10 Mind-Blowing Geographic Facts about Haiti

Geography has played an important role in Haiti’s history. Here are 10 mind-blowing facts about Haiti’s geography :

1. Haiti is the third largest caribbean country after Cuba and the Dominican republic.

2. The island is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

3. Haiti is divided into 10 departments .

• Artibonite
• Grand’ Anse
• Nippes
• North
• North East
• North West
• Center
• West
• South
• South East

4. Haitian Creole, one of the official language in Haiti, has three main geographical dialects an its uncommon for Haitian to speak more that one of them.

• Nothern dialect spoken in Cap-Haitian (second biggest city in Haiti)
• Central dialect spoken in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince
• Southern dialect spoken in the area of  Les Cayes (province in south of Haiti)
• The island used to be called Hispaniola before it divided into Haiti and Dominican Republic .

5. Haiti also owns 6 other offshore islands.

• Gonâve Island
• Île-à-Vache translated as The Cow Island
• Les Cayemites composed of  Grand Cayemite and Petite Cayemite
• Tortuga Island translated ad The Turtle Island
• Grande Caye
• Navassa Island – governed by Haiti and the United States

 

6. Haiti is the most mountainous nation in the Caribbean and its highest point is Pic la Selle, at 8,793 ft.

Pic la Selle , Haiti

7.  The Artibonite River is the longest river in Haiti. The river starts in the Dominican Republic but most of it elongates in Haiti.

8. Due to its tropical location, Haiti’s weather is mostly warm .

From March to November it rains frequently . The hurricane season runs  from August to  mid-November.

9.  Haiti is about the size of Maryland in the United States.

10. Haiti is  one of the most densely populated nations in the Western Hemisphere.

Sources

88 Little Known Facts About Haiti. (2010). Retrieved from http://facts.randomhistory.com/haiti-facts.html

The Biggest Caribbean Islands. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://traveltips.usatoday.com/biggest-caribbean-islands-103055.html

Departments of Haiti. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.statoids.com/uht.html

Facts about Haiti. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mohhaiti.org/about_haiti#.VgMVRI9Viko

Haiti Fast Facts. (2015). CNN. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/17/world/americas/haiti-fast-facts/

Haitian Creole. (2014). Retrieved from http://aboutworldlanguages.com/haitian-creole

What Are the Main Landforms of Haiti? (n.d.). USA Today. Retrieved from http://traveltips.usatoday.com/main-landforms-haiti-102655.html

By Jade G. Pierre, Digital Marketing Intern

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ASPIRA has now a satellite museum of the Haitian Heritage Museum

Haitian Heritage Museum partners with ASPIRA: Satellite Museum

 

                          Photo By HHM Media Team ( More Pictures here)

Miami, FL. – On  September 24 , Haitian Heritage Museum partnered with ASPIRA of Florida to open a satellite museum of the Haitian Heritage Museum at the North Miami campus.

The opening was compromised of a ribbon cutting ceremony and the exhibition “Innovators of Freedom,” featuring the works of Haitian-American artist, Edouard Duval-Carrié.

This exposition is the first exhibit of many.It will focus on the history of Haiti, accentuating the struggles for liberation that became the stepping-stone toward the country’s freedom, and includes two of Duval-Carrié’s most celebrated works of art. The entire collection will communicate the significance of collaboration and leadership at the forefront of social change. Students can revisit stories of Haiti’s leaders from various eras to consider solutions to unending societal issues, and take these lessons to affect a current social transformation.

This multi-faceted educational platform offers resources for the local community through lessons for teachers, students, families, and the community at large; thus, promoting interest in world cultures, museums, and informal learning.

# # #

The Haitian Heritage Museum (HHM) is a not for profit organization that is committed to highlighting and preserving Haiti’s rich culture and heritage globally. Our goal is to provide a cultural Mecca for Little Haiti where individuals outside of our community and within our community boundaries can come to enjoy beautiful Haitian art, historic artifacts, ethnic sounds of Haitian music, view Haitian films and enjoy a collection of Haitian literary works. Additional information can be found at:http://haitianheritagemuseum.org/

ASPIRA of Florida, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to foster the social advancement of underprivileged youth by empowering them in the pursuit of educational excellence through leadership development programs that emphasize commitment to the community. Additional information can be found at our website:www.aspirafl.org

For more information regarding the partnership and the event, please contact: Lauren Ventura  hhmlauren@comcast.net 305 371-5988.

10 Forgotten Historic Facts about Haiti

1. Haiti was the first independent nation in Latin America, and the first post-colonial independent black-led nation in the world, and the only nation whose independence was gained as part of a successful slave rebellion.

2. The recorded history of Haiti began on 5 December 1492 when the European navigator Christopher Columbus happened upon a large island in the region of the western Atlantic Ocean that later came to be known as the Caribbean.

3.  When Christopher Columbus discovered the island , He initially thought he had landed in India or Asia .

4.  The first president of Haiti was Jean Jacques Dessalines ( 1758 -1806).

Dessalines was the the leader of the Haitian Revolution and later ruled the country when it became independent . He renamed the island Haiti and also crowned himself Emperor Jacques I of Haiti.

 

 

5. Wondering if there was ever a woman in the office, the answer is yes !

Ertha Pascal Trouillot was he first woman president of Haiti was . From 1990 to 1991, she was the provisional President of Haiti for 11 month . She was the First woman in Haitian history to hold  that office.

 

 

6. Initially named Hispaniola Haiti pronounced “Ayiti” means land of high mountains . The name was given by the native habitants of the island.

7.  Haiti’s capital, Port-Au-Prince,  was founded in 1749 and was named for the Prince, a French ship anchored in the bay.

8. In 1862, The United States recognizes Haiti as a republic when President Abraham Lincoln was in office .

9. In 1880 , The National Bank of Haiti was founded by President Salomon.

10.  Haitian Creole is recognized as a Haiti’s official language in 1961.

Sources

88 Little Known Facts About Haiti. (2010). Retrieved from http://facts.randomhistory.com/haiti-facts.html

Ertha Pascal-Trouillot. (2012). Haiti Observer. Retrieved from http://www.haitiobserver.com/blog/ertha-pascal-trouillot.html

Facts about Haiti. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mohhaiti.org/about_haiti#.VgMVRI9Viko

Haiti Fast Facts. (2015). CNN. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/17/world/americas/haiti-fast-facts/

Haitian Creole. (2014). Retrieved from http://aboutworldlanguages.com/haitian-creole

The National City Bank of New York & Haiti. (2013). The Public Archive. Retrieved from http://thepublicarchive.com/?p=3825

By Jade G. Pierre, Digital Marketing Intern

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Haitian Heritage Museum collaborates with ASPIRA to bring satellite Museum

Haitian Heritage Museum collaborates with ASPIRA  to bring satellite Museum Exhibit will feature Haitian revolutionary leaders and art replications from artist Edouard Duval-Carrié

North Miami, FL. – September 24, 2015 – ASPIRA of Florida will open the satellite Museum of the Haitian Heritage Museum at its North Miami campus, the exhibition Haitian Heritage Museum will feature Haitian-American artist, Edouard Duval-Carrié. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on Thursday, September 24, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. at ASPIRA R.A.M., located at 13300 Memorial Hwy, North Miami, FL.

Together, ASPIRA, the Haitian Heritage Museum, and Duval-Carrié will highlight works of art portraying Haitian revolutionary leaders to enhance and inspire life-long learning within the community at large. Through this initiative, ASPIRA aims to familiarize students with the necessary skills to analyze art: critical thinking, close observation, context clues, and learning how to “unpack the past.”

“ASPIRA of Florida, Inc. is elated about the potential of this partnership, which was developed in close collaboration with the Haitian Heritage Museum so that our students can be successful academically and beyond,” noted George Cabrera, President and CEO of ASPIRA of Florida, Inc. “We welcome the collaborative efforts of the Haitian Heritage Museum, a leader of Miami’s rich museum community, and look forward to engaging our children with this school museum that opens them up to a wide world of culture and of possibilities.”

“Innovators of Freedom,” the first exhibit of many, will focus on the history of Haiti, accentuating the struggles for liberation that became the stepping-stone toward the country’s freedom, and includes two of Duval-Carrié’s most celebrated works of art. The entire collection will communicate the significance of collaboration and leadership at the forefront of social change. Students can revisit stories of Haiti’s leaders from various eras to consider solutions to unending societal issues, and take these lessons to affect a current social transformation.

This multi-faceted educational platform offers resources for the local community through lessons for teachers, students, families, and the community at large; thus, promoting interest in world cultures, museums, and informal learning.

# # #

The Haitian Heritage Museum (HHM) is a not for profit organization that is committed to highlighting and preserving Haiti’s rich culture and heritage globally. Our goal is to provide a cultural Mecca for Little Haiti where individuals outside of our community and within our community boundaries can come to enjoy beautiful Haitian art, historic artifacts, ethnic sounds of Haitian music, view Haitian films and enjoy a collection of Haitian literary works. Additional information can be found at: http://haitianheritagemuseum.org/

ASPIRA of Florida, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to foster the social advancement of underprivileged youth by empowering them in the pursuit of educational excellence through leadership development programs that emphasize commitment to the community. Additional information can be found at our website: www.aspirafl.org

For more information regarding the partnership and the event, please contact: Lauren Ventura  hhmlauren@comcast.net 305 371-5988.

 

Caribbean Tech and Innovation Awards Cocktail at Haitian Heritage Museum

The Haitian Heritage Museum acknowledges Caribbean innovators at the Caribbean Tech and Innovation Awards Cocktail

Miami, FL – The Haitian Heritage Museum will recognize Caribbean Innovators at the Caribbean Tech and Innovation Awards Cocktail on June 25th at 6:30 p.m. at the museum’s location, 190 NE 40^th Street Miami Design District.

The affair will acknowledge the achievements of innovators who have made extraordinary accomplishments in the field of technology in advancing the Miami and Caribbean region. The lovely Jessy Schuster of SAP will host the event.

This years awardees are:

Education Innovator – George Cabrera, President and CEO of ASPIRA of Florida, Inc.

Youth Innovator – Gregory Johnson, Co-Founder of SelfieID

Health Innovator – Lixon Nelson, Founder of the Alliance Community and Employment Services (ACES) / Imuneek. com

Tech Innovator – Pascale Elie, General Manager of HaitiPay

Innovator of the Year-TBA at the event

Reservations to the ceremony can be made through Event Brite (http://bit.ly/1FVbZjZ). The event will be a fundraiser, which will benefit the Haitian Heritage Museum’s program season.

 

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About Haitian Heritage Museum

The Haitian Heritage Museum (HHM) is a not for profit organization that is committed to highlighting and preserving Haiti’s rich culture and heritage globally. Through education, digitizing, archiving, media, and culturally relevant partnership, we will create a legacy for future generations. For more information, visit www.haitianheritagemuseum.org.

 

Media Contact

Haitian Heritage Museum

Eveline Pierre, Executive Director

hhmevents@comcast.net

P: 305-371-5988

Eveline Pierre, Executive Director and Founder of the Haitian Heritage Museum recognized as Ocean Drive Magazine’s Women of Influence 2015.

Miami, FL – Ten women including Eveline Pierre, Executive Director and Founder of the Haitian Heritage Museum were all present at the launch of the 2015 ‘Women of Influence’ Award for Ocean Drive Magazine.

All of the awardees were among family and friends who came to celebrate in a very chic South Beach style at the Thompsons Hotel. More than 100 guests were present to honor these special women and their achievements.

Check the achievements of the top 15 influential women here.

 

Haitian Heritage Museum partners with National Museums of Kenya to present exhibition on the ‘Rites of Passage’

Miami, FL – The Haitian Heritage Museum collaborates with the National Museums of Kenya to bring an exhibition on the ‘Rites of Passage’ starting May 14^th at 6 30 p.m.

In celebration of Miami Museum & Haitian Heritage Month, the ‘Rites of Passage’ exhibition is a comparative exhibition on the values taught during initiation ceremonies by communities in Southern Florida and Kenya.

The show will focus on five different ceremonies:

• The ‘Holy Communion’ among Haitians
• The ‘Enkipaata’ of the Maasai group in Kenya
• The ‘Feather Dance’ of Southeastern Native Americans
• The Jewish ‘Bar/Bat Mitzvah’
• The Latin American ‘Quinceanera’

The month of May celebrates the Haitian heritage and a big part of the Haitian culture and traditions are influenced by the African culture. If you are in South Florida, this exhibition is the perfect prospect to enlighten you about the African art and history, and you will also learn about how it affected the Haitian culture.

The ‘Rites of Passage’ will educate, create an awareness of the cultural practices associated with various communities, and awaken curiosity in our visitors inspiring them to discover interesting aspects of their own culture.”

###

About Haitian Heritage Museum

The Haitian Heritage Museum (HHM) is a not for profit organization that is committed to highlighting and preserving Haiti’s rich culture and heritage globally. Through education, digitizing, archiving, media, and culturally relevant partnerships, we will create a legacy for future generations.

To learn more about the museum visit http://www.haitianheritagemuseum.org.

Media Contact

Eveline Pierre, Executive Director

Email: hhmevents@comcast.net

Phone: (305)-371-5988

2015 Mr. or Ms. May 18th Of Haitian Heritage Museum

Haitian Flag Day is approaching and to celebrate our rich Haitian heritage and culture the Haitian Heritage Museum has opened its annual Facebook Contest, “Mr. Or Ms. May 18th Of Haitian Heritage Museum,” on April 19th ! The contest will be closed on May 18th at 11:00 a.m (EST) and the winner will be announced at  12 p.m. What better way to celebrate the Haitian Flag  Day by being crowned the winner of Mr. or Ms. May 18th Of Haitian Heritage Museum.

How to enter the contest ?

It’s simple ! Show your love for the Haitian culture by uploading a creative picture, a minute video, poem or short story expressing your enthusiasm about Haiti one your Facebook Page. You must tag the Haitian Heritage Museum on the Facebook photo that you post so that it can also be shared on HHM’s page. Once posted on our page and you will officially be added in the contest.

**Only the votes from the Haitian Heritage Museum page will be counted

How to vote ?

The contestants with the most likes for their entry will be the winner. Make sure you spread the word ! Tell your friends to vote for you by liking your posts !

What are the Rules?

• Must be at least 18 years old at the time of entry.
• Must live in the continental US.
• No profanity, nudity and/or inappropriate content
• All entries must be original
• You must be a fan of HHM’s social media platforms

1. Follow us on Haitian Heritage Museum’s Facebook Page
2. Follow us on Mr. or Ms. May 18th Of Haitian Heritage Museum’s Facebook Page
3. Like us on Haitian Heritage Museum’s Instagram 
4. Like us on Haitian Heritage Museum’s Twitter

• Contestants must subscribe to HHM’s newsletter.
• Contestants cannot be affiliated with HHM in anyway. This means volunteers, board members, community affiliates, etc.

Prizes are valued over $1,000

IMPORTANT***We reserve the  right to disqualify any contestant that does not follow the above rules at any point of the competition

Photo : Wanda  Gilles, Editor of The Haitian American Facebook Page~ 2014 Mrs. May 18th of Haitian Heritage Museum

BY JADE PIERRE, DIGITAL MARKETING INTERN

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4 Powerful Haitian Women on the rise

Nowadays, no one can truly spend a day without checking their personal social media platforms. It being Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and/or blogs. That’s where we share our personal thoughts, upcoming events, breaking news and more. Can we even imagine a world without them anymore ? Seriously, try picturing it ?

So, why not turn to social media platforms to promote Haiti?

Four famous Haitian women started their career using social platforms. They utilized blogs, Instagram and other platforms  as tools to educate others about Haiti, but also to share about their Haitian heritage and their own accomplishments .

As you learn more about the path of those women, you may also fall in love with Haiti.

Paola Mathé

Recently featured in the article Young People Use Gorgeous Instagram Pics To Show There’s More To Haiti Than Poverty , Paola Mathé comes out as an enthusiast activist of her Haitian heritage. Mathé writes in her blog Finding Paola, and  posts frequently on Instagram and Twitter. She voices the reality of Haiti, a poor and a beautiful country that is developing .

Mathé is also the owner of a head wrap collection , called Fanm Djanm meaning  strong woman in creole. She explained that Fanm Djanm is more than a collectio but a  movement in an interview in Ayiba magazine. She said, “I named the line Fanm Djanm, because I wanted the Creole word to be known around the world and also to prove to Haitian people that you can be sophisticated, educated, and worldly – all while wearing a headwrap.”

Whether through Finding Paola and/or Fanm Djamm, watch out for Paola Mathé as she rises through success promoting about Haiti!

Sandra Florvella-Pierre

Sandra Florvella-Pierre is the administrator of the thriving and successful Instagram (@haitian_businesses) and Facebook account Haitian Businesses, which promote Haitian businesses and of course the paradise hot spot, Haiti.

Discover more about Sandra in her biography.

“My name is Sandra Florvella-Pierre,  I’m a wife, mother of 2 , entrepreneur and a proud Haitian. I grew up in Cap Haitien, Haiti and left the country at age 15. While living in Florida I obtained a Bachelors degree in Business Administration at Lynn University, Boca Raton Florida. I have been working in local government administration for over 13 years. I truly enjoy my family and I’m proud follower of Christ.

Everyone who knows me personally, will tell you that I’m always there helping in some way or another. That’s one of the reason why I was inspired to start the page Haitian Businesses. The goal is to be the bridge who connect our businesses together. We have so many talented individuals among us and the lack of information have prevented us from learning about each other. When it comes to promote Haiti and it’s beauty that’s something every Haitian owe to the country. As Haitians if we truly live by our motto ” L’Union Fait La Force” we can accomplish unimaginable things not only for ourselves but for Haiti.”

 Karen Civil

Marketing guru, Karen Civil made hot news in November 2014 when she donated $ 41000 to build the Live Civil Playground in collaboration with Sow a Seed and Project Play World. The playground is being constructed using environmentally safe materials to create a sustainable environment in Haiti.

Civil is a Haitian-American. She started as a blogger and interned at prestigious radios and music trademark in New York, according to an article on Kreyolicious. Civil is now a powerful influencer in the music industry. She has worked with a lot of musicians such as Wiz Khalifa, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga to name a few. Learn more about Civil in her website Karencivil.com and Livingcivil.com.

Kat Cherie

Kat Cherie (better known as Kreyolicious) is the founder of the website http://Kreyolicious.com. She started the brand to showcase a positive image of Haiti and Haitian culture. The site won the Best International Blog and Best Blog Post Series honors at the 10th Annual BlackWeb Log Awards, and was nominated for the Best Kept Secret Blog award at the 2015 Bloggies. Kreyolicious is one of many projects. She’s also the founder of Haitist, a digital portal that promotes Haiti travel and tourism.

From those four powerful women, we can learn that social media platforms are tools that cannot be overlooked as a major source of Information.

By Jade Pierre, Digital Marketing Intern

 

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Save the date for the 4th Annual Mr. or Ms. May 18 Contest

Are you the next Mr. or Ms. May 18?

By Jade Pierre

 

The winners of  Mr. or Ms. May have been confident individuals , who have showcased their love for Haiti in HHM contest through the organization’s social media platforms, but also in their own personal work.

You can see the smiles of the strong and enthusiastic ladies that have won the title of Ms. May 18 of Haitian Heritage Museum in the picture above .

From left to right , here are the winners of Ms . May 18 of  Haitian Heritage Museum:

Mrs. Wanda Gilles, 2014

Jessica Jean-Louis, 2013

Diane Pierre – Louis, 2012

The contest is back by popular demand!

The Haitian Heritage Museum returns with  its 4th  Annual Mr. or Ms. May 18 Contest.

The contest will start on April 18th and end May 18th as we celebrate the Haitian Flag Day. The constants will have to showcase their enthusiasm about the Haitian culture in HHM’s social media platforms.The winner will be crowned Mr. or Ms. May 18.

The rules and prizes will be out the day the contest starts . Be on the lookout as the contest opens on April 18, 2015.

We are kicking things up a notch this year and it’s going to be spectacular !

Save the date for Mr. or Ms. May 18 !

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