Sant La Fellows Class II
David Frederick
I was born and raised in Saint-Marc, Haiti. I came to the United States at the age of 18. In May 2013, I earned an Associate in Arts degree in International Relations at Miami Dade College. I served as a keynote speaker for the graduation and was the recipient of “The Chris Mello Award for Leadership.”
Throughout my time there, I volunteered in many Student Government Association events and was the president of two clubs (MDC-Wesley and Minority Students for College Success (MSCS)). I was one of the students of Year Up South Florida, where I learned about technical and professional communication skills and earned an internship at AT&T. At the end of my internship, I was offered a full-time position. One year and half later, I was selected to participate in a six-month leadership program in the AT&T Retail Management Development Program.
I enjoy running, reading, attending Sunday service and being with my family. These are activities in which I engage for reflection and to make myself a more effective leader in the organizations in which I am a part. I currently serve as the Chair of the Year Up Miami Alumni.
Fabiah Lherisson
Fabiah Lherisson is a Haitian American entrepreneur. She was born in Miami but spent her childhood in Haiti until the age of 12. At the age of 21, Fabiah co-founded Win Win Global Corp, a non for profit organization servicing college students and the Haitian community. She has worked as the Local Preference consultant at the SoLe Mia development project. Today, Fabiah co-owns the North Miami based, Apex-Tech electrical and Air Conditioning which services franchise restaurants like the Wendy’s and Arby’s. She also co-owns Alin Marble Design which services the Miami Beach luxury homes for their natural stone maintenance, repair and installation needs. Fabiah’s future plans include growing the companies and getting involved in real-estate.
Gaetane Saint-Victor
I grew up in Port-au-Prince, Haiti where I lived the first 13 years of my life. I migrated to Miami, Florida in March 2000. I graduated from North Miami Senior High School in 2004 at the age of 17 and pursued my college degree at ST Thomas University. I graduated in 2007 with my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Global Leadership Liberal Arts, with minors in Philosophy and Religious Studies. In 2011, I graduated from Barry University with my Master of Social Work degree. Today, I am enrolled at Carlos Albizu University in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program.
An active member of the Church, I call it my second home. In 2005, I participated in the Miss Notre Dame D’Haiti Pageant and became the first Miss Notre Dame. Today, I am the chair of the pageant committee. I am currently the president of the women ministry at Notre Dame D’Haiti Catholic Church, called Ladies of Essence. I am also a Catechist as well as a lector.
Today, a master's level social worker and a registered intern, I have a strong passion to help those in need. After seeing so many children experiencing and living nightmares daily, I have come to realize much more help is needed in the community.
Jidlyne Remy-Cherelus
My name is Jidlyne Remy-Cherelus, and I am a Registered Nurse with more than 10 years of experience in the Healthcare Industry. Nursing has always been my passion. I am one who enjoys making a difference not only within a clinical setting but also within my community. I believe sustaining a healthy society begins at home, which is why community service has always been big aspect of my extracurricular activities. I’ve participated in many Community Health Fairs. I have also held a position as the Lead RN for Medical Missions to Haiti with Direct Initiative to Support Haiti (DISH). After the 2010 earthquake, I went to local churches, grocery stores, and other non-profit organizations and collected clothes, shoes, canned goods, prescription bottles for the survivors.
As a Registered Nurse, I have worked in rehabilitation facilities, community healthcare facilities, hospital-based settings, and home health settings. I have had the opportunity to not only interact with others but also advocate for them. Nothing could have contributed to my professional growth more, which is why I like to give back to my Haitian community. “To do what nobody else will do, a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through: that is to be a nurse.”-Rawsi Williams
Ludmilla Paul
Ludmilla Paul was born and raised in Miami, FL. Growing up in a Haitian household, her family instilled in her a sense of pride in their rich history and culture. For her undergraduate tenure, Ms. Paul attended Emory University and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. Ludmilla then completed a fellowship with the State of Georgia Governor’s Office. In this role, she was part of a team that assessed the feasibility of health insurance exchanges included in the Affordable Care Act. She went on to earn a Master of Public Health from Nova Southeastern University. She was recognized as a leader and received the prestigious Chancellor’s Award for Public Health.
Currently, she is employed by Health Choice Network (HCN). HCN supports a network of community health centers by providing key business services, strategic initiatives, and the latest in health information technology. In her role, she is responsible for day-to-day management of health research programs to improve healthcare delivery and health outcomes. She works to ensure compliance with human subject research, data sharing, and stakeholder engagement regulations. She is most interested in the intersection between health, public policy, and business. Ludmilla is always up for an adventure. In her leisure time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, the arts, reading, and traveling.
Naomie Labaty
Naomie Labaty is a proud member of Sant La’s second cohort of Fellows. A native of Haiti, the island left an indelible imprint on her and focused her towards a life of public service. In 2009, she co-founded Boukan, a cultural show at Moca Café with the mission of promoting the Haitian Culture and giving a voice to the youths and a platform for artistic expressions. In 2011, she became co-producer and co-host of the television program Plezi Soley on Island TV which discusses a variety of cultural and social issues linked to the Haitian community in South Florida. She dedicates her time to women’s empowerment, education, international and local development and volunteers with multiple socially-engaged organizations. She is the recipient of the "Beacon of Hope and Achievement Award” from the Consulate General of the Republic of Haiti in Miami.
Naomie Labaty graduated from Florida International University with a Master’s degree in Global Affairs, specializing in Globalization and Security. She holds a BA in International Relations and Political Science, with a certificate in Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
Sainte-Fanie Jean-Baptiste
My name is Sainte-Fanie Jean-Baptiste, and I am a dedicated leader and apprentice with a focus on business and personal commitment to service. I am a proud alumna of Florida State University with a bachelor degree in Accounting and a minor in Hospitality Management. I am currently pursuing my Certification in Public Accounting along with my masters’. During my collegiate years, I have had the opportunity to study abroad in Spain, serve as the Senior Vice-President and Vice-President of Pledge Education of Delta Sigma Pi Professional Fraternity, launch a nonprofit organization, and intern with Ernst and Young (a leading accounting firm) for 2 consecutive summers. Upon graduation, I interned with EY in their London office, where I assisted a team with creating a tax-structure proposal for an Irish company opening a branch in the United Kingdom.
I serve as an ambassador for Anseye Pou Ayiti (Teach For Haiti), an organization focused on creating an education system that affords the country’s citizens equally high-quality education by promoting teacher excellence and student success.
All in all, I am fully committed to serving the Haitian community and utilizing my academic, professional, and social background to execute my national duty.
Vanessa Joseph
Vanessa Joseph is an immigration attorney based in Miami, Florida. She began her work in immigration and human rights as a law student where she participated in two legal clinics where she was able to engage in advocacy on behalf of the Haitian community of South Florida. In 2013, Joseph contributed to an amicus curiae brief filed before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which focused on human rights violations by the Dominican Republic in its process of carrying out mass deportations of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent without allowing them proper due process or taking into account humanitarian considerations. Joseph has also delivered critically needed legal assistance in low-income and underserved communities, which included individuals who struggled with mental health issues, were HIV+, or had AIDS.
Today, as an attorney at Catholic Legal Services, in addition to representing low-income immigrants, Joseph conducts information sessions for immigrant detainees to inform them of their rights, immigrant court and the detention process. She has provided these services to more than 400 people through group and individual orientations and self-help workshops. Joseph currently serves on the AILA South Florida Pro Bono Committee, helping South Florida's immigrant community secure competent legal representation.
With a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami and a Master in Public Administration, Joseph is and will continue to be a purposeful and passionate agent for change.