On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Haitian American Professionals Coalition (HAPC), I want to welcome you to our website and thank you for your interest in the affairs of the coalition.  It is truly an honor for me to serve as the chairwoman.  The mission of the coalition is to mobilize and link professionals of diverse occupations in order to effectively address issues relevant to the community and to provide opportunities for growth and development.  Through this challenging time in our country, we will remain steadfast in achieving the goals and mission of HAPC by forging new alliances/partnerships to continue the vision of our immediate past chairman, Dr. Yves Jodesty, Founder of the Coalition. 

I am very proud to have served as vice-chair of HAPC for the past eight years

since its inception on July 14, 2001, and now serving as the chairwoman.  Our website is intended to provide an overview of the coalition and its projects for all interested parties including core member associations, prospective members as well as business leaders who wish to support HAPC.  Please feel free to contact us for membership opportunities.  As you are browsing, feel free  to provide any feedback/suggestions on how we can enhance the site. Mahatma Gandhi once said: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Therefore, we will remain strong as a coalition by maintaining professionalism using our shared expertise effectively while remaining ethical, honest and show mutual respect for one another. 

As we continue to face economic challenges, we know how difficult it is to address all the issues that are relevant to the Haitian Community; therefore, we will seek innovative ways and the best possible solutions by utilizing our resources effectively to develop and implement effective interventions that are culturally competent and addressing major health, legal, academic, and socio-economic issues affecting the community locally and abroad.  I firmly believe that the effectiveness of the coalition depends on the active participation of all core member associations, board of directors, volunteers, leaders, community partners and friends of HAPC.  We will continue to work hard at developing leadership opportunities for professional growth and development and provide technical support to each core member associations.

Our motto: “Our Community, Our Commitment and Our Solutions” reminds all of us that we have a moral and ethical responsibility to serve the unserved/underserved population in the global society.  Albert Schweitzer once said: “The purpose of human life is to serve and show compassion and the will to help others”. Once again, I want to sincerely congratulate the newly elected executive board members, and thank all of our dedicated committee chairpersons, co-chairs and their members, our volunteers, sponsors and partners for their continued commitment and support.  Ms. Sandy Dorsainvil serves as HAPC’s Executive Director.  Please feel free to contact her for more information at info@hapcoalition.org.  I encourage you to get involved, so don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to network with one of the most powerful coalition in Florida and benefit from what we have to offer!

"Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love". Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Thank you and God bless you.

Marie O. Etienne, M.S.N., ARNP, PLNC
Chairperson