Dear Friends and Partners,

What an unforgettable three days! The Inaugural Haitian American Business Summit and Awards Gala at UMass Boston (November 6–8, 2025) was more than an event — it was a historic milestone for the Haitian American community. Together, we proved that when vision meets unity, incredible things happen.

As featured in Haitian Globe, this gathering brought together hundreds of entrepreneurs, business leaders, elected officials, innovators, and changemakers for three days of collaboration, inspiration, and celebration.

“These past few years have reminded us that no matter how successful or connected we are, when push comes to shove, we are all Haitians living in a foreign land. And if we’re going to change our story — we must do it together.”

🌟 Highlights from the Summit & Gala

• Powerful Summit Sessions: Our panels tackled timely issues such as Access to Capital, Credit & Wealth Building, Mental Health & Business Resilience, Funding Self-Determination – A Global Initiative for Haitian Prosperity, Leadership Matters, and The State of Haitian American Businesses. Each conversation reaffirmed our shared mission: empowering Haitian excellence through innovation, investment, and impact.

• Keynote Addresses that Inspired Change:

  • Councilwoman Mary Estimé-Irvin, City of North Miami, delivered the Summit Keynote, sharing her remarkable journey in public service and her vision for economic empowerment across the diaspora.

  • Massachusetts Senator Liz Miranda spoke with heart about representation, resilience, and the collective strength of our community.

  • Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune encouraged us to lead boldly and build bridges across generations.

  • Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley delivered a powerful address during the networking lunch, reminding us that inclusion and justice are essential to progress.

  • Councilor Tamisha Civil, our Gala Keynote Speaker, inspired the audience with her historic story and commitment to equity and leadership.

• Special Guests & Honors:

  • Consul General of Haiti in Boston, Régine Etienne, presented the Toussaint Louverture and Patriotic Awards to community leaders Wilner and Marie Auguste, honoring their decades of service and leadership in Massachusetts.

• Celebrating Haitian American Excellence:

  • The 6th Annual Haitian American Young Professional Awards Gala recognized 25 outstanding finalists and 10 winners, honoring leadership, creativity, and impact across business, health, education, and civic engagement.

🙏 Deep Gratitude to Our Host Committee

Behind this success stood a Distinguished Host Committee — an incredible team of leaders who brought vision, expertise, and heart to every detail:

• Aliesha Porcena, Director of Small Business, City of Boston

• Dr. Gabrielle Abelard, CEO, Abelard Psychotherapy

• Emmanuela Romain-Amedee, Board Secretary, U.S. Haitian Chamber of Commerce

• James R. Colimon, Deputy Director of Global Affairs & Protocol, City of Boston

• Jessicah Pierre, Director of Communications, City of Boston

• Marie St. Fleur, Former Massachusetts State Representative & Founder, St. Fleur Communications

• Paul Altidor, Former Ambassador of Haiti to the United States

Your leadership and partnership made this dream a reality.

A special thank you to our Masters of Ceremonies — Former State Representative Marie St. Fleur, Former Ambassador Paul Altidor, and Dr. Gabrielle Abelard — for their poise, professionalism, and dynamic presence throughout the program.

💼 With Gratitude to Our Sponsors & Partners

This historic event would not have been possible without your support and collaboration:

And our many community partners, vendors, volunteers, and media allies who brought this vision to life.

🔗 Moving Forward

This is not the end — it’s the beginning of a new era for Haitian American leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship. We will soon share official photos, videos, and highlights at ushaitianchamber.org and haitianamericanbusinesssummit.com.

Thank you once again for being part of this historic moment. Together, we are shaping a stronger, more connected, and more empowered Haitian American community.

With excitement and deep gratitude,

Dr. Hans Patrick Domercant
President & CEO