I'm going to keep a running blog - on Haiti, on the community of 85 Broads connecting in this time of unimaginable loss and human tragedy. I'm simply going to post the words shared by 85 Broads members, starting with the note on Haiti sent to all 85 Broads members.

Dear 85 Broads members,

We were very saddened to receive news of the devastating earthquake that impacted Haiti on Tuesday evening. We wanted to reach out, as we have identified all of you as members of our network who are Haitian citizens, of Haitian descent, or have worked or volunteered for Haitian organizations. We hope that you are all safe, and you and your families are in our thoughts during this time.

We would like to encourage you to feature your stories and news on the 85 Broads website in order to help build awareness and bring relief to Haiti - please let us know how we can support you!

All the best,
Janet, Kelly, Marlena, and Krista

***

I've heard from many of you asking for suggestions of where to give and what to do in light of the devastation taking place in Haiti. It is impossible to look at the extraordinary photographs of destruction and despair without feeling your heart twist, wondering what it will take to rebuild and how long that process will require. Right now, of course, the world's focus must be on helping the millions of victims survive. As soon as that situation is stabilized, however, we need as a world to help Haiti build for a better future. That will take much more than money, but a more determined insistence on establishing the right policies and infrastructure to enable markets to work, better education for all, and investments in entrepreneurs that won't stop until they have solved tough problems or created significant numbers of jobs.

There are many organizations doing good work in Haiti, and Acumen Fund recommends two. Partners In Health has been committed to helping Haitians for more than two decades; and supporting them will enable greater focus on both short-term relief as well as longer-term investment. Architecture for Humanity will focus on the longer-term by building critically needed housing and community structures. We are proud to know the entrepreneurs behind the organizations and can vouch for their quality as individuals focused on doing the right things.

I hope this helps in some small way. We stand in solidarity with our Haitian brothers and sisters and with people all around the world who are seeing how much we need one another, how interconnected we are, and how much each of us can do.

In peace,
Jacqueline

***

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
 
My eyes well up as I'm writing this.  Thank you again.  As you know, it's a terrible time for the Haitian community but it's overwhelming the amount of love, support and prayers we have received.  There is no expression in my vocabulary to describe the heartbreak of the situation.  The place I lived is no more and any landmarks, gone.  The new hospital built (Centre Hospitalier du Sacré-Coeur) is unrecognizable.
 
Everyone is trying to move mountains to reach their loved ones but, helpless, they sit glued to the TV with the phone in hand ready to dial again.  Others have decided to travel there in hopes to see for themselves what's left of their family.  In my part of the world, friends are updating other friends about any change in status because anyone's victory is ours as well.
 
We have intermittent contact with my cousins who live in the suburbs of Haiti.  They just returned to PAP after college/grad school abroad.  We're actually using facebook to send messages back and forth and it's heartbreaking to see the places you grew up now in RUIN.  My 92 year-old grandfather who lives in Jacmel has reported he's OK but is sleeping outside and is hoping for rain this weekend (i checked the weather and it isn't raining for the next 10 days) as it's extremely hot and there's no access to water.  The phone call lasted under a minute before cutting out.  That's the best news we've received today (we're very glad!).
 
My uncle and his family are missing but word on the street is that his home is completely leveled.  He was either there, or the presidential palace.  We're hoping no one was in it and praying he will be able to contact us soon. 
 
Everyone must understand that Haiti doesn't really have an infrastructure so there's not "common place" to go.  If you're house is down, the church leveled and the schools unsafe, you are sleeping outside.  You have no more things and you have no access to anything that has not been already looted. 
 
Please continue to send your prayers and well wishes to everyone there and suffering. There are PLENTY of opportunities to help but I caution- please take the time to call the organizations and/or visit their websites for more information and to build your personal comfort level with your donation.  If anyone would like to send items, they are missing BASIC ITEMS such as bottled water, shelter/tents, sheets (for sleeping and to bury dead), extra clothes/shoes, bandages and hats with brims.  It's extremely hot there right now and the dead bodies will begin to smell/rot VERY soon. 
 
I thank everyone again now, and in advance for the many efforts!  Stay positive!! Le bilan sera plus que lourd. Continuons à prier!!!

***

I, like Genevieve, thank you for the support. To know that a community as extensive as 85 Broads stands behind Haitians not only in Haiti but scattered across the diaspora renews my belief in the good of humanity.
 
When I say my heart aches, I do not use the words as a mere platitude; I feel the literal pain in my chest as my body physically responds to the scope of this tragedy.
 
I only ask that you keep us, as a people, in your prayers.
 
Thank you,
 
Martha

***

Genevieve and Martha, your emails literally send shivers down my spine.  Thank you for the updates.  Genevieve – your relatives and all the people of Haiti are in my prayers, and I hope that you are able to make contact with your uncle’s family and that safe water arrives very soon.  I’m planning to go to a fundraiser organized by StartingBloc tomorrow to support Partners in Health, which seems like a reputable organization that’s been working in Haiti for 20 years.  Stay strong!

Kind regards,
Krista

***

Hi Ladies,

Thanks so much for reaching out. I really appreciate it. As of now, I have been in touch with both sides of my family. There is one confirmed death and everyone's homes have been destroyed.

I know that you would like to help in any way that you can. I highly encourage you to give monetary donations at this time. The need is so great and so much aid is flowing, that money will be the easiest to convert to different forms of aid (food, equipment, etc.) and prevent waste. And please ask your friends and family to give as well. You can even ask friends to donate through friends whose employers will be matching gifts.

To keep this email short, I have two suggestions for donations.

(1) You can donate to the well respected and highly trusted Partners in Health (PIH) via the Angel Network which is matching up to $25,000. The website is http://www.angelwish.org/.

You can also give directly to PIH at www.pih.org .

(2) My second suggestion is that you become a funding source for the Columbia Law School (CLS) Haiti caravan that I am helping to plan. This will be a spring break trip either to Haiti or Miami in which law students will assist with any and all legal issues related to relief efforts. CLS has had extensive experience working in Haiti, focusing primarily on migration and immigration along the Haiti and Dominican Republic border. As you can imagine, such work will need to be amplified and already thousands of Haitians are trying to cross into the Dominican Republic.

Which such a large Haitian population in New York City, it would be great to send a strong contingent to aid in the efforts. If you personally, or your employer, would like to contribute to CLS's caravan, or host a fundraiser for us you can contact me directly. Read more about CLS's work in
Haiti here - http://www.law.columbia.edu/center_program/human_rights/InterAmer/DR-Haiti
Dominican Republic blocking Haitian refugees: http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idCategory=33&idsub=193&id=25503&t=Dominican+Republic+blocking+Haitian+refugees


Best regards,

Wendy

***

Thank you ladies. It was incredibly thoughtful of you to reach out to us and I really appreciate it. I have family in Haiti, whom I am told are ok.


Rachel