Writer Mike Gauyo is riding high on a thick set of creative clouds. The scribe is on the staff of “Fruit”, a trail-blazing web audio drama from web series pioneer Issa Rae. This is in addition to being on the staff of TNT’s popular show “Claws”. We’re living in interesting times where entertainment content is concerned, and Gauyo is more than happy to be part of this revolution.

Kreyolicious: Was it always a fantasy of yours to become a writer?
Mike Gauyo: Wow, great word choice – Fantasy – Yes, I day-dreamed a lot as a kid. Mostly because I was left alone, while both my parents worked crazy hours. In their absence, I spent a lot of time caring for my two siblings and cleaning (or not cleaning). [Laughter] I would create alternate universes in my mind and place myself there. It was my own from of entertainment. There, I could do anything. It was cathartic and still is. But no, it wasn’t a fantasy of mine to becomes a writer. I did’t find writing till later in life. From the time I could walk, my parents were grooming me to go to medical school and become a doctor because kids in Haitian households were only allowed three professions to choose from-doctor, lawyer or engineer.

It wasn’t til the earthquake in Haiti that I made the decision to changed the trajectory of my life. My parents and sister were there at the time. I could not reach them for three days. It was crazy and I feared the worst had happened. It was a really tough time in my life, In the end, thank God, they were all fine, but from that point on I made a vow to live my life the way I wanted and what I wanted to do was write.

Kreyolicious: How did you get involved with Issa Rae’s “Fruit”?
Interestingly enough, going back to my dream board, I had cut out a picture of Issa and put her on it. This was before I had ever met her. A month after pasting her on my board, she posted on her Instagram that she was having a mixer for black writer/creators and to gain entry to the mixer you had to submit a writing sample — Now, I’ll preface what I say next by saying that I had already moved to LA from Boston, I was already working on television for American Idol as their script assistant, and I had graduated college, magna cum laude, with a degree in theaer. I’m not saying if you make a dream board you can just sit back and relax, you still need to put in the work — But back to the story…So, I got into the mixer, met Issa, got a chance to work for her months later on an equal pay for equal work campaign she was doing for women’s right, then months after that, I connected with her again at the Austin Film Festival, where she was schedules to be a panelist and I was just a writer with a script that made it through the second round of the festival. After her panel, we got drinks. She talked about “Insecure”, which had recently been picked up for its first season. I talked about what I was doing and how I was looking to transition from reality TV to scripted. And a week later she emailed me about a podcast series she was doing called “Fruit”.

So the point of that long ass story is dream boards work, but you need to work too. You have to speak what you want into existence or chances are it won’t happen. Even worse, if you’re too scared to speak it into existence then you’ll be too scared to try.

Kreyolicious: What’s it like being on the staff of a show of this magnitude?
“Fruit” is an audio drama that airs as a podcast, so the magnitude in this case doesn’t really have the connotation of being daunting like a series formatted for television might have. Fruit, more or less, harkens back to the days of radio soaps and is formatted similar to the “Serial” podcast. With that in mind, it’s been different, and great, and creative, and the other writers in the room are amazing, and talented and we all work very well together. Two seasons of “Fruit” have already aired on Howl.FM, but the first season of “Fruit” is also now available for free on iTunes. For season one, I wrote episodes 3, 8, and the finale. For those who don’t know, “Fruit” is a scripted audio series about a sexually fluid football player who accounts event from his past, dealing with love, relationships, and the game of football. It’s told in a first narrative. Everyone should check it out!

Above: Mike Gauyo with actor Jimmy Jean-Louis and playwright Jeff Augustin.

Kreyolicious: Do you ever doubt yourself?
Mike Gauyo: I doubt myself all the time. Every time I write a new script, every time I make a decision about what direction to take in my career, and every time by boss on Claws asks me a question, any question. [Laughter]

Kreyolicious: How do you overcome that?
Mike Gauyo: I overcome it by getting over myself and getting out of my own head. Usually, I tell myself I am too grown and(or) bougie to be living a broke lifestyle so let me stop doubting and make this shit work so I make more money because I like nice things.

Kreyolicious: And you’re also part of TNT’s “Claws”. What’s that like?
Mike Gauyo: Working on “Claws” has been great! I’m learning a lot about writing for television. I’ve had the opportunity to bend the ear of some great writers. I get to listen in on notes calls from the network and the studio, which have been invaluable to my own growth as a writer. My boss, our showrunner, Janine Sherman Barrois, is superhuman and the personification of black girl magic. Her work ethic is unparalleled and I’ve been able to learn so much just by watching her.

My position on the show is that of a Writers’ Production Assistant, which includes making sure the writers eat, taking notes on calls from the network and studio, concerning notes on scripts, and, when needed, writing notes on the board in the writers’ room. The great part about that is, while they’re brainstorming, I have an opportunity to chime in and ask questions. I don’t write on this series, but “Claws” is right in line with the type of genre I like to write, so who knows what will happen. I’m speaking it into existence, y’all!

Mike Gauyo will talk about his background, and how he became Haitian-American now…thank you very much. The talented writer is on the staff of the groundbreaking web podcast drama “Fruit”, an Issa Rae production. Creatively, it doesn’t stop there for him. He’s also part of the staff of “Claws”, a much-discussed drama on the popular network TNT. Over the course of the last segment of our conversation, we discussed how he became a writer. This time, we’re going to go back to his childhood, discuss his philanthropy and the methodology he uses to achieve his goals.

Kreyolicious: Tell us about yourself and about what it was like growing up Haitian-American.
Mike Gauyo: Well, I was born in Haiti and moved to Massachusetts when I was 4. We landed in Mattapan, which was like an Ellis Island for Haitians. [Laughter] After living there for a couple of years, we moved to Quincy, then finally set roots in Cambridge, where I attended Cambridgeport Elementary School and Cambridge Ridge and Latin High School. I mention these moves because I went from being in an ESL class with only Haitians (in Mattapan) to being the only black kid in the class (in Quincy), to only then end up in a really diverse environment (in Cambridge). When I think back on it, each place I’ve lived really informs the type of person I’ve become because I’ve experienced both sides of the spectrum. I didn’t really have an awareness of myself as a Haitian living in America until I was the only Haitian, let alone black person, in a class full of white faces. Then it became…”Why’s your last name so weird?…Why do you talk like that? Is that African? What language is that?” Mind you, I already had, and still have, a lisp, so you can imagine all the side-eyes, eye rolls, and facial gymnastics I had to perform to keep myself from cursing people out. But yes, growing up Haitian-American was not so much a struggle, it was just different. You weren’t like any of the white kids, but you also weren’t African-American. So, I’d say we were the original “Black-ish” family – I’ll take my check now, Kenya Barris!

Kreyolicious: Haha. You’ve been to Haiti lately?
Mike Gauyo: I haven’t been back to Haiti since before the earthquake. I used to go every summer between the ages of 10 and 18. I do plan on going back really soon.

Kreyolicious: So, you’re involved with an organization called Alliance HH. Tell us more.
Mike Gauyo: The Alliance for Housing and Healing is an organization that provides housing and healthcare services for the homeless. I recently competed in my second Spartan Race to help raise money for the Alliance and our team was able to raise over 65,000 dollars. It’s a great organization and I was happy to help in any way. Even if it meant putting my body through an 8 mile obstacle course. I don’t know what I was thinking, but it was fun and we raised a lot of money for the homeless. So yeah, no pain, no gain. I’ll be doing two more races this year.

Kreyolicious: Do you ever look back at the Mike of the past and think, “I done changed”?
Mike Gauyo: Yup! [Laughter] And thank God I did. Change is good. In order to grow, a person needs to change. Change the way you think, change your habits, and in some cases, change your friends. The circle you surround yourself with needs to uplift you and provide an environment that is conducive to your own success. The people in my circle are who I lean on and vise versa. When I make it, my team makes it.

Kreyolicious: What changes in you are you most proud of?
Mike Gauyo: I changed the way I think about success. It’s not a destination, it’s continuous, it comes in waves, it’s fleeting. You have to keep working to keep it.

Kreyolicious: And how did you propel them?
Mike Gauyo: Realizing that helps me to keep working and learning.

Kreyolicious: Along the way, what helped you keep on track and focused on your goals?
Mike Gauyo: As soon as I committed to writing as a career, there was really no stopping me. I do things to keep me focused, like I write down a list of my goals and make dream boards. I turned my desk at home into a dream board. On my desk are pics of people who inspire me and who I want to work with, phrases that uplift me, titles or words I want associated with my name, like writer, creator, Oscar winner, husband, father, sexiest man alive…I’ll let you decide if that last one was a joke or not. [Laughter] But yes, dream boards and lists are how I stay focused.

Kreyolicious: On that account…What if someone was building a personal development library and asked for your suggestions. What books would you recommend?
Mike Gauyo: As a man growing up in this skin, in the “United” States of America, I would suggest Barack Obama’s Dreams from My Father, Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, and any/everything by Toni Morrison and James Baldwin.

CLICK HERE to keep up with Mike Gauyo on Instagram.

Tech queen Sandra Pierre is the entrepreneur behind the website Haitian Businesses/Haitian-Businesses.com. In less than two years, she’s amassed over 35,000 followers on Instagram alone, and has about 5,000 combined followers on Twitter and Facebook.

While her entire tech movement is built around promoting and connecting businesses, it isn’t all corporate with her. She doesn’t neglect the cultural aspects of her roots and never ceases to share the creative aspects of the businesses she promotes. Whether attending a Haitian cultural event, or hobnobbing with Haitian entrepreneurs at social and business events, the founder of Haitian-Businesses never loses sight of the social aspect of her business.

K. St. Fort: Tell us about yourself, and how you came to be interested in tech.
I am a native of Cap-Haitien, Haiti. I accompanied my family in 1996 to the United States at a young age. Upon my arrival in the States, I felt the need to stay connected with her homeland…Haiti. However, I immediately shifted my focus on my education. Though faced with challenges of an unfamiliar environment and new culture, I continued with the pursuit of my dreams by completing high school and later studied Business Administration at Lynn University. My daily motivation are embedded in the sacrifices by hardworking parents who worked tirelessly for me to have a better future. The motivation didn’t come without the strength which I found in God and those whom I cherish. During high school, I obtained a job with one of the country’s leading electronics retailer. After many years as an employee there, it became second nature to me to spark an interest in the forever evolving world of technology.

Above: The entrepreneur at an event sponsored by the many Haitian businesses she supports daily.

K. St. Fort: How did you come up with the concept for Haitian-Businesses?
As I moved on in life, the need to serve my community was burning up in me. The deep connection I felt with Haiti’s culture and its people led me to what I am doing today. I felt a strong obligation to remain attached to the Haitian culture–even more so while leaving outside of the country. As a professional, I spent many years serving in local government. I grew tired of hearing the comment, “The Haitian community does not support our own businesses”. In late 2013, after noticing a lack of connectivity between Haitian-owned businesses professionals in the Haitian community, I started a movement to promote Haitian-owned businesses in March 2014. The connection made with businesses and potential clients through my page has proven that if we stay connected and expose each other, the myth that we do not support each other’s businesses will be laid to rest. I feel like I am still in the beginning stages of this monumental movement. I nonetheless believe in [it due to] the positivity I’ve seen so far. Today Haitian-Businesses.com is extensively popular in the Haitian Community as a bridge to connect, to promote and to support Haitian businesses. The work has just began for me, and I am ready to continue the effort to benefit the Haitian community around the world.

Above: With Jerry Tardieu, the Haitian entrepreneur behind Royal Oasis, one of Haiti’s five-star hotels.

K. St. Fort: Do you run across some challenges in operating your website?
When tackling something new like I am with Haitian Businesses, LLC, obstacles are likely to happen. It is much more than operating a website. The website is one of the platforms used to showcase the movement. As I face obstacles—such as stepping out and doing something that has never been done before by an individual…through the process, it becomes a learning experience for me. I accept the challenges and face them with an open [mind] because they help me grow—not only as a person—but as a business woman as well.

K. St. Fort: When did you realize that the Haitian Businesses brand was catching on?
Six months into the movement a major hotel in Port-au-Prince Haiti emailed me for help and I was in shock. The hotel owner reached out personally since he needed a shipping company to transport a few large items from the Atlanta to Haiti. I was able to refer him to a shipping company for assistance. Since then, I’ve been running a referral program with the businesses listed on the Haitian Businesses Directory. I constantly receive requests [from] potential clients or other business owners looking for another service. [These are the] moments that mark me. It was when I realized my work was having a positive impact on the community.

Above: Sandra of Haitian Businesses, LLC honored with a plaque for her work by Joanne Milfort Board member of the Haitian American Chamber of Florida and Miami Consul Guy Francois Jr.

K. St. Fort: What would you say to someone who wants to start a website that targets the Haitian-American community?
We have a large majority of our community who still does not show an interest in technology. As for me who’s in the business marketing field, getting involved and consistently expanding my knowledge is quite beneficial. There are two things that I would definitely suggest for anyone with interest of setting up a movement, organization or website in support of the Haitian community. My first suggestion would be to stay in touch with the community in order to be familiar with their needs. Secondly, to remain well-informed, knowledgeable of the content needed to be resourceful to the community.

K. St. Fort: What gives you the biggest satisfaction as the owner of Haitian Businesses?
I am absolutely thrilled to have feedback from those who have used my services or who those who simply appreciate the message behind the movement. I often receive testimonial notes via email or private messages which are a great source of motivation. To me, it’s tangible proof of the work being done and an inspiration to keep moving forward. It is also satisfying to know when we as a community stands together to support each other or specifically their business, we help support a dream. When we support a Haitian owned business we strengthen our community, our people and ultimately our beloved Haiti Cherie.

K. St. Fort: What’s next for your brand?
My main goal since I initiated this movement has been to connect, promote and support Haitian businesses. In the past two years, I have hosted networking events, created social media campaigns, promotional ads and referral programs. All of these are done to give the businesses more exposure. I’m eager to continuously use my platform and my voice to assist my community. I am currently working on a few projects that will extend the mission of Haitian businesses throughout the community. Each day, I anticipate [making] a difference in my community and being a positive voice for my people.

[Photo Credit: Main photo, Roe Michel; All others furnished by the subject.]

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE HAITIAN BUSINESSES WEBSITE AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SANDRA’S WORK AND JOURNEY! HAITIAN BUSINESSES ON FACEBOOK | HAITIAN BUSINESSES ON INSTAGRAM