23779: (pub) Nlbo: A locally published Opinion piece (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Nlbo@aol.com

                    This OP-ed appeared on the October 15, 2004 issue of the
Malden Observer

                                    A  Call for  Haitians and Other
Immigrants to Convene

Julaines Jules' short life, 23 year old Wanderson Lebeau , and Ashmead Arjune
 are  examples that  something needs be done about sons and daughters of
recent immigrants in the North shore area. As a Haitian immigrant , I have
observed over the past 30 years a Haitian community who has not set goals and visions
for the future.    I am feeling utterly concerned that influential
institutions in the Haitian community such as clergy, media , and teachers are not
collectively paying attention to young Haitians in the Boston area.   They are the
future of the community and the bearer of our rich culture.  An environment
where young Haitian-Americans can be politically, culturally, socially, and
spiritually engaged is an utmost urgency.  If Haitian adults are willing to
receive proper training, they can learn a lot on how to help their offsprings live
healthy bicultural lives.  More often parents put emphasis on working to
provide a comfortable home and many instances a private, Catholic education.
However, “visible”  Haitians don’t seem to visualize the future, the bigger picture
and a vibrant, involved community.  Parent workshops on Intergenerational
Conflicts, School Policies are sample cross cultural activities that the Asian
community in Malden have organized.   Haitian stakeholders, especially the
churches which are vital source of “comfort” for many Haitians need to consider
initiating similar educational and engaging activities.

A research analysis on the Haitian community, published last May in the
Boston Haitian Reporter revealed “that in gender distribution the ratio [of the
Haitian population] is 62% female and 38% male.” Given the growing number of
Haitians and many black immigrants moving from Cambridge/ Somerville area to the
North Shore, community leaders might consider an office in the northern region
that will focus on women and girls and communicate with other fields to
provide Haitian-Americans and other new immigrant females education about their
involvement in society and relationship skills.

According to a research conducted by a  Dorchester Haitian based organization
called CCHER (Center for Community Health Education and Research), 67% of
those interviewed believed that clergy members have a greater impact on their
lives, 30 % the media, 3% the teachers.  Thus, the need for an influential
Haitian clergy and lay ministers to receive training and demonstrate willingness to
work with professionals who can assist them in providing a 21rst century
spirituality to Young people  is more urgent than ever.

Most Haitian ministries are not appealing to Youth and U.S educated Haitians
for many Haitian  clergy and active laity are poorly trained, or new from
Haiti and can’t relate or “navigate” this  multi tasked, future oriented,
literary culture.  Moreover, Haitian institutions such as church and media that
research indicates have significant influence on the Haitians’ lives demonstrate
indifference to the printing world and don’t make education as a whole a
community focus.  During my 30 year involvement in the Haitian churches, I have never
seen or read any recognition or celebration for the graduates, or anything
related to education or civic and community involvement in my Haitian parish and
in most Haitian churches.  The lack of interest on a print rich and a
learning environment is having an adverse impact on the performance of Haitian
students in the K-12 schools - phenomenon that many Haitian “leaders” are not
noticing because of the focus  on the 200 year political, economic or ecological
saga of Haiti.

To my knowledge, Haitians started to migrate to Malden around  l956.  But the
peak migration did not occur until the mid l980’s and increased significantly
in the mid l990’s.  However, most of Haitians’ organizations operate in
Dorchester, Mattapan area including a woman association.  Educational leaders,
city officials,  service providers, and the faith community  may need to convene
a Summit with Haitian faith communities and other “ stake holders” to
discuss the livelihood of Haitians in the north shore.

When Wanderson Lebeau a 23 year old  Haitian  succumbed from a car accident
after leaving a party last July,  no Haitian “leader” or clergy be it catholic
or protestant was present in his emotionally tensed funeral,  exemplifying
that young Haitians are physically, spiritually, socially and psychologically on
their own.  Since Julaine’s disappearance raised considerable media coverage,
her wake and funeral services were teemed with numerous leaders.  Despite
that immense attention,  one more black family missed their daughter. Haitians
and non Haitians alike have not yet  dialoguing on how to prevent more young
blacks from being victims of violence or committing violent crimes themselves.

As a Haitian-American educator observing the Haitian situation in the Boston
area, I sense some sort of “domestic” intervention is urgently needed.  The
offsprings of 42% of the estimated 80,000 Haitians believed to live outside the
Boston municipality  will somehow have an impact on the future of the North
Shore community and obviously the nation.   I am wondering if local officials
can provide the financial and logistical means for a vision and goal setting
Haitian Summit in the North Shore.  When those goals and visions are set,
someone or a group  will  continuously oversee the Haitian community as a whole and
serve as a bridge between the generations and other cultures in the northern
part of Boston.   Active knowledgeable Haitian organizers, visionaries,
community builders are needed in all the regions, for a community or society can no
longer afford loosing its college students or graduates or any young person
for that matter.

Nekita Lamour has been teaching for more than 2 decades  in the field of
ESL/Bilingual Education. She migrated from Haiti to the Boston area in l973  and
is a columnist for the monthly Boston Haitian Reporter.