GENERAL PROJECT OVERVIEW: NBLSA's Haiti Project 2009 Last Updated On: 22 December 2008
Table of Contents NBLSA Resolution:... 2 Project Scope:... 2 Background / Summary of the Project:... 2 Project Approach:... 3 Project Deliverables:... 4 Key Milestones:... 5 Proposed Haiti Project Travel/Trip Itinerary:... 6 Application for the Haiti Project Trip:... 7 Leadership Details:... 8 NBLSA Haiti Project 2009 Page 1 1/13/2009
NBLSA Haiti Project: Bylaws Resolution: WHEREAS, a double battle for freedom and independence was won by former slaves over the troops of Napoleon Bonaparte, the independence of the country was proclaimed on January 1, 1804, under the name of Haiti. 1. WHEREAS, Haiti became the first country in the world to effectively abolish slavery. 2. WHEREAS, about 80% of Haiti s population was estimated to be living in poverty in 2003. RESOLVED, The NBLSA Haiti Project is created to assist (1) (2). BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That NBLSA sponsor an ongoing program, with Kledev and Pax Christi Haiti, that utilizes the skill set and resources of NBLSA members and alumni to provide aid to the children of Cite Soleil over the next 5 years; and educate NBLSA members about international legal norms and procedures. Project Scope: The Haiti Project has two (2) primary goals: 1. Raise awareness among NBLSA members and communities of issues facing Haiti, particularly issues facing children of Cite Soleil. 2. Raise contributions of money and other donations to benefit those in need in Haiti. Background / Summary of the Project: NBLSA's Haiti Project takes as its chief concern a nationwide campaign to raise awareness among our communities of the severe and immediate issues facing Haiti, as well as to raise contributions of money, school supplies, and soccer equipment to be given to our partner organization, Pax Christi Ayiti ( Pax Christi ). Pax Christi is an associate organization of the Pax Christi Movement, a global Catholic peace movement, and Pax Christi International, a faith-based network uniting over hundred nongovernmental organizations around the world. Pax Christi has been involved in peace education since 2000 as the main method it approaches the growing climate of violence that Haitian people experience in their daily life. Pax Christi began as an experimental program called "Soccer for Peace" that targets youth in the Port-au-Prince city area through a combination of sports activities, education and community awareness building. The Program provides these Haitian youth with peace-building tools as well as opportunities to play soccer and further develop athletic and team-building skills. Specific objectives of the Soccer for Peace Program include: Develop alternatives for children against violence in the thirty-four (34) neighborhoods of Cite Soleil Develop sports skills and other skills among the children in the area as a motivation to get avoid violence Raise awareness on the various needs of the people of this community Improve perceptions of Cite Soleil to those outside the area Advocate to officials and business-people about key issues facing people in the community, including calls for investment and employment Stop gangs fight among existing gang and discourage gangs creation all around the community NBLSA Haiti Project 2009 Page 2 1/13/2009
The 2007-2008 academic year marked the inauguration of NBLSA s Haiti Project and its partnership with Pax Christi Haiti. Under the leadership of former International Relations Chair Alice Michelle Augustine and her International Relations Committee, NBLSA pledged to provide Pax Christi with $430 USD per month for one (1) year. This modest grant would sufficiently cover the monthly stipends for four (4) staff members, food charges for about fifty (50) kids at one practice a week each month and refreshments and transportation during each Sunday s peace training session. The immense success of the Haiti Project, both in terms of NBLSA participation and contributions provided to our partner organization, compelled the national body to pledge its long-term support to continue our Haiti Project. Additionally, Pax Christi s program has grown substantially over the course of the year, stretching the already meager grant monies to the breaking point. NBLSA is looking to do more. This year, our major point of emphasis will be to provide an overwhelming percentage of funds raised as contributions to our partner organization. While this may effectively limit opportunities for NLBSA members to visit Haiti, this action more closely addresses our central goal and priority in initiating the Haiti Project. We are looking to take a maximum of twenty (20) NBLSA members to Haiti as representatives and ambassadors of the organization. Participants will learn first-hand about the issues our partner organization faces while trying to improve the conditions of children in Cite Soleil. We encourage all NBLSA chapters to host events throughout the year that highlight issues relevant to Haiti and that raise monies to be donated to our Haiti partner, Pax Christi. Examples of past events include hosting a screening of Ghosts of Cite Soleil and obtaining donations for attendance, bringing together attorneys and activists for panel discussions on the crisis in Haiti, and selling custom-made t-shirts with the proceeds going to the Haiti Project. Furthermore, this year we will initiate an innovative use of new technologies to incorporate NBLSA members from around the country in our efforts, by allowing NBLSA members, chapters, and regions to create and submit videos via the NBLSA YouTube webpage that highlight efforts to raise awareness and funds. NBLSA members are encouraged to share effective programs by submitting event ideas to the International Relations Committee. The Committee hopes to highlight particularly innovative and/or effective efforts in upcoming publications. Project Approach: The Haiti Project will engage in a joint grassroots/grasstops campaign to achieve the Project s two (2) primary goals. Grassroots: 1. Local chapters will raise awareness of issues facing Haiti by hosting events and other activities in their schools and communities. 2. Local chapter will raise contributions of money, school supplies and/or soccer equipment for our Haiti partners. Local Chapters are asked to commit to raising $1,000 USD. 3. Local chapters and members are also encouraged to raise awareness via the NBLSA YouTube page by posting video recordings of events hosted for the Haiti Project as well as other original video projects designed to raise awareness about the Haiti Project, our partner organization, or issues facing Haiti in general. NBLSA Haiti Project 2009 Page 3 1/13/2009
Monetary Contributions should be sent to NBLSA. Checks should be written out to NBLSA or National Black Law Students Association. Please write Project Haiti on the check subject line. NBLSA Project Haiti P.O. Box 1168 Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27116 Non-monetary Contributions (e.g. soccer equipment, supplies) should be sent to Pax Christi: "Soccer for Peace Project" c/o Wilda Mondestin 46bis, Impasse Alexies Petit Place Cazeau Delmas 33 Haiti Grasstops: 1. Local Chapters are encouraged to submit, to their members of Congress and other elected representatives, letters that highlight the grave issues facing Haiti and that encourage the elected representative to take action to solve the problems facing Haiti. 2. Local Chapters are also encouraged to invite other organizations in their areas to voice their organizations support to elected representative for increased assistance for Haiti. 3. Twenty (20) Representatives from local chapters will travel to Haiti from March 26-29, 2009 to visit Cite Soleil and our partner organization. The primary purposes of the trip will be to allow NBLSA members to learn first-hand about the conditions facing our partner organization in Haiti. In learning about these conditions, NBLSA members will familiarize themselves with legal, political, economic, and social issues. Any interested member must submit an application to the International Relations Chair by 11:59 pm CST on Friday, January 30, 2009: international@nblsa.org or dalaneverett@gmail.com. Project Deliverables: 1. $20,000 (monetary contributions) from combined contributions from local chapters and regions. 2. Written support by one or more elected representatives to seek increases for assistance to Haiti. 3. Events hosted by each regional convention designed to raise awareness of and contributions for Haiti Project 4. DVD Reel of collected videos produced by local chapters to share with our partner organization which highlights the broad support of Haiti by NBLSA members. 5. Travel to Haiti from March 26-29, 2009 with maximum of 20 NBLSA representatives. NBLSA Haiti Project 2009 Page 4 1/13/2009
Key Milestones: # Milestone Date Comments 1. Haiti Independence Day Jan. 1, 2009 2. Launch of 3-2-1 C.O.M.M.I.T. National Fundraising Campaign Jan. 11-Mar. 21, 2009 2. MWBLSA Regional Convention Jan. 21-25, 2009 St. Louis, MO 3. WRBLSA Regional Convention Jan. 28-31, 2009 Portland, OR 4. Application Deadline for Haiti Project Travel/Trip Jan. 30, 2009 5. RMBLSA Regional Convention Feb. 4-8, 2009 Denver, CO 6. SRBLSA Regional Convention Feb. 5-8, 2009 Nashville, TN 7. NEBLSA Regional Convention Feb. 11-15, 2009 Springfield, MA 8. MABLSA Regional Convention Feb. 18-22, 2009 Philadelphia, PA 10 week pledge-based fundraising program designed to bring in small donations from individuals and groups 9. NBLSA Lobby Day Mid-Feb. 2009 Potential time; Not scheduled yet 10. International Week of Service Feb. 23-27, 2009 11. NBLSA National Convention Mar. 18-22, 2009 Irvine, CA 12. Fundraising Deadline Mar. 21, 2009 TBA; Scheduled in conjunction with Social Action & Community Service 13. Haiti Project Travel/Trip Mar. 26-29 NBLSA Haiti Project 2009 Page 5 1/13/2009
Proposed Haiti Project Travel/Trip Itinerary: Thursday: Welcome to Haiti Afternoon-Evening: Arrival to Haiti from United States Evening: Dinner Evening: Conversation about Haiti s history; Pax Christi s Soccer for Peace Program Friday: Work Day (proposed topics) Morning: Breakfast & Overview of Day Morning: Obtain introduction to Haiti s legal system, including potential tour or courts Noon: Lunch Afternoon: Assist with right to Education work in conjunction with Mario Joseph of Bureauz Avocats Internationaux Or Afternoon: Take statements from kids, parents, activists and others in preparation for report on human rights conditions in Haiti and/or human rights violations of the Convention on the Rights of the Child or other international instruments Or Afternoon: Discuss with activists and lawyers current and prospective efforts to improve the conditions of Haiti (including impact litigation) Evening: Dinner & recap of day s events Saturday: Day with the Kids Morning: Community service activity in conjunction with Pax Christi Noon: Host celebratory lunch for Pax Christie and others; Present contributions to Pax Christi and the kids Afternoon: Watch soccer game of Pax Christi kids Afternoon: Take tour of Cite Soleil Evening: Dinner & recap of day s events Evening: Social event with Pax Christi Sunday: Saying Goodbye to Haiti Morning: Optional Breakfast & Feedback Discussion with Pax Christi and group members on improving NBLSA s Haiti Project Morning: Optional Ecumenical Service Departure travel back to United States NBLSA Haiti Project 2009 Page 6 1/13/2009
Application for the Haiti Project Trip: Anyone applying to traveling to Haiti with NBLSA must be a dues-paying NBLSA member. Application Requirements: Due Friday Jan. 30, 2009 (11:59 pm CST) Name: Law School: Year (1L/2L/3L/4L) Short Essay: 1. We are looking for ambassadors and representatives of NBLSA. Please discuss your interest in and involvement with NBLSA. 2. While in Haiti, we will likely come into contact with a number of different areas of law as we work with our partner organization. Please your interest/experience in international law, human rights, humanitarian assistance, civil rights, poverty law, children s rights, dispute resolution, peace studies, and/or any other type of law that you believe to be relevant to the Haiti Project. Deadlines (all deadlines are 11:59 pm CST) Jan. 30, 2009 Application for Haiti Project Trip Feb. 13, 2009 Notification of Participants for Haiti Project Trip Feb. 27, 2009 Submission of $125 payment and copy of travel itinerary & insurance for trip All interested persons must read about the conditions of Haiti, particularly any travel advisories issued by the U.S. State Department. A link to the U.S. State Department s page on Haiti can be found here: http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1134.html. All interested persons must sign and submit the Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk & Indemnity Agreement form, acknowledging that NBLSA holds no legal responsibility and/or liability for any and all claims that may arise from travel to Haiti. Without the submission of this form, an interested person cannot travel with NBLSA to Haiti. Each Haiti Project Trip participant will be responsible for airline arrangements to and from Haiti. Once notified of final selection for participation and travel to Haiti, each Haiti Project participant must submit a copy of the Participants travel itinerary and a copy of the Participants travel insurance by Feb. 27, 2009. Additionally, applicants selected for participation will need to submit payment of $125 USD by February 27. This payment will cover lodging, 2 meals per day, and transportation around Haiti. Additional monies should be brought for lunch and incidentals. Failure to submit all materials by the given deadline may result in a withdrawal of participation in the Haiti Project for any non-compliant Participant. NBLSA Haiti Project 2009 Page 7 1/13/2009
Leadership Details: Project Name : NBLSA s Haiti Project 2009 Partner Organization : Pax Christi Ayiti: a Pax Christi International affiliate Partner Contact : Name Position Daniel Tillias Pax Christi, Haiti Project Director NBLSA Executive Board : Name Position Wintta Woldermarium NBLSA, National Chair A. Michelle Augustine NBLSA, National Vice-Chair International Relations Committee : Name Position Derrick Alan Everett NBLSA, International Relations Chair NBLSA Haiti Project 2009 Page 8 1/13/2009