For those of us with ties to Haiti, the month of May is a time of celebration and solemn reflection. Here in Dorchester and Mattapan, that includes a parade on Blue Hill Avenue and the after-parties and barbeques that help to kick off the (almost) summer season. For tens of thousands of people across Greater Boston, it’s a time of pride and a chance to share our music, food, dance, fashion, and good spirit with our fellow Americans, no matter where their roots may lie.

Despite the despair that is too often associated with strife and dysfunction inside Haiti, the people of Haiti and their relatives and descendants here in Boston have a proud history and a dynamic present.

In Massachusetts in particular, we’re fortunate in being able to play a pivotal role in the future of Boston and our Commonwealth, with leaders old and new stepping up to give voice to our shared aspirations and our collective pride in our heritage.

But there’s an urgency this year to the work that’s before all of us when it comes to the political instability and the public safety problems that has prompted in Haiti; and the resultant humanitarian crisis that continues to unfold with consequences across the hemisphere and right here in our own city and suburban communities.

We are fortunate to have allies in Massachusetts who understand the urgency and the critical role the diaspora must play in guiding US policy, as well as the appropriate local response to migrant needs. Our delegation in Washington, DC — including Senators Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren— are seasoned and sensitive to Haiti policies and the domestic consequences that follow from them. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley co-chairs the Haiti Caucus in the House and has led the charge in speaking up on behalf of Haitians and the urgent need for our nation to turn its focus to its pressing needs. Boston Council President Ruthzee Louijeune is a respected voice and a key figure in the local and national dialogue.

Former state Rep. Marie St. Fleur, the first person of Haitian descent elected to the Massachusetts Legislature, has continued to lead in her professional career. For myself, as a former state representative and the first Haitian-American state senator in Massachusetts, I had the honor of serving with Marie in the State House, where we recognized the importance of bringing other American electeds of Haitian descent together.

In 2009, we worked to form the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network (NHAEON), which has grown to include more than 160 members in 19 states from both political parties. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for Haitians in the US and influence foreign policy impacting Haiti.

NHAEON is frequently engaged in dialogue with the US State Department, the Biden administration, and our elected allies to offer a critical lens into a Haitian-led democracy in the world’s first Black republic.

How can people of Haitian descent – and our allies – help in this moment? By supporting elected leaders like Rep. Pressley in her work to lobby our own government to prioritize Haiti as a foreign policy issue that demands a thoughful and urgent response to stablize the region. We also must support Gov. Maura Healey and her team as they continue to respond to a very challenging migrant crisis in the Commonwealth.

As Rep. Pressley said last week: “Congress and the Biden Administration have a moral obligation to take action to stabilize Haiti and to save lives, including by providing humanitarian and economic assistance, extending TPS for Haiti, halting deportations, supporting a democratic transition led by Haitian civil society, and more.”

During this month-long celebration, let’s enjoy the festivities, but let’s also focus on the urgent needs of our Caribbean neighbors for whom the next weeks and months are critically important.

– Linda Dorcena Forry
The Hon. Linda Dorcena Forry, a former state senator, is co-publisher of The Reporter.