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|  Jeanette J. LeMons-Attisso; Founder
Raised in Germany, Jeanette came to the United States in 1981. Jeanette has been working for Chicago Public Schools and City Colleges of Chicago teaching English as a Second Language since 1997. She holds a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She has always had a passion for books even though she grew up in a household with virtually no books. “Once I started earning my own money, I went a little crazy buying book after book, so many, in fact, that I ended up having to donate a majority to several Chicago Public Libraries and some to private schools.” However, when Jeanette learned that only a short distance from the United States, children were longing for books and education, she set out to bring books to the children of Haiti. Haiti Reads sets out to bring books and literacy education to children and adults in Haiti.
Bobb Rousseau; Adviser
Bobb was one of the original board members of Haiti Reads. He is currently deployed in Iraq. As soon as he returns, he will rejoin our board in full capacity.  Amanda Holman; Member
Amanda Holman is an avid reader and marketing professional based in Chicago, IL. One of her fondest childhood memories is checking out books at the local public library with her very own library card. Amanda is also a former literacy tutor at Howard Area Community Center. She has traveled to Haiti several times and loves to visit schools there whenever possible. With her experience in marketing, literacy education, event planning and fundraising, she is excited to support Haiti Reads in its efforts to improve literacy rates and access to books for Haitian communities.
 Bobbi Weaver; Library Administrative Assistant
Bobbi has worked at California Western School of Law since October 1997. She is currently the Foreign & International Law Reference Librarian as well as an adjunct professor in legal research. She earned her M.S. in Library Science from the Catholic University of America (Washington, DC) in 1997, and her J.D. from Temple University School of Law (Philadelphia, PA) in 1992. Bobbi was raised in a suburb of Philadelphia. She resided in the Delaware Valley until 1992, when she moved from Philadelphia to the Washington, D.C. area to write environmental regulations for the U.S. Coast Guard. While working full time, she completed her M.S.L.S. studies at Catholic University. Shortly after graduating in 1997, she was accepted a position as a Reference Librarian at Cal Western and moved to San Diego, where she has lived for the last 11 years. In addition to her work activities, Bobbi has been active in community organizations focusing on environmental protection. She is active on the Wildlife Committee of the San Diego Chapter of the Sierra Club, and is also a member of the San Diego Animal Advocates and Wildcoast/Costasalvaje. She has studied French and Spanish, but is still trying to improve her conversational skills in both.
 Romulus Patrick, Coordinator PAP, Director of Haiti Cluster
Romulus Patrick born and raised in Haiti. He is passionate about technology and is currently the advertising coordinator for HaitiXchange. He has a degree in network administration and troubleshooting. He was a computer teacher for children at “Ecole Mixte Mesanges Bleues”, a primary school in Port-au-Prince, Haiti for the 2007/08. Patrick’s passion in working with children can be seen in his passion in working with Haiti Reads. His dedication to this project and children of Haiti is seen in everything he does. Patrick spents numerous hours each day in on getting the Haiti Reads Library ready for the community.
Mitchy Derose; Child Literacy - Director of New York Cluster
Mitchy was born in New York and spent the majority of her childhood living in Haiti , she has lived in both places for years at a time. Currently working as an early childhood educator, Mitchy is also studying to attain an M.S. She also owns a small editorial business and recently launched a non-profit organization to help kids in Haiti.
Mitchy's work with a grassroots organizations has given her the experience and drive to do whatever she can for Haiti's people. Spare time is devoted to volunteering with literacy and advocacy organizations and freelance writing and she is passionate about giving every child in Haiti the opportunity to read and to become educated. Other interests include adult/child literacy, the arts, literature, and inspirational writing. She remembers what books did and still do for her and wants to help give that gift to others by working for Haiti Reads. 
Franty Cleophat; Director of Florida Cluster
Franty Cleophat is currently a Graduate student at Webster University in Ocala, Florida. He was born in Haiti, grew up in Delmas 24, and moved to Boston with his brothers and sisters in 1985. He is also married to his lovely wife Armelle and his four children whom he loves dearly. Although he has lived most of his life in America, Mr. Cleophat never forgets his roots and the people of Haiti. His dream is to build a school in Bainet where children and adults can obtain an education. Beside his love for his country, he is also an entrepreneur. He is the founder of www.cleomnibusads.com. The main reason why he created this web base classified site is to provide a place where people all over the world can buy, trade, and sell for free in their local market globally. By becoming a member of Haiti Reads Organization, he and other committed members will devote their time as a team to give back to the future (children) of Haiti and other underdeveloped countries worldwide. Tameka Lewis-Morris; Educator
Born and raised on the nearby island of Jamaica, I understand what it means to not have books. I am also aware of the tremendous difference that they can make in the lives of the people who have them. There were never enough books for me to read as a child, because we couldn’t afford them. Today, I cherish books and collect them at every chance I get. As a mother and educator, I try to instill a love of books in my students. I have been teaching computer application classes for nine years at a Chicago Public School, and am currently finishing up a graduate degree in Literacy Language and Culture at the University of Illinois at Chicago. My goal is to use technology as a tool to enhance reading instructions. Building a brighter future for children in Haiti and other parts of the Caribbean has always been my dream.
Jean Baptiste Frantzy; Library Manager
Jean Baptiste Fantzy was born and raised in Grand Anse, Haiti. He has been studying Civil Engineering at The University Ruben Leconte for the past three years. Jean Baptiste's interest in working for a grassroots non-profit organization comes from the the passion his father shared with him when he was director of Projet Compassion Pour Ayiti (Project Compassion for Haiti) in Port de Paix.
 Djalòki Jean Luc Benjamin Dessables; Cultural & Language Advisor
Reverend Djalòki, also known as Jean Luc Benjamin Dessables, is an engineer, a licensed Interfaith minister assigned to the Interfaith Temple of the New Seminary in New York City, a Vodou Priest (Oungan Asogwe), and a seeker of universal wisdom, ancient, current and future. His practice includes teaching the Kreyòl language, Paradigm Expansion Coaching (combining elements of Life Coaching, Spiritual Counseling and Healing, Shamanic/Vodou teachings and Interactive Guided Imagery), cross-cultural consulting, and international lectures and workshops on the connections between religions (Eastern and Western), Shamanism (including 21st Century Vodou) and advanced science (of consciousness and of matter).His intention is to help create a sustainable multicultural global society showing reverence for the diversity of life and valuing inclusive excellence among people and institutions. Djalòki is a citizen of the world and of Ayiti (Kreyòl name of Haiti); he lives in Port-au-Prince, Ayiti. He speaks French, Ayitian Kreyòl, English and Spanish. Read some of Rev. Djalòki’s texts on http://djaloki.wordpress.com Mya Attisso, Intern
Gabriela Ayala, Book Art and Design Intern
I am from Guatemala and I came to the United States in 2007 to attend high school. I will be enrolling in college in September 2009. I do not consider myself an artist but I do love art. My inspiration is everything I see around me. Art is a way to liberate myself of my everyday routine.
 Joel Metellus; Treasurer
I was born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I came to the United States in 1991. I hold an associate degree in Accounting, a bachelor degree of Arts in Theology, and a master degree in Secondary Education. I am married and the proud father of 3 wonderful girls. I am an ordained minister, and I am currently a French teacher for the Chicago Public Schools. I believe strongly in Education, because when I was a poor young boy in Haiti, getting an education was my only hope apart from God. Sure enough, after I passed Baccalaureate One and Two, the two major state exams required for entering university, God opened doors for me to come to the US to further my education. But if I did not work hard getting up early in order to study under the street pole lights to get my high school education, that opportunity would have passed me by. One of Haiti’s major problems is ignorance, or illiteracy. Therefore, one of the best ways someone can help Haiti is through education, and teaching people how to read. Education changes people’s mentality and opens all kind of doors. Brenda Remess; Website Advisor
Brenda Remess is a computer teacher for Chicago Public Schools. Her compassion and patience with children and teenagers make her a perfect addition to Haiti Reads. Brenda has been indispensable in getting the Haiti Reads website up and going. Brenda is originally from Mexico. | |
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