First official meeting of the Association of Exchange and Development of Activities & Partnership Inc. was attended by HALO President, Dr. Angelo Gousse.
The Haitian Student Organization at the University of Miami organized a Unity Day where Dr. Angelo Gousse, MD, was part of the Success Panel which included entertainer Farah Juste, UM alumnus and civil engineer Marc Jean, UM alumnus and attorney Farrah F. Duperval, Financial Advisor Stanley Leconte and Haitian Women Organization Member (HWO) Ms. Bellande. The event included an art exhibit, cultural explosion portion with dance, fashion show and Kompa lessons.
Second Annual HALO/JHS Haiti Day held at the Alamo at Jackson Memorial Hospital on May 16, 2008. Keynote speaker was Representative Yolly Roberson and honorees included Gina and Ginette Eugene; Dr. Jesus Gomez; Odianne Medacier, MSN, ARNP; and Dr. Andre Vulcain.
Gracelle Toussaint, Vice-President, along with Dr. Gregory Samson, Assistant Secretary General, and HALO member Robinson Elie had a chance to chat with students from ninth to tenth grade about career choices, staying in school, as well as HALO’s presence in the community. They had a chance to connect with those students and many of them signed up to receive e-mail announcements from HALO.
A delegation of different community leaders travelled to Tallahassee for Miami-Dade Days in Tallahassee where they had the chance to meet many of Florida’s policy makers. They had the opportunity to ask questions about many of the policies which are currently affecting the citizens of South Florida as well as had the chance to hear about future policies and ask probing questions on various matters affecting our state such as transportation issues. It was very exciting to see many young people at the Miami-Dade Days with an interest in issues bound to affect the future of our state and its citizens.
HANA’s Health Fair at the Church of Oasis in addition to providing health education and health screening had a live presentation on colon cancer by Assistant Vice-President Odiane Medacier. There was a teaching and demonstration station on the respiratory system hosted by Marie Etienne. HALO provided children in attendance with prizes as well as provided information on prostate health including prostate cancer, BPH, and importance of the PSA screening test for men.
This is HALO's second year participating in the annual Back To School Wellness Fair sponsored by Representative Yolly Roberson. HALO members and volunteers passed out basic school supplies including pens, pencils, paper, erasers, and folders as well as hand lotion and sanitizer to students from kindergarten to high school as they get ready for the new school year. Students were also able to access free health screenings.
Breakfast with Santa by Le Chic Events is co-sponsored by HALO. More than two hundred children from needy homes were invited to a scrumptious breakfast with Santa Claus and treated to free toys. Toys were donated by HALO members, Le Chic Events staff, and Macy’s. It is one of the most rewarding events of the year and looking at those wide grins and smiling faces makes it all the more worthwhile.
Many HALO members serve as mentors to students in our community and some members provide internship opportunities to a number of students in their professional environment. The students are always enriched from their experience and share that the opportunity to be exposed to the environment of their field of interest is priceless. HALO’s Executive Director, Beatrice Cazeau, Esq., has had students from the Law Academy at Miami Edison Senior High School in her office as part of the internship program. Secretary General, Dr. Herold Merisier, President, Dr. Angelo Gousse, and HALO member Dr. Lherisson Domond have also worked with various students at their practice site as part of the mentoring program.
The Center for Haitian Studies (CHS) held their annual Little Haiti Health Fair on the grounds of CHS on October 11th, 2008. This year saw a great turn out from the public. The University of Miami Medical School Students did a wonderful job and had everything under control from registration to ushering the public through the different health care stations. HALO president Dr. Angelo Gousse, Urologist, along with Urology Fellow Resident Dr. Daniel Caruso with the support of the medical school students performed closed to seventy five Digital Rectal Exams (DRE’s). Volunteer Marie-May Gousse helped with keeping track of participants.
The prostate education health station was guarded by GracelleToussaint; Nurse Practitioner in Urology with volunteer Irene Hyppolite who helped managed the station by passing out free gifts and information on HALO. At this station participants had a chance to handle various prostate models and were taught the difference between a normal and abnormal prostate. Individual and group educational sessions were held on various prostate-related ailments such as Erectile Dysfunction (ED), prostate enlargement, and prostate cancer along with the importance of an annual PSA screening test accompanied by a rectal examination. After their session participants were directed to the Urology Health Station for their rectal examination.
Miami Edison Middle School held their Open Business Fair and Back to School Open House on September 17th, 2008. On hands were HALO members Maxime Jean-Louis, Fred Corneille accompanied by Assistant Secretary Dr. Gregory Samson and Vice-President Gracelle Toussaint. They had a chance to meet many of the students, parents, and teachers at the school. It was a great way to introduce HALO to many of the parents and students jointly. Parents and Students were treated to gifts from HALO. It was a great way to connect with the school and its students and bring awareness to the organization.
