|
BHF Quarterly Newsletter: 3rd Qtr. 2017
In this Issue: BHF Quarterly Newsletter – Quarter 3, 2017
In previous issues of our newsletter, we’ve made several announcements on 2017 being a milestone for Columbia, MD as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. On March 19th, the celebration started at the Columbia Mall with an opening ceremony presided by Elijah Cummings and Allan Kittleman. These celebratory events are expected to continue well into the summer and beyond. REVIEW COMPLETE VERSION
0 Comments
BHF Quarterly Newsletter: 2nd Qtr. 2017
In this Issue: BHF Quarterly Newsletter – Quarter 2, 2017
REVIEW COMPLETE VERSION BHF Quarterly Newsletter: 1st Qtr. 2017
In this Issue:
In 2016, the program has moved in leaps and bounds. One of the initiatives that we have been working on in parallel with the GLP program is the Sister City program which you can learn more about in the Cap-Haitien “Sister City (CHSC) Agreement Signed!” article. REVIEW COMPLETE VERSION Building Alliances for a Better Haiti
In this Issue:
The Build Haiti Foundation (BHF) continues to engage the Howard County community at different levels so that we may identify the different resources to support the Haitian and the Caribbean community living in the DC region. It is our observation that these communities have different gaps that need to be bridged so that we, as a community, may become more self-reliant and supportive of each other. REVIEW COMPLETE VERSION Building Alliances for a Better Haiti
In this Issue:
We are thrilled to announce that, with approval from the Columbia Association, BHF is moving forward with a sister city program involving Columbia, MD and Cap-Haitien, Haiti, the second largest city in Haiti. This partnership offers a host of opportunities to connect via education, travel, business, culture, and more. REVIEW COMPLETE VERSION Building Alliances for a Better HaitiMake the Holidays More Meaningful by Helping a Haitian Child!
Most of us in the United States have more than we need, but there is a lot we can share to give hope and happiness to others. In Haiti, there are so many opportunities for making a difference. Children need to go to school; teachers go a full year unpaid; students sit in dark rooms without any connection to the bigger world trying to learn; communities have no access to potable water, and the list goes on and on. If you want to make a difference, you can help deserving Haitians today. Consider making a monthly or a one-time donation to support the following causes:
The Build Haiti Foundation P.O. Box 6895 Columbia, MD 21045 REVIEW COMPLETE VERSION Columbia Association and The Build Haiti Foundation continue to drive the sister city effort by providing necessary support to the committee comprising of over thirty members. Back in 2013, Bob Anantua, the Chairman of the sister city committee and David Weeks, the Vice-Chair of the same committee, traveled to Haiti and met with the then Mayor, Jean Renaud to discuss the interest expressed by the Columbia residents in a sister city relationship between Columbia and Cap-Haitian. The interest was expressed in the form of a letter from the Columbia Association. The individuals, institutions and the mayoral staff were all excited and a letter was immediately drafted by the Mayor’s office committing to the relationship. Both cities have a mutual interest in promoting culture, educational exchange, environmental sustainability, and numerous other ventures that may stem from this effort.
Two years later, the incumbent mayor, Yvon Alteon, has provided his blessing with another letter to show his support and commitment to this effort. Once again, Mr. Anantua and Mr. Weeks traveled to Haiti as part of the Build Haiti Foundation’s Global Leadership Program (GLP), a program that engages professionals, college and high school students to develop their leadership skills while making a difference. While in Cap-Haitian the BHF executives continued to collect valuable information about the city in order to prepare for the upcoming presentation to the Columbia Association Board in October 2015. The sister city committee is expected to meet on August 20, 2015 at the CA headquarter in Columbia to do further coordination and preparation. Columbia residents and others interested in this effort are encouraged to come to the meeting and provide additional support as it will be important to have a strong committee capable to lead the different interest groups that include culture, history and the arts, education, business, communication and technology, health and sanitation, etc. REVIEW COMPLETE VERSION From January 26 to 31st, Bob Anantua, the President of the Build Haiti Foundation and David Weeks, the BHF Board Chair, traveled to Haiti with the following objectives:
While the Build Haiti Foundation is a third party to this relationship, its role is not less significant. Its involvement is what introduced the idea of a sister city in the first place. BHF strongly believes that a sister city relationship is not just a signature between the two cities but rather an exchange, an interaction that involves all type of institutions and organizations including educational, faith-based, civil society, businesses, etc. Consequently, BHF has been building these connections all along and have included meeting all important stakeholders as part of its itinerary. Mr. Anantua and Mr. Weeks had several meetings scheduled which included the Head of School at College Notre-Dame, the President of the University Roi Christophe, the director of Bureau of Tourism, the President of the Rotary in Cap-Haitien, the President of the Sister City Committee in CapHaitian, and so many others whose partnership is so important to cultivate. Having an understanding of both cultures puts BHF in a unique position to bridge the gap and realize connections that are mutually beneficial to both communities… REVIEW COMPLETE VERSION The Build Haiti Foundation and the Columbia Association have been working to realize a sister city relationship between Cap-Haitian, Haiti and Columbia, MD. This is an idea that started a little bit over two years ago as part of the grand vision to continually expanding on the legacy of James Rouse, the great visionary, who saw the value that diversity brings into communities.
The first meeting was held on December 13, 2014 where 29 members of the Howard County community came together to give life to this worthy initiative. In keeping with the vision of the Columbia Association to “make Columbia the community of choice today and for generation to come”, the room was buzzing with great ideas from the committee members brainstorming session. They took turn to offer great suggestions and feedbacks on the ideas being presented. Members of the committee are eager to be engaged and make a difference. At the committee’s second meeting which took place on January 13, 2015, an election was held to elect a board chair, two co-chairs and a secretary. Jean-Robert Anantua, the President and CEO of the Build Haiti Foundation, was nominated and elected by his peers to serve as chairman. Likewise, David Weeks and Alex Lilavois will serve as cochairs while Ms. Carly Cline will serve as secretary. Laura Smit, a Columbia Association staff, has been doing a fantastic job coordinating the program. The committee looks forward to working with each and every single one of its members. Mr. Anantua extended a warm welcome to Mrs. Liz Bobo, the Maryland State Delegate and former Howard County Executive, now member of the sister city committee. He also acknowledged her for her thirty three years of service to the State of Maryland. Seven workgroups have been created to effectively move the agenda forward and keep members engaged and they are the following: Government, Politics & Demographics Culture, History, The Arts, Architecture Education Civic Organizations, NGOs and Religious Groups Business, Communication & Technology Health & Sanitation Natural Resources As part of the process of establishing a sister city relationship between two cities, the group will continue to meet on a monthly basis to prepare for a potential presentation in September to the Columbia Association board. We are still looking for additional Columbia residents to join this effort. So, if you live in Columbia, please feel free to send your inquiry to Laura Smit at [email protected]. You may also view the press release by following this link: http://www.columbiaassociation.com/Home/Components/News/News/622/17 REVIEW COMPLETE VERSION Today the Build Haiti Foundation is happy to announce the nomination of two new board members who will be supporting our community health initiative to educate as well as provide access to care to Haitians and the Caribbean community at large. Dr. Patrick Richard and Dr. Karen Francis are both leaders in their respective field. Known for their tenacity and no nonsense approach to get things done, we are very excited and humbled to welcome them both.
Dr. Patrick Richard Dr. Richard is an Assistant Professor of Health Economics and Policy and Research Director within the Health Services Administration (HSA), Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics (PMB) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). He is also a Professorial Lecturer at the George Washington (GW) University Health Economics and Policy Program and an affiliate faculty at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions. Dr. Karen Francis Dr. Francis is a senior researcher at American Institute of Research. Her primary areas of focus and research are in cultural and linguistic competence, mental health programming, rural behavioral health, reducing disparities and addressing disproportionate minority contact. She works nationally to provide training and technical assistance to address disproportionate minority contact within the juvenile justice system. Dr. Francis also serves as an onsite consultant on Cultural and Linguistic Competency to the Child Adolescent and Family Branch, Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We are still looking for other professionals to join our board. If you have skills as a lawyer, accountant, fundraiser or information technologist, please feel free to contact Bob Anantua at [email protected] for consideration. CARIBBEAN CULTURE FESTIn a marriage made in heaven, The Build Haiti Foundation, Columbia Association and the Howard County Miller Branch Library came together as partners to celebrate Caribbean culture and diversity in Howard County. It was an afternoon of music, dance, displays and delicious Caribbean food sold from food trucks and vendors. Participants enjoyed the rhythms of bachata, reggae, merengue, calypso, salsa, folk dance and Compas/Konpa, to name a few. If you missed it, you can view our gallery by following the link below. https://www.flickr.com/photos/hocolibrary/ sets/72157648152431266/ Big thanks to HC Library, Miller Branch for making these pictures available to share with our audience… REVIEW COMPLETE VERSION |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
July 2017
Categories |
RSS Feed
Build Haiti Foundation9770 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 317
Columbia, MD 21046 thebuildhaitifoundation.org 410-205-2444 |
|
Social Media |