Extending Lives in Haiti and the Haitian Diaspora: State, Civil Society, and Language 

Recent news from Haiti has been grim, as BBC’s reporting indicates more than 5,000 people killed this year in gang-related violence. At the same time, Haitians are resilient, dynamic, and spread around the world in the Haitian diaspora, including significant presence in Philadelphia historically and currently. Our two distinguished guests will speak to the global governance, national, and local policy structures encouraged to secure and extend life in Haiti and across the diaspora, along with the civil society actions that extend longevity and quality of life. Presentation and discussion will move between and among quality public health outreach and policy to the existence of basic structures of security and stability, always returning to the critical question of the kinds of interventions that extend life. Due to Haverford College’s long-standing emphasis on the dignity of all persons, learning through relationships, and the importance of language study, special attention will be paid to the importance of linguistic proficiencies and localized insights in rights work. Speakers include: 

• Nahomie Laurore is the lead Health Educator for the African Family Health Organization (AFAHO), a position that she has held for a few years, following education and work in Brazil, after moving there from her homeland of Haiti after the 2011 earthquake. 

• William "Bill" O'Neil ‘73 is the United Nations Designated Expert on the Human Rights Situation in Haiti, building from a long career supporting human rights around the world. He completed his undergraduate studies at Haverford.