Our main purpose

The Haitian Hometown Associations Resource Group (HHTARG) was formed in

March 2008 by a group of HHTA (Haitian Hometown Associations) leaders for the purpose of strengthening community development projects in Haiti in order to foster economic and social growth with the aim of alleviating poverty in Haiti. In furtherance of these charitable and educational purposes, the HHTARG shall:

(a) Train non-profit organizations that are concerned with Haiti, such as Haitian Hometown Associations, in grant-writing, financial literacy, project development, and project implementation;

(b) Raise funds and distribute grants for projects created by Haitian hometown associations and other Haitian organizations that benefit the communities of Haiti;

(c) Develop a website and other platforms to facilitate information sharing within the Haitian

Diaspora about charitable projects being implemented in Haiti;

(d) Increase public awareness about the need for economic and social development in Haiti as well as about the charitable projects being implemented in Haiti;

(e) Conduct all lawful activities which may be useful in accomplishing the foregoing purposes

What are HHTAs and what do they do?

The HHTA?s are organizations of Haitian immigrants from a specific geographical in Haiti area who come together driven by simple nostalgia or the need to improve the economic status of their old community. They do collective remittances (money transfers) often in response to a particular concern: like uncontrolled flooding of the region, lack of educational opportunity  for the children, excessively high unemployment, and the need to build simple infrastructural projects that can improve standard of living, etc. Many HHTAs evolved or aspire to get involved into a kind of partnership with local authorities in order to build institutions that are permanent and break the cycle of dependency.

Leadership

Katleen Felix, Chair of the HHTARG, Consultant and Haitian Diaspora Liaison for Fonkoze.

Arielle Adrien, Co-Chair of the HHTARG. President of Kiskeya Aqua Ferme

Marie Jose Montrose, Secretary of the HHTARG, Souffle Nouveau

Tara Arthur, Historian of the HHTARG, Haitian Sports Foundation

Rose Bazile, President Konbit pou Developman Comune Kot-de-Fer

Dr. Marcien Pierre, Treasurer of the HHTARG, advisor and former president of L?Association des Anciens du College Immaculee Conception des Gonaives (AACIC)

Jacky Poteau, Resource Group member, Coordinator of MACHHA (Massachusetts Coalition ofHaitian Hometown Associations), President of FATEM (www.fatem.org), Executive Director of 1000jobs/Haiti (www.1000jobshaiti.org)

Jean-Patrick Lucien, President of Bel Soley Company (www.belsoley.com), President of Ile-a-Vache Development Group (www.iavdg.com) and Founder of EDEM Foundation (www.edem2.org)

Alison Depascale, Project development, Fondwa Peasant Association and UNIF