Then and Now

The Haitian Project President Reese Grondin

Dear Haitian Project Community,

The current crisis has led me to reflect on the year I first came to The Haitian Project (THP). It was 2001 and I had just graduated from the University of Notre Dame. I was in the first two weeks of my service as a year-long Volunteer teacher at THP’s Louverture Cleary School in Haiti when 9/11 happened and the world changed.

Even before the school year had officially opened, my fellow Volunteers and I faced a tough decision to remain at the school with no prospect of seeing our families until Christmas, or to go home immediately without knowing if we would later be able to return to Haiti. We all decided to stay at the school. Everyone is accustomed to the TSA drill now, but traveling through the newly implemented security at JFK that December was a surreal and sobering experience.

Almost twenty years later, I am now President of The Haitian Project and we are facing another world-changing situation. This time, however, with schools and borders closed in Haiti, the decision to return home to the U.S. was effectively made for our current missionary teachers. As it was for our Haitian colleagues and students who had to return to their homes in Haiti.

We are encouraged by THP President Emeritus Deacon Patrick Moynihan’s exhortation to take the story of the widow’s mite (Luke 21:1-4) to heart. As he says:

We are better people for doing good in the most difficult times. It is easy to help when we have much; much harder when what we have is in question or already vanishing. We need to do the most we can in times when the least are going to have even less.

Our experience in Haiti tells us that the practice of social distancing will be nearly impossible for the people of Haiti. Without funds or refrigerators, the idea of not making the usual daily trip to the market is inconceivable. Houses are closely situated and perpetually open to the air, making sheltering in place an ad hoc gathering.

We recognize with gratitude the incredible sacrifice that healthcare providers and essential personnel (many of whom are lower-income workers) are making here in the U.S. and across the world. For our part, The Haitian Project is focused on supporting our employees here and our colleagues in Haiti to make sure they have the financial resources available to navigate this situation, and on being ready to welcome back our students once schools re-open.

So during this difficult and unprecedented time, I want to offer our heartfelt thanks to you. Your dedicated support helps get us there.

We hope and pray that you and your loved ones remain healthy and safe.

Peace,

Reese Grondin

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A Note from The Haitian Project

We understand that these are challenging times and that many people are confronted with significant hardships.

But this is precisely why we still have to ask and pray that those who can give, will. Our teachers and staff in Haiti rely on our support; and we are going to be there for our 360 students whenever schools re-open. Please give today if you can.

THP President Reese Grondin on GoLocal LIVE

The Haitian Project President Reese Grondin was interviewed this morning on GoLocalProv where she discusses COVID-19's impact on Haiti, the nonprofit sector, and how to support The Haitian Project tomorrow through 401Gives.

"It [is] very difficult to look outside our own situations right now, very challenging here... but what we're trying to do at The Haitian Project is really focus on our long-term mission and keep that in mind, and education is really for long-term change in Haiti."— THP President Reese Grondin, GoLocal LIVE, March 31, 2020

Starting at 6:00 am tomorrow morning, visit www.401gives.org to support The Haitian Project's mission to transform Haiti through education. You will have 24 hours to make your donation, and all giving will end at 5:59 am on April 2nd.

The first $50,000 worth of donations through 401Gives will be matched by the Rhode Island Foundation, and there are additional prizes for organizations who get donations before 10:00 am, so please donate early.

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A Note from The Haitian Project

We understand that these are challenging times and that many people are confronted with significant hardships. 

But this is precisely why we still have to ask and pray that those who can still give, will. Our teachers and staff in Haiti rely on our support; and we are going to be there for our 360 students whenever schools re-open. Please give today if you can.

THP is Participating in 401Gives and You Can Double Your Support!

These are challenging times for all of us, but we wanted to let our community know about 401Gives, Rhode Island's first statewide day of giving! We hope that everyone who is in a position to participate, will. 

No matter if you are a Rhode Islander or not, everyone is invited to participate in 401Gives and support Rhode Island-based nonprofits like The Haitian Project on April 1st.

You can:

Donate at www.401Gives! Starting at 6:00 am on April 1st, visit www.401gives.org and make a donation to support education in Haiti! You will have 24 hours to make your donation, and all giving will end at 5:59 am on April 2nd.

The first $50,000 worth of donations through 401Gives will be matched by the Rhode Island Foundation, and there are additional prizes for organizations who get donations before 10:00 am, so please donate early.

Share and share alike. Help us grow our network by sending this email to your network and ask your friends to do the same. Use your social media networks and post on Facebook, tweet about 401Gives, and share your enthusiasm for transforming Haiti through education. Ask others to do the same!

Questions? If you have any questions or would like more information, let us know by calling us at 401-351-3624 or by emailing [email protected].

Though we're all spending time apart, we can all make a change together! Thank you in advance for your support!

A Note from The Haitian Project

These are challenging times for all of us, and we at The Haitian Project understand that giving is simply not possible right now for many people.
But this is precisely why we still have to ask and pray that those who can give, will.

Our teachers and staff in Haiti rely on our support; and we are going to be there for our 360 students whenever schools re-open. Please give today if you can.

We Stand with Our Haitian Colleagues

The Haitian Project wants its employees, who have proven their loyalty to our joint mission through government failures, political unrest, a hundred-year earthquake and a cholera outbreak, to know that we are with them.

Therefore, we are not only dedicated to meeting our payroll for our teachers and staff in Haiti while schools are closed as part of the Haitian government’s social distancing measures, we are paying them two months in advance. This will make sure that each team member can prepare well for the possible disruption of banking services and food supplies.

Haiti is an island. But, our colleagues are not. We stand together.

Louverture Cleary School teachers and staff, serving through very thick, and very thin:

From left: LCS Director General Ernst V.; LCS Director of Operations Esther P.

From left: Marly M., teacher in LCS's Koukouy Sen Kle Early Childhood Development Center; Señor E., LCS Spanish teacher.

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These are challenging times for all of us, and we at The Haitian Project understand that giving is simply not possible right now for many people.

But this is precisely why we still have to ask and pray that those who can give, will. Our teachers and staff in Haiti rely on our support; and we are going to be there for our 360 students whenever schools re-open. Please give today if you can.

Share the Good

People are understandably concerned and experiencing a sense of uncertainty because of the coronavirus. We get that, and we understand if donating is not possible at this time. Right now, we all have a responsibility to support each other as friends, family and neighbors—as citizens—to collectively manage the situation until the outbreak has ended. Nevertheless, The Haitian Project continues to be responsible for the health, safety and futures of our 360 students and our community in Haiti. This means we still have to ask and pray that those who can contribute at this time, will; because we know that for others giving is simply not possible right now. So, be well. Be safe. We are in this together.  —Team THP

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Over the next few months, millions of Americans will be receiving their tax refund. While everyone’s situation is different, if you are fortunate to receive a refund this year, donating a portion of your refund to The Haitian Project can be a great way to Share the Good this season.

Your gift can cover the cost of...

Thank you to everyone embracing the spirit of almsgiving this Lent. We appreciate your support as we work to build The Louverture Cleary Schools Network in Haiti!

Your gift could provide textbooks for one student or for an entire class.

From Jimi's Journal

THP Director of New School Construction Jimi Grondin started his new position with The Haitian Project on January 1st of this year. He spends much of his time in Haiti where he focuses on helping to move The Louverture Cleary Schools (LCS) Network forward and further developing the facilities program at LCS Santo 5. The updates below from "Jimi's Journal" chronicle a recent morning in Haiti. 

THP Director of New School Construction Jimi Grondin (left) and civil engineer Odson F., alumnus of the LCS University Scholarship Program and former member of the LCS Junior Staff, check batteries outside the depot.

Saturday

5:05 am  Just looked over my notes from the past couple of days working with Mickey Ingles [solar expert and former THP board member] who has played an integral role in bringing solar power to the LCS campus. Fifteen plus years later, he is still helping us work through the evolving solar environment at the school and planning for the solar systems at the new schools in The Network. On this trip, we performed a thorough assessment of the current systems. 

5:36 am  Early morning at the home of Patrick B. [THP board member and Haitian private sector leader]. We had productive talks with Patrick and Salomon A. [LCS '98, director of Haitian solar company Energy Central]. The overriding theme is strorage. An ideal system at LCS would provide three days of battery power backup—a significant improvement over the current battery banks. The other issue at LCS is ageing equipment, and we will be looking to replace some of the equipment with more recent models. Having universal equipment will greatly improve the ease of service in years to come.  

6:44 am  On our way to drop off Mickey at the airport. He has spent the last two days at the school gathering info. When I get back to campus, Odson F. [civil engineer and LCS physical plant superintendent] and I have some maintenance work to take care of. The rest of my time here will be spent at LCS with Patrick B. working on the new science building, along with more planning/strategizing for The Network.

10:37 am   We dropped off Mickey, and I am back at LCS. Salomon and his Energy Central crew are in the process of installing the solar panels. Time to get to work!

Salomon A., LCS '98 and director of Energy Central with Claseen, a technician with Energy Central, during the solar panel installation at the new LCS Santo 5 science building:

With your continued support, we can build more schools in Haiti. Please consider setting up a recurring donation by clicking the button below.

Marked with Love on Ash Wednesday

Fr. Rubens Sylvain, a Scalabrini missionary of the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo, preaches during a celebration of Mass at Louverture Cleary School.

Marked with love.

With Ashes on our foreheads and a little hunger in our bellies, the first day of Lent begins a period of spiritual simplicity. By going without the “extras” of life, we remember precisely that which we can never be without—the love of God.

During Lent, we prepare for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection through prayer and reflection. And amid the flurry of preparations, we look for practical ways to observe the holiness of the season in our everyday lives.

Within The Haitian Project community, there is an ever-present need to focus on what is essential. Pausing to remember what is important helps us offer our own generous and free response to the needs of others.

May this season of Lent be a time of renewal for you and your family. We appreciate your continued support to The Haitian Project as we all seek to remember that which is essential.

Special thanks to former Volunteer ('00-'01), staff member, and long time community member Mary Jo LeGrand for expressing the beautiful thoughts on which this article is based.

Sorrow and Hope: Reflections on the 10th Anniversary of the 2010 Earthquake

This special edition of Haitian Project News features personal accounts from members of the Volunteer community on the 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti at 4:53 pm on Tuesday, January 12, 2010. It is dedicated to everyone who was lost on that fateful day and to those who lost family and friends. A PDF of this newsletter can be downloaded here:

January 2020 Special Edition Haitian Project News

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Betsy Bowman (THP Volunteer ’09-’10)

The real work began the morning after the earthquake.

On January 13, 2010, the sun rose over the soccer field at Louverture Cleary School (LCS) where hundreds of scared children and adults had huddled throughout that bewildering night while the earth rolled. At daybreak, as every day, there were songs to sing, prayers to pray, work to do. I watched the Philo (US Grade 12 + 1) students stand before the younger kids to lead them. And what song did they choose for that morning? They sang “Mesi Bondye pou tout ou bay nou” (Thank you, God, for all you give us). I stood to the side with tears in my eyes, profoundly humbled by their faith.

Louverture Cleary students camped out on the back soccer field until the campus buildings were deemed safe again.

In so many ways, even in those first terrifying hours, the strength of the LCS and broader community of The Haitian Project (THP) was evident. THP board member and Haitian private sector leader Patrick B. arrived at the school within hours after the earthquake, before even returning to check on his own home, and his presence was immediately stabilizing. To his trained eye, the terrifying cracks that slashed across walls were evidence that the buildings had performed exactly as they were supposed to, and many were safe. He helped us make decisions and—most importantly—he promised to come back in the morning.    

It was clear that the US Volunteers needed to act. We made pot after pot of spaghetti on our small stove. We rallied the kids to help with cleanup. We never ran out of food, and whenever we could, we did what Christina Moynihan (former head of LCS outreach) had taught us to do—we fed our neighbors. We led games for those who needed a distraction. And within 48 hours, we began to organize cleanup groups.

After a few days, Deacon Patrick Moynihan (President Emeritus, THP President 1996-2019) arrived back at the school along with former Volunteers and close friends of the Project. I recall feeling so grateful for their arrival. Deacon Moynihan rallied and organized everyone.

Christina Crow appeared and began to figure out how to get critical supplies and navigate the new normal of the shattered Port-au-Prince. Adam Osielski arrived with a friend who was also a trained electrician and led demolition work. John DiTillo arrived to stay, joining the team of Volunteers. Eventually, Christina Moynihan returned with the Moynihan children and things almost felt normal again as we organized basketball games with US troops stationed nearby and resumed a “para-curricular” school schedule.  

While the support from the THP community in the United States was a great blessing, the ways LCS students, staff, alumni and community members cared for each other and their neighbors was a beautiful witness to the power of community. I watched 17-year-olds translate between English, Spanish and Kreyòl for foreign doctors. I watched men from the school neighborhood sift through the rubble of the destroyed Cathedral and celebrated with them as they rescued precious artifacts. I marveled at children who answered the question, “how are you since the earthquake?” with responses like, “my family’s house is ruined and everything is lost, but we are safe and God is good.” 

I was present for one of the darkest moments in the history of modern Haiti. What I learned in those months is just another expression of what the THP community has always known: with education and the support of a loving community, Haitians already have done—and will continue to do—big and beautiful things.

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Christina Crow Cruz (THP Volunteer ‘05, THP Director of Projects & External Affairs ‘06-‘08)

On January 12, 2010, I received a text message at work from Mary Jo (Dunne) Francois, a friend and colleague from my years of service as the Director of Projects and External Affairs for THP. “Did you see what happened in Haiti?” she asked.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Port-au-Prince.

Over the next few days I watched the news unfold and was asked countless times by family and friends, “Are you going back?” The answer came on January 18th.

Deacon Patrick Moynihan (President Emeritus, THP President 1996-2019) called and asked if I could come to Haiti to assist with coordination with relief organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the military. The next day I found myself in Miami connecting with Elizabeth (O’Connell) Cross, also a former THP Volunteer and staff member. There were still no commercial flights scheduled to Haiti, but we received a tip from Rachel Madhere, the head of American Airlines in Haiti and an avid THP supporter, that a plane was chartered and scheduled to leave Miami that morning. We found ourselves landing on cracked tarmac a few hours later, greeted by Deacon Moynihan who had made his way through the heavy traffic.

LCS was a whirlwind of activity. The guest house at LCS had become a safe haven to many international journalists, engineers and architects called in by the United Nations, along with LCS alumni who had returned to the school to assist. The first night of my arrival I spent several hours listening to alumni, Volunteers, students and staff recount their stories of the earthquake. What struck me that night, and over the time that I spent there, were the stories of action and service to the community.

THP board member and Haitian private sector leader Patrick Brun secures the doors at the entrance of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Port-au-Prince.

I heard how the LCS community service groups had removed fallen rubble from the roads. I learned how LCS alumni had connected with each other and supported each other’s families through the aftermath. Soon I watched as students persisted in their education and support of the school’s neighborhood, offering meals, water, and shelter as needed. I worked with alumni who wanted to serve the arriving NGOs as translators and guides. Minel Lofficial from LCS’s Office of External Affairs (now the Dulcich Center for Career Advancement) and I worked together to ensure a continued supply of food to the school and community. I had the opportunity to meet with THP board member and Haitian private sector leader Patrick Brun and see the Mobile Max Pure Water filter that he, THP community member Mickey Ingles and I had written a grant for and collaborated with the US military to fly into Haiti to supply clean water to Cite Soleil and the surrounding area.

Although I was only able to be in Haiti for one week, I was struck by the community that LCS and THP had created, and the strength and resilience of the staff, students, and supporters on the ground. Many donors, supporters, alumni, staff, and of course, the Moynihan family were all standing up for Haiti.

As the Project moves forward to continue in their mission, the question remains… will you?

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Special thanks to Betsy Bowman for use of her photos and to both Betsy and Christina Crow Cruz for their stories.

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If you would like to read more on how the 2010 earthquake affected Louverture Cleary School:

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Looking for an Amazing Last Minute Gift?

This Christmas season, give a meaningful gift that will last generation after generation.

There is still time to give the Gift of Education in honor of a loved one this Christmas!

Simply submit the form, either online or on paper, and The Haitian Project (THP) will send a Christmas card notifying your loved one of the gift given in their honor!

Give the Gift of Education in any amount in honor of a friend or family member to support the mission they care about or introduce them to the THP community.

Your gift allows The Haitian Project to continue to feed, house and educate 360 students—Haiti’s future servant-leaders—each year.

In order for your family and friends to receive a card notifying them of your gift by Christmas Eve, The Haitian Project needs to receive your donation by Friday morning, December 20th. Thank you and Merry Christmas! 

A New President, A New Family on a Mission

Marisa (Reese) Grondin Elected President of The Haitian Project 

Marisa (Reese) Grondin, president-elect of The Haitian Project

The Haitian Project (THP) Board of Directors has unanimously voted to elect veteran employee and THP Volunteer alumna Marisa (Reese) Grondin as president of The Haitian Project as long-time President Deacon Patrick Moynihan steps down after 23 years at the helm.

A Rhode Island native, Reese currently serves as vice president and chief financial officer at THP and will assume the role of president beginning January 1, 2020.

THP’s Board of Directors also voted unanimously to appoint Deacon Moynihan as president emeritus of The Haitian Project in recognition of his significant contributions to the organization and his continued commitment to its success.

Reflecting on the transition, Deacon Moynihan said, “For my part, the change in leadership is not a departure, but simply a repositioning to open up space for the next generation of the Project’s leadership to allow our new vision for the Louverture Cleary Schools Network—a national system of ten schools across Haiti—to thrive.” Deacon Moynihan, who will serve as advisor to the president during the transition period, continued, “I look forward to supporting Reese and Jimi, lending them my experience when called upon, and focusing on the success of The Network in Haiti."

The Grondin Family (from left): Jimi, Maggie, Reese and Gabby

Reese and her husband, James (Jimi) Grondin, a Volunteer alumnus as well as THP’s director of new school construction, along with their two daughters, Gabriella (Gabby) and Marguerite (Maggie), are stepping forward to serve the Project at an exciting time in THP’s history.

States THP Vice Chair and Haitian private sector leader Patrick Brun, “Reese embodies the Charism of THP, and her experience, from volunteer to accountant to vice president, has prepared her well for the position of president. Because of her all-encompassing attributes, she is also both loved and respected by the LCS community.”

The Grondin family has been an important part of the THP community since both Reese and Jimi joined as Volunteer teachers at Louverture Cleary School (LCS) in 2001. As a senior at Notre Dame, Reese knew that she did not want to take the typical career path. As Divine Providence would have it, Reese’s sister, a parishioner at St. Joseph's Parish in Newport, RI, saw a notice in the parish bulletin for THP around the same time Reese learned about the Project through Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concern. Reese was drawn to THP and LCS because she saw that the school “was about much more than the Volunteers. It had made progress and had a clear mission.”

As a Volunteer, Reese quickly grasped THP’s charism and the transformative potential of an LCS education. As her first year drew to a close, she knew that she wanted to stay involved. She approached THP President Deacon Moynihan about a second year, and he offered her the opportunity to serve the Project in the US as assistant executive director.

For Reese, learning about all the work that was needed back home to keep everything running smoothly in Haiti opened up a host of new opportunities and gave her a greater appreciation for the complexity of running the Project. “I really enjoyed learning about the US side of operations. I helped with Volunteer recruitment and took on some accounting responsibilities. It was a privilege to be with the Project at that time and watch it grow,” she said.

Volunteer teacher Reese Jarret (Grondin) with an LCS student in 2001.

During her 17 years with the Project, Reese has served in almost every segment of the organization, including spending two years as acting president.

“I had been working very closely with Deacon Moynihan, so it felt natural. It was what needed to be done at the time and it was an amazing opportunity. I had the chance to work closely with Esther Paul [director of operations at LCS] and the people on the ground in Haiti and in the US,” she stated. “To watch what the Moynihan family has contributed to the Project and being a part of something that is bigger than you, but also knowing that your work will make an impact…it has been a privilege,” she continued.

For Jimi and Reese, THP has always been a family affair. Jimi has been supportive of Reese’s work with the Project and stayed involved himself since his Volunteer year. Recently, he stepped up his long-standing support by accepting the position of director of new school construction, a role that will rely heavily on his experience working in Haiti and his significant professional construction experience. 

 That deep knowledge of THP and LCS’s charism extends to the couple’s daughters, who have grown up with the Project. “A couple of years ago, Gabby told me that she wanted to be a doctor and a teacher and, on the weekends, work for THP,” Reese smiled. The family model has been an integral part of THP’s success over the years, and the Grondin family’s decades of involvement and renewed commitment will be vital moving forward.

For Reese, the future holds infinite promise, and she feels motivated to lead the Project’s effort to build The LCS Network. “For me, seeing the certainty and excitement that people like Patrick Brun and others in Haiti have that The Network is the solution is a really powerful witness,” she said. “It shows me that we are following God’s plan and that we just need to keep working towards it,” she continued.

THP will continue its progress toward that mission that drew Reese to sign up as a Volunteer almost twenty years ago: to enact change in Haiti through education.

“My goal is to keep our excellent program strong and to work with our partners in Haiti to realize the [Network] plan,” she said with confidence. “When you talk to our students and graduates, you realize this is what the country needs—you can see that they feel it,” she continued. “Imagine if we have 500 amazing graduates each year going out and making a difference in Haiti. Imagine what that will be like and what that will be for Haiti. It will be incredible.”

To download a PDF of this article, please click here!

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Please consider a gift in honor of Reese and her family and in support of a bright future for Haiti: