"I am my brother's keeper " The phrase originates from the Biblical story of Cain and Abel. The implication is that we have a shared responsibility for the welfare of our fellow human beings. That responsibility involves alleviating suffering and addressing injustice.
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In 2009, I was led to answer a spiritual call to foreign missions. It began with a journey to South Africa and subsequent visits to Kenya and Haiti in search for answers to questions of what I’d been called to do. The parable of talents, found in Matthew 25:14-30 as I have interpreted it has given me both growth and reward to be able to impact the lives of people I have met along the way. Sowing seeds, sharing our natural talents and gifts is extremely important in the humanitarian work we have been called to do, regardless of faith.
In 2013, I gathered some seeds and found myself planting the gifts and talents on the island of Hispaniola where the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic are intertwined. The historical and rich complexity of the island captured my heart. I am an African- American expatriate who has had a unique positionality of seeing firsthand how the lives of documented and undocumented Haitians living and working in the Dominican Republic lives have been impacted by racism, growing anti-immigrant sentiment and Antihaitianism.
In 2013 after attending services at a small Haitian Church in La Altagracia where my second home is located, I noticed very few of the congregants had Bibles. I informed my home church in the states and was able to get the funding to supply French English Bibles to the Church. The tiny Church had welcomed me and provided a translator each time I came into the worship service. They also made sure someone escorted me back home safely after evening service.
As an African American expat in Punta Cana, I have had an opportunity to live comfortably, develop new friendships, experience new cultures and develop a literacy program for women who work at craft shops, and sell souvenirs in Bavaro Beach in Cortecito. For me social justice and human rights is about giving a voice to the voiceless. There is a song written by Simon & Garfunkel in 1964 entitled The Sound of Silence that really spoke to me about ignorance and the dangers of not speaking up. The pursuit of this degree means that I get to speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves. I have always had an interest in unveiling historical truth and evaluating its validity. The question becomes how we unravel the historical truth to accurately reflect the story of “the others”. As a lifelong student I have always been interested in delving into the stories behind historical events, because this method of historical analysis leaves room for the kind of interpretation that opens a dialogue with the past and lays bare answers to some of history’s greatest questions.
I am interested in issues concerning minority or marginalized groups. Pursuing a degree in social justice and human rights offers me an opportunity to help meet and address the challenges and discrimination these groups face. I have worked with Kenyan and Haitian women and children over the past 12 years. I have done extensive missionary work in Kenya, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. My most recent projects involved providing school supplies and designing a literacy program for undocumented Haitian women in La Altagracia, Bavaro. According to the World Bank (UNESCO) the literacy rate for female adults reportedly 57.32% for 1982-2024. As an educator who spends a considerable amount of time in the Dominican Republic, I observed firsthand and recognized the need for basic educational skill services.
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