New Haitian community center opening this weekend

SALISBURY, MD. – Changing lives for a population that’s been in the shadows. That’s the mission of a new center opening right here in Salisbury,  aiming to meet the needs of the Haitian community in areas like education, health or employment.  “You haven’t really heard much being said about them. So having a center to really present them in this area is going to create an opportunity for them to be known,” said President Rev. Roosevelt Toussaint.

The Haitian Development Center of Delmarva will be the first of its kind and became needed as the community continued to grow. Due to unemployment, we’re told many came to the area for opportunities in the poultry industry and for a better life. “They have a quickness of employment and it is a good place to raise their family,” said Rev. Toussaint.

World of Life Center Immigration Services will be working along side the center. One Representative tells me he’s been in the area over two decades and his own personal struggles inspired him to get apart of cause. “So we feel like having a place where people can gather information not only can help them, but guide them to the path to get the legal information they need,” said WOLC Immigration Service’s Kenson Raymond.

The language barrier is also another area of focus as English isn’t the primary language. “Feeding someone is one thing, but teaching them and educating them for them to help themselves is the main goal for the center,” said Raymond.

As for the future, I’m told staff are excited for the grand opening.  “You’re not only going to see Haitian, there’s going to be other cultures. They’ll be there to explore our culture and I’m very excited about it,” said Rev. Toussaint.

The Haitian Development Center of Delmarva’s grand opening will be this Sunday, May 23 including music, food, and lots of different vendors.