SAVE THE DATE

Saturday, October 16, 2027, 6:00 PM | Honoring Environmental Leaders

Ayiti Community Trust presents Ayiti Visionaries, a distinguished reception honoring leaders in the Haitian community who are driving progress in our pillar areas of civic education, environment, and entrepreneurship.

2025 Event Highlights

This year, we turned our focus to Civic Education Leaders who are shaping the future through their dedication to fostering informed and engaged communities.

The Rubell Museum in Miami came alive on October 18, 2025 as we honored five extraordinary leaders who show us what is possible for our beloved Ayiti: Dr. Bertrhude Albert, Dr. Moise Anglade, The Honorable Marleine Bastien, Johnny Celestin, and Nedgine Paul Deroly. Their courage and commitment reminded us that hope in Haiti is not only alive, it is powerful.

The evening also featured a heartfelt tribute to President Dumarsais Estimé, who was posthumously presented with the Grandèt Award, celebrating his lasting legacy.

Instagram Recap

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Marie Florence Estimé's Acceptance Speech

Meet Our 2025 Honorees

Dr. Bertrhude Albert

Founder of P4H Global, whose dignity-based education work is transforming the teaching landscape across Ayiti.

Dr. Bertrhude Albert is a proud Haitian-American. At the age of 8 she immigrated to the United States from Ayiti with her family. Ten years after immigrating, Dr. Albert began her journey to becoming a University of Florida triple Gator. In 2012, Dr. Albert received her bachelors in English, in 2014 she received her masters in Latin American Studies, and in 2016 she completed her PhD in Agricultural Education and Communication. Throughout her academic journey, Dr. Albert received several awards such as UF’s Hall of Fame, UF’s Teaching Assistant of the Year Award, Gators 40 Under 40, and many more. Her greatest honor however, was co-founding P4H Global. Dr. Albert currently serves as the CEO of P4H Global, which has grown to be the largest teacher training nonprofit in Ayiti. Her team of 45 full-time trainers has trained over 15,000 teachers across all of Ayiti's departments. In 2022, P4H was awarded the international UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Excellence in Teacher Development. This is the largest prize awarded by UNESCO and it was the first time a Haitian organization won. Dr. Albert is committed to seeing Ayiti rise through quality education and will continue to give her whole life to that vision. In addition to working with P4H Global, Dr. Albert also serves as a member of Ayiti's National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (CoNaSTI), a strategic body that consults Ayiti's Ministry of Education. Additionally, Dr. Albert pioneers change as a social media influencer who publishes daily videos on her platforms to share Ayiti's glorious past with the world. Within just 2 years of launching her TikTok and Instagram platforms, Dr. Albert has amassed a sizable following, with over 376,000 followers on both platforms combined. Telling the true story of her people has become a priority to her. She has even taken the TEDx stage twice to do so. In 2023 Dr. Albert used her social media platforms to fundraise for the construction of the canal in Ayiti. In just two weeks, the Haitian diaspora raised over $114,540 through her page. As of today, that amount has reached over $300,000. This support was by-far the largest donation given to the canal. Dr. Albert ensured financial transparency by publishing detailed reports and receipts for every dollar spent on. Additionally, her team visited the canal every week to verify deliveries and encourage workers. Dr. Albert has been affectionately nicknamed “Manman lavi” by the canal workers. Since working at the Wanament canal, Dr. Bertrhude has helped to rally the diaspora to fund 3 additional canals (Malfety, Farine and Torbeck) and a bridge (Okap) across Ayiti. In celebration of her contributions to the advancement of Ayiti and the Haitian diaspora, Dr. Albert has received prestigious honors such as being an inductee to the 1804 List, receiving the Haitian Chamber of Commerce Top 20 Under 40 Award, being the cover story for the Ayiti Open Magazine, and being nominated “Ambassador of the City of Cap-Haitien”. These awards and others have confirmed to Dr. Albert that as she fights for her people, her people will fight for and stand with her. Despite how challenging the road to change may be, Dr. Albert is committed to standing firm with her people because “l’union fait la force”.

Dr. Moise Anglade

Cardiologist and Physician-Entrepreneur whose expertise in health and commitment to philanthropy are seen in the flourishing lives of people in both Florida and Ayiti.

The Honorable Marleine Bastien

Miami-Dade County Commissioner for District 2 and Founder of Famn Ayisyen Nan Miami, a pioneering force for advocacy, health equity, and immigrant justice.

Commissioner Marleine Bastien was elected to serve as the District 2 Commissioner of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners on November 8, 2022. District 2 encompasses portions of the City of Miami, North Miami, North Miami Beach, Opa-locka, City of Hialeah, and unincorporated areas of Liberty City, Biscayne Gardens, and North Dade Central. Bastien serves as the Chair of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners’ Housing Committee. Additionally, she serves as a member of the Recreation and Tourism Committee, Transportation Committee, and Safety and Health Committee. For over 40 years, Bastien has established a global reputation of tireless advocacy for equity, economic empowerment, comprehensive immigration reform, and climate justice. She has championed rights for women, children, families, workers, the elderly, and LGBTQ worldwide. Before joining the Board, she worked as a social worker. Then, she went on to found the Family Action Network Movement (FANM). Under her leadership, FANM has grown into a globally recognized model for providing life-enhancing services to low- and moderate-income families in health care, housing, literacy, technical training, after-school and summer programs, immigration reform, business enhancement, job creation, and career development. Bastien has received dozens of honorable awards and accolades throughout the years. In 1994, Bastien received the Miami-Dade County Volunteer of the Year Award, followed by the Miami-Dade County Social Worker of the Year Award in 2000 for her services. She has received Congressional recognition from Senator Bill Nelson (2005), Congresswoman Corrine Brown (2008), and Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (2012). She has also been recognized as “One of The 35 Most Remarkable Women in the World” by Essence Magazine. She was Ms. Foundation’s “Woman of the Year,” a City of North Miami Hall of FAME Inductee, and in 2015, she received the Stanley Milledge Life Achievement Award from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). She has also served as either a founding or board member of many organizations, such as the Miami Climate Alliance, North Miami Education Board, Health Foundation of South Florida, Catalyst Miami, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Haitian American Grassroots Coalition, Center for Haitian Studies, Sant La, Haitian Neighborhood Center, Kristi’s House, GAP (Girl Advocacy Power), Women We Will Rebuild, Miami Workers Center, and the American for Immigrants Justice, among others. Bastien obtained her master’s degree in social work from Florida International University in 1987.

Johnny Celestin

Senior VP at NYC Economic Development Corporation, whose career spans international leadership in public service, philanthropy, and economic empowerment, with roots in both Ayiti and the diaspora.

Johnny Celestin is a leading voice on Ayiti's security and governance crisis, recognized for his incisive political analysis and practical policy proposals. Through regular contributions to AyiboPost, LinkedIn, and his blog Thinker's Notepad, he has shaped diaspora discourse on gang violence, international intervention, and the country's political paralysis. Currently, Johnny serves as the Senior Vice President of the M/W/DBE team within the Equity and Community Impact Division at the NYC Economic Development Corporation, where he leads initiatives for economic inclusion. With over 30 years of experience in international development, public service, philanthropy, and nonprofits, he brings extensive governance expertise to his work. Before joining EDC, he was appointed as the Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Nonprofit Services and served as Deputy Director of the Mayor's Office of M/WBEs, where he championed equity initiatives. Following the 2010 earthquake, Johnny spent 10 years in Haiti, serving in various roles including Director of the Haitian Fund for Innovation, Executive Director of Le Centre Haitien pour le Leadership et l'Excellence, and Deputy Chief of Staff at Haiti's Ministry of Planning during the critical post-earthquake recovery period. In this latter role, he worked on multi-agency coordination and national development planning. These grounded experiences give him unique insight into state fragility and the gaps between government intent and public impact. Johnny leads the nonprofit organization Konbit for Haiti and chairs the Haiti Policy House board while serving on boards including the Haitian Center for Leadership and Excellence, SOIL (Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods), Defend Haiti's Democracy, and Forum Économique International des Noirs (FEIN). His career includes roles at Accenture, The New School University, The Clinton Foundation, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, The Atlantic Philanthropies, and The Robin Hood Foundation. He holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School University and a B.S. in Business Administration from Iona University. He is a CORO Leadership New York graduate and has completed executive programs at Yeungnam University in South Korea, the COADY International Institute in Canada, and the Oxford Strategic Management Executive Programme. Fluent in English, French, and Haitian Creole, Johnny's work bridges borders and disciplines, advancing dialogue among policymakers, civil society, and the Haitian diaspora.

Nedgine Paul Deroly

Co-founder & CEO of Anseye Pou Ayit on a mission to transform schools and communities by re-establishing collective action as the root of true leadership.

President Durmasais Estimé
The Grandèt Award

We will be presenting The Grandèt Award, ACT’s highest honor, posthumously to President Durmasais Estimé, of the most transformational leaders in Haitian history.

The Ayiti Community Trust is honored to present the Grandèt Award to the late President Dumarsais Estimé, a transformative leader whose dedication to the advancement of Ayiti and its people remains an enduring source of inspiration. The Grandét Award, bestowed upon visionaries who have shaped Ayiti’s history through bold leadership and unwavering commitment to progress, recognizes Estimé’s remarkable contributions in championing education, economic sovereignty, social equity, and national dignity. Born in Verrettes in 1900, Dumarsais Estimé rose from humble beginnings to become a pioneering force for change. As a lawyer, he first practised in St. Marc before entering politics and being elected deputy in 1930 in the constituency of Verrettes and becoming President of the Chamber of Deputies in 1935. He joined President Vincent’s government in 1937 as Secretary of Education, Agriculture, and Labor, during which he fought for increased opportunities for Ayiti’s rural and working-class citizens. In 1946, amid growing unrest and demands for reform, Estimé emerged as a unifying leader advocating for the rights of Ayiti’s black majority, who had long been marginalized from political and economic power. His election as President of Ayiti marked a turning point in the nation’s history. Throughout his presidency, Estimé worked tirelessly to create the proper conditions for long term economic growth and social development. The education of urban and rural masses to make them instruments of national development was a top priority, as illustrated by the fight against illiteracy, known under the name ‘Program Dumarsais Estimé’, the construction of many schools and the modernisation of the whole education system. President Estimé understood that for Ayiti to thrive, it needed to celebrate and elevate its own rich cultural heritage. He championed arts, literature, and national pride, fostering an era of cultural revival that emphasized Haitian identity and resilience. While Estimé’s presidency was filled with promise, his tenure was tragically cut short. In 1950, after proposing a constitutional amendment that would allow him to remain in office, he faced strong opposition from political elites and military leaders, who saw his leadership as a threat to their interests. A military coup forced him into exile, stripping Ayiti of a leader who had sought to reshape the country’s future with justice, dignity, and national pride. He spent the remaining years of his life abroad, passing away in New York City in 1953. Despite his forced departure, the ideals and policies Estimé championed did not fade. His legacy reminds us that true progress is achieved not through foreign control or political oppression, but through the empowerment of the people, investment in education, and the promotion of national self-sufficiency.

Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors!

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Ayiti Visionaries 2024 Recap

2024 Ayiti Visionaries. Pictured from left to right: Philippe Bayard, Hantz Févry, Marie-Claire Dorcely, Lex Pierre-Louis, Tamara Beliard Rodriguez, Victor Demesmin, Jr., and Jean Rene Faustin.

Hantz Févry
CEO of Stoovo

Jean Rene Faustin:
Entrepreneur and VP of Sales at Iron and Steam & Echo Aviation

Lex Pierre-Louis
Marketing Executive of Lex Promotions & Marketing Group

Marie-Claire Dorcely
Chief Administration Officer at Sevis Finansye Fonkoze

Philippe Bayard
CEO/President of Sunrise Airways & Haiti National Trust

Tamara Beliard Rodriguez
Senior VP and CFO of Island TV & Fatima Group

Victor Demesmin Jr.:
Managing Partner at Demesmin and Dover

Moments captured by Gaetan Photography, Aisha Saint-lot, and L'union Suite x Timeless Vision Agency

Thank you to the Ayiti Visionaries 2024 Sponsors!

SUPPORTING:
Knight Foundation

CONTRIBUTING:
Green Family Foundation
Greenberg Traurig
Holland and Knight
Miami Foundation
Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioner Marleine Bastien

COMMUNITY PARTNER:
Northern Trust
Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB)
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava
Mayor Alix Desulme of North Miami

Ayiti Visionaries 2023 Recap

The Inaugural Ayiti Visionaries took place in 2023.

Yve-Car Momperousse
CEO and Co-Founder, Kreyol Essence

Jeff Lozama
Entrepreneur, CMS International Group, Corp.

Dannie Augustin
Multi-Brand Business Owner, The Franchise Girls

Magalie Noel Dresse
President and CEO, Caribbean Craft

Conrad Schutt
Owner/Operator, Malfini Photography

Honored in Ayiti

Angie Bell
Community Leader and Founder, Atizan International

Geoffrey Handal
Entrepreneur, Ets JB Vital and Agrilog

Photo Gallery

FAQs

Schedule of Events

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Doors Open
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Seated Program
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Networking Reception

Event Details

Please plan to arrive by 6:15 PM to be comfortably seated before the program begins at 7:00 PM sharp
Dress Code: Business Casual / Cocktail
Event Format: Evening reception with no table seating
Art Collection Viewing: Guests can explore the Rubell art collection starting at 8:00 PM.

Parking

Valet: $20 per car
Street Parking: Limited availability
Ride Share: Encouraged for convenience

Honoree Selection

After a nomination period, ACT team members selected honorees from the nomination pool. Anyone was welcome to nominate an Ayiti Visionary—an exemplary Haitian civic leader whose work uplifts communities through empowerment, advocacy, and sustainable development in Ayiti and across the diaspora. Nominees demonstrated a strong commitment to civic engagement in at least one of the following areas:

Public Service & Governance
Community Advocacy & Organizing
Economic Empowerment & Entrepreneurship
Education & Personal Development
Social Justice & Human Rights
Arts, Culture & Media Influence
Religious & Faith-Based
Health Equity & Well-Being

To be eligible, nominees had to be of Haitian heritage, actively working in their field within the past year, show clear impact, and be available to attend the Ayiti Visionaries event on October 18, 2025. Two supporting references were also required.

RUBELL MUSEUM
MIAMI

1100 NW 23rd St
Miami, FL 33127

Contact Us

+1(888) 814-1804

[email protected]

+1(305) 901-1814

Ayiti Community Trust

201 S. Biscayne Boulevard

Suite 800

Miami, Florida 33131