Article by PhoenixOnline writer Zoe Argenziano ’27
Laissez les bons temps rouler! The One Heart, One Mind Many Cultures Club surely let the good times roll at the Haitian Independence Day celebration on January 13, 2026.
As Americans do on Independence Day, Haitian and non-Haitian students honored the day with stories, traditions, food, dancing, and bonding. The presentation started off with a warm welcome back to Kellenberg Memorial alums Danielle Thomas ‘20, Vanessa Pierre-Louis ‘21, and Hyllary Jean-Baptiste ‘20. They spoke about Haiti’s history, its independence, and other intriguing facts.
The main premise is that Haiti was originally a French colony for slaves called Saint-Dominigue. Fellow slaves Toussaint “L’Overture” and Jean-Jaques Dessalines led a rebellion against the French that resulted in independence, freedom, and Dessalines becoming the first Haitian Emperor of the now independent country.
Sharing with New Year’s Day, Haiti’s Independence Day is on January 1st, which allows Haitians to celebrate a new year and a new country at the same time. Haitians do have their own language, Creole, but it is extremely similar to French.
Next, our three alumni continued their presentation with the background of common Haitian dishes. These dishes include, but are not limited to: bannann peze, green plantains, griot–which is fried pork, and Diri djondjon–black mushroom rice. The presentation’s food expo did not only have pictures of food; the club members got to try authentic Haitian food catered by a local student’s family restaurant called Bebe Fritay Xpress in Baldwin.
The presentation concluded with each student receiving their own mini Haitian flag to dance with for the music and dance celebration. Tunes from authentic Haitian artists and bands were played for everyone to jam out to in order to end the club celebration on a high energy note. Presentations like these expand or introduce us to knowledge of other cultures that many would never even hear of if they didn’t come to the presentation. It also encourages others to spread the information they learned as well as be open about their own cultures.
Cultures club meets once a month on Mondays at 3:30 to honor the wide variety of backgrounds, cultures, and traditions our student body and faculty members come from.
