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"L' Union Fait la Force"
The Haitian of the year award is neither a competition nor a contest, but the recognition of a Haitian or someone of Haitian descent
for remarkable achievements and contribution to uplift the Haitian community. This year “The World and Democracy”
has two categories: The male category and the female category.
In the male category, Philanthropist Harold Charles is being recognized with the Haitian of the Year 2011 Award - and in the
female category, Haitian of the Year 2011 Award is being shared with four women: 1) Lawyer and Human Rights Activist Sonia Pierre.
2) Internationally acclaimed Writer/Novelist Edwidge Danticat. 3) Former Governor General of Canada Michaelle Jean.
4) Humanitarian and Activist Suzanne David. watch the video so you can learn more about these outstanding women and Harold Charles.
Before we tell you more about these wonderful individuals, let’s take a look at some other outstanding accomplishers:
Councilmember Mathieu Eugene, and newly elected legislator Carrie Solages.
As you may remember, Councilmember Mathieu Eugene, who made history when he was elected the first Haitian-American
in the new York city Council, was awarded the Haitian of the year 2 010 Award. It’s noteworthy to mention some of his
great and monumental accomplishments during the 2011 year. To name a few of Councilmember Mathieu Eugene’s latest
achievements, we can mention his outstanding contribution and hard work to make TPS (Temporary Protected Status)
a reality for about 120,000 Haitians - which is translated into the continued flow of more than $1.4 billion for the Haitian
TPS recipients, on the workforce in the United States, who have renewed their TPS, and a new group of Haitian TPS
recipients, who can provide for their family here in the U.S. and in Haiti as well. He has also recently authored and
introduced the Haitian Family Reunification Program, Resolution 1096, to the New York City Council, which would
allow Haitian families in Haiti and the U.S. to reunite much easier and quicker.
Councilmember Mathieu Eugene also organized recently the Haitian forum of unity and empowerment to uplift the
Haitian community and to bring the Haitians together. Councilmember Mathieu Eugene has been consistent in
accomplishing enormous tasks for all his constituents and the Haitian community.
Keep up the good work Councilmember Mathieu Eugene!
CARRIE SOLAGES
Carrie Solages. A young and bright Lawyer. A lifelong resident of Nassau County, New York, grew up in the 3rd legislative
district. His parents, immigrants of Haiti, came to Elmont, New York to offer their children a better life.
Carrie Solages made history when he defeated Republican incumbent John Ciotti in November 2 011
to become the first Haitian-American Legislator for the 3rd District seat in Nassau County, New York.
After graduating from Georgetown University Carrie went on to attend Boston College Law School. In Boston, he served
as a legal intern at Catholic Charities where he helped many families and his community in need with free legal help during
the hardest times of their lives, and he also served as a member of the Nassau County Human Rights Commission.
Upon graduation from law school, Carrie Solages returned to New York and served as an Assistant District Attorney in Bronx County.
To Carrie Solages, we say Keep up the good work!
Sonia Pierre  
Sonia Pierre was born of Haitian parents in 1963 in a Batey in the Dominican Republic. A lawyer and avid and strong advocates
for Haitian immigrants, as well as people of Haitian parents in the Dominican Republic. She met with U.S. Secretary of state
Hillary Clinton and U.S. first lady Michelle Obama while she was in the U.S. to receive the 20120 Woman of Courage
Award for her outstanding work as a human rights defender and activist. She recently died. She is being recognized with
the Haitian of the Year 2011 Award posthumously. Sonia Pierre is
We will forever miss you. Rest in Peace Sonia.
Edwidge Danticat 
Edwidge Danticat was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. At the age of 12 she moved to Brooklyn, New York
to join her parents in a heavily Haitian American neighborhood. Edwidge turned to literature for solace. Two years later, she published
her first writing in English "A Haitian-American Christmas: Cremace and Creole Theatre," in New Youth Connections, a citywide
magazine written by teenagers. Today, Edwidge Danticat is one of the most sought after novelists of our time. Her work has been
translated into numerous other languages, including French, Korean, German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish.
She is a strong advocate for issues affecting Haitians abroad, and at home.
Congratulations to Edwidge Danticat as one of the four female recipients
of the Haitian of the Year 2011 award. . Keep up the good work.
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Michaelle Jean
Michaelle Jean - The former General Governor of Canada and Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces was born in Port-au-Prince.
She spent summer and weekends in Jacmel, her mother's hometown in Haiti. Michaelle Jean came from Haiti to Canada in 1968.
Besides French and English, Michaelle Jean is fluent in Spanish, Italian and Haitian Creole, and can read Portuguese. She was
formally appointed and installed as Special Envoy for Haiti for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,
on November 8, 2010 for a four-year term.
Congratulations to former Governor of Canada Michaelle Jean as one of the four female recipients of the Haitian of the Year 2011
award. Keep up the good work!
Suzanne David 
Suzanne Davis is a Humanitarian and Activist. Before moving back to Haiti, she spent several years in the U.S. advocating,
participating and promoting the welfare and advancement of the Haitian community. Suzanne David survived the devastating
January 12, 2010 earthquake that struck Haiti. The house where she was living in collapsed on her, but she survived. After
she managed to crawl out of the dust and debris, the first thing she did was searching for missing family members and
neighbors, who were trapped in other houses flattened by the earthquake. She was so selfless, she spent several days and
sleepless nights helping out other earthquake victims despite her own condition.
Suzanne David is currently living in Haiti. Nowadays, she devotes ample time helping out Haitians sickened by Cholera.
Congratulations to Suzanne David as one of the four female recipients of the Haitian of the Year 2011 award. Keep up the good work!
Harold Charles 
Harold Charles was born in Haiti. His story is amazing and very inspiring.
Harold Charles is a philanthropist, entrepreneur and motivational speaker.
Harold Charles went from Rags to multimillionaire. A Haitian Philanthropist
and former airplane cleaner who works his way up to own the Airline
Company in Turks & Caicos Island. As a poor Haitian Boy, he came To
Turks & Caicos Islands with nothing. He worked as an airplane cleaner,
who bought the airline company and then sold it to the Turks & Caicos
Government. Today, Harold Charles is a major player in today's global
economy. Harold Charles is a giving and caring philanthropist, who
helped out Haitians in Turks & Caicos island and in Haiti as well .
To Harold Charles we say keep up the good work and congratulations
as the male recipient of the Haitian of the Year 2011 award.
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