About Us

The Haitian-American Business Network (HABNET) is a division of HAAPA, INC. (Haitian-American Association for Progressive Action). We are a network of business owners and professionals. Our mission is to empower the Haitian-American community economically and civically. HABNET supports and promotes entrepreneurship in our community. We are dedicated to improving the lives of people of Haitian ancestry by encouraging entrepreneurship and civic engagement. HAAPA is an institution performing a public service to empower, and champion the cause of, the Haitian-American business community.

HAAPA's Work

• Since inception in 2004 to the present, through the Haitian-American Business Network (HABNET), we have established a platform for business owners to refer each other and do business with each other; we coordinate mentorship for members; we assist business owners in finding needed resources; and we harness a strong relationship between business owners and local elected officials. As such, we are supportive of candidates who are sensitive to the interests of our bussiness community.

• On April 17-19, 2008 we held a national conference on “Advancing the Haitian-American Agenda: Economic, Civic and Social Strategies” at Brooklyn Borough Hall. The conference included the Toussaint L’Ouverture Business Award, the Workshops on Economic, Civic and Social Strategies. The topics were Small Business Support Services, Haiti Connection: Development Projects and Investments, Community Organizing & Development, The Business Side of Art and Entertainment, The Economics and Politics of Health Care, Wealth Building Strategies, Community Services, Workforce Development and Education. Our panelists were experts who flew in from all over the country.

• On Saturday July 21, 2007 at the old Empire State Development office located at the Atlantic Center—625 Atlantic Avenue, 3^rd Fl. in Brooklyn, New York, the Haitian-American Business Network (HABNET) of the Consortium for Haitian Empowerment (CHE) held an Economic Conference aimed at educating the public about financial literacy, entrepreneurship, risk management and investment opportunities. The conference was held from 9am to 3pm and it was attended by the public as well as dignitaries from the Brooklyn Borough President office and from Congresswoman Yvette Clarke’s office. Councilmember Mathieu Eugene, MD also attended and they discussed ways they can be of service to small business owners. Demand was made to HABNET leaders to do this Economic Conference more frequently.

   

   

• On November 11, 2006, we held our 2nd Annual HABNET Reception: Appreciating Excellence, Service and Leadership in our Community and we recognized Yves Sanon as The 2006 HABNET Entrepreneur of the Year. The HABNET Scholarship totaling $1000 was given to Ania Pierre-Louis, a gifted student at Clara Barton High School and the Empowerment Theatre, designed to promote civic education, made its debut.

• On September 22, 2006, as a member of the Consortium for Haitian Empowerment (CHE), we participated in a Symposium on Civic Participation in collaboration with District Attorney Hynes. We emphasized the importance of civic engagement and discussed the challenges and solutions we face as a community with respect to civics.

• On August 27, 2006, HAAPA in collaboration with HALEC organized a Town Hall meeting with 11th Congressional candidates Carl Andrews, Yvette Clarke, Chris Owens and David Yassky at Saint Jerome Church. This was the first such forum in the Haitian-American community in New York City. The forum was designed for community members to learn about the candidates and for candidates to share their platform with constituents.

• On May 19, 2006 as member of the Consortium for Haitian Empowerment, we participated in an economic empowerment conference at Pace University to educate the public about finance, insurance, entrepreneurship and the necessity for businesses to forge a relation with elected officials. HABNET will organize such forums each year.

• In April 2005 and April 2006 at City Hall, HAAPA, in collaboration with HALEC and “18 Mai” Committee held a Symposium on Toussaint L’Ouverture and honor Haitian-American businesses owners who are providing excellent service to customers.

• In June 2005, we work with an ad hoc committee to address the issue of human rights violations of Haitian nationals in the Dominican Republic. HAAPA representatives went to the DR to participate in a special forum and we made monetary contributions to MUDHA in support of its efforts to handle the crisis.

• In the spring of 2005 we selected and organized the legal team to represent the parents of the twelve Haitian children who were denigrated at PS 34 in Queens. Two of the three attorneys are members of HABNET.

• In 2004, we drafted The Declaration of the Haitian Diaspora calling for stability in, and foreign aid to, Haiti irrespective of Haiti’s governmental leadership of the past, present and future. This document also outlined the role the Haitian Diaspora should play to assist in developing the socio-economic infrastructure of Haiti.

Our Philosophy

HAAPA’s Philosophy

Promoting Entrepreneurship and Civic Engagement

The ideals of [HAAPA] Haitian-American Association for Progressive Action, rest on four pillars: Educate, Participate, Elevate and Empower [EPEE]. As people of Haitian ancestry living in the United States, we must educate ourselves to successfully participate in the civic and economic life of our communities in order to elevate ourselves to a state of empowerment. Recognizing that the driving forces of American society are capitalism and democracy, we promote and support entrepreneurship and civic engagement in our community. Synchronizing and harnessing these two forces simultaneously leads to true empowerment. Our motto is “HAAPA nou di asé,” meaning phonetically in Creole, “here we say enough.” It is now time we live up to the legacy of our ancestors and become the great people history has destined us to be.

“In a capitalistic and democratic society, few individuals are as influential as the entrepreneur or professional who is civically engaged.”

—Jackson Rockingster, HAAPA / HABNET Chairman