The Creole Image Honors has become a staple in the Haitian community, recognizing its best and brightest. Co-founder Fred Raphael breaks down his efforts to increase awareness and appreciation of the culture as a whole.
Creole Image Honors have been in existence for three years can you describe its significance in the Haitian community?
It provides a platform for the unsung hero’s of the community to be recognized and celebrated. The idea is to encourage them to continue the fight in uplifting the community and give them the courage that is so much needed to create a different narrative. It is a long fight but our mission is ensure they know that the community is with them every step of the way.
Can you give us a brief description of who Fred Raphael is and why did you and your team develop the concept for the Creole Image Honors?
Fred Raphael is a father, husband, entrepreneur and a fighter for a better tomorrow. Born and raised in Haiti, I spent my formative years soaking in the culture. I accredit my desire to see a better tomorrow to my father and grandfather who had an entrepreneurial mentality and believed in impacting the community by helping others change their financial lives. In some cases that meant providing jobs in my fathers store or giving loans to others to fund their businesses or simply put food on their family’s table. It is that care and compassion that showed me the impact one man or woman can have on someone’s life.
The Creole Image Honors alumni have been impressive such as Dr. Ruth Celestin, Kervin Andre(Akomics), Kangol Kid, Marc Baptiste, Chef Duke Estime, Tabou Combo, Watson Mere, Charlene Bathelus, Pras Michel, Pierre Garcon, Jean Elie, Garry Pierre-Pierre, Melky Jean, Wil Sylvince, Judge Sybil M. Elias, and more. You also recognized the work of Betty Jean and the Haitian Federation Basketball Team, how do you choose your honorees? For the past two year the process has been a mixture of recommendations through social media outlets, the who’s who in the community and in depth research from our board members. The key element in the selection of every nominee is how they serve and us their voice to impact he Haitian community.
Please describe Renew 1804 and how it’s impacting existing charities in Haiti. Renew1804 Inc. mission is to restore communities through efforts that support education and wellness of the residents to enable them to build neighborhoods which spur economic growth back into the local communities in a self sustaining manner. That means addressing the community’s physical features, quality of life and economic development in one coordinated strategy. For this years’ Creole Image Honors Awards A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Aides Sans Frontieres (AISF) a non-profit organization that provides support to underprivileged children throughout Haiti. Their mission is to give more children a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm.
Who is Kervin Andre and what is his contribution to Creole Image Honors? Kervin Andre is an ICON in the visual arts community and our modern day Basquiat. His pride in his Haitian Heritage emanates from every brushstroke. Kervin Andre was born and raised in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti; the First Black Republic in the Americas.His art work displays an acute sense of pride and social responsibility. He credits is intellectual curiosity to his father and his strength and resilience to his mother. He draws inspiration from everything around him. However, all of his art is focused on uplifting and realizing the power of who we are as a people and for the culture.
It takes a dedicated committee to execute such an elaborate event, can you tell us who is helping Creole Image Honors create the magic?
We have a dedicated team who has been there from the inception of the vision, Nafeeza Holder as co-founder, Team First Republic, Kervin Andre (Akomics), Sandra Dieudonné (SK Public Relations), Miriam Oslin (Mimiplannedevents). Media, photography and sponsors (Chef The Rose, Esrever Wines, Lime Definition, Celestial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Dnalsi, Celestial Style & Beauty, Chef Stephan, Odyssey Collection, LIQS, BPAudioVisual, OnAJourneeVentures, 4evergrafix).
As you described Creole Image Honors represents the Haitian community, how can those who are not of Haitian descent connect to your message? The slave revolution which took place in Haiti did not just benefit Haiti, it benefited all Blacks and races throughout the world. We live by the quote of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
With so many awards shows what makes Creole Image Honors unique?There are a few things which makes us unique, one of them is the hand painted Awards by renowned artist Kervin Andre. Others, is the selection process and the diversity in our honorees in how they use their talent to impact the community to represent Haiti.
As one of the founders of the Creole Image Honors what is your favorite part of the event? Seeing the Honorees on stage and getting insight into the WHY behind their message, it personally drives me to continue the work and affirms what we are doing is much needed.
Where do you see Creole Image Honors in the next 10 years? We are striving to be the most regarded/prestigious awards celebration both domestically and globally.
