In 1992, a group of activists formed the Haitian Coalition of Somerville to serve thousands fleeing Haiti following a September 1991 military coup. Since the Coalition’s inception, we have promoted Haitian culture and helped members of the Haitian community gain access to services and programs such as legal aid, social services, voter registration and small business training. Today, we continue to provide these and other services in pursuit of the Coalition’s mission statement: To organize Haitians to improve their economic, political, physical and social environments in Somerville and its surrounding communities.
Also, we have empowered and continue to assist our clients in these ways:
· Welcome newly-arrived Haitian immigrants, orienting them to their new lives.
· Offer English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes to those wanting to learn or improve their English speaking skills.
· Give clients the opportunity to become self-sufficient through literacy and computer education.
· Focus on civic engagement through bilingual citizenship classes.
· Support Haitian youths as they struggle to integrate into their communities while maintaining their connection to their culture.
· Combat the allure of tobacco advertising aimed at area youths.
· Sponsor conversations on facing the challenges of racism.
· Lead Somerville United Against Racism, a citizen coalition for a more just city.
· Help Haitian women gain access to capital and resources to open their own child care centers.
· Guide Haitian elders that seek access to housing, health care and other benefits.
· Refer hundreds of clients each year to the legal, medical and social services they need.
· Provide services to Haitians living in the surrounding communities of Medford, Malden and Everett.