Blog Post: "Nurturing Our Youth for The Future" - HALO's Annual Conference

“We have noted that a lot of our talents and resources are barely tapped at the local level.  By focusing on developing the leadership skills and education of our youth, we are preparing our community for success,” explains Dr. Gousse, President of HALO. “In addition, we are providing a platform for our local leaders from all areas – academic, professional, and technical backgrounds, to network and share their knowledge with our community.”

Over the past two years, HALO has brought together these local leaders for a one-day conference.  This event serves as a venue to discuss key issues affecting the local Haitian American community in South Florida, and of course, as an opportunity to engage students from neighboring middle, elementary and high schools. This year’s conference is titled "Nurturing Our Youth for The Future" – a very appropriate theme to mark the work of this organization. The event is free to the public and promises to be an entertaining one. I love learning something new everyday, and this time HALO shared that interesting knowledge bit. Did you know that one of the top auto designers in the U.S. is Haitian American?  Well, Mr. Ralph Gilles, man behind the design of the Chrysler 300, among other famous Chrysler, is set to be the keynote speaker at the conference.  Automotive Design and Production, recently named Mr. Gilles as “the man who is undoubtedly the reigning rock star of U.S. car designers.”  South Florida is home for over 400,000 Haitian American. It is estimated that over 300 physicians, 200 attorneys, and 1,000 nurses are Haitian Americans role models for the youth in our community.

The third annual HALO conference will be hosted at Barry University located 11300 NE 2 nd AVE , Miami Shores , FL 33161 in the Inez D. Andreas Hall.  Conference activities start on Friday, January 25 th and will conclude on Sunday, January 27 th , 2008. Throughout the conference, there will be a wealth of presentations and discussions on several topics including art, educational guidance, healthcare education, legal information, engineering and technology, financial empowerment, and political empowerment.  An Exhibit Hall of businesses, schools, and universities that cater to the community will be included with plenty of time for networking and socializing during breakout sessions. HALO is also organizing a job fair as part of the conference. Free transportation will also be available for those interested in attending the event.  For more information or to learn how to participate in the conference events, please contact HALO at halo@halohaiti.org or via phone at (888) 759-0085. Employers - Please call HALO today to reserve your booth at the career fair or visit: (http://www.halohaiti.org) for more information.