Égalité for All: Investing in Haiti’s Cultural Heritage

WHAT: Florida International University and the University of Miami will host a screening of the PBS-produced documentary “Égalité for All:  Toussaint Louverture and the Haitian Revolution.”  Edwidge Danticat, who is featured in the film, will follow the screening with remarks alongside other members of the Haitian community in South Florida, including Edouard Duval Carrié, Jan Mapou, Chantalle Verna and Erol Josué.

WHO: The event is co-presented by the Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC) at FIU, the University of Miami Center for Latin American Studies and the University of Miami Libraries and the FIU Libraries.

WHEN: 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 17

WHERE: Little Haiti Cultural Center, 260 NE 59^th Terrace, Miami, FL

MORE INFO:  In response to the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the FIU Libraries and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at FIU, in a partnership with the Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC), established the PHPI to help support the preservation and reconstruction efforts of Haiti’s libraries and archives.  Since 2010, it has raised more than $50,000 in institutional, corporate and private donations.

Donations will be accepted in lieu of standard entrance fees.  The money collected will be sent to Protecting Haitian Patrimony Initiative (PHPI) partner organizations.

Partner organizations in Haiti that will benefit from the donations are:

• Archives Nationales d’Haïti houses civil and state records as well of those of the Office of the President and most government ministries.
• Bibliothèque Nationale d’Haïti, established in 1939, holds a collection of historical rare books, manuscripts and newspapers, and offers current publications, research support and study space.
• Bibliothèque haïtienne des Frères de l’Instruction Chrétienne (the heritage library of Saint Louis de Gonzague), founded in 1912 by the Christian Brothers, serves as a repository for Haitian imprints and holds one of the most significant collections of newspapers.
• Bibliothèque haïtienne des Pères du Saint-Esprit (the heritage library of the Petit Séminaire Collège Saint Martial), founded in 1873 by the Fathers of the Holy Spirit, holds documents and rare books chronicling French colonization, slavery and emancipation, the Haitian Revolution, and Haiti’s 19th and 20th centuries history.

TO RSVP OR FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PHPI:  Visit http://dloc.com/info/egaliteforall or contact the Latin American and Caribbean Center at FIU at 305-348-2894.  Donations can be made online prior to the event or by cash, check or credit card at the event.

Media Contacts:  JoAnn Adkins at 305-348-0398 or Barbara Gutierrez at 305-284-5500.