Palm Beach County events for Haitian Heritage Month 2013

4/28/2013

Palm Beach County To Celebrate Haitian Heritage During The Month Of
May 2013
Several events will take place to
celebrate Haitian Heritage Month again this year in Palm Beach County. The
month-long series of activities will begin on May 1st, at 6:00 PM, with
an Opening Ceremony and Reception at Toussaint L’Ouverture High School for Arts and Social Justice located at 301 S.W. 14th Avenue, Delray Beach, Florida
33444, featuring the well-known artist Jean Michel Daudier and Nicole Moreta
Dance Academy at Toussaint L’Ouverture High School. This initial event
will be followed by a number of cultural and academic activities at various
dates and locations throughout the county.
UPDATE: Here's a video from the opening ceremony/kickoff event!

Haitian Heritage Month commemoration recognizes the valuable contributions made by Haitians to the history of the World. It is a celebration of Haitian history and culture and an opportunity to share this culture with our communities. On May 18, 2013, Haitian flag-raising ceremonies will take place at the Delray Beach City Hall at 10:00 AM.

“Our goal is to build up the self-esteem of all Haitians in our community, share our wonderful history and culture with the communities where we live and highlight our contributions to the history of the world and the neighborhoods where we live,” said Bito David, the initiator of the celebration in Palm Beach County in 2003.

Other Haitian Heritage Month highlights include several cultural and educational events at various Palm Beach County Library branches, a traditional student essay contest sponsored by Gaskov Clergé Foundation, a Photo Exhibit featuring prominent Haitian figures in Florida, a festival at the Delray Beach Tennis Center on May 18 and in Belle Glades, and much more. Visit

http://www.palmbeachschools.org/pao/creole/MwaEritajAyisyen2013.asp for more details.

The School District of Palm Beach County partners with Palm Beach County Library System and Toussaint L’Ouverture High School for Arts and Social Justice to coordinate these events.

Haitian and Haitian American students represent the largest ethnic minority group from a single country in the School District of Palm Beach County with about 14,000 students. According to community activists, Palm Beach County is home to more than 90,000 Haitians.

Admission to all Haitian Heritage Month events is free and open to the public. A calendar of activities is attached.

For more information, contact Bito David (561) 644-6488 / email bito.david@palmbeachschools.org or Major Joseph Bernadel/Jane Marcel (561) 654-1048 / email jmarceltlhs@aol.com or Marjorie Lear at (561) 233-2783 / email learm@pbclibrary.org.