Pandan m te nan gwo lotel DoubleTree, nan vil Omaha, Nebraska, mwen we yo gen yon sona pou kliyan yo.  Se yon chanm yo chofe a blok pou fe ou sue, yon fason pou elimine toksin ki anndan san ou ak ko ou, epi yon fason pou detann ou, pou lache stres ki akimile anndan sistem ou.  Se yon ansyen tradisyon Zanset Amerendyen nou yo te konn fe pou rezon spirityel, pou pirifikasyon, pwoteksyon ak tretman mistik.  Yo te konn fe li nan No Ewop tou.  Met sou sa, pou mwen se yon remed kont fredi k ap eseye kale m, men mwen pa vle kite l genyen.  Monche, m deside m pral fe yon ti kout sona, pou m remete chale anndan mwel zo m ki t ap komanse fe fresko.

Le m paret sou pot sona a, m we gen moun anndan deja.  Chanm nan yon ti jan piti.  M pat vle al deranje moun yo.  M deside ret tann yon ti moman pou m we si yo pa ta soti.  M tou pwofite li pankat ki sou bo pot sona a, sou deyo.  Le m di deyo a, se pa nan lari, se sou bo yon pisin fenmen, anndan lotel la.  Pankat la ekri an wouj sou fon blan.  Sa m li a yon ti jan fe ke m sote.  Se avetisman pou tout danje sona a genyen ladan n.  Yo di ou konsa:

HAITI

TIME OF CRISIS, TIME OF HOPE

University of Southern Maine, 206 Payson Smith Hall

April 9, 2005       9:30 am – 3:00 pm

A Forum on Haitidesigned to

·         Contribute to an awareness of Haitian culture and Haiti’s long struggle for independence

·         Review recent political developments affecting Haiti

·         Encourage the formation of a Maine campaign of solidarity with the Haitian people

10:00 am:  Featured Speaker – Djalòki Dessables

A political activist and scholar, Djalòki Dessables lives in Haiti and travels extensively in Europe and the United States. His interests range widely and he is an experienced communicator of Haitian history and culture. He has long been involved in developing historical preservation projects and in implementing programs that foster leadership skills among Haitian citizens. Exemplifying the long ties between Haiti and the United States,  Djalòki Dessables is a descendant of the eighteenth century fur trader and explorer who founded the city of Chicago. He is presently on a lecture tour in the United States.

Noon: bring a bag lunch – other refreshments provided

1 P.M. Interactive Panel Discussion

Several people concerned with political, humanitarian, and cultural aspects of Haitian life will join a panel moderated by Wells Staley Mays of Portland. The panel includes Tom Luce, a Haiti solidarity activist from Vermont, Victoria Szatkowski, member of Maine Haiti Solidarity and former resident of Haiti,  Jim Harney, a photojournalist who visited Haiti last year, and Reg Gagnon, a veteran humanitarian volunteer.  This will be the occasion for a full discussion among panel members and all others as they share knowledge, experience, and ideas. The search is on for just how Maine people can enter into solidarity with the Haitian people and work politically for democracy in Haiti. 

3:00 P.M. Wrap up - Victoria Szatkowski

And more!  Preceding and during the noonhour, the Kevin Pina film Haiti: Killing the Dream will be shown. At 2:30 PM, Jim Harney will show images taken during his recent trip to Haiti

The Forum is sponsored by Maine Haiti Solidarity, Peace Action Maine, Maine Foreign Affairs Education Fund, NAACP, Pax Christi Maine, and USM student groups.

For more information, contact Victoria Szatkowsk at 772-2622 or Tom Whitney at 743-2183

Article written by Lynn Sikora, Friday Feb. 25, 2005, in the Observer, Notre Dame and Saint Mary's College community newspaper, on Djaloki's lectures.

Link to the article:

http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/news/2005/02/25/News/Haitian.Scholar.Brings.Awareness-877855.shtml

Text of the article:

Haitian scholar brings awareness

Activist visits campus in order to 'stretch minds and hearts'

Haitian scholar and activist Djaloki Dessables has been visiting Saint Mary's campus this week to deliver a series of interactive presentations to discuss the importance of cross-cultural awareness and the vital need to establish cultural diversity for our own survival as human beings.

"I am here to stretch minds and hearts out of the comfort zone," Dessables said. "This requires us to be in touch with cultures with non-Western roots."

Dessables hopes to help people understand the world is diverse. There are many ways to experience the understanding of humanity such as through life, reality and truth.

"I am coming with a gift - an unexpected gift for people who don't know they need to receive it," he said. "I hope they will accept it because it is something that cannot be forced."