Konbit Pou Ayiti

KONPAY's STAFF

Melinda Miles first visited Haiti in 1993 and has spent the last fifteen years developing her knowledge about the country. Miles maintains extensive network of personal relationships inside and outside Haiti with non-governmental organizations, grassroots-based groups, academics, analysts, Congressional staffers, Haitian government officials, major international institutions and other key stakeholders. She has an excellent personal reputation from five years at Quixote Center, four years with Jubilee USA Network, more than a dozen delegations and Let Haiti Live: Coalition For a Just US Policy, and co-editing a book of the same name. Miles has training and experience in coalition-building, popular organizing, strategic planning, meeting facilitation and mediation. She is an optimistic problem solver and is diplomatic and perceptive with a proven history of bringing together diverse stakeholders around key issues. Miles is fluent in Creole and efficient translator. She is truly passionate about Haiti, and deeply committed to social justice.

Joe Duplan was born and raised in Haiti before emigrating to the U.S. when he was nineteen years old. For twenty years Joe was an active part of the Haitian-American community in New York and traveled regularly to Haiti to assist childhood friends who had become artists, organizers and journalists. In 2002, Joe began working as a part-time consultant for the Quixote Center’s Haiti Reborn program. Responsibilities included co-coordinating delegations, interpretation, educational presentations, telephone fundraising, and group orientation. After co-leading an emergency observation mission after the 2004 coup d’etat, Joe was ready to commit himself full-time to social justice work for Haiti.

Elise Hansen has traveled and photographed in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe. She met Melinda in Port-au-Prince in 1998, on a trip that veered her away from photography and into non-profit administration, where she could advocate for social and environmental justice more actively. Specifically, for immigrants and refugees at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and for Haiti at Partners in Health (Boston). Hansen began working with Miles and Duplan in 2004 and has been indispensable to Haiti KONPAY’s US operations.

Agronomist Cheler Pierre has been an integral member of the community of Cyvadier for many years, and came on full-time with KONPAY in 2009. In addition to formal training in agronomy, Cheler has devoted his energy to programs for the youth in our village. He designs trainings for local farmers to help enhance their agricultural production while promoting sustainable strategies.

Guypson Catalis began working with KONPAY in January 2007 as a part-time organizer and project coordinator. Guypson is a native of Kabik, near Jacmel. He has worked as a volunteer for a number of organizations including KONPAY, MEPE, the Center for Artistic Training of Jacmel (or CFAJ), the Community of Artists (or KAY), and the Alliance Francaise. He has offered artistic training to children at several local schools as well as the Trinity Home for Boys. Guypson completed a program in English at the Jacaya Institute in Jacmel and is a high school graduate. In July 2007, Guypson became a full-time staff person for KONPAY. His major responsibilities are project coordination for CFAJ and the Youth for the Development of Cyvadier (or JDS), organizing and outreach for the Haitian National Movement for the Environment, and field trips to catalogue existing organizations working for the environment. In the fall of 2009 Guypson began a sabbatical from KONPAY to pursue a degree in agronomy at a university in Les Cayes, Haiti.

KONPAY's BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Natacha Thys is a Haitian-American lawyer working with the
International Labor Rights Forum based in Washington, DC. Natacha has
worked with Miles and Duplan in the past on a sexual harassment and
abuse program for women workers in Port-au-Prince’s assembly factories.

Scott Southard is president of International Music Network,
an international marketing company specializing in the booking and
management of tours for artists who represent the highest level of
musical and artistic expression in their respective genres. IMN's
foundation is based upon respect and compassion for the world's music
and arts, with a desire to contribute to the cultural growth and
awareness of its global audience. IMN has been an underwriting partner
of the CFAJ artist collective, as well as its mentor, for the last
three years.

Jean-Patrick Lucien is a Haitian-American focusing on
cultivating investments from the Haitian-American community for Haiti’s
environment and economic stability. Patrick helped plan the July 2007
National Environmental Initiative meeting and runs the Edem Foundation
for Haiti.

Melinda Miles is co-founder of KONPAY and a member of the board. Read more about Miles in her staff bio (above).