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Scholars, community leaders and government
officials from around the world will gather at FIU’s
Biscayne Bay Campus Oct. 9-11 for the 15th Annual Haitian Studies
Association Conference.
Co-sponsored by FIU’s Latin American and Caribbean Center,
Modern Language Department and African New World Studies, this
year’s conference theme is Investing in the Haitian Human
Capital at Home and Abroad. The theme highlights the remarkable
imagination, resourcefulness and industry of Haitians at home
and in the diaspora. The conference will examine past and present
accomplishments of Haitians and their contributions to society’s
institutions and fields of learning.
The conference begins Thurs., Oct. 9 with a reception, Haitian
book exhibit and video viewing in the Wolf University Center.
Panels will open Friday morning and continue through Saturday.
Scholars representing universities around the United States,
the Caribbean and Europe will participate, as well as leaders
from organizations such as the National Coalition for Haitian
Rights and La Troupe Makandal in New York.
Panel topics include Haitian education, media,
literature, art, contemporary religion, literature, linguistics,
migration, politics
and transnational issues. The Plenary Address on “The Haitian
Authoritarian Habitus and the Contradictory Legacy of 1804.” will
be given Friday afternoon, Oct. 10, by Robert Fatton Jr., a professor
at the University of Virginia. Following the address, Joanne
Hyppolite, president of the Women’s Writers of Haitian
Descent, will lead a writer’s roundtable at 5:45 p.m. as
part of the conference’s cultural evening.
The conference banquet and award ceremony
will take place at 7 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 11 in the Wolfe Center
Ballroom. The keynote
speaker will be Dr. Rose-Marie Toussaint, a transplant surgeon
and author of the autobiography Never Question the Miracle, A
Surgeon’s Story, which chronicles her journey from a poor
childhood in Haiti to respected medical doctor.
All events will take place in the Wolfe University Center. Registration
is required and attendees can register at the event. For more
information, call 305-348-2894.
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