The Recap:
Development Practitioners Throughout Washington, DC Gather at the Embassy of Haiti for a Cultural and Educational Diplomacy Side Event
On Friday, September 27, 2019, the Embassy of the Republic Haiti in Washington, DC hosted a private cultural and educational affair for development practitioners throughout the Washington metropolitan area. The Embassy provided an overview of Haiti’s history, country priorities and investment opportunities to an audience of development practitioners, experts and members of the Caribbean and African Diaspora. Working in partnership to increase engagement and awareness, this cultural and educational diplomacy side-event fostered new relationships as well as support colleagues deploying to Haiti who aim to reinforce a foundation for resilience, stability, and inclusive growth in Haiti. The gathering was organized as part of the Embassy’s larger objective to promote Haiti’s historical significance and culture, while strengthening relationships with the international development community and institutions.
The evening started with an intimate reception featuring a curated menu designed by Chef Hercules from the Embassy Row Hotel consisting of traditional Haitian cuisine with a twist: chiquetaille de morue plantain cup, plain chicken, creole glazed chicken, chicken cornet, beef cornet, cornmeal with spinach topped salmon mousse, avocado plantain cup, vegetables cornet, veggie plantain cup, blanc manger, rum cupcake. The evening concluded with a cultural segment featuring a live performance by swag music, a local Haitian band specializing in Konpa, which is a Haitian music genre with the stylings of Cuban contradanza, jazz elements, African rhythms, and Dominican merengue, sung mostly in Creole.
Organized during a turmoil period in Haiti, the gathering proved to be a success and served as an informative session on Haiti’s rich history, dynamic culture, and opportunities for economic investment to many who were rather unfamiliar with the region and to the development practitioners making their way to work on the ground.
Photos from the evening are available here.
Photo Credit: Samira Rashid from SR Photography
