"Another Side of Haiti"®

Michaelle Jean 

 Emigrated from Haiti at an early age, 11, Michael Jean left Haiti with her family in 1957 in fear of then Dictatorship Government of Papa Doc Duvalier and settled in Montreal. 
Jean pursued her master's studies in comparative literature and taught at the Montreal University's faculty of Italian studies after earning a bachelor of Arts degree in Italian and Hispanic languages at that same university, While teaching and still attending college. Michael Jean, for eight years, worked with Quebec Shelters for battered women, and as a journalist and broadcaster for . On September 27, 2005, Michael Jean became Canada's 27th Governor General Carrying out duties of Head of state. Michael Jean is the first black person and the second women after Adrienne Clarkson to ever hold that post.
During her mandate, the Governor General has been awarded numerous honorary degrees from the following universities. University of Ottawa (206); University of Foreigners of Perugia in Italy (2006); McGill University (2006); York University (2007); University of Manitoba (2007); University of Alberta (2008); University of Moncton (2009); University of Laval (2009); Royal College of Canada (2010); and University of Montreal (2010). Her excellence Michaelle Jean is an icon figure among not only Haitian women, but throughout Canada and the world. Her personal perseverance to achieve her accomplishments is an inspiration. She is the proof that no matter what you're background is, if you work hard, the doors of success will be wide open for you.

Garcelle Beauvais 

Garcelle Beauvais was born in Haiti on November 26, 1966. Her mother was a nurse and her father a lawyer. At the age of 16, after the divorce of her parents, she moved to Massachusetts with her mother and then to Miami the same year. Within a year, at the age of 17, Garcelle moved to New York in pursuit of modeling career. She got hired by the very well-known modeling agency of Eileen Ford. While modeling for the agency, she  got some early acting parts in the "Cosby Show" and other series. In 1994, she got a lead role on "Model Inc". Although that show was short lived, it was a tremendous boost for Garcelle's career. She would again hit the big screen with "Wild Wild West" in 1999 and "Double Take" in 2001. Garcelle Beauvais was voted one of " The Ten Sexiest Women" by readers of Black Men Magazine in 2001, and she continued to make headlines for appearing nude while pregnant, in the August 2007 issue of playboy magazine. Garcelle Beauvais is an inspiration to many. She shows that you can achieve everything through perseverance and motivations.

Sarodj Bertin 

 Sarodj Bertin, a beauty pageant, and a lawyer, was born on  April 11, 1986 in Port-au-Prince. She is the Daughter of Mireille Durocher Bertin, a prominent Haitian lawyer, a social leader and a human rights activist, very outspoken critic of then President Jean Bertrand Aristide. She was murdered  on March 28, 1995 in Port-au-Prince in broad day light. After the assassination of her mother, Sarodj Bertin, only 9, fled to the neighboring Dominican Republic with her dad, and siblings, in fear of loosing their lives. After the devastating January Earthquake, Sarodj Bertin entered the Miss Haiti contest and won. She then went to Puerto Rico for her intense training for Miss Universe. On August 23, 2010; Sarodj Bertin represented Haiti in the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant held in Las Vegas. Her representation of Haiti on the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant, sparked a lot of controversies. Many argues that she could not really represent Haitians, since she does not look a typical Haitian, due to her light skin tone, long silky hair and that she is too "Dominicanized" for having living in the Dominican Republic for such a long period of time. Sarodj Bertin did not let any of those critics brought her down. She wanted to be the voice of the Haitian people who were in dire needs of help, just months after the earthquake that killed more than 300.000 of them, and destroyed their country.  Haiti needs more people like Sarodj Bertin, people who are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in, people who despite hate, and discouragements from their own piers, do not give up. She may not be a major voice like Wyclef Jean, but she represents nonetheless. She is beautiful, intelligent, a multilingual who speaks 4 languages, and Haiti chose the best person to represent her. 

Edwidge Danticat 

 Edwidge Danticat was born January 19, 1969 in Port-au-Prince and was separated by her father when she was only 2 years old. He emigrated to the United States, in search of a better life. 2 years later, her mother also left for the United States. Along with her younger brother, Edwidge was left with her father's brother who was a minister living in one of Port-au-Prince poorest area. Bel Air, for the next eight years. At the age of 12, she moved to Brooklyn, New York, to join her parents and their 2 new sons, in a heavily Haitian American neighborhood. It was extremely difficult for the young Edwidge to adjust to her new family, and she also had difficulties adjusting at school since she did not know any English. At school, she was bullied by other students calling her " Haitian boat people"or refugee. At the age of 14, Edwidge published her first writing in English. "A Haitian American  Christmas: Cremas and Creole theater" in a citywide magazine  (youth connection) written by teenagers. After graduating from high school, she entered Barnard College in NYC. She wanted to become a teacher, but her love of writing made her not pursue a teaching career. She received a BA in French literature. In 1993,  she earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writings from Brown University. Since completing her Master's, Edwidge has taught at both the University of New York and University of Miami. Her books has been translated in many different languages, including French, Korean, German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish. Edwidge Danticat is the recipient of numerous Awards such as:

Fiction Award the Caribbean Writer

 Woman of Achievement Award, from Brown University;

Best Young Americans Novelist for her book Krik Krak.

American Book Award for the Farming of the Bones.

The Story Prize for The Drew breaker.

The International Flaiano Prize for the Farming of the Bones.

The National Book Award for Brother I'm Dying.

The National Book Critics Peace Prize for Brother I'm dying, and so many other ones. She was also named " 1 of 20 people in their twenties who will make a difference" in Harper's Bazaar. And was called one of the 15 Gutsiest Women of the Year. Edwidge Danticat is also a strong advocate for issues affecting Haitians abroad and at home. Edwidge Danticat is a graceful, elegant and insightful writer. A wonderful vessel of Haitian lore, who never cease to portray her country positively through her work. 

Reggie Fils-Aime 

Reginald Fils Aime, mostly known as Reggie, is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Nintendo America. The North American Division. 
Reggie was the Executive Vice-President of sales and Marketing prior to his actual role as President and Chief Operating Officer.
Reggie was born in New York in 1961 to Haitian Immigrants who permanently moved to the United States in order to escape the conflicting political views of Reginald's grand parents. Throughout his career, Reginald was Senior Vice-President of Marketing at VH1, senior director for National Marketing at pizza hut, and Marketing Chief for Guinness Import Co.
After the September 11 attacks on New York City, he created and executed the Marketing plans concert for New York City, which raised more than 35 million dollars. Reginald success in the marketing world have made him the recipient of numerous awards, and one of the most respected marketers in the world.

 Born on August 8, 1968 in Petion-Ville, Jimmy Jean Louis is an actor and model. At a very young age, Jimmy moved to Paris. After a few years, he enrolled in business courses, but quickly grasped the idea that he was meant for performance. He dropped out of his business courses and joined the Paris International Dance Academy. For around a decade later, a producer discovered Jimmy Jean Louis at a French club during one of his dancing stints. Deeply impressed, he made him appear in a Coca Cola ad. This success prompted Jimmy Jean Louis to model across Europe for some notable names in the fashion industry, such as, Gianco Ferre and Valentino. He also started to make appearance in music videos of international superstars such as Mariah Carey, Seal, George Michael and also low budget "Independent" films in Los Angeles. He went on to get supporting roles on big screen movies. The Jean Claude Van Damme action opus "Derailed", "Hollywood Homicide" "Monster in Law", "Phat Girlz","Tears of the Sun". He achieved his most widespread fame in the recurring role of the Haitian on the super hero themes serial "Heroes" in 2007. Jimmy Jean Louis despite being an international star, also make stars in many Haitian movies. Jimmy Jean Louis, after the devastating January 2010 Earthquake participated in many fundraisers to help his nearly destroyed country. His the founder of Hollywood Unites for Haiti, a non-profit charitable organization which provides sports and cultural education  to underprivileged youth in Haiti. He is the father of 2 children and is Fluent in 5 languages. English, Haitian Creole, French, Spanish and Italian. 

Ralph Gilles 

Ralph Gilles was born in New York on January 14, 1970 fro two Haitian parents who left Haiti under the dictatorship of Francois Duvalier. Shortly after birth, with his parents he emigrated to Montreal, and stayed there till his adulthood. 
At the age of only 14, one of his aunts, Giselle Mouscardy noticed his enormous talents of sketching cars, wrote to the CEO of Chrysler at the time Lee Lacocca informing him of her nephew talents and sent a few of the sketches along as proof, impressed Chrysler chief design sent a reply suggesting that the young Gilles attends a design school. Shortly after receiving his Executive MBA from Michigan State University he joined Chrysler. 6 years later, Gilles got promoted as the Senior Vice President of Design for Dodge, less than a year later, he received his second promotion as the CEO of the company. In June of 2011, Gilles stepped down, but remained Senior Vice President of Design for Dodge while taking a second job as the CEO of Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology division.

Mia Bourdeau Love

 Mia Love is currently the Mayor of Saratoga Springs, Utah,  the first person of African descent to hold that position in the State's history. She came to prominence after bringing down her city's deficit from $3.5 million to just $779.000 in just one year. In 2012, she was the Republican Party's nominee for the US House of Representatives in Utah's 4th congressional district, and was also a speaker at the 2012 Republic National Convention. Mia Love was born in Brooklyn on September 6th, 1975 from two Haitian parents who left Haiti in 1973 leaving two children behind.

Pierre-Richard Prosper 

 Pierre-Richard Prosper is the son of two Haitian physician who emigrated to the United States under fear of Francois Duvalier. He was born in Denver, Colorado in 1963. Raised in upstate New York he graduated from Shenendehowa high school and attended Boston College and Pepperdine University School of Law. From 1989 to 1994 he was a Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles where he prosecuted gang related murders. From 1994 to 1996 he was an Assistant United States Attorney for the central District of California where he prosecuted major international drug cartels. He went on to served as a war crimes prosecutor for the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, as the lead attorney, where he would successfully prosecute the first ever case of Genocide, and continued to made history by forcing the International Tribunal to recognize rape committed in time of conflict as an act of genocide. On May 16, 2001 the President of the United States, Georges W. Bush  chose Pierre-Richard Prosper as the United States Ambassador-at-Large for War Crime Issues, the head of the Office of Global Criminal Justice. He served in that role till 2005.