The Morija Haitian Seventh-day Adventists Church provides both support and a space for community gathering to Rhode Island’s Haitian community.
Pastor Agee Vetiaque explained that the church offers services in English, Creole and French, aiming to “support people with all backgrounds to come and put their faith and work together.”
He added that during the busiest services of the year, the church has served as many as 300 people. During the winter months, the church hosts clothing drives where items such as gloves, hats, coats and boots are provided to Haitian community members in need.
In addition to their Pawtucket location, the church also has a mission in Haiti. “We are always trying to sustain (the) two groups,” Agee said. “While we are here, we are always trying to help people back (home).”
Georges noted the harm of similar negative expectations that have been circulated about Haitians. Georges said it was “painful” to hear former President Donald Trump claim that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio had abducted and eaten their neighbor’s pets. “It hurt,” he said.
New Bridges also helps their clients with immigration services, and is currently working with the city of Providence and the mayor’s office to have the funds to pay for more lawyers to represent clients during their immigration hearings.
The organization is also looking to expand these efforts, working with Roger Williams University School of Law to provide a law clinic at the center. “We want to have law students help our clients obtain their legal documents quicker, instead of the one or two lawyers we currently have working here.”
While New Bridges prioritizes Haitians in the Rhode Island community, Derosiers emphasized that the organization is open to helping all of those in need.
For example, since May 2020, the organization has hosted weekly food drives within the community. Over 400 people come a day, according to Georges.
“I know the name of the organization is New Bridges for Haitian Success,” said Derosiers. “You may think that we are only serving Haitians. But when I come on Saturdays, I see the whole community at the food drives.”
“Our work wants to bring people together to see how we can really, truly make a big presence in the state,” Derosiers said. “Haitians are not in hiding. We are at the forefront of the community.”
Sanai Rashid
Sanai Rashid was raised in Brooklyn and now lives in Long Island, New York. As an English and History concentrator, she is always looking for a way to amplify stories and histories previously unheard. When she is not writing, you can find her trying new pizza places in Providence or buying another whale stuffed animal.
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Publish date : 2024-10-20 15:37:00
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