“I’m not an abstract artist; I like to convey a message,” he says. “My work gives me an opportunity to speak about things I care about. I want my work to be genuine and important.”

As a child Andre recalls asking his older sister, who drew and painted, to create drawings for him. Since then he has made it a point to learn from the experiences and talents of those he admires and has never looked back. He even remembers making a display for Canada’s Remembrance Day while in the 8^th grade.

His first live painting event was in September 2012.  Since January he has raised over $1,000 for a variety of organizations. The latest charity, called The Smile Train is dedicated to helping children with cleft palettes. His piece sold for $700 with the money going to help three children in need of reconstructive surgeries.

In February, in honor of Black History Month, Andre was approached to participate in two large TD Bank sponsored events: Cultural Ambiguity and An(other) Antilles. The first event, based in Ottawa, was a contemporary art exhibition celebrating culture and showcasing his work and other artists. The second event, based inToronto, was a one-night installation that merged documentary film and visual art.

To keep pushing the boundaries of his work Allan has begun creating more 3-dimensional pieces.

“The whole idea behind installation is to bring the other senses into play as opposed to strictly being visual…it brings another depth to the work.” Look out for his first solo exhibition later this year.

There’s a shortage of educational supplies, qualified teachers, and access to public education. The majority of schools are international private or church-run schools who more often than not operate near bigger cities than in rural areas, where the need is greatest. However, for one organization, they’re taking their skills and time to the people of Mirebalais in the hopes of advancing education in the community.

“FATEM operates under a very open culture,” said Jacky Poteau, executive director of Foundation of the Technological and Economic Advancement of Mirebalais (FATEM). “Since April 2006, FATEM has worked tirelessly to advance education, information, and economic development in the region, putting the long-term growth of Haiti into Haitians’ hands.”

On Saturday June 22, The Lantana in Randolph, MA will host “Educate to Change”, one of the premier fundraising events of the year, honoring the work of FATEM in the primary education sector in rural Haiti. Dr. James Féthière, President of GRAHN-Canada and GRAHN-Montreal, is the keynote speaker.

All of the founding members of FATEM are originally from Mirebalais, which gave them a certain connection and desire to give something back to the community that nurtured and made them who they are today, Poteau said.
“We chose to intervene in the primary education sector simply because we believe that in order to have a different Haiti in 25 or 30 years, we need to start with the children, as they are Haiti’s leaders of tomorrow,” he said. In the aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake, there’s been a growing push for vocational training in Haiti to prepare the masses for the more industrial jobs that are growing in Haiti due to new construction projects and business investments.
“Our hope is that catching the minds early and still young will create the innovators of tomorrow, not just preparing bodies to occupy ‘jobs’,” Poteau said. “Secondary education and vocational training are certainly important for today, and if folks support that notion it understandably reflects the need to employ the masses of unemployed people. We believe it is equally important that some of us focus on addressing the issue of lack of education access for children from rural Haiti.

“FATEM has two main initiatives in Mirebalais that further their educational goals in the country. One is their Teacher Training Academy and the second is their collaboration with University of the People, a nonprofit, tuition-free, online academic institution. The Teacher Training Academy provides professional development to “teachers and principals to improve student proficient in math and science.” The program also offers basic training certificate programs and development seminars to teachers.

“They focus on young people who have a passion to learn, but may not have the means to afford college the traditional way, or even a high-speed Internet connection,” Poteau said of University of the People. “Our collaboration with them has allowed 10 students from the Central Plateau and Lower Artibonite regions to enroll in their programs and pursue their chosen fields of study.”

Tickets can be purchased by visiting, FATEM.org or by mailing a check, made out to “FATEM”, to FATEM, Inc., 1 Centre Street, 3rd Floor, Brockton, MA 02301.

Throughout the island’s history, Haitian food has sustained its natives and friends. One of the event’s objectives was to promote Haiti’s cuisine in the Washington, D.C. community.

Hosted by the Embassy of Haiti, the celebration featured more than 25 samplings of delightful dishes from Port-au-Prince chefs, Stephan Durand Berrouet and Pastry Chef Valery Abraham. The samplings were arranged in deliciously flavorful bite-size servings.

“Many people aren’t exposed to Haitian delicacies and its culture,” said Paul G. Altidor, Haiti’s ambassador to the United States. “We hosted this showcase of Haitian entrees, appetizers and sweets not only to have a party, but to share the essence of our culture. We opened the doors of the Embassy to offer a sampling of Haiti, as a way to open a constructive dialogue about our country, the opportunities there, the diversity there and, yes, the tasty food.”

Pierre Garcon. Amb Altidor
and Patrick Gaspard

The menu captured the soul-warming pleasures of Haitian cuisine by maintaining a luxurious approach to each dish. The meal started with mini plantains with fried pork and spicy vegetable relish. For the second course, guests were treated to the hearty Soupe Joumou (Haitian pumpkin soup). This was followed by shellfish and beef in okra and black mushroom stew over white rice; ending with Haitian peanut brittle, Barbancourt rum punch and savory sip of celebrity chef Jose Andres Haitian rum sour.

Guests included high-profile personalities such as Rajiv Shah Administrator of USAID, Pierre Garcon of the Washington Redskins and Patrick Gaspard U.S. Ambassador to South Africa & former director of the Democratic National Committee.

Mr. and Mrs Amb Altidor
and Administrator of USAID Photo

The celebration also highlighted the splendor of Haitian arts, courtesy of Fritz Racine’s collection. In addition, Haiti’s fashion was represented with gorgeous Karibella dresses, which were worn by the hostesses. The dresses were the creation of Maelle Figaro David, who is often regarded as one of the best Haitian designers of traditional Haitian clothing.

The event was a delectable explosion of flavors and a perfect way to celebrate two hundred and ten years of Haiti’s flag.

Jimmy Dugazon is from Gonaives, Haiti. After years of his mother dressing him in fine tailored clothes, Jimmy followed his passion for fashion and attended Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale where he enrolled in the fashion program. Upon graduation he worked for many local designers in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area creating eveningwear, swimwear, and handbags for private clients. “My designs are very edgy without being in your face. I would say my design esthetic is somewhat Coco Chanel but with an Italian sex appeal”, at the time.

Being stopped by many people while attending fashion events around town, Dugazon decided to launch a bow tie collection for all those who wanted to know “where did you get you tie.” December 2012 was when he decided to start this venture, and when asked why an accessory and not actual apparel, he replied with “Accessories was not something I’d ever consider but I am glad it found me.”

With inspiration coming from the city of Miami, different cultures combined with the elements of a tropical paradise give form to Jimmy’s image of bow ties that make a statement. He describes his ideal client as “customers between the age of 20 and 45, they see themselves as citizens of the world because they are well traveled. They are very social and do not like to blend in or compromise their fashion. And they don’t pay attention to trends, they create trends.”

“Fashion is forever changing,” and for Jimmy Dugazon,designing a new collection four times a year is his way of staying new and fresh. His bow ties are priced at a range of $35.00-$95.00. The styles are sold in high-end boutiques throughout the Miami area and can also found online @jimmydugazon.com

Success has started right away for Dugazon with his collection selling in six stores and aspirations of dressing a celebrity, Jimmy Dugazon is the new bow tie accessory name to follow. Vibrant colors and unique fabric keep shoppers coming back for more.

AC: Coming from a family of musicians, what made you want to get into jewelry?
I come from a family of musicians; but was raised around all types of artist: poets, sculptors, painters. So to me, these different ways of artistic expression are all one. They are complementary. Painting is music, music is colors, poetry is rhythm, and jewelry is like sculpture. My inspiration has no limits.

AC: What was your inspiration to work with metals and wood?
I never know when and how inspiration is going to come to me since I create in different mediums. When I learned sculpture in college, I really enjoy it. Stone sculpture is harder to work with, which made it easy to jump into jewelry “sculptures” made of wood and metal. I am strongly inspired by African culture and the tribal art always fascinates me.

AC: What are some of the challenges being a designer?
Creating comes very natural for me. The challenge is going commercial. I would love to do a trunk show in the US sometime; I am still working on that.

AC: What was it like when Kim Kardashian came to your booth during Femme en Democratie?
LOL! I had no idea who she was. I was setting up my stand and saw this delegation of journalist and photographers.Out of nowhere she came to me and started trying everything on: necklaces, bracelets, rings. She proceeded to walk through the whole fair with everything on. She even offered to model my pieces in the runway presentation. What she did seemed to be with a very natural and spontaneous attitude. No one has ever bought so many of my creations all at once like this.

AC: We heard you have your jewelry on other high profile people; can you share with us some names?
Yes, Angelina Jolie, Vice President of Dominican Republic-Margarita Fernandez, First Lady of Haiti-Sophia Martelly, Ambassador of the US in Haiti-Pamela White, and Miss Haiti 2011-Anedie Azael.

AC: What are some of you proudest moments?
Some of my proudest moments come from the enthusiastic reaction I get from people when my product is on display. It is a big satisfaction to me. I love it when people show interest; it really makes me ecstatic.

AC: Where can people find you?
They can find me on Facebook under La Boite a Bijoux or email me at boiteabijouxhaiti@yahoo.fr

One of the most common questions that comes up at this phase of planning is “what kind of business structure should I have?” There are several structures from which to choose, and each one depends on the particular needs of your business. Do you want your business to grow into a huge enterprise? Do you want a general storefront type of business? Is your business merely a hobby that brings in a little extra income? The answers to these questions lie within the following categories.

Sole Proprietorship

• Easiest and most common business structure
• Unincorporated business owned by one individual
• Pros – owner is entitled to all profits from business activities and tax preparation is easy
• Cons – owner is personally liable for all business debts, losses and liabilities
• No legal action required for formation
• Perfect for a side hustle or hobby that generates extra income

Corporation

• Independent legal entity owned by shareholders
• Complex business structure – high administrative fees and complex tax and legal requirements
• Pros – limited liability for business actions and debts, ability to raise funds and corporate tax treatment
• Cons – costly and time consuming, some types of corporations are subject to double taxation, high level of regulation by government agencies
• Formation requires: choosing a business name, registering the Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State, issuing stock certificates to initial shareholders, and obtaining all necessary licenses and permits
• Perfect for conglomerates, large ventures or any business looking to eventually go public

Partnership

• Single business where 2 or more people share ownership
• Each partner contributes to all aspects of the business and shares in the profits and losses
• Pros – easy and inexpensive to form, shared financial commitment between partners and the partnership as a whole benefits as a whole from the skills and expertise of each partner
• Cons – partners are liable for their own actions as well as for those of their partners, partnership debts can be satisfied from the personal assets of all partners and there is the potential for disagreement and discord with respect to the sharing of profits and allocation of time
• Formation requires: establishing a business name, registering the business with the Secretary of State, obtaining necessary licenses and permits and creating a Partnership Agreement
• Perfect for forming a business with multiple people who possess specialized skills

Limited Liability Company

• Hybrid type of legal structure that provides the limited liability of a corporation and the tax advantages of a partnership
• Less formal and costly than a corporation but provides more protection than a partnership
• Pros – limited liability for business activities, less record keeping and less restrictions on profit sharing
• Cons – LLCs have a limited life span and members of an LLC may be required to pay self-employment tax
• Formation requires: choosing a business name, registering your Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State, creating an Operating Agreement, obtaining all necessary licenses and permits and publicizing the announcement of your business
• Perfect for general small businesses

“Doing Business As” (DBA)

• DBA is a fictitious name that is different from your personal name (in the case of a sole proprietorship) or from your legally registered name (in the case of a corporation, partnership or LLC)
• Some states require registration of your DBA name, others do not

Regardless of which structure you choose, you should always consult your local attorney and accountant to obtain all necessary information. Choose an attorney and accountant that are well versed in your field of interest. Meet with them in person in order to assess their skills, business acumen and understanding of your particular situation and needs.

*This article in no way, shape or form constitutes legal advice of any kind. For more information consult your local attorney or contact me at info@bernierlegal.com*