14844: The Haiti Democracy Project -- Invitation to the February 22, 2003 Event in Silver Spring, Maryland: First of its "Bridges to the Policy-makers" series designed to afford the Haitian-American communit (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: James Morrell <haiti@haitipolicy.org>

The Haiti Democracy Project cordially invites you to hear and question:

* Mr. Michel Soukar (Haitian historian, journalist, & lecturer)
Lecture on "Haiti: Aujourd'hui et demain?", "Haiti: Today and what of
tomorrow?", & signing of his books:
Radiographie de la Bourgeoisie Haitienne;
Classe Sociale et Processus démocratique en Haiti.

* Judge Claudy Gassant, examining magistrate in the murder of Jean
Dominique (invited)

* Meg Gilroy, director, Office of Caribbean Affairs, State Department


First of our "Bridges to the Policy-makers" series designed to afford
the Haitian-American community a voice in the policy debate.

* Ambassador Lawrence Pezzullo, special envoy for Haiti, 1993–94
(Foreign-service officer, former ambassador to Nicaragua, and
former director of Catholic Relief Services)

On Saturday, February 22, 2003
10:00am – 12:00pm (presentation by speakers)
12:00pm (questions & answers)
1:00pm – 2:00pm (reception & book signing)

St. Michael The Archangel Church
Williamsburg Ballroom
824 Pershing Drive
(between Spring & Pershing Streets or Fenton Street & Wayne Avenue)
Silver Spring, MD 20910

**Refreshments will be served**

We urge all who yearn for a better future for Haiti to attend this
important event.  The Haitian community’s voice and views should be
heard!

R.S.V.P. by February 12, 2003 (required for admission)
Guaranteed Seating for first 300 respondees!
(202) 588-8700 or haiti@inxil.com

http://www.haitipolicy.org/index.php

Admission fee $15.00

Parking available at public parking (Pershing Street: inside Whole
Foods Market Shopping Center)

MICHEL SOUKAR
Biographical Data
Poet, playwright, author, historian, journalist, and lecturer, born in
Port-au-Prince in 1955, Michel Soukar has since 1974 spoken out in
defense of public liberties and for the establishment of democratic
processes in Haiti. Consequently, Michel Soukar was exiled under the
Duvalier regime from 1984 to 1986. He is the co-founder of Collège de
Port-au-Prince, the "Democratic Movement Congress (CONACOM), and
Secretary-General of the Association of Haitian Writers. He has been
invited by the governments of Germany to witness the reunification of
the Two Germanies, to France to give a conference “à la maison de
l’Amérique Latine,” and to Venezuela in 1990 to meet with President
Carlos Andres Perez, whom he subsequently interviewed in 1991. He is
the recipient of the year 2000 prize "Work and Justice," awarded by
the "Centre mondial d'aide à l'enfance et à la jeunesse," presided over
by Mrs. Betty Williams, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and co-
founder of the Northern Ireland Peace Movement. Mrs. Williams has
stated that Michel Soukar is today one of Haiti's voices that is the
most heeded and respected. Since 1993, he has served as a radio
personality/animator of educational programs on Haitian history,
economy, and international politics. He is the author of "Entretiens
avec l'Histoire: Haïti de Duvalier à Lavalas" and "Radiographie de la
Bourgeoisie haïtienne."

Additional biodata on the other presenters will be forthcoming.  Please
check the website for more details.