Art Benefit at Webster Hall for Haiti

Webster Hall will be featuring photography and paintings to benefit an ecological project in Haiti. Printed artwork will be sold along with paintings. There will be two bands and 2 djs maybe more. Doors open at 8 pm open bar from 8-9 pm and then again from 12am-1am. Admission is $6 dollars.

Proceeds will go to the Jacmel Exotic Garden.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE

DwaFanm (“Women’s Rghts” in Creole) is a Haitian women's rights organization committed to empowering all women and girls with the freedom to define and control their own lives. Through service, education, advocacy and grassroots programs, DwaFanm works to end discrimination, violence, and other forms of injustice here and abroad

POSITION AVAILABLE:

Survey Administrator- Human Rights Survey. 10 hour per week commitment.

WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP:

We are creating a survey titled: “Human Rights Belong to All of Us: A Study of Personal and Economic Security in New York City’s Haitian Immigrant Communities.” We are currently looking for a handful of outstanding volunteers to help us administer this survey to members of the Haitian community throughout the city, on a regular basis.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Excellent interpersonal communications skills


• Comfort and/or experience working with people from diverse background


• Respectful and responsible dealing with sensitive and confidential information


• Willing to take part in a one-time training (approximately 2 hours)


• Creole speaking a plus, but by no means necessary


The results of our research will be published in a report, and will serve as the basis for public education and policy advocacy campaigns.


If interested, please send a cover letter and resume to Berlotte Israel, Human Rights Coordinator, at bisrael@dwafanm.org

www.dwafanm.org

(718)-230-4027

Potential Volunteer Opportunities

A group at SIPA (Students for Haiti) are creating a system to enable individuals to get matched for potential volunteer opportunities with different NGOs working in Haiti or on Haiti-related projects. Please note that these opportunities are not organized by Columbia University or Students4Ayiti i.e. not organized "service trips". For information, please email haitianaid@gmail.com for any inquiries.

• The volunteer sign-up form at http://www.students4haiti.org. Many NGO's are mentioning they need medical people, and the Mailman/Medical campus certainly is a good place to find them. If students complete the volunteer form, they will be matched with an NGO which needs their skills, and contacted with the available volunteer options.

• Students4Haiti (S4H) is doing a massive NGO needs assessment to find volunteer places for persons interested in short, medium, and long term efforts. We are recruiting for volunteers to do outreach to a list of 60 NGO's, many of which we already have students with contacts at. We would be delighted to have help from anyone who is interested in helping us do outreach, especially those with linkages already in place.

Haiti Relief Item Collection

• DONATIONS! -- Relief & Aid is coming to Haiti from the CUMC campus! Starting Monday February 1, 2010 The Mailman School of Public Health will be collecting items in four locations (see below). All items will be taken directly to the Haitian Consulate or another supported organization by Students 4 Ayiti. The list of items being requested includes first aid items, rescue relief items, and medication ONLY! Please carefully read the list of requested items from the Haitian Consulate below. Please ignore the drop of locations listed on the document. We will be taking donations at Mailman and delivering them as a school.

List of Items being requested from the consulate

• Drop off boxes for items have been placed in the following locations:
  
  Allan Rosenfield Building Lobby at 722 W 168th Street
  Outside of Bard Hall Study Lounge (first floor)
  Near Security Desk at 50/60 Haven Ave
  Hammer Health Sciences Center (LL1)

Any questions? Email us at students4ayiti@gmail.com.

Students 4 Ayiti
Newsletter February 1, 2010







Dear Students 4 Ayiti,

Another week has passed and we still have a lot on our agenda! First order of business -- Our next general meeting will be on Wednesday, February 12, 2010 at 8:30pm in Hess Commons. The address is 722 W 168th Street (if you need help with directions please email us at students4ayiti@gmail.com). We will be addressing the upcoming events, donation drives, and political action events coming up within the next few weeks. We've got a lot to discuss! If you can't make the meeting don't forget you can watch us live via Ustream at our channel: Students 4 Ayiti UStream. Here are a few things we've got coming up soon:

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

• The Political & Educational Action Committee is asking all Students 4 Ayiti to please sign the petition to help drop Haiti's debt. It will only take about two minutes of your time. Haiti will need all of its resources for recover and reconstruction. We are urging you to tell the Treasury Secretary Geither to negotiate the cancellation of Haiti's remaining debts to international intitution to ensure that all new aid comes in the form of grants NOT loans. The links to two petitions are below:

Drop Haiti's Debt & No Debt for Disaster

Help Haiti -- Drop the Debt

• DONATIONS! -- Relief & Aid is coming to Haiti from the CUMC campus! Starting Monday February 1, 2010 The Mailman School of Public Health will be collecting items in the lobby of the Rosenfield Building at 722 W 168th Street. All items will be taken directly to the Haitian Consulate by Students 4 Ayiti. The list of items being requested includes first aid items, rescue relief items, and medication ONLY! Please carefully read the list of requested items from the Haitian Consulate below. Please ignore the drop of locations listed, we will be taking donations at Mailman and delivering it to them as a school.

List of Items being requested from the consulate

UPCOMING EVENTS

SAVE THE DATE: FEBRUARY 12, 2010 -- CAFE AYITI
The School of Physicians & Surgeons and Students 4 Ayiti will be collaborating for a funfilled night of food, education, and live entertainment:

This event will highlight Dr. Vincent Degennary from the Department of Internal Medicine who will lead a discussion based on his experience from the relief effort. Haitian music will be performed by the Zing Experience and we will be viewing the documentary film The Road to Fondwa. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and Fatima House Orphanage, Fondwa.

Minimum Donation: $10 (cash, credit card, and check accepted)

Where: Donald F. Tapley Faculty Club P&S Building, 630 W 168th St., 4th Floor (ID Required)
When: Friday, February 12th, 6pm - 9pm

Click Here to view the flier

HAITIAN STUDY GROUP
Students 4 Ayiti's Edna Bonhomme will be hosting an education night and seminar. The study group will be discussing. The following two articles. Please follow the links to view the articles:

200 Years of US Imperialism: Haiti Under Seige -- By Helen Scott
Walking on Fire -- By Beverly Bell

When: Friday, February 12, 2010, 3pm to 5pm
Where: International Resource Center, 114th St Between Broadway and Amsterdam

HAITIAN STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY
The Fulbright office at the United Nations has a unique scholarship opportunity for Haitian students currently studying in the United States. Here is their message:

"Dear Students 4 Ayiti,

I hope this message finds you well.

I’m
pleased to announce that IIE has created an emergency fund to help students from
Haiti currently in the US continue their academic programs by providing them
with the opportunity of applying for a small grant.

It is important to
clarify that his grant is aimed at supporting non-sponsored Haitian grantees
(that unfortunately excludes you as you do have financial sponsorship for your
academic program from the Department of State). So, please help us spread the
word on your campus so your colleagues can be nominated.

I wish to also
clarify that all questions should go directly to the program manager at
HaitiEAS@iie.org – Nicole and I are not supervising this initiative.

Complete information below: Deadline is Feb 12th

With warm
wishes,

Tatiana"

Click here for more information.


Again, thank you for all your continued support and dedication. We look forward to seeing you all on February 10th!

--S4A

Was there something you'd like to see in the newsletter? Email us at students4ayiti@gmail.com

EVENTS TOMORROW & HELP WITH TPS

There are two events coming up tomorrow evening, please check out Google Calendar often to stay up to date, there are multiple events coming up soon! If you would like your event added to the calendar, send the info to students4ayiti@gmail.com!

TPS FOR HAITI

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke will be at SUNY Downstate tomorrow night in Brooklyn to host a townhall with USCIS Regional Director on TPS. Individuals can ask questions, get help filling out forms and representatives will go over payment and costs of the TPS.

Please see the link to the flier here: Briefing Session with Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke

CATASTROPHE IN HAITI: AN UNNATURAL DISASTER

Join a discussion of what produced this tragedy, how we can help today, and what it will take to win growing demands such as canceling Haiti’s U.S. debt. Speakers will include Edna Bonhomme, Haitian American graduate student & activist at Columbia University, and Ashley Smith, long-time activist in solidarity with Haiti and member of the International Socialist Review editorial board.

Where: The LGBT Community Center, Room 301 (114 St. between Broadway and Amsterdam)

When: Thursday, January 28 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

ANSWERING THE CALL

A Fundraising Initiative Benefiting Earthquake Victims in Haiti. Here is a message from the Harvard Black Alumni Society:

Dear All,

In the wake of Haiti's devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010, citizens and nations from across the globe have united to support those affected on the ground in Haiti and abroad. Today, weeks after this natural disaster, the lives and realities of Haiti’s people remain profoundly changed with so many finding themselves homeless, without food, physically injured, without work and coping with the loss of loved ones. The effects of this tragedy are far from over and as such, it is important for people across the world to realize that the need of those in Haiti and our human obligation to help them is also far from over.

Tomorrow, the Harvard Black Alumni Society of New York will join The Global Syndicate and other organizations and individuals to deliver an event that seeks to remember and to support those affected by Haiti’s earthquake. Please join us for “ANSWERING THE CALL: A Fundraising Initiative Benefiting Earthquake Victims in Haiti” on Thursday, January 28 at M2 Ultralounge (530 West 28^th Street, NY, NY). From 6:00-7:00PM we will be offering an open bar and from 7:00-10:00PM, the event’s program will take place featuring special guests including: Matt Dillon, Gloria Reuben (ER Star), Gossip Girls Star, Randal Pinkett (Apprentice Winner), Sen. Jose Peralta, Assemblyman Karim Camara, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Comptroller John Liu, Assemblyman Farrell, Assemblyman Karim Camera, Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat, Assemblyman Darryl Towns, Assemblyman Hakeem Jefferies, Senator Eric Schneiderman and more.

100% of proceeds will go to benefit earthquake victims through: The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, Project Medishare, Haiti Support Project and Yele Haiti. General Admission pricing ranges from $25 to $100 and VIP pricing (including an open bar all night) ranges from $250 to $500. Purchase tickets HERE.

We hope that you will join us in this effort either by attending the event, contributing onlineHERE or supporting the people of Haiti in some other way.

With compassionate support,

Enoch Woodhouse AB ‘07
President, Harvard Black Alumni Society of New York

--S4A

MEETING SUMMARY & UPDATES

Dear Students 4 Ayiti!

Thank you! Last weeks meeting was absolutely amazing, we had over 60 people in attendance and even more on the sign-up lists. We look forward to working with all of your in these next couple months and beyond to support the relief efforts in Haiti. For those of you who could not make it to the meeting, and as a brief summary, here are the things we covered:

The collaborators of Students 4 Ayiti (Alex, Edna, Francesca, Krys and Lindsey) have decided to delegate tasks, interests, and responsibilities into four committees: Relief & Aid, Political & Education, Community Service Trip, and Communications.

COMMITTEE DESCRIPTIONS AND INITIATIVES

We ask that all Students 4 Ayiti join a committee (or two) that is relevant to their interest. Below is a brief description of what each committee will focus on and a short synopsis of what was discussed.

Relief & Aid -- Alex and Lindsey

The relief committee will be focusing its attention on collecting small medical, first-aid, and hygenic supplies to provide to the Haitian Consulate. We want to encourage people to continue to attend fundraising events. Some of our current ideas include:

1. We are going to coordinate with administrators to get barrells put in place in Mailman and P&S as well as getting a closet for us, while I will be in touch with student affairs offices at the nursing and dental school to arrange with them.
2. We anticipate the initial interest to die down in a few weeks as media attention wanes and we would like to organize a "Remember Haiti" event (perhaps a bar/happy hour event) to solicit donations as well as re-energize people on the plight of Haitians.

Political & Education -- Edna

The political and education committee plans to identify a list of Hatian community organizations, radio stations, newspapers, etc, to identify the logistics for Temporary Protective Status (TPS) and the free legal resources for ensuring immigration protection. They also aim to support petitions that provide equity and organised planning for Haitians. They also have begun planning for intermediate and long-term political action steps including: monthly education night about Haiti that will incorporate Haitian American professors and students across the city.

Community Service Trip -- Francesca

As you may know coordinating a trip to Haiti will be a difficult task because of the lack of resources (housing, transportation, etc.) available at this point, so we need to have a strategy taking that into consideration. Our initial steps will be identifying organizations that we could potentially collaborate with in Haiti. This includes connecting with organizations that may work out of NYC but travel to Haiti several times during the year. As more information comes out regarding what types of services students cal provide or are most necessary, we will select the appropriate organization.

Communication --Krys

The communications committee will be in charge of all "official" statements made on behalf of Students 4 Ayiti. This includes answering e-mails, posting on the blog, facebook, twitter, our weekly e-newsletter and coordinating events. Keeping the calendars from all affiliate Students 4 Ayiti organizations up to date on our events as well as promoting other events that are being coordinated by students in and around New York City. Immediately, the communications committee will be in touch with administrators, faculty, affiliate organizations, and the other committees within Students 4 Ayiti to maintain a seamless streamline of information. If you are an affiliate with any other organization, as well as Students 4 Ayiti, we encourage you to join the communication committee to assist as a liason.

Which committee should you join? Which committees are you interested in? If you're not sure, or want to help in more than one, that's fine! Please keep up with our emails and you will find out about all the ways you can assist! Please e-mail us! Students4Ayiti@gmail.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• WE HAVE A GOOGLE CALENDAR! Check out our google calendar for upcoming events supported by Students 4 Ayiti. Events are located throughout the city and are updated almost daily, so check the calendar often!

• The Communications committee wants to know: Are you creative? We are trying to come up with a logo for Students 4 Ayiti! Any help would be appreciated. If you have ideas e-mail them please!

• Students 4 Ayiti would like to highlight Edna Bonhommme for her recent article that has been featured on SocialistWorker.org. Edna looks at the distortions in the media and the politician's depiction of Haiti, and what they won't admit about the real sources of the country's crisis. Check out the article here: Racism in the Portayal of Haiti

• The Relief & Aid committee would like to remind everyone to stay updated for volunteer opportunities, please sign up with www.idealist.org for hands on opportunities in New York City. They would also like to encourage everyone to check www.volunteermatch.org to register with the Haitian consulate for information about how to be a volunteer counselor.

• The Political & Education committee has a task to ask of Students 4 Ayiti. They need help with assisting Haitians to fill out the Temporary Protective Status (TPS) forms. They are asking for volunteers. No experience is necessary. The information is here:

• Hours: Monday - Friday: 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
• Saturday: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Address: 1821 Nostrand Avenue (Between Avenue D and Clarendon Road)
• Telephone: 718-282-3680
• E-mail: info@helpcenters.org, gdurandisse@helpcenters.org, gregduranx@yahoo.com

THANK YOU! Everyone, for all of your support, ideas and enthusiasm.

--S4A