Exhibit Treal is coming fast at us…faster than a bright color leaking from an artist’s paint brush. It’s an initiative co-created by the Palm Beach-based visual artist, and art curator known as Jason “JaFleu” Fleurant, and it’s a movement that has urban creatives in the West Palm Beach/South Florida area connecting with one another, while sharing ideas. While it’s being promoted as a creative haven for visual artists, creatives of all passions have been looking towards it as an outlet to filter out promoting strategies, network with other creatives, and publicize their artistic and other endeavors.

So, Jason…Jasun…you’ve been up to so much lately. Let’s start off by discussing the last three paintings you worked on?
Now that’s surprisingly difficult these days. I’ve kinda of took a pretty extended break from painting the last few months to focus on what I’m doing now with Exhibit Treal. But the last three that really stick in my head was these large scale paintings. We’re talking seven feet each.

The first being “Oshun: The Orisha of Love. I just wanted to pay homage to the black goddess, and I used features I loved from various women I’ve dated to create her.

Then there’s “For My Negus with Daughters”, which was basically my ode to black fathers everywhere. Because for myself, I know a lot of men who are real fathers so I wanted to combat the images the we are often shown.

Lastly, there’s another painting, and it’s probably my favorite. [It’s called] “Graduated with Hiii Honors”. At the time, my [social media] timeline was flooded with photos of all these amazing women I knew graduating from colleges, and I wanted to show love to them.

I particularly enjoyed the process of making this one because I painted it outside on my
then-porch when I lived in an artist residency [facility]. We lived in what some call the hood, but to me it was just home. Everyone was cool and they loved to just come see me work. I’d just [leave my] art outside overnight and nothing ever happened to them. It would be more concern of the galleries trying to take it. The best part was seeing how inspiring it was for them all. That inspired me.

Kreyolicious: How did you new initiative Exhibit Treal come about?
I’ve been curating exhibits and art shows for a while. Again, taking it back to the artist residency where I lived. We just took advantage of the four walls of the apartment and them exhibits in there.

Kreyolicious: Catchy name by the way.
Thank you. For some reason, I couldn’t get Jay Electronica’s “Exhibit C” song out my head. And at this point, my friends and I were saying “treal” a lot ’cause we felt that was another level…something to aspire to. To always be truly real. And I just wanted to focus on exhibits that we felt was treal, so we started calling the shows that, and it stuck.

I wanted to use it as a vehicle to give opportunities for black artists in Palm Beach and further[more as a way] to always give back in some fashion. To me, that’s what’s treal…using the arts to be a factor and make a difference in the community. Things mentally I’ve always already believed and acted on. And the dope thing is other artists believe in it. Particularly Tracy Guiteau…the co-founder. She really just one day said, “I believe in this, and that it can be big.” So we just decided, “Let’s do this,” and here we are several shows later. It’s been crazy—a real blessing from God. We’ve got our motto “Be Safe. Keep what you Kill. Stay Treal”, but I think the thing that really explains our mentality is we say amongst ourselves a quote from the movie Juice: “No one man above the crew”. As long as we all move as a unit, nothing can stop us.

It’s also sort of an artist’s development. Tracy and myself have gotten a lot of knowledge over the years, so we help guide artists we work with best we can…while letting them be themselves and grow naturally.

Above: A JaFleur painting entitled “Graduated with Hiii Honors”.

Kreyolicious: What’s the art scene like in the Palm Beach area?
It’s a mixture of your typical art scene and it’s—I guess—slowly trying to emulate Wynwood in Miami. There’s been a lot of usage of art to gentrify black areas…And I personally just see Exhibit Treal as kind of the clap back to that. We’re just trying to show the Treal side of things while not getting caught up in the bs. I love where I’m from and there’s a lot of talent that needs to be appreciated, but not just visual arts. So, we work to push and promote black art in all ways.

Kreyolicious: What’s your advice to other visual artists…those just starting out?
You’re gonna laugh, but it’s simply to…be safe. Keep what you kill and stay Treal. Always be aware of the situations whether it’s dealing with galleries, collectors or anyone trying to just use you. Always make sure you get the best out of it. Go hard at all times. Leave it all on the floor. A lion doesn’t catch the gazelle to let it go. It keeps what it kills. Always go the extra mile for you and [do] not let anyone take you and your gifts for granted. And lastly, always do what you feel is best and true to who you are and give back. Even if it’s the smallest thing, ripples have long effects.

Kreyolicious: How do you make sure you’re staying on top of your game?
I’d say buy just not trying. I don’t view it as competition anymore. There is more than enough room for everyone. With Exhibit Treal, it’s just a focus on giving your best. I believe that’s what people respect and gravitate towards.

Kreyolicious: What’s next on the horizon?
Only God knows. We are working to put together a Haitian art exhibit among other things. We’ve just started our own book drive which will lead to a book fair and art show where adults are doing book reports. It’s exciting to see grown-ups hype about reading. We’ve things plan as far as youth projects we hope to get off the ground soon…It’s been kinda hectic, but beautiful. I feel I made the right choice backing away from creating art to be able to promote and push other artists. It’s a funny journey for me to sit back and reflect on now as to where we are and going. All praises to The Most High for keeping it treal!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE EXHIBIT TREAL BLOG. WANT TO HIRE JASON TO SPEAK AT YOUR EVENT, OR COMMISSION HIM FOR A PAINTING, OR ART PIECES? CONNECT WITH JAFLEU ON TWITTER|

What’s KORE Haiti? A non-profit organization based in Haiti started by future physicians Dany Accilien, Stevenson Chery and Samuel Jean-Baptiste. Follow as the founders (who are in their third year of rotation at Florida International University’s Medical School) discuss their organization, its mission, and why they started it in the first place.

Kreyolicious: How did KORE Haiti come about?
SAMUEL JEAN-BAPTISTE: KORE Haiti Inc came about because three students, Dany, Sam and Stevenson, shared a common passion for helping our people. Having all spent several years of our childhood in Haiti, we knew the dire medical needs of the population because we lived those circumstances. We wanted to apply the medical knowledge we learn in the US to help our own people. We did not have many alternatives in terms of organized medical mission trip to Haiti. We started discussing the option of organizing our own mission trip in December of 2014. We decided to carve our own path where there was none. We recruited the help of Projects for Haiti, another community based non-profit focused on education. We used them as a medium to provide medical care to the Cap-Haitian community where they did not have a local hospital. In the first trip in spring of 2015, we were able to see and treat 368 patients in two days with 17 volunteers.

When we came back, there was a general consensus that we had to do more. We felt it was our duty. Soon after, we founded KORE Haiti Inc as a 501(c)3. We realized that we could accomplish more in terms of a lasting impact as an organization representing an idea as opposed to individuals who shared a passion.

Kreyolicious: At this point, do you feel that most of the goals you have for it have been achieved?
SAM JEAN-BAPTISTE: Although we have had a considerable impact on the health of several communities in Haiti, we still feel there is a great deal left unaddressed. We want to accomplish more than just providing medical care to communities. We want to empower them to manage their own health and this is a process we know will take time. That is why education is a major component of our mission.

Kreyolicious: The word Kore means to support in Creole. What role do teams play in the success of the organization?
STEVENSON CHERY: Teamwork is at the core of our philosophy as an organization. From the beginning, we, as founders, understood the importance of working together in order to achieve our goals. That is why we worked with many established partners in the areas that we seek to provide help. Furthermore, it is essential to come together as a team during our mission trips to be effective and efficient. Thus, our mission team members go through an application and interview before being selected to travel with us. We look for people who value and understand the importance of teamwork.

Kreyolicious: Have you come across any obstacles?
DANY ACCILIEN: All three of our founding members, as well as many of our board members, are either pursuing graduate degrees or developing their own businesses. The main obstacle has been finding a way to coordinate all the things necessary to progress the organization while everyone is attending to their education. With the support of family, friends, and an amazing group, we’ve been able to overcome the issue of time management and coordination .

Kreyolicious: What are you most proud of?
DANY ACCILIEN: When we meet young individuals, whether through educational programs or clinics, we hope to instill the idea that it’s possible to become whatever you’d like in life. A number of children have told us that after seeing people who come from their own country returning and doing such great things, they too wish to become physicians, nurses, engineers, and educators in order to improve the country. It’s difficult to be prouder than that upon hearing such statements. It’s truly been a blessing.

[Photos: KORE Haiti]

CLICK HERE TO VISIT KORE HAITI TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP WITH ITS MISSION!| KORE HAITI ON FACEBOOK

The man known as Haiti Travel Guy ranks as one of the biggest Haiti Tourism enthusiasts on social media and elsewhere. Also known as Terry Curtis, the travel adventurer and tourism consultant is the founder of Haiti tourism firm Haiti Travel Adventures. Many a blan who write about Haiti have to walk on eggshells, and watch their tongue lest they should get their #TeamHaiti card snatched, and get dragged by their edges by #TeamHaiti. Not Haiti Travel Guy. He tweets about the beauty of Haiti, and its tourism treasures, but he doesn’t present tropical glitter without delivering some hard truths. Hard truths that come in the form of comments about bad roads, occasional bad customer service, and the like.

Through his tweets and his website, many an adventurous traveler are finding Haiti, or rediscovering it. He promotes Haiti like he’s part of a secret department in Haiti’s Department of Tourism.

Kreyolicious: You write positively of Haiti, and with sweet humor, but you definitely don’t sugarcoat matters with cherry on top. Matter a fact, you’re pretty blunt at times. Sometimes #TeamHaiti and Haitian Twitter don’t like to hear or read ugly truths about Haiti to be highlighted by a blan. Why do you think you’ve never had your lari card, your Team Haiti pass card revoked?
Every week I go to the Haitian Post Office but my card never showed up in the mail. [Smiles] You know, I love to promote Haiti as I travel. But sometimes, you have to laugh at the differences in cultures to make a point. We have to be able to laugh at ourselves in this world. We just need to be respectful. As much as I will promote Haiti, it comes with a great responsibility to not paint a picture that will only disappoint or get someone in trouble. Haiti is not the Virgin Islands. Being in denial is not change. Being honest about the challenges and differences is to let others know this place is just not for everyone. Yet. This is probably why I’ve never been approached by Haiti tourism officials. [Smiles]

Kreyolicious: We went from hearing about Port-au-Prince a lot. A whole lot…to hearing about other cities too. What do you feel is Haiti’s most underrated city?
Au Cayes is a nice quiet little town by the beach. It’s the distance I think that keeps most from making it a destination. But with a few more hotels, there’s no reason it couldn’t be like a Jacmel.

Above: Haiti Travel Guy visits a fishing coast in Gonaives.

Kreyolicious: I remember reading your review of this hotel in Haiti called Le Perroquet, written a while back, and then seeing tweets about a fire there a few months ago. What’s your reaction when something like that happens…when things seem to be upward bound, and then, and then tragedy.
This was an unfortunate fire. A lot of history there. I remember when it was the Cubana and then the Le Perroquet. It was one of the only decent little hotels right in Petionville for about $60 a night. It was also one of Haiti’s first and oldest English Pubs. There was a fabulous antique wooden bar in there. Sad to see all this destroyed.

Above: A beach in the northern part of Haiti. Photo Credit: Haiti Travel Guy

Kreyolicious: Have you ever thought of doing a travel guide? Something alongside The Haiti Travel Guy’s Guide To Haiti and Things To Do There or 1001 Fun Things to Do While in Haiti.
Great idea. But I’d need a writer. [Smiles] Honestly, I left that up to professionals like Paul Clammer. His latest guide is a very nice tool for those visiting.

Kreyolicious: What’s next for HTG?
As Haiti elects a new president and the next chapter of government takes shape, I am hoping the progress that started will continue. Government stability, security and infrastructure are the keys to building a successful tourism industry. If and when this happens, I am just blessed to be along for the ride.

This concludes Part II of the interview with Haiti Travel Guy. Did you miss PART I? Click here! Be sure to follow Haiti Travel Guy on TWITTER and INSTAGRAM. And don’t forget to visit his website to get more information about booking him for your next visit:—HAITI TRAVEL ADVENTURES!

Can Haiti’s tourism get its groove back? For Dina Simon of My Haiti Travels (MHT Global, LLC), that is the goal, and she won’t relent until Haiti’s tourism gets its groove back, and gets it back again and again. She’s among many entrepreneurs who are recognizing the need to revitalize Haiti’s tourism industry and are using their business acumen to lend a capable hand in increasing the flow of tourists to the country.

Simon’s firm, which she founded in 2012, was conceptualized with the sole intention of drawing pleasure-seeking tourists and well as luxury travelers to Haiti.

Born in Haiti, the entrepreneur immigrated to the United States when she was nine years old, settling in Brooklyn with her family, before moving on up to Long Island during her high school years. Very much goal-oriented throughout her life, she enrolled in college and earned her Bachelor’s degree, and eventually a Master’s, landing herself a plump position at a New York city agency as a public servant.

The Senior Manager roles she has held really prepared Simon for the mechanics of successfully running her own company. My Haiti Travels is fresh off one of its first excursion to Haiti—the Impact Week Haiti tour—in which Simon guided more than a dozens to breathtaking sites all over Haiti. It was important to her that these tourists saw Haiti in a new light—a positive light, and to make them repeat visitors of Haiti’s destinations. The My Haiti Travels tour took the travelers, ranging from executives to a preteen to hotspots in Port-au-Prince.

Simon goes all out in promoting Haiti as well as her company, hiring Daphne Leroy, of DML Media Group, to vigorously publicize her venture, and her objectives. My Haiti Travels has a strong and consistent presence on social media networks.

Simon has launched a newsletter which has a subscriber count of 600 and counting. When she’s not hard at work brainstorming new ways to usher tourists to Haiti and sell Haiti’s countless charms to them, Simon is busily drawing up proposals for new business partnerships that are designed to propel My Haiti Travels Global ahead in the Haiti traveling game.

Q & A

How would you sum up your company?
My company is a boutique concierge firm that coordinates high-quality travel services to Haiti for leisure and business purposes. Our representatives liaise with hotel and resort establishments, restaurants, and professional tour guides to provide unique experiences tailored to each client’s specific needs, lifestyle, and budget. At My Haiti Travels, we believe the best way to support Haiti is to visit, support local businesses, and give back directly to the people in need through volunteerism. Our goal is for all friends of Haiti to truly experience and enjoy the real Ayiti and all its glory.

How did the idea for your company come about?
The idea for My Haiti Travels was formed after organizing a trip to Haiti for a couple of friends. I could not find a reliable source that provided me information on where to stay, where to eat and what to do; when I did find information it was outdated. I had been to Haiti months prior and knew there were restaurants, bars, resorts, beautiful beaches, spas, and even a hookah bar. I was shocked that those things were not prominently showcased anywhere. Once I was able to secure the right services while in Haiti, my friends and I had the best experience ever.

When I came back to New York, I envisioned creating a service that had a directory of places in Haiti, but with reviews and ratings, similar to Yelp. I wanted people to have information and to help them make informed decisions about where to spend their money. At My Haiti Travels, we believe that if you frequent an establishment and spend your money you should get good service—even in Haiti. Businesses survive because of their customers.

Another vision we had for My Haiti Travels was to make it easy for you to travel to Haiti. A lot of people we spoke to didn’t visit Haiti because they didn’t know where to start, where to stay or where to eat. Haiti is a foreign place to many of us. At My Haiti Travels, you tell us how you want to spend your time and we’ll arrange it. We work with your budget, and build your itinerary on what works for you; after all it is your time.

What sort of challenges do you encounter in running your firm?
The biggest challenge in running my firm is balancing time. I have a full-time day job so there’s never enough time in the day to accomplish everything with my business. Since we’re a start-up, there is not a big budget to hire staff so we rely on volunteers. Without a dedicated staff at the end of the day all the balls drop in my court. Hopefully that will change soon but until then it’s a constant sacrifice—late nights and weekends, less time with family and friends but in the long run it will be worth it.

Now, in terms of running a travel and tourism agency targeted towards a country that’s stigmatized and that’s been portrayed negatively in the media—-how do you handle that?
We have to tell Haiti’s story, past, present and future. We’re all very much aware of Haiti’s challenges. I don’t think any one of us can ever deny them. However, the time has come for us to take a different path and do something new. Our President Michel Martelly has said “Haiti is too rich to be poor,” and he’s right. I’m not just talking about material wealth. I’m talking about things you can’t put a price on.

I also think we as a people need to do a better job about the image we present to others about Haiti. When I meet people and I tell them about Haiti and they see my pictures they are surprised. Most of them tell me their perception of Haiti is from Haitian-Americans who have never visited or it’s been decades since they’ve been to Haiti.

Since the perception of Haiti is one of my biggest challenges, My Haiti Travels constantly educates people by showing the different sides of Haiti. Through our newsletter titled “See Haiti Through Our Eyes,” we try to change perception by focusing on the positive, but not ignoring the struggle. We believe that people should visit Haiti themselves before they form an opinion.

Haiti’s tourism boom peaked in the 40s, then the 1950s, then in the 1970s and 1980s. Do you think it will regain its footing in the tourism industry?
Absolutely, Haiti is currently in the process of a tourism boom. There’s a lot of building, plans for hotels and restaurants, training for the tourism sector, and investment in infrastructure. A lot of people are organizing tours to Haiti. There’s adventure travel, volunteer travel, and there’s a combination of both.

Simon poses with her traveling clients. Photo: Sebastian Narcisse, My Haiti Travels

The first five-star hotel was inaugurated in Haiti about [in December] and there’s encouraging news about the tourism sector. I believe travelers are looking for a different type of vacation as the days where people are confined to a resort are gone. Haiti offers a mixture for people who want adventure, authenticity, and want to discover culture and history.

If you were counseling aspiring entrepreneurs, what would you tell them about your journey?
I would advise them to have a plan and to be flexible. You must be willing to adjust your plan based on internal and external factors. I would advise aspiring entrepreneurs to align themselves with people who share and support their vision. Until you have the support from someone who believes in what you’re doing, it’s hard to get off the ground. You need someone who’s willing to get in the trenches with you, sees your vision and can serve as an advocate for you.

Finally, I would say believe in it. If you don’t believe in it, no one else will. When I talk to people about Haiti, they tell me they see my passion for Haiti. The thing is I’m only telling my story, my experiences. Once you believe in it, it’s easy for someone else to do the same.

Throughout this journey, my proudest moment has been booking two people who have not been back to Haiti in over 30 years. I cannot wait to capture the moment they step off the plane, as they get re-introduced to their country. That’s what My Haiti Travels is about, that’s our vision – “See Haiti Through Our Eyes.”

Any last words?
Kat, thank you for giving me this opportunity. From the beginning of this journey, you have been a major inspiration for me. Thank you for all your tips, and for educating me about Haiti through Kreyolicious Magazine. What you are doing is necessary for us as a people, a culture, and a country. Please continue to educate us on all things Haiti. Thank you to all who believed in the My Haiti Travels vision for Impact Week Haiti 2013, including our media partners BelTiFi, Kiskeacity, Manman Pemba, Haitian-AllStarz, Haiti 1 Stop, HaitiXChange, Radio Soleil, and the Stewardship Report. There are a lot of amazing entrepreneurs and organizations supporting Haiti daily via diverse platforms, so let’s continue to support them. Haiti needs us. We can’t do it alone. We owe it to each other. We owe it to those who came before us. We owe it to Ayiti. L’union fait la force.

Haitian food is having its day on Youtube, thanks to Lamise Oyugi, a Haitian-American food vlogger on Youtube. Based in North Dakota, the zealous foodie breaks down the intricate steps of Haitian cooking down to well-constructed videos on the platform. She also features the cuisines of other Caribbean countries, as well as some parts of Africa.

Kreyolicious: Tell us about how cooking came to be such a big part of your world?
I started cooking at the age of ten. My mother would have me sit next to her while she’s cooking dinner and I would imitate her cooking but using a can. That’s how my passion for cooking started. I learned to cook watching my mom and aunt. They loved to cook, and for the most part, we prepared meals at home instead of going out to eat.

Above: A griyo dish prepared by the Haitian-American foodie for her Youtube channel. [Photo Credit: Lamise Oyugi]

Kreyolicious: You moved from Haiti to the USA when you were little. And moved to Fargo, North Dakota as opposed to a U.S city like Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Newark, Miami where there is a much bigger Haitian population. Do you think you had a different acculturation experience then peers who moved there?
My parents made that decision to move to North Dakota when I was a young girl, so I didn’t have much input into it. But that decision turned out to be a good one, since I have enjoyed my life here while keeping my culture in tact.

Kreyolicious: What was it really like growing up in Fargo?
Fargo is a pretty lively place to grow up in and it is one of those cities that you have to visit to see first hand. There is a mix of cultures and among them is a nice size Haitian community.

A Lamise Oyugi creation! Photo Credit: Lamise Oyugi

Kreyolicious: What made you start your Youtube channel?
I wanted to teach people about Haitian cuisine because I felt that Haitian cuisine is not well represented.

Kreyolicious: When did you realize you were getting somewhere with all the hours and effort, time and money that you were putting in your channel?
I started realizing this is getting somewhere when the subscriber list started getting bigger and bigger and people began leaving positive comments. This fueled my passion to continue.

Above: Okra stew prepared by Haitian-American food vlogger Lamise Oyugi! Photo Credit: Lamise Oyugi.

Kreyolicious: What are the challenges that come with being a food vlogger?
Making sure you deliver what your audience want can sometimes be challenging. This is because some ingredients can be hard to find in my area.

Photography Credit: Lamise Oyugi

CLICK HERE to watch Lamise Oyugi cook her Haitian, Caribbean and African dishes! CHECK OUT this fabulous foodie on her Instagram channel as well by CLICKING HERE!

Entrepreneurs like Ann-Sophie Ovile wants to make Haiti’s days at the bottom of world vacations list a thing of the past. To that end, she’s founded Mennenm La Tours, a travel and tourism company that creates custom packages with the discriminating tourist in mind. But there must be challenges in running such a company. For, as some pundits have been quick to point out, Haiti’s past as a hot tourism spot was decades ago.

But things have been turning upwards for Haiti tourism, and Ann-Sophie Ovile finds herself among the players flipping the cards, and maneuvering the domino cubes to increase visitors to Haiti.

Read on as the travel entrepreneur discusses the origin of her Haiti tourism company, her offerings, and Haiti’s future as a tourism spot.

K. St. Fort: What made you start Mennenm La Tours?
From a young age, I had a passion for entrepreneurship. It has always been something that came to me naturally. I used to bring back seashells from the beach and sell them at school. At the time, I lived in Haiti and every summer, I used to travel for vacation. But then, in 2010, after the earthquake, I left Haiti. From this moment, my parents decided that, in the summer, my sister and I would come to Haiti and discover our own land. This is when I really fell in love with Haiti. I discovered so many places that I did not know existed. I fell deeply in love with the countryside’s simplicity, with the people, the little things that make our culture. And I started telling myself: “Haiti is too rich to be poor. What can I do to bring a change?”

Above: Mennem La tourists participating in a segment of an eco tour.

This is when I started thinking. I did not have any particular idea. I just had this passion in my heart and I knew that I could create something out of it! I am very passionate, and it is probably what made me go for it. Then tourism started taking a bigger proportion in Haiti thanks to the ex-minister of tourism Stephanie Villedrouin and it inspired me even more. I wanted to take tourism to another level without ignoring our rich cultural baggage. I wanted the local communities to benefit from it. I wanted people to come to Haiti and see more than a beautiful beach. I wanted them to discover and to learn. And through brainstorming, traveling inside the country, meeting local communities, motivation and prayer, all of the pieces came together. They still are…I am learning as I am evolving in this business.

Now Mennen’m La is launched and evolving. Our mission is to introduce social and sustainable tourism through excursion where the tourists get to stay at local’s homes or camping in their villages. Plus, we make sure that they benefit from the activity by offering their art classes and other activities in our packages. We hire them as cooks, fishermen and all other jobs we might need for the tours.

K. St. Fort: Was your company name a no-brainer?
Mennen’m La means “Take Me There” in Creole, which is the name of my Instagram travel page and blog that I started in 2013. Through them, I share my travel pictures and stories around the world. So when I decided to launch the business, it came naturally!

K. St. Fort: What is the Haiti tourism scene like right now?
There is still a lot to be done. However, there is a movement taking place and we can all feel it! On one hand, because of the publicity that has been made through the ex-minister of tourism many people have developed the desire to come to Haiti and the numbers don’t lie. In 2014, Haiti received a total of 465,174 stay-over visitors for the year, up 10.8 % t from the previous year, according to the Caribbean Journal. This is not something that can be ignored. Also many expats living here in Haiti, are traveling through the country to discover more of Haiti. Most of the time, these people do not find enough activities or support as tourists because this sector is still so new in [modern-times] Haiti…But we are getting there step by step. I just wish more people saw the importance of this industry.

Above: Musicians with hand-made instruments preparing a performance for Mennem La customers.

K. St. Fort: What is a typical Mennen’m La tourist like?
Adventurous! Mennen’m La is a completely adventurous, out of the ordinary experience. I mean…we sleep under tents, learn how to cook with locals—and so much more. The tourists need to keep an open mind and be ready to rediscover Haiti. We get customers of all ages and all nationalities and I love it!

K. St. Fort: What’s it like running a Haiti tourism business?
Challenging of course. There are not enough tourists yet, the economy is low which makes it hard to find many people who can afford these kinds of activities. Working with locals is hard as they are not used to receiving people and working in the tourism industry. They do not have bathrooms so I have to invest in toilets. I have to train them and there is so much workload that is under-estimated.

K. St. Fort: You have four custom tours. Tell us about them. Which ones are most popular?
I offer the beach bum, historical, the artsy and the eco tour. The names speak for themselves. The beach bum is for the beach lovers, the eco tour is more about cave discoveries, waterfalls, reforestation and more. The historical is more about ruins, historical sites and fortresses. The Artsy tour is for the art lovers. When I think artsy, I think Jacmel, art classes, paintings—and all of that good stuff. But besides those, I also plan customized tours for clients who wish to go on an excursion with their own groups.

K. St. Fort: Anything in your background that makes running your company easy?
My drive I would say. Because I am passionate about my work, even the toughest moments are worth it. My love for Haiti and my desire to see things get better. My studies in international business—and most importantly—the support I get from my family. They are my best volunteers and supporters.

K. St. Fort: What would you say to a prospective Haiti tourism client?
That Haiti is worth it. That there is a lot that needs to be done but so much to discover! And of course I would tell him to book a tour with Mennen’m La.

[All photos by Verdy Verna. Main photo furnished by subject.]

VISIT MENNENM LA TO BOOK A TOUR AND TO LEARN EVEN MORE ABOUT THE COMPANY!