For more than 20 years, Madison-based Haiti Allies has supported the Cite Soleil Community School, and helped its students graduate. Haiti Allies also built a factory for sustainable development within the grounds of the school. The organization has recently hired Dr. Semline Singleton to be its Strategic Initiatives Director. 

 

Dr. Singleton’s family emigrated from Haiti in the early 90s, where her parents instilled in her the importance of embracing their heritage. Her grandmother, a dedicated artisan in Haiti, supported her four children by hand-sewing and selling dresses in local markets. 

 

“Every day, my grandmother's hard work was driven by a desire to provide for her children's education. This legacy of resilience deeply inspires me,” said Dr. Singleton. 

 

Dr. Singleton’s commitment to improving Haiti led her to pursue a PhD in International Conflict Management, with a focus on Return Migration among the Haitian Diaspora. She observed a growing trend of Haitian descendants in the United States returning to Haiti, which gave her hope that positive change is taking place on a micro level. 

 

“Haiti Allies is driving meaningful and sustainable changes at this micro level and holds the potential to continue making a significant impact in Haiti,” said Dr. Singleton. 

 

Dr. Singleton will collaborate with the volunteers of the Haiti Allies circle to help increase the organization’s impact and build sustainable, collaborative support for the Cite Soleil Community School.

 

To learn more about getting involved with Haiti Allies, visit www.haitiallies.org, or email Dr. Singleton at semlinesingleton@haitiallies.org.