Association of Haitian Americans

Association of Haitian Americans
Name	Association of Haitian Americans
Founded	1980s
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	Miami, Florida
Region served	United States

Association of Haitian Americans

The Association of Haitian Americans is a community-based nonprofit serving Haitian diaspora populations in the United States, with roots in South Florida and activities extending to New York, Massachusetts, California, and Washington, D.C. Its work intersects with organizations and institutions across public health, immigration law, arts and culture, and disaster relief networks connected to Haiti, the Caribbean, and multinational partners. The Association engages with civic actors and philanthropic entities to advance Haitian American representation in policy, media, and professional sectors.

History

The Association of Haitian Americans emerged during a period of migration that involved communities linked to Miami, New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, and Chicago and responded to crises such as the 1980s political upheaval in Haiti and migration waves influenced by events like the 1991 Haitian coup d'état and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Early collaborators included neighborhood organizations, immigrant advocacy groups, and faith-based bodies such as St. Augustine Church (Haiti), Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon-style parishes in diaspora settings, and community centers modeled after the American Red Cross outreach. The Association coordinated with civil rights and labor organizations active in the 1980s and 1990s, including links to National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Laborers' International Union of North America, and local chapters of the League of United Latin American Citizens.

Over time, the Association formed programmatic ties with academic institutions such as Florida International University, City University of New York, Harvard University, and University of Miami to support research and training. It worked alongside international bodies like the Pan American Health Organization and humanitarian actors including Doctors Without Borders and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies following the 2010 disaster. The Association’s history intersects with legal and policy developments associated with immigration laws such as the Immigration and Nationality Act amendments and asylum practices shaped by rulings from the United States Supreme Court.

Purpose and Activities

The Association advocates for Haitian American civic engagement, public health initiatives, cultural preservation, and socioeconomic advancement. It partners with municipal agencies like the Miami-Dade County offices and state bodies including the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to implement programs. Activities have included voter registration drives coordinated with groups such as the League of Women Voters and public information campaigns leveraging partnerships with media outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, Miami Herald, and community broadcasters. The Association often collaborates with legal aid providers such as American Civil Liberties Union and immigration-focused nonprofits including Catholic Charities USA and RAICES.

Organization and Leadership

Governance typically includes a board of directors, an executive director, and program directors engaging with stakeholders like the United States Agency for International Development, philanthropic foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Ford Foundation, and regional leaders from the Haitian diaspora. Leader profiles have included professionals affiliated with institutions like Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University, Emory University, and practitioners connected to medical centers such as Jackson Memorial Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital. The Association liaises with elected officials including representatives from Florida's 17th congressional district and New York state legislators, as well as consular offices such as the Consulate General of Haiti in Miami.

Programs and Services

Program portfolios span health outreach, immigration legal clinics, youth mentoring, cultural festivals, and workforce development. Health initiatives often coordinate with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, community clinics like Camillus Health Concern, and hospital systems including Mount Sinai Health System and Baptist Health South Florida. Legal services are provided in collaboration with legal organizations such as National Immigration Law Center and bar associations including the American Bar Association. Cultural programs partner with museums and arts organizations such as the Smithsonian Institution, New Museum, and Haitian arts groups linked to figures like Mireille Delisme and institutions like the St. Pierre Foundation.

Educational and employment services connect participants to training at institutions like Miami Dade College, Hostos Community College, Roxbury Community College, and workforce agencies including the U.S. Department of Labor. Disaster response and resilience programs have coordinated with Federal Emergency Management Agency and international relief agencies including World Food Programme.

Community Impact and Advocacy

The Association has influenced public health outcomes through vaccination campaigns, HIV/AIDS outreach aligned with UNAIDS, maternal health collaborations with March of Dimes, and mental health initiatives referencing best practices from American Psychological Association. Advocacy efforts include litigation support, policy briefs submitted to committees in the United States Congress, and coalitions with civil rights groups such as Southern Poverty Law Center. Cultural advocacy has elevated Haitian literature and music by promoting authors and musicians associated with institutions like Vassar College and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Membership and Partnerships

Membership draws professionals, students, and civic leaders connected to universities, hospitals, legal clinics, and cultural institutions across metropolitan areas including Miami, New York City, Boston, Providence, Rhode Island, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Houston. Key partners have included United Way Worldwide, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, YMCA, and neighborhood economic development corporations. International partnerships span the Caribbean Community and agencies like United Nations Development Programme.

Funding and Financial Structure

The Association's funding model combines grants from foundations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, corporate philanthropy from institutions like Wells Fargo and Bank of America, government grants from bodies including Department of Health and Human Services and local municipal contracts, and individual donations. Financial oversight typically involves audits by accounting firms comparable to Deloitte, KPMG, and compliance with nonprofit reporting standards overseen by the Internal Revenue Service and state charity regulators.

Category:Haitian diaspora organizations in the United States