Community gets ready for Haitian Flag Day

Brooklyn Council Member Dr. Mathieu Eugene is gearing up for a big Haitian Flag Day celebration this weekend.

Eugene, the first Haitian to be elected to New York City Council, said he will hold the annual celebration at Erasmus High School, 911 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, on Saturday, May 21, at 5 pm.

The event is free, said Eugene, who represents the 40th Council District.

On Wednesday, Eugene’s City Council colleagues Jumaane D. Williams and Brad Lander, as well as State Assembly Member, Haitian American Rodneyse Bichotte, in partnership with Haiti Cultural Exchange were expected to host “Selebrasyon” in commemoration of Haitian Flag Day.

The event, held at Shape Shifter Lab 18, Whitwell Pl., Brooklyn, is a yearly commemoration of the creation of Haiti’s flag and celebrates Haitian culture and heritage.

As part of the celebration, Williams, who represents the 45th Council District in Brooklyn, said five Haitian Americans were expected to be presented with New York City proclamations.

He said they were honored for their achievements in the community and their respective professions in music and performing arts.

This year’s honorees were: Vicky Jeudy – actress, Orange Is the New Black; Jerry Wonda Duplessis – Grammy award-winning music producer; Esther Lormil- recording artist, speaker and songwriter; Peniel Guerrier – choreographer and founder of Kriye Bode; and Riva Nyri Precil – singer and children’s book author, “Anaëlle Ak Lasirèn.”