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“And we open” in Haitian Creole.

Director’s Update

As the saying goes, a picture speaks a thousand words and yet the moment I received the keys to the The Grace Community Birth Center I was overwhelmed with ten thousand words and maybe that many emotions. WOW, we did it! I have dreamed of this moment for so long that I have to keep asking myself, “is this real, is this happening?” So many moments of late when I think, “Wow, we did it”....like when the Cap-Haitien airport was calling about another shipment of supplies and we where out of storage space before moving into the Center; or when conducting some final training with the staff; or when planning the grand opening for May 5th with the board.

Words do not due justice to what I am feeling in that moment you see above when I receive the keys to the Birth Center. A place that will mean safe, respectful birth care for women of my community and their families, a place that will afford young people the opportunity to learn how to be more respectful of one another and to have more control over the future they want, a place that will affirm what strong Haitian women can achieve. However, there are two words that will always be in my heart for all of you because without you there would be no keys, so MĔSI ANPIL, (thank you)!!!

For more photos and a report on the progress of construction, please visit the website:

Donor Highlight and A Much Needed Fence

Dr. Mathilde Coste is an OB/GYN from Paris, France who worked with Director Lubin when they were both in Jacmel at Mother Health International (2010-11). Dr. Coste has been a supporter of Grace since that time and recently made a donation (about $5,000 US) intended to build a fence around the Birth Center to prevent live stock from entering the grounds and to add security. Dr. Coste’s donation with the sale of a cow and earnings from honey produced on the Grace property (about $1,100 US) covered the cost of a gate and chain link fence for about two thirds of the property. A modest donation from two Haitian supporters living abroad funded community labor to build a fence on the remaining back portion of the property with natural materials. To understand how critical this fence was view this taken in January, and see photos of the fence as it unfolded .

Grace Celebrates International Women’s Day

A key mission of Grace is the education and empowerment of the Grand Bassan youth. So despite stacks of boxes full of supplies that needed to be organized, final staff on-boarding to complete, and a final punch list to shepherd to completion, Director Lubin hosted 80 young women and a handful of parents at the new Center to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 11. The Program theme, “Embrace Equity”, was supported by the Foundation for Advancement of Haitian Midwives (FAHM), included the new staff doing a skit on equity, interactive small discussion groups, and short talks about creating the life that each participant desires. FAHM funding allowed each participant to received a coconut or cherry tree and an Agronomist on hand to provide care instructions. Thank you FAHM for partnering with us to engage and celebrate the young women of our community!

BOD Updates

Fundraising is a top priority of the BOD. May 5 will be the Grand Opening of the Birth Center in Haiti and it is The International Day of the Midwife. This will be an annual fundraising event for us and this year we will especially be focused on increasing the number of monthly donors. Get a jump on the May 5th campaign and donate now:

Grace will be receiving a corporate match to a monthly donation through a workplace giving platform called Benevity. Your workplace may also match charitable contributions. Contact your HR department to see if you could double your gift.

Grace needs you! Please consider sharing your gifts with Grace via a BOD position. Email Lynette Biery at lynette.biery@gmail.com. (Please note that we are especially looking for help with the website and that could be done via committee position that is not a seated board position.)

As always, you can find more updates by visiting our website.