Dear friends, 

It is with great sadness that we learned about the sudden passing of Michael Benjamin aka Mikaben. This great artist collapsed on October 15th, 2022 after a performance in Paris and was pronounced dead shortly after.  

We would like to express our condolences to Mikaben’s family, his fellow artists, and his millions of fans around the world, particularly those whom he recently charmed in Michigan. 

Mikaben was the featured artist for the 2022 Bèl Bagay Lakay Festival. He wowed us during his performance and warmed many hearts with his nostalgic song “Ayiti Se”. We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to shower him with some Michigan love. 

Please click on the link below to relive some of the special memories Mikaben helped create during the 2022 festival. 

(Video collage curtesy of Bill and Valerie McNeece) 

The HNGD Board 
Shirley Alcé, President 
Margareth Corkery, Vice President 
Janny Magloire Milton, Treasurer
Alain Desvallons-Mentor, Secretary 

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Haiti and Chicago, a historical connection that needs to be celebrated.

Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable was a free man of color, originally from the town of St. Marc in St. Domingue (present day Haiti). DuSable settled near the mouth of the Chicago River between 1778 and 1779. He and his Potawatomi wife, Kittihawa (Catherine) had a successful trading post there.

Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable is the first non-Native American settler of the area that we all know as Chicago. Unfortunately, the historical importance of his contribution is often overlooked and very much uncelebrated. Until now, that is…

The DuSable Heritage Association (DHA) has been collaborating with other organizations to establish the DuSable Park.

A project of this magnitude needs a lot of support and financial backing. It behooves all of us, and particularly Haitians considering the connection to Haiti, to support this effort that aims to celebrate a man of color and his accomplishments and legacy that have gone unrecognized for so many years.

Carmélite, Gaëlle and Gabrielle Dalmacy, residents of Grosse Pointe Woods (MI) and members of Haitian Network Group of Detroit have pledged to help raise $10,000 to support the creation of the DuSable Park in Chicago. This is certainly a worthy cause to fight for! Won’t you join them?

Donations can be made online or mail a check to HNGD 60 Milwaukee P.O. Box 2106 Detroit, MI 48202 (checks must be made out to HNGD; please add DuSable Park in the memo line)

Dear friends of Haiti,
We cannot thank you enough for your boundless generosity and for your love for the people of Haiti. 
As you know, back in August when the earthquake hit the southern portion of Haiti, HNGD sprang into action and immediately went into fundraising mode. 
We made our plea to you, and you responded without hesitation by making generous donations or by attending or by playing an active role in the incredible fundraising event that was organized by the Caribbean Community Service Center. 
Thanks to you, we raised a total of $17,741.20! This is no small feat! We commend you for playing a vital role in this relief effort.
Please consult the attached document to see how the funds will be distributed. Disbursement is scheduled to take place next week; we will keep you posted as we receive updates on how the earthquake victims benefited from your generosity.

With heartfelt gratitude,

The HNGD Board
Maggy Corkery
Alain Desvalons Mentor
Shirley Alcé Konaté
Janny Magloire Milton