Haiti Beyond the Headlines: Power, Memory and Cultural Legacy
Join us for an evening of storytelling and dialogue exploring Haiti's history, culture, and identity.
Moderated by:
Maudelyne Maxineau is a Haitian-American educator, author, cultural archivist, and publisher whose work centers on preserving and sharing Haiti’s history, heritage, and diaspora narratives. She is the founder of HaitiDecoded, an educational platform dedicated to making Haitian history accessible through books, storytelling, and community-based programming for both children and adults.
Through her writing, Maudelyne explores themes of identity, memory, and cultural continuity, with published works including The Kingdom of Hayti, Evolution of the Haitian Flag, and Ancient Kiskeya: The Story of Acanoa. Her work challenges dominant narratives about Haiti while highlighting its rich intellectual, historical, and cultural legacy.
As a cultural curator and publisher, she is committed to amplifying underrepresented voices and building spaces where stories of Haiti and the broader Black diaspora can be told with depth and authenticity.
Maudelyne is the curator and moderator of Haiti Beyond the Headlines, an annual literary forum exploring how Haiti’s stories are shaped, remembered, and carried forward.
On the panel:
Ruth Fleury is an award-winning author, book coach, and founder of Scholars Of Tomorrow Publishing, LLC. With over 16 years in education and a passion for literacy, Ruth empowers aspiring authors, especially women and children, to bring their stories to life. She is the author of Hyper Kid, So They Say!, a Golden Wizard Book Prize winner, and Soup Joumou Freedom Celebration, an international award-winning book celebrating Haitian culture. Ruth is also the founder of the Flourish with Ruth Podcast, launched in January 2026, where she inspires people to grow, heal and thrive. Through school visits, workshops, and speaking engagements, she continues to spread the joy of reading and writing while building a community where every voice matters.
Book Title: Soup Joumou Freedom Celebration
Website: www.scholarsoftomorrowpublishing.com
IG: Authorruthiewiththepen
Justine A. P. Louis is an author, educator, and the founder of VivLiv Books, a publishing company dedicated to celebrating and promoting Caribbean and Haitian culture through diverse, bilingual children’s books. Born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised on the Caribbean island of Haiti, Justine grew up immersed in the vibrant traditions and storytelling heritage of her culture. Listening to engaging Haitian folktales and multicultural stories shared by her family sparked her love for storytelling and writing at a young age. Her books draw inspiration from her cherished memories and childhood experiences in Haiti, and they reflect her deep commitment to preserving Caribbean and Haitian languages, traditions, and identity.
In addition to writing, Justine works as a publishing coach, guiding aspiring authors through the publishing process with care and expertise. Through her work, Justine aims to expand access to Haitian and Caribbean children's literature, and she wants to ensure that her children as well as young readers from diverse backgrounds see themselves reflected in the stories that they read.
Author & Founder: VivLiv Books
Email: japl@vivlivbooks.com
Website: www.vivlivbooks.com
Tadia Toussaint is a Brooklyn-raised, Emmy-nominated director, producer, and multidisciplinary storyteller whose work amplifies voices across the African and Caribbean diaspora. As co-founder of Ouula Media, she creates socially driven content at the intersection of journalism, music, and culture.Her work has been featured on BRIC TV and NYC Life, where she has produced programming and documentaries centered on underrepresented communities. A Juilliard-trained recording artist who has toured internationally, Tadia brings a global perspective to conversations on identity, media, and cultural storytelling.
With a master’s degree in journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, her reporting and films have appeared in Gothamist, Univision, and The Haitian Times. From producing international series like Chokarella New York Takeover to reporting in Haiti, her work bridges local and global narratives.
Currently directing new film projects while releasing original music, Tadia continues to expand her creative reach across mediums. On stage, she speaks on representation in media, building platforms for marginalized voices, and the power of storytelling to drive cultural and social impact—leaving audiences with both practical insight and a renewed sense of purpose.
Tadia will read an excerpt from The Haiti Reader
Social Handles: @tadia2saint, @tadiamusic
Jean Eddy Saint Paul (PhD in Sociology): Professor in the Sociology Department at CUNY-Brooklyn College, where he served as the Founding Director of the CUNY Haitian Studies Institute. As a “Marquis Who's Who in America” honoree, his expertise spans Haitian studies, social theory, political sociology, and the sociology of religion. Dr. Saint Paul is a professor, a mentor, a scholar, and a program builder in higher education. For 12 years, he worked as the Director of the Library at the School of Humanities at the State University of Haiti.
He also co-founded a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, a Master’s Program in Political Analysis, and a PhD Program in Law & Politics at the Universidad de Guanajuato in Mexico. His works have been featured in various media outlets & academic institutions, including NPR, PBS, CBS News, Al Jazeera, and the Library of Congress. He received several recognitions, including a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from U.S. Congress. Email: jeaneddy.saintpaul@brooklyn.cuny.edu
Links:
https://theconversation.com/profiles/jean-eddy-saint-paul-1249134
Stéphane Silva is a Haitian author, storyteller, and cultural advocate born on March 7, 1996, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He completed his primary and secondary education in Pétion-Ville and Port-au-Prince and later earned a degree in Business Administration from the Université Notre Dame d’Haïti. He is also certified as an entrepreneurship trainer through a program with the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF).
A passionate advocate for a renewed vision of Haiti, Stéphane is the co-founder of Kite m Montre w Ayiti, an excursion agency dedicated to showcasing the country’s natural beauty. Since 2016, he has led educational and cultural excursions for university students, encouraging them to explore and appreciate Haiti in meaningful ways.
In 2020, he published La richesse dans la pauvreté, highlighting Haiti’s richness beyond common narratives of poverty. He later released the documentary Homesick (2023), celebrating Haitian culture, landscapes, and memory. His most recent work, La Géographie en pleine histoire, promotes education by teaching Haiti’s geography during times of social and political unrest.
