25039: Hermantin(Announce) Reception to honor Marleine Bastien at Tap Tap (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>


For Immediate Release
May 6, 2005

Contact:
Carol Foster
Fanm Ayisyen Nan Miyami, Inc.
305)756-8050



§	MARLEINE BASTIEN CHOSEN BY ESSENCE MAGAZINE AS “ONE OF THE 35 MOST
REMARKABLE WOMEN IN THE WORLD”

§	CELEBRATORY RECEPTION SCHEDULED AT TAP TAP


Miami (May 6, 2005) – Marleine Bastien, MSW, LCSW, the Executive Director
and founder of Little Haiti’s award-winning social service and advocacy
agency Fanm Ayisyen Nan Miyami, Inc., has been included in the May, 2005
37th Anniversary Collector’s Edition of ESSENCE magazine as a member of The
Beautiful Ones: 35 of the Most Remarkable Women in the World. Well-known in
Miami as a long time community activist, Ms. Bastien serves as not only the
voice of Haitian women, but as the unofficial spokesperson for the Haitian
community at large, rallying for its causes in the Nation’s Capital and in
speaking engagements, including the historic World March of Women held in
Washington, D.C.  She is often quoted in local, national and international
media such as the Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, the British Broadcasting
Corporation (BBC) and others. Ms. Bastien has been given numerous accolades
including the “Human Rights Award” from Amnesty International (2000), “Woman
of the Year Award” from Ms. Magazine (2001) and the “Leadership for a
Changing  World Award” from the Ford Foundation (2002).

The stunningly photographed recognition from ESSENCE, dramatically placed in
Tap Tap, Miami Beach’s premiere Haitian restaurant,  honors her in the
company of some of the world’s loveliest and most accomplished women,
including: Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry; entertainer Beyoncè Knowles;
tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams; political activist Donna Brazile;
singer Cesaria Evora; 2004 Nobel Peace Laureate Wangari Maathai; members of
Congress Cynthia Ann McKinney, Barbara Lee, Maxine Waters and Stephanie
Tubbs Jones; Spelman College president Beverly Daniel Tatum; U.S. Army
Reserve Command Sergeant Major Michele S. Jones; Greenville, Mississippi,
Mayor Heather McTeer Hudson; scholar Shani Jamila; singer Cassandra Wilson;
Rock the Vote president Jehmu Greene; and activist Sherry Grace.

A celebratory reception for Ms. Bastien will be hosted by Tap Tap Haitian
Restaurant, 819 Fifth Street, Miami Beach, on Friday, May 20, 2005 from 6 to
8PM. The general public is invited, and RSVPs are encouraged – please call
(305) 756-8050 for additional information.

Donations to FANM in honor of Marleine Bastien are optional and sincerely
appreciated.  Your donations are greatly needed to support the agency’s work
with women and families in Miami’s Haitian community.  If you are not able
to attend, please be assured that  we will miss you and hope that you will
mail your check to: FANM, Inc. at P.O. Box 38-1555, Miami, FL 33238-1555

Since 1991, FANM has provided programs in family intervention and
empowerment, citizenship and immigration advocacy, and community economic
development.  The agency’s mission is to empower Haitian women and their
families socially, economically and politically and facilitate their
adjustments to South Florida and the United States