More than 300 people were on hand this afternoon for the first-annual Boston Haitian Honors awards luncheon, hosted by the Boston Haitian Reporter to mark its tenth year of publication. The event included keynote remarks by Dr. Paul Farmer, co-founder of Partners in Health, which has provided critical health services to the people of Haiti for more than 25 years.
Boston Haitian Honors Reception: (l-r) Reporter managing editor Bill Forry, Dr. Paul Farmer of Partners In Health, and Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry (D-Dorchester). Photo by Don West
The recipients of the first annual Boston Haitian Honors 'Pioneer' awards included: Reverend Verdieu Laroche from the First Haitian Baptist Church; Marc Prou, PhD, Associate Professor of Caribbean Studies and Chair of the Department of Africana Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass Boston). Dr. Prou directs the Haitian Language and Culture Institute at UMass Boston; and Dr. Nicole Prudent MPH Pediatrician, Maternal and Child Health Haitian Health Institute/Boston Medical Center. Special acknowledgements went to Mrs. Edna Etienne from Le Foyer Bakery and Carole M. Berotte Joseph, PhD, from MassBay Community College.

Today's luncheon served as the kick-off of a long weekend filled with Haitian Heritage Month events, including Friday's flag-raising at Boston City Hall Plaza and Sunday's annual Haitian Unity Parade, which steps off from Mattapan Square at 1 p.m.