FIU to celebrate Haitian Flag Day by painting sneakers to be donated to Haitian children

WHAT: Students and faculty from the FIU Art + Art History Department will join forces with the FIU’s Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity brothers, the Miami Heat Dance Team and the Institute of Black Family Life to assist Haitian children through art.

As part of their contribution to FIU’s Global Learning Initiative, the Art Department encourages the community to create wearable art to help children in need around the world through The Art of Giving (TAG) project.  Click here to watch a video of the kick off TAG event during the FIU Diversity Week.  For pictures, visit the TAG project’s Facebook page.

Next month, FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Professor Dr. Pilar Martin will take around 700 pairs of individually designed Converse sneakers to children between the ages of 1 and 17 currently residing in three orphanages in Haiti.

WHO: On Haitian Flag Day, more than 20 adolescents, who currently participate in the Institute of Black Family Life’s pre-trial juvenile detention diversion program, will join forces with FIU’s TAG Team to adorn new pairs of sneakers with original artistic designs.

WHEN AND WHERE: Wednesday, May 18, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Institute of Black Family Life – Miami Gardens Neighborhood Center, located at 16405 Northwest 25^th Avenue in Opa Locka.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact Kelly Brady-Rumble at 305-348-0253. 

Other TAG Team events scheduled during Haitian Heritage Week (May 14-20) will include:

Centro Cultural Espanol – Kids from the Spanish Cultural Center’s youth programs join forces with the TAG Team on Saturday, May 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  at the Centro Cultural Espanol, located at 800 Douglas Road in Coral Gables.

Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and Overtown Youth Center – Thirty youths who are part of the Overtown Youth Center Afterschool program join forces with FIU’s Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and our TAG Outreach Team on Monday, May 16, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Overtown Youth Center, located at 450 NW 14^th Street in Miami.

Big Night in Little Haiti – Children from Little Haiti neighborhood schools join forces with the Little Haiti Cultural Center and TAG Outreach Team to celebrate Big Night in Little Haiti festivities on Friday, May 20, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Little Haiti Cultural Center, located at 260 N.E. 59^th Terrace in Miami.

Media Contact:  Jean-Paul Renaud at 305-348-2716.