The 3rd annual conference of the National Association of Haitian Professionals (NAHP), will take place on November 14-15 on Harvard University’s main campus and on the Harvard Law School campus in Cambridge, MA around the theme "Haiti Beyond Haiti – Policies and Pathways to Effective Diaspora Engagement". This year’s conference is made possible by the generous contributions of sponsors: the Embassy of Haiti (Washington, DC), Haiti Fund at the Boston Foundation, HHTARG, CEEPCO, Center for Africana Studies at Harvard, Club Azure, GRAHN-USA, Haiti Renewal Alliance (HRA), Haiti Business Week (HBW), Haitian Times, Lumiere Magazine, Power102.1FM-Radio Continentale and supporter GA Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce (GAHCCI).

NAHP has assembled a diverse team of stakeholders from across the Haitian Diaspora to help shape and guide this year’s conference programming, partnering with the Harvard Haitian Alliance (HHA) and the Joseph Denis Thomas (JDT) Foundation to create a weekend dedicated to exploring long-term, sustainable solutions for advocacy, foreign aid and investment, the role of Haitian Consulates, leadership, youth engagement, and entrepreneurship.

Now in its third year, the conference will bring together Haitian professionals, industry experts, youth leaders, and public and nonprofit sector workers from Haiti and across the Diaspora for a weekend devoted to crafting policy recommendations for the engagement of targeted sectors for high-impact investment in Haiti.

Serge Renaud, Chairperson of the Board, NAHP, shared, “the NAHP feels that now is the time for the Diaspora and Haiti to unite to launch and lead sustainable impact in Haiti and we believe the conference will open the pathways to engage these two groups.”

The two-day conference will present over 10 panels and workshops open to the general public on Friday, November 14 from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm and Saturday, November 15 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. This year, the NAHP Conference will feature a diverse roster of speakers, including Ambassador of Haiti in Washington, D.C. Paul Altidor, Ambassador to South Africa, Patrick H. Gaspard, Minister of Haitians Living Abroad François Guillaume, Haitian Minister of Commerce and Industry Wilson Laleau, Massachusetts State Senator Linda Dorcena Forry and many more.

This year a new component focused on entrepreneurs has been added to the conference, the Haiti Renewal Alliance (HRA) Investors Tank. Inspired by the hit show "Shark Tank," HRA’s Investors Tank is for entrepreneurs with existing businesses or development projects seeking funding from grantors, Diaspora investors or venture capitalists. Entrepreneurs will pitch their business to investors in exchange for equity (or other terms) in order to receive funding. Firmin Backer, President, HRA, stated, "We are delighted to partner with the NAHP to bring this opportunity to conference attendees."

For more information and registration for the conference, visit : nahpconference.org

HL/ HaitiLibre