Haiti was singled out as a country of people who are unwanted and we just marked eight years since over 250,000 of our Haitians neighbors lost their lives.

For this reason, and so many others, we are taking a moment to share the Haiti we know and love. The Haiti filled with neighbors, friends, co-workers, brothers and sisters who, with their bare hands, pulled each other out of rubble and carried each other to safety. It is the Haiti of our 200 Haitian staff, working tirelessly every day to work with communities to provide medical care to infants and children while also promoting public health to tens of thousands; where our teachers provide young boys and girls a genuine opportunity to succeed. We know a Haiti that has been hit harder and more often by everything mother nature has to offer, and yet continues with a resiliency you'll be hard pressed to find anywhere else; where the all-Haitian J/P HRO emergency response team to Hurricane Matthew, which devastated Haiti's South, helped 25,000 people return to a safe, dry home.

At J/P HRO we have always refused to blindly follow what has always been done. All of J/P HRO successes are guided by the people in Haiti themselves, by getting down to the ground level to do things with and in support of Haitians.

With time, Haiti will become more integral to the global economy. This is change that you will be able to see, touch, taste and wear. This will be no small feat, but J/P HRO is no stranger to challenging the status quo and persevering in the face of long odds. It's where we began and it's time to go back to what started this organization. We are not complacent. We are not okay with "good," or even "great." We are J/P HRO, and we want to keep doing the impossible.

Haiti is not looking for a handout. This great country will not be defined by an earthquake, hurricane or poverty. Instead, Haiti's difficult history will be overcome by the will of its people and with the attention and support of a compassionate world.

Today more than ever, we must stand in solidarity with the people of Haiti. Please help us show them they are in our thoughts and hearts.

Adelfort Alexis is a farmer in the small town of Fouache, located along the shoreline in the Grand’Anse Department of Haiti. Its location allows it to flourish agriculturally, but it also becomes vulnerable to flooding during heavy rains and storms. When Hurricane Matthew hit the island in October of 2016, Alexis’ fields were destroyed and his crops were lost; overall community development was halted.

Aware of the vulnerability of the people in this remote region, which is highly dependent on agriculture, J/P HRO carried out emergency response relief efforts immediately following the devastating hurricane. We worked to promote agricultural recovery in order to best assist affected families and community members.

Through the Haiti Takes Root initiative, we were able to distribute agricultural kits to more than 479 individuals, including Alexis, which consisted of corn seeds, bean seeds, yam seedlings, and fruit and forest trees. Through our distributions, the community was able to begin anew following the storm.

Now, more than a year later, farmers continue to harvest the produce from these seeds, namely for household consumption. Alexis explains that through this devastation came an anchor of hope and a reconnection with his neighbors. He says that there is still work to be done, but as each day passes he is presented with new opportunities and, for the first time in awhile, he is hopeful for the future to come.

Help us win $150,000 for our programs!

This year we are really excited to let you know that we are a part of the Newman's Own Foundation $500k Holiday Challenge! It is a friendly fundraising competition where organizations compete to raise the most money in order to win cash prizes. We are ready to raise as much money as we can in order to win the $150,000 grand prize! Along the way, there will be special incentives with even more chances for us to win crucial funds for our programs.

This morning, November 20, 2017, we were able to donate 14 light bars to the Haitian National Police (PNH).

Following the devastating 2010 earthquake, this equipment was used in our emergency ambulances which served the J/P HRO camp hospital. Today, “[the light bars] will be used to equip patrol vehicles of the PNH,” said Louis Pierre Antoine, Assistant Logistics Director of the Haitian police.

"It is a gesture that goes right to our hearts and will certainly help the police in their mission: to protect and serve the population,” he added.

We have recently entered into the fourth year of our music program, with our incredible partner Music Heals International (MHI). Through this program, we have been able to provide free music lessons, training, and instruments to youth in areas surrounding Port-au-Prince.  

The main goal of this year’s program is to increase access to music education for schools in Port-au-Prince while improving the quality of music instruction for both advanced students and those with special needs. Thus far, we have expanded into a total of 7 schools reaching 350 beneficiaries and trained 20 teachers for the upcoming year. We are also working to deepen and broaden the curriculum for our incredible students.

By broadening our reach, we have been able to work with local and international artists, new music instructors, and community members that we otherwise would not have met. Also, through our developed curriculum, we have had the opportunity to bring our advanced students into the studio for recording sessions. Currently, they have written an original Christmas song and are recording this week at Joway Recordz.

Seeing the achievements of our students is extremely exciting. Music is a powerful tool that is able to transform lives, inspire creativity, and increase confidence. Through this program, we have seen a positive change in our students as they continue to grow and learn, both personally and professionally.

On October 24, 2017, the Nashville community came together once more to support J/P Haitian Relief Organization at the 2nd Annual Nashville Shines for Haiti event.

J/P HRO Country Director, Margarett Lubin, speaks onstage.

Hosted by international philanthropists, Johnathon and Newman Arndt, the event took place at their Estate and brought the community of Nashville together to shine a light and raise funds for J/P HRO. Those in attendance included Tim McGraw (who headlined the performances), Carrie Underwood, Kevin Nealon, Colbie Caillat, Scott Hamilton, Jewel, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Kix Brooks, and many more.

This past month, we were thrilled to host Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Global Fellows in Haiti!

CAA has been an incredible partner for many years, and during their time in country they experienced Haitian culture and gained first-hand knowledge of our programming by working with our reforestation team and with students at our School of Hope.

Join us on this photo journey to get a behind-the-scenes look at their trip below.

Day Three

CAA Fellows began their day touring our School of Hope, which advocates for inclusive early childhood education with integrated special needs education and accessibility.

Our school began operating in 2010, beginning in the Pétion-Ville camp and transitioning into the local community; it serves as a model institution for 25 other schools in Port-au-Prince to improve the quality of education.

Fellows planted seedlings with our students in the school garden.

They also spent time organizing the school library and used downtime to read with our students.

Delegates also visited Papillon Enterprises, a socially and ecologically conscious business that employs nearly 300 artisans. 

They ended their day with a tea tasting at Bèlzèb, which sells handcrafted artisan products and teas and creates economic opportunities for nearly 50 women. 

Day Four

On their last day, fellows visited Atis Rezistans in Grand Rue, an artist collective and sculpture museum.

The final stop was to Myabel Restaurant (Croix-des-Bouquets).