector as well as its enormous contributions in training physicians, medical students and researchers.
Dr. Pierre, 70, had some particular words of gratitude for prominent guests from the Jackson Health System and the University Miami School of Medicine who were present. Those institutions are two of the longtime partners of the center, besides Miami Dade County. Of course, the strong leadership culture of community empowerment of Mayor Cava also received some well-deserved recognition in Dr. Pierre’s speech.
“There is no doubt that without the support and collaboration of our partners, CHS would not be able to serve the underserved communities in South Florida,” said the longtime Miami-Dade County resident, who himself is a fine product of University of Miami. Pierre attended medical school in Port-au-Prince. He then then moved to Miami in 1987 to attend the University of Miami through a scholarship. He went on to add, “Those important partners have allowed us to fund critical initiatives geared toward driving necessary and sustained change in our community. As we look to the future, we thank all our supporters who make our mission possible and who have been committed partners on this journey with us.”
Dr. Pierre humbly and sincerely thanked all CHS board members, staff, affiliates, colleagues, family, and friends for their support to CHS throughout the years. It truly was a terrific night and the founder was happy to share it with the numerous members and guests.
Thirty-five years after founding the community center, Dr. Pierre is still leading the Haitian health fight, and is indisputably a pioneering doctor, a true community leader and an empowered man. The gala was the opportunity for CHS’s Executive Board members to officially start the process of passing the torch to a new generation of community leaders.
Three young physicians will have to carry the torch of the community health organization. They were introduced on that night. One by one, CHS’s board members assessed their academic qualifications and clinical practice history. The three young physicians are: Rimsky Denis, MD, MPH, MBA (Interventional and Structural Cardiology Fellow at The Johns Hopkins University), Julie A. Cadet-Plassman, MD (a Family Practice Specialist in North Miami), and Joseph Durandis, MD (a Family Medicine Specialist in Miami).
As part of the celebration, the healthcare center recognized the valuable contributions through the years of many former and present board members and administrative staff, such as Dr. Georges Metellus, MD, MPH, (Administrator at CHS), Dr. Jenny Drice, MD (an internist at Jackson Memorial Hospital), Dr. Barth Armand Green, MD (World-Renowned Neurosurgeon and Humanitarian), Dr. Michel J. Dodard, MD (a retired Family Medicine Doctor in Miami), Dr. Jean Baptiste L. Charlot (a retired obstetrician-gynecologist in Miami), Joseph Durandis, MD (Family Medicine Specialist in Miami), Dyenann B. Conde (Nurse Practitioner at CHS), Gina Augustin (Nurse/Receptionist at CHS). All the honorees introduced by Taisha Pierre (Dr. Pierre’s daughter) received a Recognition Award Plaque during the event.
Dr. J. Bryan Page, PhD, professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Miami, had the honor of delivering the closing remarks. Afterward, renowned Haitian pianist and composer, Reginald Policard (Policard Band & Croll Music), entertained the well-dressed crowd for a 30 minute performance. A local DJ took over afterward to play the best of Haitian compas music until the last couple left the dance floor around 11pm.
The Center for Haitian Studies remains a critical piece of our South Florida culture and livelihood. This event was a celebration of all those who have had some small or large role in this amazing organization. We look forward to another 30 years and more of the CHS’ contributions to us and future generations of immigrants from Haiti and elsewhere, forging a stronger, more unified South Florida that may spread across the state and inspire the rest of the country and the world.