Ambassador Paul Altidor Hosts 12th Annual Haitian Ladies Brunch
When Mr. Paul Altidor began his tenure as the Haitian Ambassador to the United States back in 2012, he made it a priority to foster and strengthen ties with the Diaspora community throughout the U.S. for one essential purpose: to begin a movement and identify best approaches to help dismantle the negative perception so often associated with Haiti.
On the afternoon of Sunday October 8, 2017, the Embassy of Haiti in Washington DC hosted one of the largest gatherings of Haitian women in the U.S. to form new friendships, build professional connections, and celebrate our shared Haitian heritage. Now in its 12th year, the annual brunch has become part of the Embassy’s mission to promote Haiti’s rich legacy and elevate its positive contributions to the advancement of American society.
What started as a casual brunch between five (5) women back in 2010 has grown into a network of over four hundred (400) pioneering Haitian-American women from different fields. This year’s brunch certainly would not have been such a success without the presence of Manman Junior, a fictional character whose lively performance created a sense of nostalgia, reminding us of the unique and humorous qualities shared amongst Haitian mothers across the board; and highlighting the commonalities of our Haitian upbringing regardless of where we were brought up.
The Embassy was pleased to serve as a platform for this demographic of the Diaspora to connect and uplift each other’s accomplishments. The photos from the brunch are available at the following link.
To learn more about the annual Haitian Ladies Brunch or join next year’s celebration, you may contact the Host Committee at haitianladies@gmail.com.
Acknowledgements:
Haitian Ladies Brunch Host Committee
Nellie Goen, Floral arrangements
Brie Catering, Food
Melissa Heurtelou, Cake
Royal Cremas, cremas (national drink)
Jim Folliard from GearShift.tv, Photography