RISE Event at Gwynedd Mercy University: A Celebration of Women on a Pathway to a Better Life in Haiti

On November 3, 2025, partners and supporters gathered at Gwynedd Mercy University for RISE: A Celebration of Women on a Pathway to a Better Life in Haiti, a day dedicated to Haitian culture, storytelling, and the women participating in Fonkoze’s Chemen Lavi Miyò (CLM) program.

Hosted at the newly built Frances M. Maguire ’55 Healthcare Innovation Center, the event was organized in partnership with Fonkoze USA, Gwynedd Mercy University, and Mercy Focus on Haiti. Designed as both an educational and cultural experience, RISE invited attendees to explore Haiti through art, conversation, music, and food while learning more about the pathway women in rural Haiti are taking to build stable and self-sufficient lives.

Exploring Haiti Through Art

Throughout the day, visitors moved through a special art exhibit curated from the personal Haitian art collection of Erlantz Hyppolite.

The exhibit featured works that reflected the color, landscapes, and everyday life of Haiti—offering glimpses of the countryside where Fonkoze’s CLM participants live and work. For many attendees, the artwork served as a window into a Haiti that is often unseen: vibrant, resilient, and deeply rooted in community.

Music, Conversation, and Celebration

In the evening, guests gathered for a reception that continued the celebration of Haitian culture.

The program included a special performance and conversation with musical guest Zama, whose work reflects the richness of Haitian artistic traditions. Attendees also heard from Rachel Pierre-Champagne, a director at Fonkoze Foundation, who spoke about Fonkoze’s work.

The Chemen Lavi Miyò Program

Chemen Lavi Miyò—meaning “the pathway to a better life” in Haitian Creole—is Fonkoze’s 18-month graduation program that supports women living in extreme poverty as they build sustainable livelihoods.

Through business training, asset transfers, savings support, and ongoing mentorship, the program helps participants move toward long-term stability for themselves and their families.

Partnerships That Make Progress Possible

RISE highlighted not only the progress of these women, but also the partnerships that make the work possible.

Mercy Focus on Haiti, affiliated with Gwynedd Mercy University, is currently supporting its fifth cohort of CLM participants. The event reflected the strength of this ongoing collaboration and the shared commitment to empowering women and strengthening rural communities across Haiti.

A Taste of Haiti

No celebration of Haitian culture would be complete without food.

Guests had the opportunity to taste manba, Haiti’s beloved spicy peanut butter, served alongside crisp cassava bread. The simple pairing offered a meaningful introduction to one of Haiti’s most iconic flavors—and sparked many conversations around the table.

Sharing Haiti Beyond the Headlines

Events like RISE are an important way for Fonkoze and its partners to share Haiti beyond headlines and statistics. Through art, music, storytelling, and food, attendees experienced the culture and spirit that shape the lives of the women participating in the CLM program.

As the evening concluded, one thing was clear: this gathering was not just a one-time event, but part of an ongoing partnership. Fonkoze, Mercy Focus on Haiti, and Gwynedd Mercy University look forward to continuing their work together—supporting women in Haiti and building connections that bring communities closer across borders.

Photos from the art exhibit, reception, performances, and Haitian tastings are included below.