Abraham Metellus

Miami native Abraham Metellus graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Pastoral Studies in 2009. However, his passion for community development allowed him to matriculate through the Devos Urban Training Network and obtain a Masters in Project Management from Devry University. Metellus has over 10 years of experience working with diverse communities, and he is committed to seeing these communities flourish in healthy and holistic ways.  Metellus is the manager of Miami's Little Haiti Cultural Complex, where his goal is to serve the local community of Little Haiti while extending an invitation to the world to see the Afro-Caribbean culture that contributes to Miami's unique and diverse cultural make up.

Francesse Lucius

Francesse Lucius was born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, and today she works as the Senior Attorney for Children’s Legal Services in Palm Beach County. Prior to Law School, Lucius received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Women’s Studies at the University of Florida. She interned and volunteered with the Alachua County Victims Services and Rape Crisis Center; the Florida Department of Children and Families; and the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network. After graduation, she worked as a Domestic Violence Advocate and Residential Supervisor at Women in Distress of Broward County. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Haitian Lawyers Association.

Gedel Merzius

Gedel Merzius serves as an Economic Development Operations Analyst for the Seminole Tribe of Florida Economic Development Department, which is charged with business retention, expansion and attraction initiatives, and the pursuit of strategic investments and joint ventures that enhance the Seminole Tribe’s quality of life. Merzius has served as a Financial Analyst at CAP government, an engineering firm specializing in providing building department services exclusively to government clients.

Mezius is a member of PACT (people acting- community together) as a representative of St. James Catholic Church. He received a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Psychology from Florida Atlantic University, a Master’s in Business Administration, with a concentration in Finance from Nova Southeastern University, and is currently preparing to receive his CeCD certification through the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute.

Jacqueline Exceus

Jacqueline Exceus has worked as a Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) for the last seven years for the Miramar Police Department, Miami Police Department and Miami Dade County Medical Examiners Department. She has a Master’s of Science in Criminal Justice, Forensic Technology Investigation from Nova Southeastern University and a member of the International Association for Identification (IAI).

Exceus avid volunteer at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, Mandoo Foundation, True Angels Foundation and throughout Miami-Dade County with relief efforts for Haiti’s 2010 earthquake and Hurricane Matthew victims. Other fundraising efforts have included recycling, beach cleanup and planting and preserving nature initiatives with the Oleta River State Park and Friends of Oleta Environmental.

Exceus is also an advocate for the Haitian community and she has been vocal on a variety of issues including immigration, domestic violence and criminal justice.  She also serves as a mentor to children in grades K through 12, participating in career day activities.

Jennifer Lovelace

Jennifer Lovelace, ARNP is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner.  She has five years of work experience as a Neuro/Cardiac nurse at Tenet Healthcare. Lovelace graduated from Nova Southeastern University's Nurse Practitioner program in 2017 and before that with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2012.

Lovelace has also been involved in the pageant industry for over eight years, winning titles such as "Miss Caribbean International Beauty", "Miss West Palm Beach" and "Miss Haiti International". As "Miss Haiti International", she traveled to Jamaica to represent Haiti who participated for the first time in the “Miss Global International” and finished among the top five in talent.      

Nancy Metayer

Nancy Metayer is an environmentalist, water advocate, humanitarian and community organizer. She is currently the Climate Justice Organizer for The New Florida Majority. As an avid believer in social justice, Nancy supports causes around equity and environmental issues plaguing marginalized communities. Nancy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences from Florida A&M University and Master of Health Science degree in Environmental Health Sciences from Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Having spent the past seven years working for government agencies and nonprofit organizations both domestically and internationally, Nancy promoted programs that improve environmental conditions, water, sanitation, public health and education. Nancy worked on the 2015 Continuing Promise Mission; a collaboration between NGOs based in Haiti, the Haitian Government and the United States Navy USNS Comfort that provided public health services to Haitians. She also advocated for vulnerable communities impacted by the Flint Water Crisis. Lastly, Nancy has always pushed for progress and through activism she is determined to encourage others to feel the same way.

Sabrina Cherelus

Dr. Sabrina Cherelus is Alumna of the University of Miami with a doctorate degree in physical therapy. Cherelus has been a practicing physical therapist for eight years specializing in Geriatrics and Neuro Rehab, helping patients to be healed and restored holistically to achieve independence. Cherelus has been able to combine the love of her profession with directly impacting the Haitian community by participating and several service/ medical mission trips to different parts of Haiti. Cherelus is also an active leader of her church youth group, where she participated in establishing the "Youth Coalition", a group to connect and link the local youth groups of Haitian churches in South Florida.

Sandy Pierre

Sandy Pierre is a Registered Clinical Social Worker.  She graduated with a Master’s in Social Work from Barry University in December of 2012 and a Bachelor’s in Health Service Administration from Florida International University in 2009.  Pierre has worked with Humana Health Insurance for the past eight years.  She is currently a Humana Cares Manager/Clinical Advisor where she assists Medicare and Medicaid recipients with their health care needs through telephonic case management services. As the first Creole speaker in the department, Pierre trains new Bilingual (Creole) associates to accommodate the Haitian American Community with their healthcare needs.  She also works as a Creole Speaking Therapist with Our Children Our Future where she helps the Haitian children and families identify mental health issues.  Lastly, Pierre serves as a Youth Group Leader and Mentor at Notre Dame D’Haiti Catholic Church.

Stephanie Desarmes

Stephanie Desarmes is currently perusing a Masters in Social Work at Barry University and she has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Florida International University. Desarmes currently interns at the Miami VA Healthcare System where she assists at-risk veterans through clinical and supportive services.

Prior to that Desarmes interned at OurKids of Miami Dade/Monroe, Inc., where she assisted the Independent Living Department to help at-risk youth make a successful transition into adulthood. She has also volunteered at the Human Society, where she helped to rescue more than 20 stray animals; and with Florida Immigration Coalition, helping individuals gain citizenship. Her passion is to build strong and stable connections with children in the foster care system, so they may grow into healthy and productive adults.

Stephanie Magene

Stephanie Magene serves as the Program Coordinator for Walk My Shoes Inc., which is a mentorship program for students entering high school from inner city communities.  Magene is a graduate of the University of Miami with a Bachelors of Arts in International Studies and a minor in education.  She is the co-founder of Advocates for Change and Togetherness (ACT), which raises awareness of systematic racism, immigration and human trafficking.