Chairperson Message
Since our founding nine years ago, the Haitian American Professionals Coalition, Inc. (HAPC) has mobilized and linked Haitian - American organizations and consummate professionals based on the following motto: Our Community, Our Commitment, and Our Solutions. As a coalition, these powerful words not only guide our conduct, but also explain the foundation of our active community involvement, which was best summarized by Anthony D' Angelo when he wrote that "without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community." HAPC's sense of caring and commitment to helping the underprivileged has propelled it into volunteering countless of hours towards the betterment of our community, both in the U.S. and aboard. Indeed, HAPC has remained involved on all fronts, from providing medical assistance to Haitians living under horrible and inhumane conditions in the sugar harvest "Batey" in the Dominican Republic to raising funds and providing medical assistance to the January 12th earthquake victims, and to being a voice for thousands of vulnerable Haitians living in tenth cities in Haiti. The recent cholera outbreak in Haiti has further renewed HAPC's commitment to work, in collaboration with other organizations and medical professionals, in providing medical assistance to cholera victims.Moreover, our long and rich history of community involvement has also undoubtedly given us a deep understanding of the many social, legal, and political issues that affect Haitian community in the U.S. Thus, HAPC has a vested interest in addressing the needs and concerns of the Haitian community, from the immigration hurdles faced by undocumented Haitians to assisting families who are losing their homes in foreclosures to increasing the graduation rate among high school students attending public schools to addressing the alarming rate of juvenile delinquency in our community to instilling the importance of civic engagement to our youth. Like adults, when youth are equipped with a sound education, the necessary resources and a sense of community, they will develop the ability to become citizens capable of wielding the necessary power that Aristotle identified as "the power to shape civic purposes and act in alignment with values."
Notwithstanding the long and arduous road to recovery Haiti faces, coupled with the many challenges Haitians living in the U.S. confront, HAPC will continue to work in collaboration with other organizations to tackle and bring meaningful solutions to these multifaceted problems. Such collaboration will assist in the identification of resources and meaningful solutions, which can be used to create a better future for our community while cultivating a spirit of community connectedness.
L'Union Fait La Force
Richard T. Champagne, Esq.
Chairman
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