What to Expect
![A group of young Haitian women sitting at table for annual Haitian Ladies brunch](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/630847121ee8f47b45c4a43b_image-wte-annual.webp)
COMMUNITY
Women arrive seeking to build professional collaboration, gain supportive circles and strong desires to seek mentors and mentor others
![Man beating drum](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/6335bb08cc431c33510072ad_Man%20beating%20drum%20.png)
CULTURE
Over three days, members live the shared Haitian culture and pride that has sustained their ambitions and continue to propel them forward as women of Haitian descent
![White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaking at podium with Haitian Ladies Network](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/6308471151e4de1ea7ff1634_image-wte-nationally.webp)
EMPOWERMENT
Women leave feeling a sense of their own power and a desire to continue leaning into this network of similarly minded sisters who share their drive
Why Join Us?
Connect with Esteemed Speakers
Build Your
Tribe
Celebrate Haitian
Culture
Exclusive Content and Screening
Workshops
Shop Our Vendors
![Two women wearing floral dresses with spaghetti straps and low textured buns posing together](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/6320728199643a45c2db5b1c_Two%20women%20wearing%20floral%20dresses%20with%20low%20textured%20buns%20posing.webp)
2023 Highlights
2023 Keynote Speaker
![Michele Montas keynote speaker](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/651231347d785784c7d478b2_Michele%20Montas%20keynote%20speaker%20headshot.jpg)
Michèle Montas
Award-winning Journalist
2023 Saturday Keynote Speaker
Michèle Montas is an award-winning journalist with over twenty years’ experience at Radio HaitiInter which she directed after her husband, journalist Jean Dominique was gunned down in 2000. During her three forced exiles in New York, Michèle Montas worked in Communications for the United Nations, serving for 3 years as Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General and later as Senior Adviser to the UNMission in Haiti. She has served since as a consultant for the UN.
She is a 2002 recipient of the Maria Moors Cabot Prize for excellence in reporting from Columbia University( NY) and a 2003 recipient of the Reporters Without Borders’ Prize for the Defense of Freedom of the Press (Paris). In 2005, she also received the Percy Qoboza award from the National Association of Black journalists. She holds a BA degree from the University of Maine, an MS degree from Columbia University’s School of Journalism and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Maine.
Brunch
Special Remarks
Karine Jean-Pierre
Press Secretary & Assistant to the President
2023 Sunday Brunch Keynote Speaker
Karine Jean-Pierre is currently the Press Secretary and Assistant to the President. She is the first Black person and first openly queer person to serve as the White House Press Secretary. Karine is a long-time advisor to President Biden, having served in senior communication and political roles in the Biden Administration, the Biden campaign, and in the Obama Administration.
Prior to her role on the campaign, she served as Chief Public Affairs Officer for MoveOn.org and an NBC and MSNBC Political Analyst. Jean-Pierre served as Regional Political Director for the White House Office of Political Affairs during the Obama-Biden administration and as Deputy Battleground States Director for President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign. She served as Southeast Regional Political Director for President Obama’s 2008 campaign, Deputy Campaign Manager for Martin O’Malley for President, Campaign Manager for the ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Initiative, and Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Legislative and Budget Affairs for two members in the New York City Council.
Previously, she worked at the Center for Community and Corporate Ethics, pushing major companies to change their business practices, and is a published author. Born in Martinique and raised in New York, Jean-Pierre is a graduate of Columbia University.
![Karine Jean-Pierre brunch keynote speaker 2023](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/6512b99d29258921bcb58232_Karine%20Jean-Pierre%20speaker%20special%20remarks%20headshot.jpg)
![Gessica Geneus headshot](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/651e1937db03a9cdf5e5bb22_Gessica%20Geneus%20keynote%20speaker%20headshot.jpg)
Gessica Geneus
Award-winning Actress and Director (2021 Freda, 2017 Douvan Jou Ka Leve, and 2002 Barikad)
2023 Fireside Chat
Généus Gessica is an actress, singer and director from Haiti. She began her career when she was 17 years old. After the earthquake in 2010 she became actively involved in the re-construction of her country and she started working for the United Nations. She then won a scholarship to study at Acting International in Paris.
She returned to Haiti and created her own production company, Ayizian Productions, to develop her own work. Between 2014 and 2016 she directed Vizaj Nou, a series of short portraits of major figures from contemporary Haitian society. In 2017, her documentary film Douvan Jou Ka Leve (The Day Will Dawn) won seven awards and it continues to be shown around the world. Freda is her first feature film.
Featuring
![DJ Kemisa guest dj for brunch 2023](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/6512415ed27506a6fc6c7dc1_DJ%20Kemisa%20special%20remarks%20speaker%20headshot.jpg)
DJ Kemissa
Brunch DJ
![Chef Valerie abraham, guest chef for 2023 brunch](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/6512442e7836dc7f3c26259b_Chef%20Valerie%20Abraham%20special%20remarks%20speaker%20headshot.jpg)
Chef Valery Abraham
Brunch Chef
2023 Speakers & Performers
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/66064cbd6fa41dfc68fa142c_Magalie%20Laguerre-Wilkinson.png)
Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson
Saturday M.C. Vice President News Programming at Nickelodeon + Executive Producer, Nick News
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/66064c1cda15aeecab1dc855_Martine%20St-Victor.png)
Martine St-Victor
Sunday M.C. General Manager, Edelman
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/66064be579d796e7b5b05fc9_Dr.%20Solanges%20Vivens.png)
Dr. Solanges Vivens
Author, Visionary Business Leader
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/66064bba3bf9cb0a4a5474cc_Daphne%20Valcin.png)
Daphne Valcin
CEO, Executive Coach, Corporate Trainer, Daphne Valcin Coaching, Inc.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/66064b855e1b01c5af6771b3_Kya%20Pierre-Dawkins.png)
Kya Pierre-Dawkins
Student, Boston University
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/66064b5f6482833d2508a1b5_Thajhea%20Desir.png)
Thajhea Desir
Senior at Howard University
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/66064b3e789f950f3a474066_Marsha%20Webb.png)
Marsha Webb
CEO, New Century Tax & Planning
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/66064af2752d1e27ed8ac71c_65123b1ebd2f1178316ae862_Speaker20Regine20Francois20Williams20headshot.png)
Regine Francois Williams
Managing Attorney, Francois William Legal LLC
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/66064a8f19d287dd929bf143_Swanellie%20Paulin.png)
Swanellie Paulin
AAMS®,CEPA, CRPC® | Financial Advisor | Edward Jones
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/66064a3672568d74a3bc338c_Karen%20Andre.png)
Karen Andre
Moderator, Associate Director for Consumer Education and External Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/660649fa789f950f3a460cb6_Dominique%20Anglade.png)
Dominique Anglade
Coleader of the sustainable transition office at HEC Montréal and Cofounder of KANPE Foundation, HEC Montréal and KANPE Foundation
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/66064965f53e5029d538e49a_R%C3%A9gine%20Chassagne.png)
Régine Chassagne
Co-Founder, KANPE Foundation
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/6606491aa5677c47560a3a18_Dr.%20Gina%20Guillaume-Joseph.png)
Dr. Gina Guillaume-Joseph
Chief Technical Officer, Government, Workday
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/660648ff0cb885e09e706b78_Dr.%20Joanne%20Hyppolite.png)
Dr. Joanne Hyppolite
African Diaspora Curator, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/660648dc6482833d25065647_Guerdy%20Abraira.png)
Guerdy Abraira
TV, Personality, Real Housewives of Miami, Event Planner Extraordinaire, Cancer Warrior
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/660648b63bf9cb0a4a51c195_Tamara%20B.%20Rodriguez.png)
Tamara B. Rodriguez
Entrepreneur, health and wellness ambassador, speaker, and author
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/66064896e83dbc240fe9c059_Linda%20Duverne%CC%81.png)
Linda Duverné
Conscious Connector of Community Healing (Mental Health Professional), NYC DOHMH | Charlie Health
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/660648590fd3dac828ad2d93_Marie%20Pereira.png)
Marie Pereira
Legal Analyst, Former Prosecutor, Criminal Defense Attorney, Registered Nurse
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/6606480dd37138dbbbf9b380_Johann%20Alexis%20Bounouni.png)
Johann Alexis Bounouni
Founder and CEO of Gestion Etudes Comptabilité Audit (GECA)
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/660647d279d796e7b5ad1821_Dayanne%20Danier.png)
Dayanne Danier
Creative Director and Owner of Bien Abyé
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/660647a3a41e3fc53daa9cec_Dana%20Fran%C3%A7ois.png)
Dana François
Haiti Program Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/66064736a5677c4756089a2e_Marie%20Maud%20Nazon%20Laplanche.png)
Marie Maud Nazon Laplanche
Owner, Mind body Ayiti / Jardin de Theo / Clinique Orlo
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/660646f672568d74a3b99301_651d869ad45bdee457c196c2_Margarette20C.20Graham20headshot.png)
Margarette C. Graham
First Vice-President, ProFin President of Volleyball Haitian Federation and Treasurer of Centre d’Art
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/660646bbbdd43a51ba5404b1_Marie-Louise%20Jean.png)
Marie-Louise Jean
Owner, Nourish
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/6606467b0d7d5dc85f18854c_Thamar%20Harrigan.png)
Thamar Harrigan
Host Committee Chair, International Trade Attorney
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/6606466336c2cda4c17afa11_Sabine%20Manigat.png)
Sabine Manigat
Sociologist, Professor, and Researcher, Haiti's Quisqueya University
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/6606463f36c2cda4c17ad0e7_Monique%20Clesca.png)
Monique Clesca
Moderator, International Development Consultant, Haiti Pro-democracy Advocate
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/660645f46b8a967b0fbc4d68_Marie-Marguerite%20B.%20Cl%C3%A9ri%C3%A9.png)
Marie-Marguerite B. Clérié
President of L' Association Professionnelle d'Ecoles Privées -APEP
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/6606457fe83dbc240fe72e40_Maureen%20Jules-Perez.png)
Maureen Jules-Perez
Divisional CIO, People Tech & Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB), Capital One
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/6606454a72568d74a3b83136_Stacey%20Samuel.webp)
Stacey Samuel
Moderator, Executive Producer/CEO, Ground-To-Sky Media
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/660644b890a75717b7891f9c_Sheila%20Cherfilus-McCormick.png)
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
U.S. House of Representative
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/660644710d7d5dc85f16d23b_Dotie%20Joseph.png)
Dotie Joseph
Moderator, State Representative Of District 108 North Miami, Florida
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/6606444d08cd947b7fc9cccd_Charnette%20Frederic.png)
Charnette Frederic
Nhaeon’s Chairwoman, Councilwoman At Large 2nd Vice President Of The Council, Irvington, New Jersey
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/660644345352bcf15d96eb74_Mary%20Estime-Irvin.png)
Mary Estime-Irvin
Nhaeon’s Chair Elect, Vice Mayor Of District 3, North Miami, Florida
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/660643fe5352bcf15d96bdde_Vanessa%20Joseph.png)
Vanessa Joseph
Nhaeon’s Vice Chair, City Clerk, North Miami, Florida
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/660643d3d755b502f4d916b3_Jasmine%20Muenz.png)
Jasmine Muenz
Yoga Teacher/Lifestyle Consultant, The Individual Soul
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/660643a75352bcf15d965cdb_Lotus%20Baker.png)
Lotus Baker
Tribe Leader, Peace Love Art Yoga, LLC
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/66064235d37138dbbbf49137_Pauline%20Jean.png)
Pauline Jean
Jazz/World vocalist, Composer
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/6606420a79d796e7b5a8bd33_Christ%20Maika%20Joachim.png)
Christ Maika Joachim
Dancer, Xpressionayiti
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/66064174789f950f3a3f6be2_Speaker%20Linda%20Isabelle%20Franc%CC%A7ois%20headshot-p-500.png)
Linda Isabelle Francois Obas
Artist, Choreographer, XPression
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631fde010d342686645a2fe1/660640b62b7b1cfd3c5bd147_Joel%20and%20Mushy%20Widmaier.png)
Joel and Mushy Widmaier
Accomplished pianist-keyboardist-composer and drummer/vocalist
Thank You to Our Partners
![Clean cooking alliance logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/633df809cab0e76796c8feb1_Clean%20Cooking%20Alliance%20logo%20.png)
![Grantmakers for girls of color](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/65116123cb14a2db7836e3e7_Grantmakers%20for%20girls%20of%20color%20logo.png)
![Kellog logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/652018bdf679fee7c4baef22_Kellog%20Foundation%20logo%20.png)
![Nareit logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/651d96fcecffb4b32521e00d_Nareit%20logo%20.png)
![Vivens Media group logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/651161232edd027370fb267a_Vivens%20Media%20Group%20logo.png)
![Adcolor logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/631f8735048bc02a17f9bfbe_Adcolor%20logo.webp)
![CPS logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/651ffaf29b264a029425b748_Caribbean%20post%20services%20logo.png)
![Harold Marzouka Jr. logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/633f317bc1a943d7cc9fe467_Harold%20Marzouka%20Jr.%20logo-2.png)
![Haitian American Foundation for Democracy](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/631c2569bc22fcfe7b12af24_Haitian%20American%20Foundation%20for%20Democracy%20logo.webp)
![Wise logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/651d9622904012a58601c2fb_Wise%20logo.png)
![Winston & Strawn LLP logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/651d9631435be4cb9c2b1a93_Winston%20logo.png)
![amazon logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/632a884a463e88c66501b8cf_Amazon%20logo.webp)
![Edward Jones Investments](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/631c2568728e6470624bc648_Edward%20Jones%20%20logo.webp)
![Fokal logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/631c2569bc22fc624612af25_Haitian%20ladies%20weekend%20sponsor%20fokal.webp)
![Zanmi Lasante Partners In Health logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/6330d60d71944e2a8b780d9c_Haitian%20ladies%20weekend%20sponsor%20Zanmi%20Lasante%20Partners%20in%20Health.png)
![City of North Miami office of vice-mayor logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/651160064df8db4740f35dc6_City.%20of%20North%20Miami%20logo%20.png)
![Prodev logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/651ffad8838e94c6180a8184_Prodev%20Haiti%20logo.png)
![Island TV logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/631c256a97fa66147ccd8276_Island%20TV%20logo.webp)
![Capital One logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/652019eb77b38b8e90491db1_Capital%20One%20logo%20.png)
![Ayibo Post](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/631c25671b9cda5e97cfc080_AyiboPost%20logo.webp)
![Chokarella logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/631c2567c84be36526ccba15_Chokarella%20logo.webp)
![Moy's Productions Inc](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/63321e7edea5633f3aa0a750_Moy%27s%20Production.png)
Testimonials
Register for Haitian Ladies Weekend 2023
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6308320afd522b493c729124/631c3c6494d7ef36fc09631f_A%20group%20of%20Haitian%20women%20standing%20in%20evening%20wear%20for%20the%20Haitian%20Ladies%20Network%20conference.webp)