Kilti Lakay
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A drummer's hands on a tall tanbou drum at an outdoor evening festival with string lights and a crowd behind.

About Kilti Lakay

The Haitian Flag Day Planning Committee of New Jersey, Inc. has organized Haitian Flag Day in New Jersey since 1998. Kilti Lakay is the year-round community initiative that grew out of it.

Mission

Kilti Lakay exists to celebrate, preserve, and advance Haitian culture, history, language, and heritage while empowering Haitian and Haitian-American communities through intergenerational education, youth leadership, civic engagement, arts and culture, and community-centered programs. Through strategic partnerships, volunteerism, and collective action, we strengthen community connections and create opportunities for current and future generations to thrive in New Jersey and beyond.

Vision

To be a leading cultural and community-building organization that connects generations, elevates Haitian identity, develops future leaders, and advances a thriving, informed, and engaged Haitian diaspora where culture is preserved, community voices are valued, and every generation has opportunities to lead.

A crowd watching a Haitian flag rise on a tall flagpole in front of a county building on a bright morning, a few phones held up.
Flag raisings in May are where the committee started. The values below are what carry it the rest of the year.

What we hold to

  • Cultural preservation

    Honor Haiti's history, language, traditions, arts, and contributions while sustaining cultural knowledge across generations.

  • Community and solidarity

    Practice konbit, collective effort and shared responsibility, to strengthen relationships and achieve common goals.

  • Intergenerational leadership

    Create opportunities for young people, adults, and elders to teach, learn, serve, and lead together.

  • Service and collective care

    Respond to community priorities through accessible programming, trusted partnerships, mutual aid, and resource connections.

  • Civic participation and advocacy

    Equip community members with information, relationships, and opportunities to participate in decisions affecting their lives.

  • Sustainability and accountability

    Build responsible partnerships, transparent operations, diversified funding, and measurable community impact.

Three goals for 2026-2027

Set by the board for this season. Each goal names a priority and the thing we'll be able to point to in May.

Four teenagers working together around a library table with notebooks and a laptop.
  1. 1

    Preserve and celebrate Haitian culture

    Priority: Heritage and cultural identity

    Deliver engaging, intergenerational programming that increases knowledge of Haitian history, heritage, language, arts, and cultural traditions.

  2. 2

    Develop Haitian youth leadership

    Priority: Education, mentorship, and civic leadership

    Establish a consistent pathway for Haitian and Haitian-American youth to develop cultural knowledge, leadership skills, service experience, and civic awareness.

  3. 3

    Expand membership, partnerships, and community participation

    Priority: Organizational engagement

    Build a more connected and active membership base that contributes to programming, governance, outreach, and community service.

2026-2027 executive board

Officers are volunteers elected by the membership. Four seats are open this term. If one of them fits you, fill in the interest form or come to the next general body meeting.

  • Ralph StainfilChair
  • Josie PayouteVice-Chair
  • Marline D. EdmondAdvisor
  • Woody PhilippeTreasurer
  • Open seatAssistant Treasurer
  • Open seatSecretary
  • Open seatAssistant Secretary
  • Open seatPublic Relations

Sub-committees

Most of the work happens in six committees. Each one takes new members.

  • Culture & Heritage

    Lead: Odson Pierre Louis, Historian

    Planning, developing, and implementing cultural, educational, artistic, and community-based programs that advance the mission.

  • Sponsorship & Fundraising

    Lead: Josie Payoute, Vice-Chair

    Securing financial resources, sponsorships, grants, and in-kind support to sustain and grow the organization's mission and programs.

  • Membership

    Lead: open

    Recruiting, training, supporting, and engaging members, organizations, and businesses in Kilti Lakay's programs and events.

  • Communications & Marketing

    Lead: Gemma Grandin

    Promoting the organization's programs, events, initiatives, and impact through strategic communications, branding, storytelling, and media engagement.

  • Community Service

    Lead: Nadine Toussaint, Volunteer Coordinator

    Recruiting and engaging volunteers in Kilti Lakay's programs and events.

  • Civic Engagement

    Lead: Destiny Joseph

    Promoting civic participation, community advocacy, leadership development, and public awareness on issues affecting New Jersey Haitians.