Lenelle Moïse can trace her origins as an artist as early as the fifth grade. The multi-hyphenated artist who writes, records and paints, was asked by her friend Atisha to write a love poem for a guy she was dating. Mother Moise stumbled upon the torrid love letter and thought that her beloved Lenelle was secretly dating, for certain a Haitian mother’s worst nightmare! An intense, near Guantanamo Bay-caliber, child-terrifying interrogation—that only Haitian mothers can conduct—followed.

From that traumatizing experience, Lenelle, the poet and wordsmith started to take shape. If her mother could be convinced that she was in love with some boy, just from a few words her imagination had inspired her to write on behalf of a friend, there must be something to her writing! Clearly, the girl had talent.

Moïse went on to pursue her passion, earning a Master of Fine Arts in Playwriting from Smith College. Her playwriting has won various honors, one of the first major ones being the prestigious James Baldwin Playwriting contest. Most recently she’s been the recipient of the Ruby Prize for Merit, one of her original creations. A collection of Moïse’s poems entitled Haiti Glass, will be published two years from now. She’s also doing edits on a six-character play that she says is “about academia, isolation, sex and integrity”.

Q&A

You wrote a film at 20.
Yes, I co-wrote Sexual Dependency with Bolivian filmmaker Rodrigo Bellot. It’s a feature-length about how the media affects adolescent identities across cultures. We collaborated when we were both undergrads at Ithaca College. The film is divided into five sections. I wrote section four, “Mirrors.”

You earned an MFA in Playwriting from Smith College. If you had to do it all over again, would you go the fine arts route?
Definitely. I needed to formally study theatre, to refine my writing style and to build professional confidence.

As a recording artist you released The Expatriate Amplification Project.
I wrote a two-woman play called Expatriate. The characters, Claudie and Alphine, are soul mates and musicians. Claudie is a creative force. She’s very disciplined but repressed. Alphine is a sizzling wild-child, born to be a star. The Expatriate Amplification Project is a studio recording of the music I composed for the play. I sing with my Off-Broadway costar Karla Mosley. She hits the sparkly high notes, I caress the earthy low notes. Everything you hear is created with our breath, voices, snapping fingers and two loop machines.

Moïse and a co-star in her Off-Broadway play Expatriate.”

Do you find that your identity as an individual born in the United States to Haitian parents, affects your art?
Actually, I was born in Port-Au-Prince. I moved to the U.S. when I was a toddler. My family lived in Brooklyn, Fort Lauderdale and Cambridge–cities with significant Haitian-American populations. I find that I often write about bi-cultural identity and displacement. I’m also inspired by the aesthetics of Haitian Vodou–the vévé drawings, the altars, the poly-rhythms, the ritual and oral tradition. My writing is sound-based. Haiti also comes up in my newest one-woman show, Ache What Make, which reflects on disaster, diaspora, distance and death-defying love.

Of all the poems you’ve written, which one would you say is the most personal?
Forgive me, but I wouldn’t say.

What were some of your inspirations early on, or rather who?
When I was a child, my mother regularly took me to the Strand Theatre in Boston. There, I saw Boukan Ginen, Emeline Michel and Manno Charlemagne. When I was ten years old, I started reading Alice Walker, Euripides and Matt Groening. Hearing Nina Simone taught me how to love my own deep voice.

Now, as an all-around artist, you’ve written everything from poetry and you also are involved in creating visual art. There must be some forms of art that you enjoy creating in more than others.
I try not to compartmentalize my creative impulses. I use every tool I have to tell stories: my pen, my eyes, my arms, my voice. I make collages to meditate and to overcome writing blocks. It’s all enjoyable.

The last Moise Kharmeliaud movie that I saw was so terrible, so horrendous, that I, one of the most patient, let-me-give-them-the-benefit-of-a-doubt movie fans hit the stop button within 12 minutes. Not satisfied with doing just that, I subsequently hit the EJECT button to get that monstrosity out of my DVD player. The movie was called Le Onzième Commandment (The 11th Commandment), and let me tell you, calling it a bomb (not the bomb, but a bomb), would be well a compliment.

So glad, though, that Mr. Moise is staying away from action fare, and decided to direct a simple little story with the film Les Aventures de Boss Djo

It’s a nice little movie. Heavy on simplicity. The acting is surprisingly not sub par. Guyto Beauduy, who we previously saw on the screen as part of the Demele trio, plays Boss Djo (government name: Joseph Bossilas), an unemployed, married father of three (played smartly by a little band of junior actors Stefica Lafaille, Eli Beauduy, and Glymy Beauduy), who handles life’s hurdles with a dimpled smile and humor. Beauduy has great comedic timing, and knows what it takes to steal a scene. Mirlande Edouard is very effective in her brief appearances on the screen as Beauduy’s screen wife.

The movie is episodic at times, but the story solid. Boss Djo, the protagonist is such a simpleton that he doesn’t realize that the neighbors next door Kenol and Beatrice (Wheeler J. Mackens and Danielle Jacques) have diabolical designs on him. As he battles everything and everyone from his landlord (Ashley Jean-Baptiste) to a drug-dealing denizen , to a voodoo priest (Leon Fanel), to a deportee head of a kidnapping cartel (Wislet Pierre-Louis) and babysits a ditzy, and neurotic 60ish socialite (Ultide Morriset), hilarity ensues.

Kharmeliaud’s Moise has grown more skillful with the camera since his last movie, varying shots and angles. He’s joined by a collaborator who’s billed simply as J. Boy. Other collaborators include Stéphane Baptiste, who did a rather decent job handling the sound, and Laurent Lamy, who took charge of the movie’s lighting. “Kite la Vi Roule”, the movie’s theme sung by folk singer Berthony Pierre-Louis really lends some authenticity and charm to the movie.

Les Adventures de Boss Djo is about how perseverance and faith can triumph over all human misfortunes. If you don’t get at least one genuine laugh, out of the movie, see your local neurosurgeon.

As a pre-med student at the University of Miami, Jarrod Matthei probably thought that his friend Lionel Moise would be graduating alongside of him with a medical degree. But Moise’s love for the newsroom outshined his love for the examination room. “He realized that was not his passion,” says the now-MD of his friend’s initial pre-med career choice. “And he pursued broadcast journalism, with some push back from his family. Good thing he followed his intuition because look where he is now!”

Where he is now! Lionel Moise is the morning anchor at CBS Chicago, the #3 news market in the nation. Not bad for someone who started out as a mere intern at NBC’s Miami affiliate WTVJ six years ago. A dedicated member of the National Association of Black Journalists, Moise is also a skilled entrepreneur, having founded the startup Sock Concierge. Moise has won two Emmys for his work at WXIA-TV in Atlanta—the station where he worked as a reporter, before moving on to WLTX News 19 in South Carolina.

“I have seen many if not most of his broadcasts, especially many of his tapes throughout college,” says Dr. Matthei, MD of his friend. “I fondly remember him preparing tapes his senior year of college in order to send to potential employers. He has truly come a long way and is on his way to perfect his craft. I am extremely proud of him and excited for what the future holds.

And now, let’s hear from the man himself!

K. St. Fort: How did you get interested in broadcasting?

I kind of fell into it, but immediately fell in love! From a child, I always wanted to be a doctor—or at least I thought because I loved helping people. I quickly learned that all of the blood, guts, and gory things doctors deal with—just weren’t for me. Junior year- while trying to figure out my goals and career path—I shadowed a friend who was a reporter on campus. I immediately fell in love with being able to highlight things going on in the community, while getting to interact with so many different people each day. I changed my major to Broadcast Journalism and never looked back.

Above: Lionel Moise and some of his CBS Chicago colleagues attend the MLK Scholarship breakfast.

K. St. Fort: How instrumental do you think internships were to your career? And what did you do to stand out from other interns?
Internships were pivotal for me—especially in this field. They gave an insurmountable amount of training and also exposure to the day to day of news. I was able to work hand in hand with some of the best in the business while learning as much as I could from them. I think what really made me stand out- was being genuine and open to learning. That allowed me to form relationships and get mentors who still give guidance on my career years later.

K. St. Fort: Are there any broadcasters you admire?
I admire one of my close friends/mentors DeMarco Morgan—who works for CBS network. Not only has he achieved great success in his career—but he immediately invested in mine and a lot of the younger broadcasters coming up behind him. He pushed me and challenged me to reach heights that I didn’t even see as a possibility for myself at the time. And in all of his coverage—he is always himself. Not playing news anchor on TV—but really there with the viewers as he covers the stories. His comfort and truly being natural on air is something I’ve come to appreciate when I’m watching. It’s something I hope my viewers also get—the real me.

The Anchor as a young man.

K. St. Fort: Your career has been milestone after milestone. What would you say to those out there who feel like they’re in some kind of professional rut…the ones who thought they’d be so much further in their lives than they are now?
I have been very blessed to have been given the opportunities I have. Working in Chicago, for such a legendary company with amazing journalists is a dream come true. But my career has not always been a dream. I have had plenty of frustration as I figured—and still try to figure out—what I want for myself long-term. I also dealt with the uncertainty of beginning a career that I knew nothing about. It’s not like my parents were journalists or news anchors to offer the calming advice during times of freaking out! The one piece of advice that I always give to people feeling weary is: “Never accept no for an answer.” Plenty of doors will close in your face, any plenty of rejection. With tenacity and perseverance—you can always find a way to open another door to get a yes. Sometimes you have to create that door. My career has been somewhat of a surprise to even me—when I really focused on growing and achieving as opposed to the roadblocks in my way.

[All photos courtesy of subject.]

Be sure to look out for PART 2 of this interview with Lionel Moise. Meanwhile…

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW LIONEL MOISE ON TWITTER | LIONEL MOISE ON INSTAGRAM | CLICK HERE TO WATCH SNIPPETS OF HIS BROADCASTS|

Follow along and read PART 2 of the Lionel Moise interview. Get some career and life lessons courtesy of this Kreyolicious achiever. Lionel Moise holds an MBA from the University of South Carolina, and is a morning anchor at CBS Chicago. The son of Haitian parents, Moise was born in Miami and graduated with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and Psychology from the University of Miami. Go Canes!

His career launched with internships at two Miami TV stations. From there, he worked in Haiti for the Clinton Foundation before moving on as a producer and reporter in Atlanta, and then to South Carolina as an anchor for News 19.

If you missed Part 1, CLICK HERE.

Read on as Lionel Moise discusses entrepreneurship, and dishes career advice.

K. St. Fort: You founded Sock Concierge. Do you think that one day—at one point in your career—you’ll leave broadcasting to pursue entrepreneurship full-time?
I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur and that the time that we launched the company—it just felt right. I had just gotten my MBA- and wanted to focus on things even outside of work that would interest me. I really love journalism and TV- so I don’t see myself leaving it. It’s been amazing! But I would love to continue to focus on launching businesses that solve a problem for consumers—but also challenge me in different ways. I think that going through this process also gave me more perspective when covering stories that affect small businesses and the economy. So it’s been a unlikely yet great pairing for my broadcasting career.

K. St. Fort: What are some books that you have in your collection that you’ll never donate, or let anyone borrow, or part with…in any kind of way? What did you learn from each of them?
Believe it or not—it’s the Harry Potter series. I have plenty of motivational and self-help books that have given great advice. But that’s all too serious. J.K. Rowling was the first author who inspired me to even want to read 800 pages of anything in a day. While I’m a lot older than I was when I read the series, the books still lighten my mood. We have so many serious decisions to make every day, we’re hearing of the bad things happening around us—and it can really take a toll. Almost like a never ending cycle of trying to reach a goal, while also being in the moment. It’s always a reminder to just take a second a relax—and not try to solve all of your problems in one second. Even Harry Potter waited seven years in the series for his victory. If I ever feel down, one is just a few feet away.

With co-host Marissa inside the CBS Chicago newsroom.

K. St. Fort: Do you have any advice for those out there who love the idea of being a television journalist, but who are camera-shy? Like, in terms of getting over it.

I say go for it. I’ve learned we can be the biggest roadblock for our success. I has no clue that I would be a journalist. In fact, I grew up wanting to be a doctor. Initially, it was a steep learning curve. I knew nothing about the industry, and had not worked on growing in broadcasting since it was never a goal of mine (I was busy thinking of the kind of doctor I wanted to be). The coolest thing about this job—is that you learn so much on the job. In the beginning, I hated my voice, my writing, my delivery, my weight, the way my clothes fit. With a little patience and a lot of work—I feel we all naturally fall into our style and beging improving so quickly. It’s hard to even watch video from just two years ago because I can see the growth. And I may be a big-mouth on TV, but I am also a very shy person naturally. I would say stay focused, don’t overthink it, and spend a lot of time talking to yourself in the mirror—feels weird, but gets you comfortable.

K. St. Fort: Do you visit Haiti often? How do you stay connected to Haitian culture?

I have not gotten a chance to visit Haiti since my time there after the earthquake working for the Clinton Foundation. It’s something I think about every day. I would love to go back to visit or work on projects helping those in need. In the meantime, I stay connected by trying to stay as close to family as possible. Learning about the culture, hearing the music, and of course—enjoying the food.

K. St. Fort: What advice do you have for students graduating in December? Do you think they have a disadvantage over those who graduated in the Spring?

I actually think you’re at an advantage. It may not be the time that most people think of graduating—but at least you’re not competing with the wave of May grads looking to land that first job you want so bad. You can use it to your advantage to really brand and differentiate yourself from others in the job market. And again, be patient—but don’t give up. There are so many opportunities out there—and this is a demanding yet extremely rewarding career.

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW LIONEL MOISE ON TWITTER | LIONEL MOISE ON INSTAGRAM | CLICK HERE TO WATCH SNIPPETS OF HIS BROADCASTS|

Moise J. Michel published his children’s illustrated book Kwame and His Great Adventures: Kwame Meets Jackie Robinson earlier this summer. He’s by no means strictly a children’s author. Years ago, he penned and published Diamond in the Rough: Trials and Tribulations of a Southern Belle. Get to know him and his books and get some insight into his journey as a writer and author.

Kreyolicious: How did your love for writing begin?
My love for writing came while I was in a very dark place in my life. My inspiration for writing my book came from my kids. I was unfortunately incarcerated when I wrote it. I wrote a chapter every night. The next morning, I would have a older gentleman on my cell block read what I wrote the night before. Nights I didn’t write, he would chastise me for not doing so.

Kreyolicious: What led to the writing of your book?
I wrote this book back in 2008, upon my release in 2010 I had a very select few of family & friends read it. They all urged me to go ahead and publish it. I went the self publishing route with Createspace, which is a company under Amazon.

Kreyolicious: It’s one thing to want to write a book. It’s another to finish it and to take it to publication. What was the process like for you?

Kreyolicious: Any advice for aspiring authors based on your experience?
I advise all up-and-coming authors that they take their pain and use it to create magic through the power of words. They [should] also know if they intend to make this a livelihood that they [must] look at it in long-term instead of short-term. Another piece of advise is to never stop writing!

Kreyolicious: Do you visit Haiti often? How do you stay connected with the culture?
I haven’t visited Haiti as much as I would like since I left there as an adolescent child, but I was last there in 2015. The culture is forever embedded in me, so I will never be disconnected from the culture. I stay connected by cooking our delicious cuisines, speaking our native tongue and by proudly explaining our history and culture to other folks who aren’t Haitian.

Kreyolicious: What will you do differently with your next book?
My second book has just been published a few weeks back. This book is a children’s series book titled Kwame and His Great Adventures: Kwame meets Jackie Robinson, which I hope to turn into a cartoon series within the next few years. My intentions is to teach black kids of all cultures about black historical figures that they may not know or been taught about in school or home

CLICK HERE to visit the author’s website!

CLICK HERE to purchase Kwame and His Great Adventures from Amazon!

As the owner of Chef Services and Events, a catering company based in Miami, Executive Chef Pierre Moise sees to it that every palate that his food brushes against, gets—as he puts it—rocked. The Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts School graduate has had plenty of experience in that arena, working as a chef in the most luxurious eateries on the hot South Beach scene, including the Delano, Avalon, Betsy Hotel. He’s had mentors and colleagues of the most stellar caliber: Claude Trois Gros, Chef Bruno Egea, Chef Wolfgang Ban, and Chef Joseph Maynard.

Were you ever made fun of growing up, because you were a guy cooking?

Not once, the respect has always been given, because my culinary flavors rocks palates.

Chef Pierre, When did you realize that you were a great cook?

As a child, I was truly driven by nature and enjoyed exploring new flavors, countries, people, and food—which I think is an important element that brings together a lot of happiness.

Were you ever made fun of growing up, because you were a guy cooking?

Not once, the respect has always been given, because my culinary flavors rocks palates.

You’re a native New Yorker, born in the BK. But at one point early in your life, you were sent to Haiti. How was that?

I was born and raised in Queens, New York and living in Haiti was the most experimental, imperative, educational, informational, emotional, captivating, and loving moments in my life.

Do you recall the first meal you ever concocted?

Yes, as a teenager in Jacmel, I recall a restaurant with a backyard style in the downtown in the city center. I order fast food which is cooked in the a makeshift kitchen on the side of the roads, known as “chien jambe” which consisted of coconut rice with sweet fresh pigeon peas and a lot of meat and choukoute—a type of slaw. Also, when I was in the Netherlands, [in] Amsterdam vacationing, I entered a eatery for lunch. It was during the winter and I remember a savory hot tomato bisque soup savory, which was very warm, with little cream. I grabbed my bowl and searched for a table only to find family-style benches, where everyone sat together in harmony enjoying the food in a loving atmosphere.

Tell us about your catering company.

Chef Services & Events caters to customers’ creative needs. From private events, weddings, banquets, corporate events, luncheons, I am providing a high-end results to every client’s event. At Chef Services and Events our motto is: “Food is my instrument your palate is my audience. Priceless.”

Starting out as a young chef, how did you market your services?

I put in very long work hours and stay determined and focus on my goals and dreams.

What’s the worst meal you have ever had?

My older sister Dominique prepared an overly peppered—fresh black ground peppercorn—oriental flavored ramen soup. Sorry, no bueno.

Can you tell us about the best you have had?

In my opinion, the best does not exist; it is about the experience that’s a part of every meal. This is key!

You are a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, the famed cooking school. You knew how to cook way before you entered the doors of that school. But what did attending the school do for your craft?

Mise en place, most importantly, with a properly executed plan—anything is possible in the kitchen.

Do you have to be in a particular mood to cook?

My food express my mood, when I am in the kitchen it represents a symphony. I am both the curator and the critic. The sensitivity of food and character allows me to work insanely happy.

What advice would you like to give to cooks starting their careers?

Actual cooking is only five percent of production; the other ninety-five percent is invested in cleaning, caring, and calculating. Invest the time and dedication in developing your professional craft. Never give up, never stop trying, and stay true to your roots.

What would you say has been the greatest moment of your cooking career…to the point where you reenact it over and over in your mind?

One of the greatest moments of my career is my participation in the Oktober Beer Fest. My arm was in a sling and I was determined to ensure the event was a success and managed—as Executive Sous Chef—to serve over 5,000 guests as, alongside Wolfgang Ban in Miami.