Raised in Germany, Jeanette had been involved in the Haitian community since 1996. In 2007, she visited Haiti and decided to start Haiti Reads. She returned to Haiti a few months later and began teaching leadership classes, and planning for the opening of a Haiti Reads Library. The library was opened in late 2009.
"While in Haiti, I saw something that reminded me on my own upbringing and that was that most all of the children I met did not have books of their own. I remember the sadness I felt not having access to picture books because I grew up in a household with virtually no books that were appropriate for kids.”
Since 2007, Jeanette has made many trips to Haiti to work with children in neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince. Jeanette teaches English as a Second Language and German and holds a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction and Project Based Learning.
Bobbi now lives in San Diego, but was raised in the Philadelphia area. She has earned an M.S. in Library Science from The Catholic University of America and a J.D. from Temple University. Since 1997, she has worked as a reference law librarian with a specialty in foreign and international law. She is an active member of the Special Libraries Association. As a professional librarian, Bobbi is especially interested in causes that promote literacy. Her favorite authors are Margaret Atwood and Alice Walker.
Gerald Alfred joined Haiti Reads after the 2010 earthquake. As an avid soccer player, he organized a soccer program for the children served by Haiti Reads. Since 2010, he has been the coordinator of the new Haiti Reads sports program, Kicks for Haiti.
Besides loving sports, Gerald is an accomplished guitarist, and, for the past ten years, he has been the lead guitarist for the Haitian folk roots band, Boukman Eksperyans. Because of his extensive travels, he speaks fluent French and English, in addition to his native Haitian Creole.
Jean Baptiste Fantzy was born and raised in Grand Anse, Haiti. Jean Baptiste's interest in working for a grassroots non-profit organization comes from the passion his father shared with him when he was director of Project Compassion for Haiti in Port de Paix. One day, Jean Baptiste and Jeanette Alfred were talking about how they could make a difference in Haiti and, after several conversations, arrived at the idea of Haiti Reads. From that day, Jean Baptiste has been passionate about getting the library program off the ground.
Vicky was raised in the suburbs of Chicago, and has always been an advocate of education, especially for minorities and women. She is delighted to be part of a wonderful organization that advocates literacy. After working in the financial industry for over five years, Vicky decided to go back to college and obtain a degree in Elementary Education because she believes our youth need people in the field of education who are passionate about them succeeding. As a child, Vicky loved reading books by Judy Blume as she felt that her books touch experiences that were a part of children’s lives.
Jean Erik has been with Haiti Reads since its beginning--first as a volunteer than as the only paid staff member. Eric’s job is to receive, unpack, catalog books, and open and close the library. He is a Theology student at the Institute of Grace in Delmas 24.
Zaza is an accomplished Haitian artist who founded and runs KashKash Gallery. Haiti Reads works in close collaboration with Zaza and has hired her to overlook the making of art for Haiti Reads. Her staff of artists keeps growing and Haiti Reads is delighted in making it possible for many of the young women in training to make a living for themselves and their families from the proceeds of art Haiti Reads sells. Art made by Kash-Kash Gallery will be available for purchase on-line soon.
Kenzie was born in Lascahobas, Haiti, but has lived in the U.S. for over 10 years. She currently resides in New Jersey. Kenzie has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with concentration in computer information system. She is delighted that Haiti Reads exists to help the people of Haiti and is even more delighted to be part of it.
