Virtual Partner Presentation: Fonkoze’s CLM program
Featuring our partner: Mercy Focus on Haiti, a ministry of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Register here for the virtual event.
Date: August 22
Time: 6pm ET
Topic: Join Fonkoze staff in Haiti and partners from Mercy Focus on Haiti, a ministry of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, as we host a partner panel discussion on how Haitian women’s lives have been transformed through the holistic approach of Fonkoze’s CLM program. Join us for an enlightening webinar as we delve into the transformative work Fonkoze has been doing in Haiti through our CLM program. This event is part of a series aimed at educating our audience about our impactful programs and the invaluable support of our partners.
About the Webinar:
We will highlight the CLM program, a cornerstone of our efforts to uplift communities in Haiti. This program empowers the most vulnerable families living in ultra-poverty by providing them with the tools and support needed to achieve financial independence and restored dignity.
This webinar will provide an in-depth look at the CLM program and the profound changes witnessed within the Gwo Mòn, Haiti community, thanks to the support of the Sisters of Mercy ministry, Mercy Focus on Haiti.
Why Attend?
- Gain a deeper understanding of the CLM program and its life-changing impact.
- Hear firsthand accounts from program leaders and partners.
- Learn about the collaborative efforts driving sustainable change in Haiti.
Our panelists will share their insights and experiences, offering a comprehensive view of the program’s impact.
Panelists:
- Steven Werlin, Fonkoze Foundation
- Marie Claire Dorcely, Chief Administration Officer for Sèvis Finansye Fonkoze (SFF)
- Betty Jean-Jeremie, Mercy Focus on Haiti, a ministry of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
- Sister Kathy Thornton, Mercy Focus on Haiti
- Marion V. Grimes, Mercy Focus on Haiti
Moderator:
- Erlantz Hyppolite, Executive Director, Fonkoze USA
This virtual event will feature panelists from Fonkoze, Mercy Focus on Haiti with an opportunity for participants to ask questions.
About the Panelists:
Steven Werlin
Steven is a Fonkoze Foundation CLM staff member based in Haiti. Originally a college instructor, he started spending time in Haiti in 1997 to work with adult literacy programs. He began advising Fonkoze’s literacy programs in 2005, and he joined the institution full-time in 2009. Since 2010, he has been working for the CLM program. He publishes stories of the women he works with in his blog.
Marie-Claire Dorcely
Marie-Claire Dorcely is the Chief Administration Officer of Sèvis Finansye Fonkoze (SFF). Since joining Fonkoze in 2015, she has held several different roles, including Human Resources Director and Administration Director. Marie-Claire has over 20 years of experience in Social Services, Business Management, Human Resources and Organizational Development. She holds both a Bachelor and Master’s in Business Administration.
Prior to working with SFF, Marie-Claire was the Administrative Director of a local electrical engineering firm in Haiti, managing a portfolio of projects valued at over 10 million dollars. Most of Marie Claire’s professional career was developed in Public Administration with Miami-Dade County, Florida. Prior to moving to Haiti, she worked with the renown Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel as the HR Manager and later as the Senior Labor Relations Manager.
Marie-Claire was born and raised in Haiti. She moved to south Florida at the beginning of her high school years. In 2014, after 23 years in the States, she moved back to Haiti. Marie-Claire is passionate and driven by the betterment of Haiti. She is a wife and a proud mother.
Betty Jean-Jeremie, Executive Director of Mercy Focus on Haiti
Betty serves as the Executive Director of Mercy Focus on Haiti. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Massachusetts and a Master’s in Information Systems. She held several Corporate Management positions in Boston, MA, and Oviedo, Florida, before transitioning to Nonprofit work. She is a leader in a Nonprofit Organization with a background in Education, Youth Development, and Community Engagement.
Kathy Thornton
Kathy earned a Master’s degree from Fordham University, and Master’s of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s University in Toronto, Canada. Kathy has ministered with the Sisters of Mercy since 1965. She was the Executive Director of Mercy Focus on Haiti (MFOH) for 8 years and now volunteers as Chair of the “Accompanying Women and Children” Committee and member of the MFOH Executive Committee and Governing Council.
Marion V. Grimes
Marion earned a Master’s in Education from Canisius University, and a Master’s in Social Work from Catholic University. She was the Development Director for the Sisters of Mercy in Buffalo, NY
for over 20 years and now volunteers on the Development Committee for MFOH. She was recently recognized with the “Sister Mary C. Sullivan Living Mercy Award” by the MFOH Governing Council.
About the Moderator:
Erlantz Hyppolite
Dr. Erlantz Hyppolite is Executive Director of Fonkoze USA. He brings 10 years of management and technical experience leading local to national interventions and strategies in Haiti, in education, the arts, and health, most recently with the Artist’s Institute. Erlantz is a passionate cross-cultural communicator and advocate for Haitian culture, and he is fluent in French, Kreyol, and English. Dr. Hyppolite started his career as a Public Health expert in the Artibonite Valley working in primary health care, reproductive health, maternal and child health, nutrition and HIV/TB. Later he worked on case-based health surveillance, monitoring, and evaluation at a national level. He is a great-great-grandson of Florvil Hyppolite, Haitian president in the late 1800s, to whom he bears a strong resemblance. He lived in Haiti until mid-2020, and keeps strong connections to the country. Erlantz currently lives in Maryland with his wife and 2 children.
