OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

New Rochelle Third Annual Haitian Heritage Month and Flag Day Celebration - May 19, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, May 19, 2026
BodyNew Rochelle, New York
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, May 19, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 31:33

Transcript — Verbatim
0:07

Okay, hi everybody, thank you for coming out.

0:10

This is our third annual Haitian Heritage Month, but Haitian Flag Day celebration.

0:19

And um it's going well, right?

0:25

We we we you always show up.

0:27

Um I hope we caught the singing out there because we we sounded great.

0:33

You know, my aunt, she's what, 98 years old?

0:36

She's always singing the song, and several years she says she's gonna sing it.

0:41

She's coming out, she's coming out.

0:43

And then so I was like last year, it's like, oh, I didn't realize it was this year.

0:48

So I just went to get her, and she's like, my arm is hurting, I can't come out.

0:53

I can't sing, I can't come out.

0:55

My mom, my back is hurting, I'm not coming out.

0:59

So, you know, they're they're older and they're like, they find reasons that why they can't come out, but they're here in spirit.

1:06

And I and I and I hope one day you get to hear my aunt sing this song.

1:11

She had two songs that she wanted to sing for you.

1:14

That song, and then there was a song that she always sings because when Haiti was repay was paying back that 150 million dollar debt to France that wasn't a debt for winning their freedom, the country had songs and encouraged people to pay the debt and get out of the situation.

1:36

So she actually knows that song and is always singing in, and that's what she had planned for you.

1:41

So hopefully next year you'll get to hear it.

1:44

Oh, you know what?

1:44

I'm gonna record her, and then I'm gonna play it for you.

1:47

Make sure she she gets her her her day in in the limelight.

1:53

So um we're gonna start the program, and the other fun fact about about this is that this all started um one year when when there was a lot of things going on in Haiti.

2:09

That's like almost every year, right?

2:10

We were being attacked left and right again, that's like all the time.

2:14

And councilman Peters came to me and said, you know, let's talk about doing something for the Haitian community.

2:21

This councilman Peters here, he's our district three councilman David Peters.

2:26

He said, Let's do something for the Haitian community.

2:28

I want to do like a prayer or something because just something to show that we're where we stand with them and that we support them.

2:36

And um I said, yeah, that's great.

2:40

Um, but it's almost you know, May, that's when we celebrate our flag day.

2:45

And I always wanted to do a flag day celebration, so I said, if we really do that, that's gonna really commemorate Haiti and show us and show that we're supporting.

2:55

And he's like, wonderful.

2:56

That's how this got started.

2:58

And now it's an annual thing.

3:01

So I always want to thank Councilman Peters, who's gonna come up and read the city proclamation for us.

3:07

Um, but that's that's that's how it got started.

3:10

Thank you, Councilman Peters.

3:11

Come on up.

3:16

I think it's the big one.

3:21

Do I see?

3:22

You can stay here if you choose to.

3:25

Hello, everybody.

3:26

Greetings on behalf of the city of New Rochelle on behalf of our mayor, your dear Ram is Herbert, uh, and City Council, I believe, is here uh recognizing City Council as well as as our as our city here in the city of New Rochelle.

3:40

You know, this is a wonderful difference as you said it's this one?

3:45

This one.

3:45

She wants me to read this one.

3:46

Yeah.

3:47

Okay.

3:48

So we take this one off.

3:50

All right.

3:51

This is a wonderful day and a wonderful event.

3:54

Uh, you know, to have uh Haitian Day here, Heritage Day here in New Rochelle with this with the community that is so strong and so vibrant and has such a rich history of overcoming any kind of oppression that emerges in the lifeblood of the Haitian community.

4:11

This is just a wonderful day.

4:13

And uh, I'm just really happy that all of you who are here are able to participate in this great event.

4:19

So our the proclamation reads as such, but you being here is so much more.

4:24

The proclamation reads, uh the office of the mayor, the city of New Rochelle proclamation honoring Haitian Heritage Day, whereas the city of New Rochelle takes pride in recognizing and celebrating the rich cultural diversity that strengthens our community, and whereas Haitian Heritage Month is celebrated during the month of May to honor the history, culture, and contributions of the Haitian people, both in Haiti and throughout the diaspora, including right here in New Rochelle.

5:00

And whereas May is a significant month in Haitian history, encompassing important milestones, such as Haitian Flag Day on May 18th, a symbol of pride, resilience, and unity for Haitians around the world.

5:08

And whereas the Haitian American community has contributed immeasurably to the social, cultural, economic, and civic life of New Rochelle through leadership, entrepreneurship, education, arts, and service.

5:22

And whereas by observing Haitian Heritage Month, we honor the enduring spirit of the Haitian people, acknowledge the contributions of Haitian Americans to our city, and promote cultural understanding, respect, and unity among all residents.

5:38

Now, therefore, I, your dear Ramos Herbert, mayor of the city of New Rochelle do hereby proclaim the month of May as Haitian Heritage Month in the city of New Rochelle and encourage all residents to join in recognizing and celebrating the rich history and cultural legacy of our Haitian American community.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Youth Programs█████████████████████████████████████37%
Community Engagement██████████████████████████████30%
Arts And Culture█████████████████████21%
Historic Preservation███████7%
Immigration Issues█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

New Rochelle Third Annual Haitian Heritage Month and Flag Day Celebration

On May 19, 2026, the City of New Rochelle held its third annual Haitian Heritage Month and Haitian Flag Day celebration at City Hall. The event featured a formal proclamation, remarks from city officials and community leaders, recognition of student graduates from pre-K to college, and a call for stronger community collaboration and support for local Haitian American residents, particularly regarding immigration and educational opportunities.

Proclamation and Remarks

  • Councilman David Peters read a proclamation from Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert designating May as Haitian Heritage Month in New Rochelle. The proclamation highlighted the contributions of the Haitian American community and noted the significance of Haitian Flag Day on May 18.
  • Miriam (organizer) recounted the event's origin in a conversation with Councilman Peters and expressed hope for future participation from her elderly aunt.
  • Councilman Peters praised the Haitian community's resilience and unity, echoing the flag's motto "L'Union Fait La Force" (Unity Makes Strength).
  • Christine Fizma, Director of Constituent Services and Community Affairs for Senator Shelley Mayer and a new New Rochelle resident, shared personal reflections on growing up Haitian American. She announced the formation of the Westchester Haitian Collective to connect Haitian families with resources and opportunities. She also encouraged youth civic participation and noted that her office can assist with immigration and CPS concerns.

Student Graduate Recognition

  • The program honored graduating students from pre-K through college, with each student or a family member receiving a certificate.
  • Graduates included:
    • Fadia Dazir – master's in psychology from Iona College.
    • Schutzley Gedoah – New Rochelle High School graduate.
    • Samuel Decim – heading to SUNY Purchase for computer science.
    • Avery Villarson – middle school to high school (son of local barber).
    • Lawrence Mede – elementary to middle school.
    • Christian Robert Desim – Isaac Young to New Rochelle High School.
    • Jehu Michel – Albert Leonard Middle School to New Rochelle High School.
    • Julie Michaela Joseph – Daniel Webster to Albert Leonard.
    • Pre-K graduates: Nala Baskin, Nasiah Alexis, Jazile Bellefleur, and others from Little Bumblebee and The Learning Experience.
    • High school twins Regeline and Lachelle Theodore, Sasha Mouscadin.
    • Laurian Medet – master's in accounting from Lehman College.
    • Frederick Johnson – Iona Prep to Penn State for enterprise technology integration.
    • Makaya Simpkins – Barnard College for biology (pre-med).
    • Kennedy Brunson – a delayed certificate from the previous year, now at New Rochelle High School.
  • Miriam noted a project to compile a list of all Haitian graduates of New Rochelle High School over its 100-year history.

Calls for Community Action

  • Miriam urged the community to better network and support students affected by immigration issues, particularly those with uncertain work authorization.
  • She emphasized the need to utilize the emerging network (e.g., Westchester Haitian Collective) to assist young people and advocate for their futures.

Key Outcomes

  • The city officially proclaimed May as Haitian Heritage Month.
  • Graduates were publicly recognized and encouraged.
  • The Westchester Haitian Collective was announced as a resource for connection and support.
  • Organizers expressed intent to continue the celebration annually and to expand community collaboration.

Note: No formal votes were taken; the event was a ceremonial and community-building gathering. The date of the proclamation was May 14, 2026, as read in the text.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, hi everybody, thank you for coming out. This is our third annual Haitian Heritage Month, but Haitian Flag Day celebration. And um it's going well, right? We we we you always show up. Um I hope we caught the singing out there because we we sounded great. You know, my aunt, she's what, 98 years old? She's always singing the song, and several years she says she's gonna sing it. She's coming out, she's coming out. And then so I was like last year, it's like, oh, I didn't realize it was this year. So I just went to get her, and she's like, my arm is hurting, I can't come out. I can't sing, I can't come out. My mom, my back is hurting, I'm not coming out. So, you know, they're they're older and they're like, they find reasons that why they can't come out, but they're here in spirit. And I and I and I hope one day you get to hear my aunt sing this song. She had two songs that she wanted to sing for you. That song, and then there was a song that she always sings because when Haiti was repay was paying back that 150 million dollar debt to France that wasn't a debt for winning their freedom, the country had songs and encouraged people to pay the debt and get out of the situation. So she actually knows that song and is always singing in, and that's what she had planned for you. So hopefully next year you'll get to hear it. Oh, you know what? I'm gonna record her, and then I'm gonna play it for you. Make sure she she gets her her her day in in the limelight. So um we're gonna start the program, and the other fun fact about about this is that this all started um one year when when there was a lot of things going on in Haiti. That's like almost every year, right? We were being attacked left and right again, that's like all the time. And councilman Peters came to me and said, you know, let's talk about doing something for the Haitian community. This councilman Peters here, he's our district three councilman David Peters. He said, Let's do something for the Haitian community. I want to do like a prayer or something because just something to show that we're where we stand with them and that we support them. And um I said, yeah, that's great. Um, but it's almost you know, May, that's when we celebrate our flag day. And I always wanted to do a flag day celebration, so I said, if we really do that, that's gonna really commemorate Haiti and show us and show that we're supporting. And he's like, wonderful. That's how this got started. And now it's an annual thing. So I always want to thank Councilman Peters, who's gonna come up and read the city proclamation for us. Um, but that's that's that's how it got started. Thank you, Councilman Peters. Come on up. I think it's the big one. Do I see? You can stay here if you choose to. Hello, everybody. Greetings on behalf of the city of New Rochelle on behalf of our mayor, your dear Ram is Herbert, uh, and City Council, I believe, is here uh recognizing City Council as well as as our as our city here in the city of New Rochelle. You know, this is a wonderful difference as you said it's this one? This one. She wants me to read this one. Yeah. Okay. So we take this one off. All right.

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