In the wake of one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in history, Haitians are still suffering social, economic, and structural damage from the magnitude 7.0 M earthquake that occurred on January 12, 2010. Rea Dol, Founder and Director of the SOPUDEP School near Port-au-Prince, will speak about the current efforts to restore Haitian life to normalcy at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, October 5, in Boliou Hall Auditorium on the Carleton College campus. Haiti-born Hamline University professor Max Adrien will also speak about Haitian culture today, and the disaster’s devastating effects. Additionally, student leaders of Carleton’s Haiti Relief effort will propose ways that people can contribute and aid the nation’s ongoing struggle. This event is free and open to the public.
Deemed “The Mother Figure of Morne Lazarre” in a New York Times documentary on her post-earthquake relief efforts, Rea Dol has devoted her life to empowering the poorest communities in Haiti, fighting discrimination and injustice, and championing women’s literacy. In 2002 Dol founded SOPUDEP (Society of Providence United for the Economic Development of Petion-Ville), a comprehensive public school in Port-au-Prince that serves the poorest residents of the city. In addition to SOPUDEP, Dol works as a grassroots leader and community organizer; she had lead an adult literacy program, an HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention program, and currently coordinates several organizations dedicated to women’s rights.
Max Adrien, a French professor at Hamline University, offers free Creole lessons to medical workers and volunteers traveling to Haiti as part of the earthquake relief effort. He began teaching classes in February of 2010 under the belief that learning even a few Creole phases will have a profound impact on communication with Haitians and assist volunteers in their relief efforts.
This event is sponsored by the Humanities Center, Haiti Relief, and the Haiti Justice Alliance at Carleton College. For more information, please contact Cathy Yandell at (507) 222-4245.
