The January 12, 2010 earthquake and its aftershocks in Haiti have garnered worldwide attention and efforts in helping its victims. The disaster’s effects have encouraged the public, including members of the Cornish community, to offer assistance alongside of aid organizations.
Lanise Antoine Shelley (TH ’04) was born in St. Michele, Haiti, and placed in the Foundation for the Children of Haiti, a Port Au Prince orphanage, when she was still a baby. Since moving to the United States, Lanise has made two trips back to Haiti to reconnect with the culture and her biological family.
Immediately after graduating from Cornish, Lanise became a member of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Now living in Wisconsin, Lanise is appealing to the public to donate funds to the orphanage, which is in dire need of repairs after the earthquake. She will be speaking at the Wisconsin Club on April 17th on behalf of Haiti, but is encouraging people to donate immediately. Visit http://www.milwaukeerep.com/haitirelief.html to read Lanise’s story, and to donate to the Foundation for the Children of Haiti.
The Seattle jazz community has also been involved in aid efforts, raising money for David Pierre-Louis, jazz supporter and owner of LUCID Jazz Lounge to return to Haiti to search for his family and offer assistance to those in need. On January 20, musicians donated their time and skills to perform at venues up and down University Way to encourage donations. Organizers of the event included Richelle Gay, a Cornish College of the Arts alumna from the music department. You can follow David on his journey and read more about the community event at http://www.lucidseattle.com/.
The Black Student Union at Cornish will also be hosting an event on February 13 at Nellie’s Cafe at Cornish’s Main Campus building, with proceeds going to earthquake relief via Y’ele Haiti. Beginning at 6pm, there will be spoken word poetry, live music, and high energy dancing in celebration of Black History Month. Come out and support Cornish students and the victims of the Haiti earthquake.
