The Haitian Roundtable honored dozens of Haitian-Americans at a posh ceremony in New York over the weekend. Known as the 1804 List, the honorees are selected annually by a board. The honorees are selected based on their body of work in their field, and their contribution to redefining the image of Haiti and Haitian-Americans through their achievements.
The event took place at the New York Academy of Medicine, and DJ Hard Hittin’ Harry assumed musical honors for the ceremony. Dr. Jeff Gardere and TV executive and media mogul Mona Scott-Young served as Masters of Ceremony. Co-chairs for the event included Mandell Smith, Mitchell Silver, Eddy Bayardelle, Kedna Brown, and Karine Jean-Pierre.
Haitian-American Olympic Athlete Naomy Grand’Pierre set aside her Olympics uniform to don this lovely slinky dress. The star athlete was among the inductees.
Hip hop artist/actor and community leader Mecca Aka Grimo was inducted on the 1804 List, as was Haitian-American boxer Andre Berto and hip hop legend Kid Kangol
Here are the honorees flanked by members of the Haitian Roundtable organization.
Host Midwin Charles took the time to chat up entertainment mogul Mona Scott-Young. Scott-Young recently announced that she would be producing a biopic of 90s group Xscape.
Here she is again with TV Anchor and journalist Lionel Moise, a past honoree.
Moise was recently nominated for an Emmy for his work as an anchor in Chicago.
Here’s DJ Hard Hittin’ Harry surrounded by some very elegant guests.
Here is Dr. Marie-Paule Dupiton (second row), an honoree, whose work with the organization Heal Haiti earned her many accolades.
Two attendees posed to capture the occasion. Photo Credit: Queen State of Mind
The honorees gather for a group photo. Photo Credit: Hardhittin’ Harry.
I have to tell, you beloved readers, that I was also named an honoree…as among the Ones to Watch. I wish to thank all the board members and the entire Haitian Roundtable organization for that honor. The Ones to Watch list also included the fashion blogger and designer Paola Mathe, Richard Brookshire, Raynald Dieudonne Leveque, and Nika Milbrun.
Ambassador of Haiti Paul Altidor received the Catherine Flon Award, an honor named after the seamstress who crafted Haiti’s flag.
Media legend Joel Dreyfuss was among the guests for what many termed an amazing evening.
Over the course of the evening, the 2017 Changemaker inductees were honored for their achievements. They included: Chancellor Grace Stephens, Sports star Samyr Laine, Andre Berto, business executive Jean-Pierre St. Victor, Joel Vilmeray, writers Joanne Hyppolite, poet/actress Michele Voltaire Marcelin, business executive Patrick Gaston, education leader Jean-Eddy Saint-Paul, executives Josy Dusek and Florence Saint-Jean, Dr. Marie-Paule Dupiton, New York Times and former USA Today reporter Yamiche Altidor, community leader Wilner Auguste, health industry trailblazer Ernest J. Baptiste, engineering entrepreneur Ernest Fleuranvil, award-winning poet Danielle Legros Georges, hip hop pioneer Shaun “Kid Kangol” Fequiere, activist Allison Mariella Desir, Senator Daphne Campbell, Myrtho Cesaire, culinary star Stephan Berrouet Durand, Olympian Naomy Grand’Pierre, entrepreneur Eddy Benoit Jr., and former Police Chief Gary C. Eugene.
Present were many supporters, including these guests who came to show their support for all those being honored.
If you wanted to be working the room with some of the most influential Haitian-Americans on the planet, this was the place to be!
CLICK HERE to visit the Haitian Roundtable website and stay up to date with their upcoming events.
