Massachusetts - Haiti Observer Blog

A December 2015 report prepared by the Boston Redevelopment Authority Research Division reveals that Boston is the 7th largest home for foreign-born residents among the 25 largest U.S. cities. Between 2000 and 2014, its foreign-born population grew from 151,836 to 177,461, an increase from earlier 19.2% to present 27.1%. The top six countries of origin for the foreign born population living in Boston in 2014 were as follows: Dominican Republic 13.0%, China 10.6%, Haiti 7.6%, El Salvador 6.3%, Vietnam 6.2% and Jamaica 4.4%. Haitian migration to the U.S was very small (around 5,000) in 1960. Recent data from the U.S Census Bureau on American Community Surveys show that the Haitian immigrant population numbers between the years 1980 and 2012 in the U.S were as follows: 92,000 (1980), 225,000 (1990), 419,000 (2000), 510,000 (2006), 587,000 (2010) and 606,000 (2012). Five metro areas, such as greater Miami, New York, Boston, Orlando, and Atlanta account for nearly three-quarters of the total immigrant population from Haiti residing in the United States. Haitians are the third most populous foreign-born demographic residents of Boston. On the language front, with its 4.2% share, French Creole is the third most common non-English language spoken at home and it is followed by Spanish 16.3% and Chinese 4.6%.

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Haitian-American Linda Dorcéna Forry has been named the Senator for the 1st Suffolk District in the Massachusetts State Senate. On Tuesday the 28th of May 2013, Forry, a Democratic member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing her district since 2005, beat Republican Joseph Anthony Ureneck for the seat by a whopping 82% of over 9,600 votes. Her victory is a considerable one as it marks the first time a person of Haitian descent has been elected the U.S. Senate.

Linda Dorcéna Forry was born in Boston in 1973. She attended the ST. Kevin Grammar School and then the Monsignor Ryan Memorial High School. Her alma mater was Boston College, where she studied business management before working as a legislative assistant. In 1999 she left the State House to work for the City of Boston's Department of Neighborhood Development's executive staff and she rose to become the Acting Chief of Staff.

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Massachusetts House Representative and Haitian-American Linda Dorcena Forry won the Democratic primary race for the Senate against Nick Collins on May 7th 2013. The primary win was a significant victory for Forry because Boston-Irish male politicians have dominated the First Suffolk seat in the Senate. Although the vote count showed Forry won by a small margin, 378 ballots or 47% of ballots cast, over Collins' 45%, he did not contest the election results.

Representative Linda Dorcena Forry said her win was due in large part to her campaign staff's diligence in mounting a concerted get-out-the-vote effort. Door-to-door and phone canvassing kept Forry's name and qualifications uppermost in voters' minds. Her campaign mailers also listed her impressive accomplishments during her eight years in the House, along with respected local politicians and civic leaders' endorsements.

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Haitian born Garcelle Beauvais is a veritable diamond 'from' the rough, her rise in the business of show a true testament that dreams born on Haitian soil can come true. The 46 year old actress, singer and model got her start at 16 when she was signed to the Ford modeling agency. It was her first big break, and it came about after the divorce of parents Axel Jean Pierre and Marie-Claire provided a move that would change her life.

Her mother, a nurse, left the island with Garcelle and her six older siblings and relocated to Massachusetts. After leaving her lawyer father and country of birth behind Garcelle, then seven, experienced severe culture shock. She learned to adjust and picked up English by watching popular American kids shows, perhaps fueling her inspiration for future on-screen success.

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