La Source is an inspiring documentary made by Patrick Shen, a documentary filmmaker, whose independent production company Transcendental Media is based in Pasadena, California. The doc has been screened at every major documentary festival, including the prestigious Sebastopol Film Festival.

The documentary seems simple enough: Josue Lajeunesse, one of Haiti’s native sons, who immigrated to the United States in the 1980s, returns to his homeland. But the story is much deeper than that; he has returned to his remote town of La Source, for a special purpose, and a purpose that goes back to his childhood.

La Source, which Lajeunesse says is a thirty minutes drive from the city of Jacmel, lacked a clean water source when Lajeunesse was growing up there as the youngest of five children of Carobert Lajeunesse and Gina Jean-Charles.

In 1989, Lajeunesse left Haiti for New Jersey. Like a great many new immigrants, Lajeunesse worked many odds jobs. Then in 1994, an acquaintance of his, who worked in security at Princeton University, told him about an opening for a janitor position at the Ivy League Institution. Lajeunesse applied and was hired for the job. Along the way, he used his earnings from that job alongside miscellaneous businesses he started (including a taxi service company) to channel money back home to go towards improving the lives of the townspeople back in La Source. Most important to Josue was that La Source be furnished with a water source, so that his townmates would not have to take dangerous commutes to get water.

Between working to bring La Source to a bigger audience and developing ideas for some new documentaries and planning a feature narrative project, the documentary’s helmer Patrick Shen broke things down for us. Kreyolicious also had a conversations with Josue Lajeunesse—the native son himself.

Q& A with Josue Lajeunesse

How do you feel about the fact that your town’s story is on the big screen?
When I was in Haiti, I was always involved in the community, doing things. I was part of my theatrical troupe in Haiti. It is what it is. I feel the same way as I felt before. Nothing has changed. I feel normal. I am a simple guy.

You came to this country in the late 1980s, as part of a group of immigrants who came to find a better life. What are you most proud of among all your accomplishments towards the American Dream?
I will give you three items. I love my family. I love everyone. Right now, I am proud of—not of myself—but of the people of the town where I’m from. We are in the process of building a school in the town [of La Source]. They have clean and purified water.

What are your earliest memories of growing up in La Source?
I was little, but I remember everything. The way people had to climb mountains to get to the water. It was a disaster. People would fall down everyday. Break their arms. The people would get sick too, because they didn’t have access to the clean water. So now, they don’t have to go up the mountain anymore. Now, they have the tower.

When did the clean water journey begin?
It was something we did little by little. Every time I had a little money, I send it. Maybe around 1998. My brother Chrismedonne and me, we thought about the people there. It was my dad’s dream, but my dad didn’t have the chance to do so. Me and my brother ever since we were little, we thought about it. When I was in high school in Haiti, I remember in physics they said when you lower the volume, you can increase the. My brother does construction; he does plumbing. He does a lot of stuff. With him, we will be able to do [the job of bringing clean water]. All the physical jobs, he’s in charge; he knows what to do. I don’t have any finance coming back to me or anything; everything is for the community.

Do you think it’s important for people to go back and give back to Haiti like you did?
I think it’s like an obligation. It’s mandatory for everyone to think of where they’re from. We don’t have a government in the world that can do everything for everybody. If everyone—so many of them successful—help, we can [achieve] big things. You have a lot of people who have a lot of riches. They forgot where they came from. I never forgot where I come from. When you have a good heart, you will do so many things you will never think you would do. If everyone put their hands into the pot, when you close you eyes, you will see that the food is done. You got a vision. You have an idea. You cannot live like you don’t care. You have to understand you come from somewhere. Why you’re not coming back to do some public service—to give back where you [went] to high school? Where you [went] to middle school? You have to go back. Give something to the community where you come from. Even if you earn $400 a week—I don’t care—you can do something for the community where you come from.

What message would you like to send to Haitians of all backgrounds, whether born in Haiti or elsewhere but living away from Haiti?
The message is: a kingdom divided cannot be successful. And even in the family, when you’re divided, you cannot make any progress. We have one country and one nation. And when we’re together, we are a big force. We can do anything to take the country [to the next level]. The people outside; the people in Haiti. The country can be beautiful like every other country.

Q& A with Patrick Shen

Was your initial meeting with the Lajeunesse brothers as inspiring as the project? How did you meet? At which point did you decide that it was a worthwhile project to pursue?
My initial meeting with Josue took place under very different circumstances. I didn’t know anything about his dream to bring clean to La Source. I only knew that he was a janitor at Princeton and that he was originally from Haiti. He was a bit of a mystery and something about him was very intriguing. Josue was one of 8 janitors I featured in my last film The Philosopher Kings, which was a documentary about the lives and wisdom of janitors employed at universities throughout the United States. It wasn’t until the end of a long interview with Josue that I learned about La Source and the water project, which he mentioned to us very matter of factly as we were about to pack up our equipment. I thought instantly, “Looks like we’re going to Haiti”. It wasn’t until we arrived in La Source that I was able to see the scope of Josue’s dream for his village. That was also the first time I had met Josue’s brother, Chrismedonne. We were all instantly drawn to the brothers, the village, and the cause. In The Philosopher Kings audiences got a glimpse of Josue’s dream for La Source and his frustrations in fulfilling that dream. That film premiered at the AFI/Discovery Channel Silverdocs Documentary Festival in June of 2009 and Josue became an instant hero that audiences really gravitated toward. People started throwing fundraisers for Josue – money came in from all parts of the country – and before Josue knew it, completing this water project in the way that he had always imagined was becoming a reality. Among those we encountered at Silverdocs was Jordan Wagner, executive director of Generosity Water. He instantly fell in love with Josue and offered his full support in helping Josue complete the water project.

How ironic is it that the little town that the documentary La Source is about, had water issues. After all, La Source does mean The Source.
I believe the town was named La Source because the natural spring in the mountain had been the source of water for many villages for decades. There are no historical records in La Source and any information about the origins of La Source had been passed down through generations and details were not entirely clear or at least not translated in a way that we were able to comprehend fully.

None other than Don Cheadle is the narrator of the project. Was it a challenge getting him involved with your project?
It all came together pretty quickly. We reached out to his agent on a Friday and met Don at studio in Santa Monica the following Friday to record the narration. His agent loved the film and really had a heart for Haiti, as does Don, so I don’t think it took much convincing to get him on board.

How did you and the rest of the La Source crew feel about being one of just 17 projects to be selected for screening by the International Documentary Association for DocuWeeks?
It’s such an honor to have the IDA’s support. The DocuWeeks showcase exists solely to support a handful of films each year that the IDA believes has Oscar potential. When you’re in the throes of making a film, Oscar potential is the last thing on your mind. Whether we get nominated or not, it’s been great to know that people have responded to the film like they have. It’s rewarding after all the years of hard work and struggle.

Has the community of La Source seen the documentary?
We’re in the midst of raising funds to do this. Because there’s no electricity there are some logistics and costs involved in screening the film in La Source. Not only do we have to arrange to bring a generator, screen, and sound system to La Source, the film also needs to be translated. We’re hoping to make a trip out there in [this year].

Is this documentary the last time you’ll be involved with Haiti?
Josue and the people of La Source have become like an extension of my own family. My involvement as a filmmaker might end here, but not as a friend. In fact, we’re in the midst of launching a social action campaign alongside the release of the film – the hope with this campaign is to raise enough funds to continue helping Josue fulfill his dreams for his village, which include a school for the children in La Source.

Did you come across any hardships as you sought to put together the documentary?
Hardships and documentary filmmaking are totally synonymous. Funding is always a struggle as is following a story that is unpredictable and unfolding before your eyes. Beyond that, the language barrier was tricky to navigate as we didn’t have enough funds to hire a proper translator for the first two trips we took to Haiti and had a hard time knowing what it was we were getting early on.

Be sure to purchase the La Source documentary here, and help support Josue’s work!

[Photos: Transcendental Media, except for photo of Josue in the black-suit…Credit: Angela Weiss]

Ivy Box looks like she’s a Jackson family cousin, but growing up in her hometown of Fort Myers, Florida, the world of show business seemed galaxies away. Until, that is, she landed as a cast member of the hit reality TV show “College Hill: Interns”.

It’s standard to be on a reality show and for that to be the highlight of one’s life, but Ivy didn’t stop there. She used the show as a stepping stone to create other opportunities for herself as an entrepreneur, community leader, and non-profit founder (she’s the mind behind. Now, she’s added “author” to her list of goals she can cross off. The 365 Go Get H.E.R.S. Guide is a manual she’s created to help other young women get a handle on a well-directed life.

Get the story behind this bold entrepreneur and go-giver.

Kreyolicious: You were born in Fort Myers, Florida of Haitian parents, and counties and counties away from Miami-Dade the center of Haitian immigrant settlement. What was it like?
Ivy Box: I loved every minute of growing up in Ft. Myers. There’s a large Haitian population there. My mother helped build the first Haitian Baptist Church in Fort Myers so we were always around our people. I grew up in a time when being Haitian wasn’t cool, not like it is now, but because I was centered around so many great Haitians in Ft. Myers, I wasn’t as affected by that kind of pressure. It was a different story when we moved, but when we were there, it was all love. One of the cool things about Fort Myers is that it is only a 30-40 minute drive away from Naples, another Haitian mecca, and about a two-hour drive from Miami, so we were literally in Miami every other weekend. We did some of our best food and clothes shopping in Miami-Dade County. I even lived in Dade for a couple years when I was younger, but that’s for another interview. [Laughter]

Kreyolicious: Before you became an author and seasoned business woman, you were a TV star, with a role on “College Hill: Interns”. How did that come about, and what did you learn from that experience?
Ivy Box: Omg, yes. I used to always tell my friends in high school and in college that I was going to work for and be on BET. I didn’t know that my first gig on BET was going to be on their reality TV show, let-alone, a spin off from one of their most popular shows at the time that I was at home watching just several months prior. It all happened when I decided to go to BET’s “Spring Bling”, that they would tape in West Palm Beach. I saw flyers all around the beach saying to apply for BET’s “College Hill: Interns”, I originally thought that it was an internship with BET and was like, that’s going to be my way in. Long story short (’cause the entire story is for another interview too). [Laughter] I applied, made it past three rounds of auditions, next thing I know, I was being flown to Chicago to start taping. The idea of reality tv is fun, until you step into that house and see them cameras in your face…that’s when reality TV, gets real. [Laughter] I could write book about that whole experience. [Laughter]

Kreyolicious: In your book, you really have a touching dedication to your mother and sister. What are three of the most vital lessons these two women have taught you?
Ivy Box: Aww, thank you. My mother taught me faith, perseverance, and sacrifice. My sister taught me dedication, boldness, and loyalty. They both taught me love, what family really means, and how to shade with grace. [Laughter] I’m kidding, but not really. [Laughter] Haitians shade without even knowing it, “Se konsa, ou vle abiye pou legliz?” [So that’s how you dress up to go to church?] instead of just telling you to change. [Laughter]

Kreyolicious: One of the things you emphasize in your book The 365 Go Get Hers Guide is the importance of goal-setting. Do you think there’s such a thing as having too many goals?
Ivy Box: No. My motto is that “the Sky is not the limit, it’s only the beginning.” Restricting your goals is restricting your opportunities, it’s restricting your dreams, that’s how people end up stuck in a box that they created for themselves. I love the concept of living Beyond the Box, that’s living beyond restriction, even beyond the restrictions you place on yourself. You can never have too many goals, I just wouldn’t recommend trying to get them all done at the same time. That doesn’t work, believe me, I’ve tried it, and that’s the quickest way to get burned out. Pace yourself, balance out what you have going on in life, and take it one step at a time. You’ll get more done way quicker that way, believe it or not.

Kreyolicious: You been to Haiti, tifi?
Ivy Box: [Laughter] wi madam, plizè fwa [Yes, lady. Many times]. The first time I went to Haiti I was 5 years old. It was the best thing that my parents could have done. I was able to meet my entire family in person, see the beauty of Haiti, the people, and polish up on my Creole. I remember teaching my cousin’s Salt and Pepa’s “Push It.” My sister and I had a whole routine to it and everything. A couple of years later, when we went back to Haiti, they remembered the lyrics and the dance. It was so cute. I was in Haiti this past August, last December was my first time back since 2010. In 2009, we spent Christmas and New Years in Haiti, and thought about staying a few more days. Three days later, the earthquake happened.

I took one of the last pictures of the [National Palace] before it crashed down. CNN featured my picture from a tweet I had posted around that time. I love Haiti, I feel the strength of my ancestors when I’m there. It’s a powerful thing. We’re descendants of African slaves who physically survived the slave ships, who mustered up enough mental strength to overthrow their oppressors. On top of surviving the discrimination, isolation, and attempted annihilation from every other powerful country that surrounded us. They had the compassion to try and help free other slaves from those vary countries that sought to destroy them and still we stand! I come from that. You come from that. That’s in our bloodline. I am honored. The older I get, the more I appreciate it. I don’t know about you, but Haitians are freaking superheroes! We’re the real Black Panthers. [Laughter]

This concludes PART I of the interview with Ivy Box. Watch out for PART II. Meanwhile…

CLICK HERE to visit Ms Ivy Box’s official home| Instagram

The self-help manual The 365 Go Get H.E.R.S Guide has just been released by entrepreneur and author Ivy Box. The book is a stylish little tome designed to give twenty-somethings a sense of direction in life.

Box first came into the public eye as a popular cast member of the reality show BET’S “College Hill: Interns”.

Reality TV stardom is vast and yet so fleeting, that it isn’t everyone who experiences it, who’s able to turn it, grip it, and twist it into a lasting legacy. Ivy Box is one of the few who has. The Florida native and daughter of a Haitian couple used her time as a cast member on the show to make herself into a powerhouse, part philanthropist and all business woman, and now author.

But aside from getting her shine, Box has shed light on others. Through her nonprofit Voice THE Movement, Inc, she helps others in the community reach their dreams. The University of South Florida graduate and and now author has amassed all her wisdom into one book: The 365 Go-Getters Guide. For each book sold in English, the entrepreneur will be donating a Haitian Creole translation to women and young girls in Haiti.

Kreyolicious: You head your own non-profit called Voice THE Movement, Inc. Why made you start this organization?
Ivy Box: Yes, we are celebrating our 4th year in existence. I’ve always had a natural urge to serve, I’ve actually paid good money to fly across the country just to volunteer at events. [Laughter] In college, I participated in alternative spring break. It’s where college students spend their spring break doing community service instead of your typical college spring break shenanigans (no shade). After I graduated from college and after the reality show, I started working for the rap artist, Plies and his brother. They had a non-profit that I worked closely with. All those years of service and working with a bunch of nonprofits gave me the inclination to create my own. After doing my 10,000 hours of service, I figured it was time that I make it happen. I talk about it in the book, in a chapter about creating opportunities because the way it happened was cute, quick, and pretty darn cool. Subtle plug. [Laughter]

Above: Ivy Box with entertainment industry colleague DJ Khaled.

Kreyolicious: What are you most proud of when it comes to Voice The Movement?
Ivy Box: I’m most proud of the fact that we have been able to do such great things for the community and have been consistent with our Youth Empowerment workshops. This year marked our 4th year and we were awarded the MLK Day of Service grant. This year we were ranked as one of the top awarded organizations out of all of the organizations that applied. We rotate our program each year between doing a girls EmpowHERment Workshop called FLAWLESS which stands for Fearlessly Living, Ambitiously Wise, Limitlessly Educated, Successfully Serving; a young men’s workshop called FEARLESS which stands for Fearlessly Expressive, Actively Responsive, Leading Examples, Serving Society; and our joint EMPOWERtainment Workshop is called FEARLESS & FLAWLESS. We have served over 400 kids and partnered with over 100 businesses, organizations, and volunteers. This year will be the first year that I bring Fearless and Flawless to my hometown, Ft. Myers which is scheduled to take place at the Starz Complex in the Spring [of this year]. We are also expanding our organization into Haiti, just waiting on the ink to dry.

Above: The author and entrepreneur with radio veteran Tom Joyner.

Kreyolicious: Your undergrad degree is in Marketing. Did you ever feel any pressure from your parents to become a lawyer, a physician, dentist, engineer, or nurse?
Ivy Box: Oh, but of course. My mom didn’t have to say it, it was just a cultural pride thing, you just already knew, you had to go to school, go to church, listen to your parents, don’t embarrass them, and be a doctor or lawyer. Now-a-days it’s be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or nurse, [Laughter] but in my day, we just had the whole doctor/lawyer thing to worry about. In middle school I was on track to becoming a lawyer, I got my first job at 14 years old working in the downtown Ft. Myers County Court office, thanks to the YMCA YES program that my guidance counselor put me in. It was an office job full of older white people, except for the lawyer I was working with. He was a black lawyer, working his way up to be a judge. This is before social media and before everyone had cell phones. I didn’t even have a computer, I had to use a typewriter, lol. At the time, I didn’t know there was a such thing as an entertainment lawyer, had I known, I would of probably stuck with it. By the time I made it to college, I was a Biology pre-med major on track to becoming a Neonatologist. I was super involved in college and none of it had anything to do with medical school. I changed my major my junior year after my 3rd Chemistry class and with the knowledge of knowing I had two more chemistry classes I had to take. My mom prayed for me, sent my cousin who was a pastor and my uncle to talk me out of it changing my major, but at the end of the day it was my decision, and I decided that Business Marketing was more of my thing! I do often wonder how I would be if I completed the law track or the medical track. No need to cry for me though, because I have a lot of lawyer friends and several doctor and nursing cousins, friends, and associates, so I live vicariously through them.

Above: Ivy Box attends the Grammys.

Kreyolicious: What can your fans and those who have been following your career for years expect from you in the next few years?
Ivy Box: Oh, wow, that’s a heavy question. I pray to continue my work in the community making an impact that expands across international lines. I pray to have a thriving brand that supports my entire family and the lives of others and their families. I pray that everything that is positive that is meant for me, be awarded to me. I pray that God uses me as a vessel to help move the black diaspora forward in every sense of the word. I want to have a healthy work/life balance, and I delight in the thought that one day I will be sitting across the table with greats of our times planning what we as a collective can do to pay it forward!

This concludes PART II of the interview with entrepreneur and author Ivy Box. Did you miss PART I of the interview with author Ivy Box? CLICK HERE. Also…

CLICK HERE to visit author Ivy Box’s official home| Author Ivy Box Instagram