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Heart of Haiti DC Event

Posted by Jennifer James on Friday, December 2, 2011 · 17 Comments 

Yesterday really could not have been any better! I started the day with ONE and (RED) for World AIDS Day and ended my day celebrating the Heart of Haiti program at the Macy’s in downtown Washington, DC where they were debuting some of their newest pieces from their collection.

If you haven’t heard of Heart of Haiti it is a remarkable trade not aid program that was started by Willa Shalit, the CEO of Fairwinds Trading, and is supported in part by the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. Talented Haitian artisans create their wares from vases and jewelry to bowls and picture frames and they are then sold in Macy’s stores around the country. Artisans earn half of the retail price of each piece sold allowing them to not only continue the artistic history of their country, but also provide for themselves and their families since employment is scarce since the earthquake. Heart of Haiti has helped an estimated 5,000 Haitians.

Willa Shalit, CEO of Fairwinds Trading

Last evening was a celebration of the newest pieces in the Heart of Haiti collection. Pascale, a noted Haitain artisan, attended to tell us how much buying Heart of Haiti wares at Macy’s is changing lives in Haiti.

Pascale Faublas Jacmel Director of Fairwinds Trading - Haiti

We also heard from Meg Galloway Pearce, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, of the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. She mentioned that with $54 million dollars the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund has been able to generate 11,000 jobs in Haiti.

Meg Galloway Pearce, Vice President, Marketing and Communications

In a specially cordoned off area of Macy’s bloggers were able to mingle and buy Heart of Haiti products. Special Caribbean hors d’oeuvres were served as well as fresh citrus beverages. After the event we all headed around the block to The Oceanaire Seafood Room for a reception, drinks, and a special thank you from Ananda Leeke, founder of Digital Sisterhood, to Pascale. Leeke traveled to Haiti with Everywhere earlier this year and reported on her visit. 
I had such a wonderful time meeting Willa Shalit, Pascale, Veronica and Meg from the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and seeing Danica and Britton from Everywhere again and so many blogger friends. And I am even happier that I will be going to Haiti to join Everywhere and Heart of Haiti to visit these spectacular artists in January!

Willa Shalit, CEO of Fairwinds Trading and Me - Photo Copyright of Everywhere

Willa Shalit and Me

Visit Heart of Haiti at www.macys.com/heartofhaiti Photos Copyright of Jennifer James, except photo of me with Willa Shalit

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Jennifer James

Jennifer James is the founder and editor of Mom Blog magazine and the Mom Bloggers Club Network, a global social network of over 19,000 mom/mum bloggers. Jennifer is also the founder of Mom Bloggers for Social Good, an international coalition of 1000+ mothers who care about the world's most pressing issues and use social media and blogging for good. Jennifer has been featured by Fast Company, NPR, Forbes, CNN, Parenting, and ABC News among many other news outlets and currently writes about global development for the Gates Foundation and Huffington Post and social good for Babble. When she gets a chance she still comes back to her roots writing about technology and chronicles the mom blogging community. You can contact her at jjames [at] mombloggersclub.com.

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Comments
17 Responses to “Heart of Haiti DC Event”
  1. Ananda Leeke says:
    January 21, 2012 at 9:17 PM

    Hey Jennifer, I know you are having a great time in Haiti. Loved reading this post. Thanks for including me. Enjoy Haiti for all of us. So happy you are there doing great work!

    Reply
  2. Kelly says:
    December 4, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    Thanks so much for all the pictures and the post! I work for Everywhere and wasn’t able to attend the event. I am so glad you were able to show me what a huge success it was. Thanks so much for being a part of this all!

    Reply
  3. Rasha says:
    December 4, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    I am happy and proud to see my fellow countrymen’s work on display!

    Reply
  4. Anne (@notasupermom) says:
    December 3, 2011 at 8:24 PM

    Great pictures!
    Sad I couldn’t be there, but I had a girl scout Christmas party!

    Reply
  5. Danica Kombol says:
    December 3, 2011 at 8:08 PM

    Jennifer you captured it! Thanks so much for your support of Heart of Haiti.

    Reply
  6. Willa Shalit says:
    December 3, 2011 at 6:00 PM

    Thanks for your amazing support, Jennifer! Can’t wait to travel to Haiti with you ~ xoxoxo

    Reply
  7. Elena says:
    December 3, 2011 at 5:30 PM

    What a great evening it was, for such a wonderful cause. So excited for the trip!

    Reply
  8. Nikki @ MommyFactor says:
    December 3, 2011 at 3:13 AM

    It’s such an amazing thing been done with the collaboration. And those Caribbean hors d’oeuvres look so yummy!

    Reply
    • Jennifer James says:
      December 3, 2011 at 6:22 AM

      Heart of Haiti and Fairwinds Trading are doing wonderful things. I am happy that the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund is also a part of getting Haitians to work, but through something they love!

      And, of yes, the were delicious!

      Reply
  9. Ana L. Flores says:
    December 2, 2011 at 7:29 PM

    So many beautiful women I respect so much in these pictures!
    I´m very excited to be going on this trip to Haiti with all of you. It´s bound to be amazing

    Reply
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