Three Years After Haïti’s Earthquake, C2C is Building Forward Together

Three Years After  Haïti’s Earthquake, C2C is Building Forward Together

By Jami Kelmenson

January 10, 2013 marks the third anniversary of the devastating earthquake in  Haïti that claimed more than 300,000 lives and left more than one million homeless. But this year, to commemorate the day while celebrating the resiliency of the region, C2C is not only looking back, but looking forward. In fact, the theme for 2013 emerging from the past year’s efforts and accomplishments is Building Forward Together.

“We didn’t fully understand when we started Community2Community (C2C) that our mission was diverse—ever changing, ever evolving,” says C2C Founder+FireStarter Marie-Yolaine Eusebe. We knew we wanted to engage people with our calling card–come inspired; leave an inspiration– but now we understand the next level of our calling and we want to invite people to be a part of that as well.”

Moving forward in 2013
The next level of C2C’s mission is about people, Eusebe says, “We already bring power and resources to the people of Haïti who are working on their own to rebuild and repair, to do what they already know how to do. But the way in which we do it? That’s together. It’s a time of remembering, yes, but also of shifting toward the future. There is no building, no moving forward, without people. It has to happen here, and there. The only way we’re going to move forward is if we do it together.”

To launch C2C’s renewed focus, we are holding a “Town Hall” style event on January 10, 2013 at Brooklyn Borough Hall, co-sponsored by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. (The annual “Hope and a Future” concert, which usually happens on or around the anniversary of the quake will now take place in May so that an outdoor open bazaar, or marché, and surrounding events can be integrated leading up to the concert to further spur the notion of community-building.)

Telling our story

The Town Hall event on January 10 is our first opportunity to share our new theme, Building Forward Together, but also to share our progress on the ground. “We have a story to tell,” Eusebe says, “from the perspective of all involved, team members here and there. Our story is still developing."

We will be sharing the latest developments on our existing initiatives like Run04Haiti, which recruits runners of the ING New York City Marathon to make each mile count with donations for the C2C Haïti Restoration and Transformation Pilot Project (HRTPP), and Change04Change, which educates public and charter school children about the culture of  Haïti through a creative school-wide fund-raising campaign. We will be recognizing our four NYC pilot program schools and reaching out to recruit new schools to come on board for 2013.

Together with co-sponsors, Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz, Diaspora Community Services, and Dlo Pou Viv, C2C will highlight its accomplishments, its partners and share future plans. Special invited guests include the evening's address speaker, Senator Eric Adams, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Councilman Jumaane Williams, Councilman Mathieu Eugene and Minister Daniel Supplice, Minister of Haitians Living Abroad. Special live performances include Haitian jazz band Mozayik, Choreographer/Dancer Jessica Lynch and the KIPP AMP Legacy Jazz Ensemble.  

People: Building forward, together.

One of the things Marie-Yolaine is especially conscious of as she looks toward 2013 is the opportunity for the community to get together to meet different partners, find out who is working on the ground, and better engage with each other through different niches. “Folks approach us all the time to help out in different areas,” she says. “Some are part of the Haitian Diaspora and are interested in going back home, or they’ve never been ‘home’ and aren’t sure how to embark on such a journey.” So C2C’s mission has also expanded this year to offer guided trips to Petit Goâve to see the fruits of our projects firsthand and ultimately, become more involved. “The earthquake is what brought us to  Haïti,” she says, “but it’s the people that are keeping us in  Haïti.” People here and in the homeland, no doubt.

Redefining what it means to “volunteer”

She looks forward to reaching out to more people on January 10, to grow the garden that is C2C, providing an environment where people can thrive personally. “That’s why they hear the calling,” she explains. “We’re redefining what it means to volunteer. It’s not a one-day thing, or a job, or a task. We want to do it better. It’s not about making money or becoming a global entity, but about learning how to meet each challenge and staying focused on what we’re doing and why we’re here. Relationships are what make it work.”

All that in three short years. Eusebe says she “can’t wait to see what I learn this year as we not only continue to invite people to come inspired, to come be a part of something greater than themselves, but come be part of building forward together.” It’s really not a new theme as much as an evolving mission, purpose and reason for being for C2C. And if the last three years is any indication, it won’t end with that. There’s never been a better time to learn what we’re about and find out what “come inspired” will mean to you.

Join us for C2C’s first Town Hall of 2013 on Thursday, January 10, from 6-9 pm, at Brooklyn Borough Hall (209 Joralemon St.) This event is free to the general public. For further information, or to RSVP, please email C2C at events@community2community.net or call 718.393.7740  or reach us on Twitter: #C2C_FORWARD

Jami Kelmenson is a writer and content editor for Community2Community.  She can be reached at jami@community2community.info