14766: Lamour: 6th Annual Haitian Student Conference @ UMASS - Amherst Feb 21st (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: lamour@student.umass.edu

Please forward this information to people who may be interested in this
event.

The Haitian American Student Association (HASA) of UMass Amherst would like to
invite students to the Sixth Annual Haitian Student Conference, which will be
held at our institution from Friday February 21st to Sunday the 23rd, 2003.
We would be honored if you would show your support.

HASA will be organizing and facilitating the three-day interactive event,
which seeks to edify, celebrate, and explore Haitian culture, politics, and
society. The objective of this year’s conference, under the subtitle “Blood,
Sweat and Tears: The Spirit of Survival,” is to expose the conferees and the
community to the Haitian culture and critical issues surrounding the Caribbean
nation. The conference will also hope to inspire all conferees to take an
active part in the Haitian community through education, social awareness,
volunteerism, and activism, as well as address a variety of topics ranging
from politics to music.

The list of events including multiple workshops dealing with major issues, a
Haitian Art Exposition, an Open Mic event (Brown Sugar Friday), speeches made
by keynote speakers, performances, and a social dance with Haitian music.
Invited guests include music artist Wyclef Jean, supermodel Tyrone Edmund, and
Sophia from MTV’s “Road Rules.” There will be five different workshops that
will be administered by distinguished Haitian community members. The first
will deal with the immigration issues that Haitians are currently facing in
this country. The second workshop will focus on the present day form of child
slavery, Restavec servitude in which, according to a recent United Nations
study, 300,000 Haitian children are victims. The third workshop will discuss
the effects of American culture on Haitian music and will debate the degree to
which pop-culture has infiltrated the traditional Haitian art form. The fourth
workshop will address sexism in Haitian culture and the largely ignored role
that women play. The last workshop’s theme will revolve around the Haitian
Diaspora in the United States and will include discussions on the meaning of
the Haitian Identity.

We would like you to attend and partake in this historical event.

Please email lamour@student.umass.edu for more information or visit
www.haitianstudentsconference.com

Thank you,

Vonel Lamour
HASA- P.R. Committee
413-546-5903
lamour@student.umass.edu