About Us
CLE Haitian Sisterhood is born from a shared vision to foster trust, connection, and a sense of belonging among Haitian women. Recognizing the need for a safe and supportive space, we have dedicated ourselves to creating an environment where every woman feels seen, welcomed, and loved. Our sisterhood is a testament to the strength and unity that arises when like-minded individuals unite to uplift and empower one another. Through trust and camaraderie, we aim to build a community that celebrates the unique qualities of each member, embracing diversity and shared experiences. Clé Haitian Sisterhood is not just an organization; it is a heartfelt commitment to creating a haven where every woman can flourish, finding solace and inspiration in the company of her fellow sisters. Welcome to a sisterhood that values authenticity, connection, and the collective strength of Haitian women.
Our Mission
CLE: Haitian sisterhood exists to nurture a safe environment for women of Haitian descent to connect, love, and elevate each other. This membership-based organization aims to build an inclusive sisterhood that celebrates the strength of diversity through its activities. Membership facilitates our community member's success through mentorship, leadership, service, financial empowerment, advocacy, advising, cultural enrichment, educational programming, social development, and career preparation.
To be a rich source of empowerment for the community in which Haitian girls and women, regardless of income level or social status, are nurtured and empowered to reach their full potential. We are committed to promoting Haiti's history, culture, and traditions for Haitians living abroad globally.
Our Vision
Meet Our Board Of Directors
The Board of Directors of CLÉ consists of 6 Directors elected each to two-year terms.
Executive Director
Esther Merilien
Esther Merilien, a board-certified family nurse practitioner, was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She migrated to the US with her three sisters at a young age, reuniting with their parents in New York City before moving to South Florida in 1982. Her passion for community service was ignited by observing her father, the late Pastor Maurice Louissaint, tirelessly aiding Haitian refugees, leading to establishing the first Haitian Baptist Church in Dania Beach/Hollywood, Florida.
Inspired by her father's teachings, Esther developed a passion for nursing while volunteering in various capacities in high school. After being married and raising her four children, her dedication allowed her to earn her registered nurse degree, where she dedicated over two decades to patient care in the emergency department, the intensive care unit, and cardiovascular nursing at various esteemed institutions in South Florida. She later became a board-certified family nurse practitioner to advance her career, attributing her positive attitude to faith and contagious joy for life. Her clinical expertise, dedication to patients, and numerous achievements have been instrumental in her success.
Esther's contributions have not gone unnoticed. She takes pride in a recent recognition by the City of North Miami and for being a proud recipient of the "AHED Haitian Heritage Month Soiree of Honors" award. In addition, she was an honoree at the Women of Excellence Award and was voted HANA's nurse of the year in 2017 by her peers. Her drive to make a positive impact and change led her to initiate training and educational sessions and actively participate in various organizations, including serving as a founding member and 1st Vice President of HANA Palm Beach and as a volunteer for humanitarian foundations and the Haitian Nurses Network (HNN).
Esther has vast experience in the nursing field as a provider, where she was an internal medicine NP and hospitalist, managing patients in acute care and providing diagnostic, preventative, and therapeutic health services. She has worked with the South Broward hospital system for over a decade and recently joined the Sickle Cell Medical Home as their provider. Esther is genuinely passionate about her work and loves her patients. Esther is the true definition of excellence in service and commitment to health and community.
With community service as her passion, she now serves as the president of CLÉ (CONNECT, LOVE & ELEVATE). She is committed to the sisterhood and aims to use her life experience and passion to continue promoting service, empowering and supporting women, and offering opportunities for members to enhance and grow professionally and personally. Esther is a woman of faith and a spirited individual whose golden light will guide her to serve the women of the sisterhood and the Haitian community.
Director of Treasury
Cosy Joseph
Cosy migrated from Haiti to the United States with her family in 1981. She completed high school in Brooklyn, New York, and pursued her undergraduate Mathematics and Computer Science studies at Pace University in New York City. Her academic journey continued at Stevens Institute of Technology, where she earned a Master of Science in Management. She started her career in Information Technology in 1993 and currently holds a senior management role at a global technology company.
Cosy, happily married to her childhood sweetheart, is a proud mother of two adult children and a loving grandmother to a beautiful grandson. She is a founding member and the Director of Treasury for CLÉ Haitian Sisterhood, a mentor for young women in STEM in the US, and the Chairperson of the GCF-Gaskov Clergé Foundation. Cosy is fueled by a deep, genuine desire to serve.
Director of Development
Karyn Jeannopoulos
Karyn is the Director of Funded Research at a private university. She Holds an undergraduate degree in Computer Science and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) in Finance and International Business. She has held various senior management roles at major financial institutions throughout her career in corporate America.
Karyn is dedicated to pursuing philanthropic endeavors towards her ancestral country of Haiti. In her spare time, she is an active Member of a foundation that feeds, clothes and educates approximately 2500 children daily in the remote village of Les Abricots, Haiti.
She is equally as passionate about mentoring young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Helping someone navigate feelings of hopelessness and recognizing that they deserve all the opportunities this world offers is a feeling like no other.
Her commitment to the Clé Haitian Sisterhood is to provide a space where Haitian women can honor and celebrate themselves and one another and for members to support one another's endeavors.
Karyn enjoys entertaining friends and family but truly loves spending time with her husband of 15 years and her 11-year-old daughter.
Director of Outreach
Nadine Hilaire
Nadine Hilaire, a proven successful Haitian woman, was born in Port au Prince, Haiti. She completed her early education, elementary school at Madame Dorocher in Haiti, and high school at Catherine McAuley in Brooklyn, NY. She attended multiple universities, earning a one-year certificate in medical record coding/ billing at Iona College, a Bachelor's degree in computer programming at Florida National University, and a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing at Chamberlain University.
Nadine has worked as a case manager for a managed care company and as a visiting nurse for 11 years. She is the Executive Director for the South Florida chapter of the Haitian Nurses Network, which helps the less fortunate in Haitian communities across the US and Haiti. Nadine is also a board member of the Toys for the Poor Foundation, which distributes toys to underprivileged children in Miami and Haiti during Christmas. Additionally, she volunteers at MJD Food Bank in North Miami in her spare time. She has participated in the Prestigious Women of Excellence Award established by Le Petit Club.
Nadine became a board member with CLÉ Haitian Sisterhood to provide support and guidance and to elevate and bring recognition to the insurmountable contributions of Haitian women within our communities. She is grateful to be part of CLÉ Haitian Sisterhood and the Universe and to be able to contribute to her community.
QUOTE:
If you're always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be. ~ Maya Angelou ~
Director of External Affairs
Natalie Refuse
Natalie is a real estate investor and property manager. She started her journey in 2014 and has never looked back. Her passion is rehabbing, seeing the beauty in the most dilapidated properties, and then bringing her vision to life by beautifying them.
Natalie is currently the President of Celestial Investment Group INC. They take an approach to buying, selling, building, and rehabbing homes. They research properties and market conditions to determine which are favorable for rehabilitation and resale or rent.
On a personal note, she attributes her success to her passion for homes and her intuition regarding the psychology of rehabbing, flipping, and holding homes.
Nathalie is dedicated to empowering the women of the sisterhood to acknowledge their inner beauty and identify the skill sets they own to do the things they love to earn the success they desire.
Natalie lives by her rules and beliefs and offers this quote as words to live by: "Never continue in a job you don't enjoy. If you're happy in what you're doing, you'll like yourself, you'll have inner peace. And If you have that, along with physical health, you will have had more success than you could have imagined."
Director of Internal Affairs
Sadgie Placide
Sadgie is a nurse Manager of Critical Care. She started her career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and became a registered nurse (RN) specializing in Critical Care in 2010. She finds it very rewarding to provide care to those in need. She stated, "One great thing in the nursing field is the opportunity to work in many different specialties and have flexibility in work/life balance."
Sadie enjoys educating newcomers to the field; it allows her to pass on her knowledge and experiences. Outside of the nursing field, she enjoys entertaining family and friends with good food, wine, and music!
Sadgie has a desire to be a part of this sisterhood to help bring honor to Haitian women and to recognize their strengths and contributions to society.
Her favorite Bible verse is "Take notice of Jah in all that I do, And trust that He will make my paths straight."-Prov.3:6