Carel Pedre is at IVLP!

Earlier this month, Haiti multimedia personality Carel Pedre left Haiti to participate in the International Visa Leadership Program, an exchange program sponsored by US State Department’s Bureau of Cultural Affairs.

In existence since the early 1940s, the program recruits media leaders from all over the world, and in a series of exchanges, schools, trains, and immerses them into the US media landscape. Participants, in return, share ideas with another—and not just media-related insight, but cultural insight as well. This year participants came as far as Tanzania.

Carel was nominated and selected by the U.S. Embassy in Haiti, and the other participants were selected by the US Embassies in their respective home countries.

Here he is posing with his colleagues.

Carel has made stops in cities like Austin, Seattle, Capitol Hill…and by the conclusion of the program, he will have assisted educational and exchange sessions in Denver, New York and Minneapolis.

And speaking of Capitol Hill…

here is the multimedia personality inside Capitol Hill…

Carel poses with fellow participants as well as radio personnel Erin Gesiler, Ben Philpot, Andrew Weber and Rebecca McInroy inside the KUTX/KUT building in Texas. KUTX broadcasts through the University of Austin’s Moody School of Communication.

Carel and the rest of the IVLP participants make a stop at the Austin Police Station and met with the Public Information officers for the station. They discussed the strategies they employed to assure the department’s transparency.

An International Visitor Leadership program would not be complete without a stop at Facebook!

Inside the Facebook office.

Spending time at Voice of America, broadcast through the Bureau of Broascasting Governors.

The radio and TV host has been chronicling his adventures at IVLP on his social media channels as well as on his personal website. The program is scheduled to end at the end of May, and is one of his primary triumphs as a media professional this past year. Earlier this year, the multimedia personality joined forces with Loop Scoop, a current events website, and got into a partnership with broadcasting vertical Zenio.

[All photos via Carel Pedre IVLP].

Are you a young Haitian professional, fresh out of college, and not knowing north from south on your career compass? Or are you a seasoned professional worker, looking for other opportunities to further your career? Newly come from Haiti with a professional degree, and not yet equipped with a network in the U.S?

Perhaps you are still in high school, not knowing left from right in the post-secondary maze? The National Association of Haitian Professionals, Inc can help you in those situations in more. Serge Renaud, the organization’s co-founder and Chairman, a graduate of Seton Hall University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology, explained its programs and offerings.

Q & A

When did it first occur to you that it might be a good idea to start an association for Haitian professionals?
In 2008, a group of friends and I were college graduates having a discussion on how Haitian professionals could attain executive leadership roles in corporate America. We also pondered on whether Haitian students were prepared for the workforce after completing their college degree. Many students are not exposed to mock interviews, nor do they know how to dress for success let alone organize their resumes. It was then we realized the great need within our community, how unprepared we were to meet the challenges of a corporate environment and to ultimately become successful professionals. We knew of no organizations who would mentor or link us to different networks that would help young Haitians transition from college to the workforce.  We decided to launch NAHP to empower and educate our community on how they can compete in a global workforce.   

What are some of the programs that the association offers to help foster the growth of these professionals?
Currently, the NAHP has established a scholarship program to help Haitian students finance their college education. We recognize many of them face financial difficulties and we want to ensure that we support these students in their academic endeavors so that they can graduate with their degrees. We also plan to host workshops on professional development, conferences, and career fairs to match employers with potential employees. 

  There’s been a trend of professionals returning to Haiti to work there.  Will this trend continue in your view?
We do believe this trend will continue. In fact, we recently hosted a conference in collaboration with the Joseph Denis Thomas Foundation and the New Jersey Haitian Student Association Alumni at the Newark Museum in New Jersey [last July]. Over 200 participants were in attendance to learn how they could invest their talents and resources into the development of Haiti. We have and will continue to encourage professionals to go back and work in Haiti. It is our obligation to uplift the nation, from which many of us gained our basic foundation and education, which led to our ultimate success.
 
In terms of kids who are still in high school—do you have any programs to guide them towards a fulfilling professional future?
As I previously mentioned, the NAHP does have a scholarship program which we hope will continue to grow with the support of our members and the community at large. It is time that we invest in the future leaders of the United States and Haiti. With volunteers, we hope to establish a mentorship program to offer students an opportunity to explore various industries and enable them to find the perfect fit before they graduate from college.

Dr. Francois Pierre-Louis at an NAHP event in New Jersey.
 
How would you pitch the association to someone who hasn’t joined but is thinking about joining?
The NAHP offers a variety of opportunities to students and professionals of Haitian descent, primarily mentorship and networking. We recognize the need in our community to nurture our youngest minds while developing our professional skills. Now more than ever, especially in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake, NAHP intends to collaborate with its members and other like-minded organizations to revitalize our community both here and abroad. We need to be proactive and get involved in the decisions that will have an impact on ourselves and the lives of our family. The relationships forged through these interactions will close the gap that has divided us as a people for far too long.