A Networking Event for Job Creators in Haiti
Thursday, September 18 
The Hotel Montana in Pétion-Ville 
9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Who should attend:   

• Business owners in Haiti who want to grow their network, share their expertise, and learn from others
• NGO staff and churches whose organizations are actively creating jobs in Haiti
• NGO staff and individuals who want to learn more about job creation as an alternative to charity

Why you can't miss it:          

• You will be inspired by short presentations by successful job creators in Haiti
• You will connect  with others during  networking  time
• You will discover the benefits of membership in the 100,000 Jobs network
•  You will have an opportunity to join the 100,000 Jobs in Haiti Initiative

Cost:

• $50 US registration fee includes a coffee break and lunch

Click here to register online.  If you would like to present your work to the audience, you must register by September 10th.  This event will be in English with no translation.  Contact Michele Edwards for more information.

Last year during Gout et Saveurs Lakay, I had the chance to photograph Chef Lemaire at La Reserve Hotel in Petionville. What a great hotel and hangout! Here's a view of the lounge area that the restaurant looks over and a chicken dish I enjoyed!

I've been wanting to write that and say that for a while now! whewwwww….

In all seriousness, I did quit my day job which was a very comfortable and stable government job. I was 5 months away from being vested in a pension after working for "the system" for 5.5 years. Some told me to just "hang in there" so that I could be vested and collect at least something when I retire eventually. Well, here's why I decided to leave a "perfect situation" and follow my dreams…

We've all heard it so many times - "You can be anything you want to be if you believe in yourself." "Follow your dreams and your heart." Well, it's not always that easy. If we all followed our dreams on being just dreamers and not planners, we would all (or most) wouldn't make it.

A dear friend of mine, whom I met through my blog, Shannon Kelley Cherizier, gave me great advice when I was ready to quit (the first time) my day job a year ago. She told me to hang in there and to read:
Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job & Your Dream Job Hardcover
by Jon Acuff.
So, I did and I followed his motto: suck it up as long as you can while working your day job and building your dream at night after work and on the weekends. I am so glad I did this because it has finally paid off. 

Although this post isn't about Haiti specifically, I just want you to know that you CAN follow your dreams and your heart, but it will take a lot of blood, sweat and tears in planning/setting yourself up for it. If I can be of any assistance to any of you, please hit the contact button at the top of my page and send me an email! I love to interact with my readers and give positive motivation!

I will dedicate more time to this blog while working for my other non-Haiti related clients for my marketing firm EMPOWER YOUR BRAND. Check it out when you have a chance :) 

Thanks for reading,
XOXO

It was a pleasure for us to meet all of the people who stopped by our tent at Taste of Haiti! Endy and I are grateful for your support! 

We were selling jewelry at the event this year, but we are most grateful for the interaction with you all! The Real Haiti is about empowering each other, not competing or getting rich. Knowing that we are responsible for reigniting your fire for your love for Haiti is the most rewarding part.

Thank you everyone for your support and love. We continue this empire to keep inspiring you! …and our hopes and dreams for Haiti! 

Mesi anpil! 
With love,
Diana & Endy

We shared a table with Ginen Creations by Sophie pictured below. Special thanks to our sister in law Martine for her help! 

I was invited as an honoree to attend the 2nd Annual Women International Month awards ceremony honoring women in the media for a "Beacon of Hope and Achievement Award," March 27, 2014.

As a past troubled place, Haiti hasn’t been number one for Caribbean tourists. However, in the recent years, the country has been trying hard to overcome their negative image which usually shows poverty, corruption and disasters. Travel company Young Pioneer Tours announced that they will offer a backpack tour to Haiti as one of the first in the world. As known, tourism in Haiti has been very limited so far; most foreigners are expats working for various NGOs, travelling around or tourists make a one day stop with cruise ships going to Labadee. Hopefully, this tour will start a new flow of tourism and development for Haiti.

The tour aims to show the current reality in Haiti, but also that there’s more than poverty. Beautiful Caribbean beaches, Vodou, special rum, great architecture, and a beautiful landscape all prove that there’s more in stock for this half of the Hispaniola-island. It shows a country that’s dying for positive new impulses from the outside world, which one should be tourism. While the other Caribbean islands are overwhelmed by tourists every year, Haiti has been left alone. Neighbor country Dominican Republic has been more well-known as a holiday destination where many Western tourists touch-down every day. By starting and ending the trip in DR, Young Pioneer Tours hopes to give more insights on this intriguing island and to add something positive to the image of Haiti. The tour includes visits to Port Au Prince, Central Plateau, Bassin Zim and Croix des Bouquets. The trip starts in May, and Haiti can be reached easily through budget airlines via Dominican Republic. Starting and ending in Port Au Prince is also an option. For more information, visit 
http://www.youngpioneertours.com/tour/haiti-tour/. Please tell them you saw this information on The Real Haiti website!

To me, I feel as though Haiti is a person who I am madly in love with, who I am proud of and who I can't wait to see. I think about Haiti morning, noon and night. My love for Haiti grows more and more each day. I know...it sounds crazy...it is crazy! I am a blan who grew up hearing nothing but negative things about the country. How could I possibly be so in love with this country? 

As I do every morning, I go through Haitian news and see what is going on for the day. Today, I got to see part two of the special on the update from the earthquake on Local 10 News in Miami. Part one will just about tear your heart out and make you absolutely nuts over the negativity they are focusing on when it is just a small part. But, just like in Haiti, everything is a drastic extreme - one side of the street there are people working to survive and on the other, there are the richest of the rich. It's reality...it's Haiti. 

Here's a wonderful story on the progress and hope everyone (especially Haitians) has!
MOBILE READERS, CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO: http://www.local10.com/news/haitianbased-company-finds-success-after-quake-4-years-ago/-/1717324/23973420/-/hbrnlt/-/index.html 

To me, "made in Haiti" means life, hope and progress. To see people live life every day, go to work, take care of their family, be in love, is what I love most about Haiti. That is why I have this blog. Finally, the news media is giving Haiti a chance. Thank you WPLG for showing this side of Haiti that so many of us are proud of!

What does "made in Haiti" mean to you? 

About 5 years ago, I was searching for a gift for my husband Endy online. I came across Zoe Nation Apparel, a site that sells shirts with sayings in Creole and English promoting Haitian pride and culture. I bought a shirt for Endy and I bought myself one. It said "What do you mean I don't look Haitian." I thought it was hilarious and also serious because what does that even mean? People say it all of the time to Haitians. 

Two years ago, I started this blog. I created business cards. I took a picture of me in the shirt for the back of the card as an attention grabber. Everyone who sees it, loves it. I get blank stares and lots of questions like, "Are you French? I see your last name is Pierre-Louis." And I tell them, "No, I am Haitian." Then it starts a conversation.

Last year, I was at a Haitian event that had a fashion show. There were models representing Zoe Nation Apparel. They were modeling the Haitian clothing line. My husband grabbed the owners attention, Isaiah Fleurimond, and showed him my business card. He was in shock. It was so awesome to meet each other. We connected instantly. 

We kept in touch and this year we started selling the shirts on this website. 

This November, 10 kids from Jacmel (ACFFC) got the opportunity to visit South Florida to work on a project. I told Isaiah and he generously offered to donate shirts to them.

And then this happened...

Click to purchase t-shirt here ($18)!

Also available in red. Unisex t-shirt sizes S-2XL.

Isaiah is an absolutely pleasure to work with and know. His professionalism and love for life is reflected in his success. Thank you so much for these shirts. The kids absolutely love them! THANK YOU, MESI ANPIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He was dressed in a red button down shirt, dress pants and dress shoes. He had his camera bag full of equipment and his PRESS pass around his neck. He pulled out a notebook to show me how he keeps track of the details of the photos he takes. The front of it has the CNN logo and he told me his friend from the US sent it to him. Inside it reads:

Ki moun?
Kisa?
Kile?
Ki kote?
Kijan?
Poukisa?

I am writing about Fedno Lubin, a 20 year old young man who lives in Jacmel, Haiti. Ten years ago, he moved from the mountainside to live with his aunt in the city to go to school. Fedno’s aunt knew about the Art Creation Foundation for Children (ACFFC) and signed him up. Over the years, he learned many forms of art, but his passion is photography, who he learned from Jen Pantaleon…his teacher and guide. He mentioned Jen’s name a lot throughout the 2 days we spent together for Gout et Saveurs Lakay, Haiti's Food & Spirits Festival to celebrate the country's Gastronomy. His appreciation for the art of photography is great. He inspires me.

Our visit with the First Lady!

Greetings!

Haiti's First Lady Sophia Martelly called a couple weeks ago to invite Yvonne and I to a private meeting at the National Palace. The next day we purchased a French bible as a gift and presented ourselves at the Palace. We were immediately ushered into a conference room and served coffee; before we finished, we were told Madame Martelly was ready for us.As we entered the First Lady's office she greeted us with a big smile and said, "I've got to hug you guys; I love you so much!" We spent hours chatting; she asked me, "How did you come to Haiti? Why did you start producing La Bonne Nouvelle?"  She said that she has been watching the show for years and loves the format of visiting different villages and featuring the beauty of Haiti. 

She also confided that when she called, she did not think I believed it was her; I confessed, "When you said 'This is the First Lady of the Republic'. I thought, 'Yeah, and I'm the Pope!'" We all laughed heartily and I asked Yvonne to share the word God had given her concerning the relentless opposition to Haiti's beloved President.

Chosen by God
  
Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker. 2SA3:1

Madame Martelly read the text in her new bible, Yvonne explained the animosity between Saul and David; but that God ordained David and he won in the end. The First Lady's eyes welled; she rubbed goose bumps on her arm and said, "Wow! Wow!" I said, "We do not want to take up all your time." She said, "Oh no, I cleared my entire schedule for this. I hope you don't mind if we get some pictures."The presidential photographer was summoned; then she walked us out and said, "I want you to meet the President. I showed him La Bonne Nouvelle and he said, 'Where did this white guy come from?'"
Learn More...

Fan & Friend

She led us to another building where the President had just met with a Taiwanese delegation, and was now doing a photo op with a Haitian soccer team.  As we entered the room, photographers, security guards and soccer players called out, "Frere Joel! Pasteur!"  The President walked over, threw his arms around me and said, "La Bonne Nouvelle!"  Cameras clicked, laughter filled the room as President Martelly quoted lines from our show he watched the day before! The Premiere Dame then accompanied us to the parking lot and said that she wanted to use La Bonne Nouvelle in 140 remote villages! She gave me her card and said, "Call me anytime".
La Bonne Nouvelle...

You can help

Every Creole Christian show we produce costs us about $3000.00; Yvonne directs, films and hosts! I produce, film, host, drive and edit! Though our work is tightly budgeted,we are reaching millions of Haitians. Now even more will hear as the First Lady airs our shows in villages without electricity or TV!
We have no sponsors, no big donors, no advertising; but we are reaching into homes and hearts that will never grace the doorway of a church. Please pray and ask God what He would have you to give to help us reach Haiti for Christ. Please use this secure donation button and write to us today. The rewards are eternal!
 Soul winners...