Taptap Krik? Krak! Books and Music for Families

Born in one of the poorest yet richest islands in the western hemisphere, Tico likes to remind the world that as a pioneer, Haiti fought for freedom and granted that freedom to Blacks around the world. Tico is an international model, public figure, and a community activist. Tico is co-founder of ReRoute 2 Purpose, an organization that focuses on development, stability, healing, and accountability of women through empowering and transformational brunches. Ms. Armand continues to make major strides in helping women find their purpose and heal from emotional and physical trauma. Haiti has instilled in Tico the fervor and poise that keeps her grounded and lifted simultaneously. Through her vast experience in the world of modeling, entertainment, and arts, Tico Armand has become a powerhouse. As she continues her journey in helping young girls and women flourish through personal development and self-cognition, Tico loves to tell imaginative stories for the young to help them learn their history, culture, and language through “The Adventures of Yaya.” Yon natif natal zil ki alafwa pi pòv ak pi rich la nan emisfè oksidantal la, Tico renmen fè lemond sonje ke kòm pyonnye, Ayiti te lite pou libète epi li te pote libète sa a kòm kado pou moun nwa toupatou nan lemond. Tico se yon mànken entènasyonal, yon pèsonalite piblik ak yon militan nan kominote a. Tico se youn nan fondatè ReRoute 2 Purpose, yon òganizasyon ki konsantre sou devlòpman, estabilite, gerizon ak responsabilite fanm nan yon dejene kote yo montre yo vin otonòm ak pote transfòmasyon nan lavi yo. Madmwazèl Armand kontinye ap fè gwo pwogrè nan ede fanm jwenn objektif yo epi refè anba chòk emosyonèl ak fizik. Ayiti enplante nan Tico yon adè ak yon sanfwa ki alafwa ede li kenbe tèt li sou zepòl li ak ba li ankourajman. Gras a tout eksperyans li genyen an nan mond mànken, espektak ak lèza a, Tico Armand vin yon flanm pou fanm parèy li yo. Pandan l ap kontinye pakou li an nan ede jèn fi yo ak fanm yo pwospere san pwoblèm gras a devlòpman pèsonèl ak konesans tèt yo, Tico vin renmen pran abitid tire kont li envante pou jèn yo pou yo kapab aprann sou listwa yo, kilti yo ak lang yo nan “The Adventures of Yaya,” avanti Yaya yo.

A committed community leader in South Florida, Angie Bell is a marketing specialist, a published author, and a public personality. As a young community activist, Ms. Bell has dedicated her time to several organizations, working to promote Haitian culture, language and arts. Angie is the founder of PouBelAyiti, an artistic environmental movement aimed to keep the streets of Haiti clean. It was created to combat deforestation, promote a clean lifestyle, nurture the environment, and it is also used as an educational tool to bring more awareness and action towards climate change. She is also the co-owner of Atizan International, a marketing firm that promotes Haitian and Caribbean culture which range from event and festival productions to project management. Currently, Ms. Bell is the co-chair of the Greater Fort-Lauderdale Cap-Haïtien Sister City committee and the Cap-Haïtien ambassador for SheBuilds Global Initiative, leading a committee to plant a million trees in Haiti. She continues writing to publish her second book which she believes will help hundreds discover the beautiful, rich heritage of her native Haiti, and better appreciate the Creole language—a tool to connect Haitians around the world and a tool for development within the educational system in Haiti. Yon lidè angaje nan kominote Sid Florid la, Angie Bell se yon espesyalis maketin, yon otè ki pibliye liv, ak yon pèsonalite piblik. Kòm jèn militan nan kominote a, Madmwazèl Bell konsakre tan li a plizyè òganizasyon, epi travay pou pouse kilti, lang ak lèza ayisyen. Angie se fondatè PouBelAyiti, yon mouvman atistik pou anviwònman an ki gen kòm objektif kenbe lari Ayiti yo pwòp. Mouvman sa a te kreye pou lite kont debwazman, ankouraje yon estil vi pwòp, pran swen anviwònman an epi li sèvi tou kòm zouti edikatif pou fè plis sansibilizasyon epi pote plis aksyon nan zafè chanjman klimatik la. Angie se youn nan mèt Atizan International yo tou, yon fim maketin k ap pouse kilti ayisyen ak karibeyen an depi nan òganizasyon evènman ak festival rive nan jesyon pwojè. Kounye a, Madmwazèl Bell se ko-prezidan komite vil marasa Fort-Lauderdale ak Kap Ayisyen (Greater Fort-Lauderdale Cap-Haïtien Sister City) epi li se anbasadè Kap Ayisyen pou inisyativ entènasyonal SheBuilds la, kote li nan tèt yon komite pou plante yon milyon pyebwa Ayiti pandan l ap kontinye ekri pou pibliye dezyèm liv li an ki dapre li ap san dout ede plizyè santèn moun dekouvri bèl patrimwàn rich Ayiti natif natal li an e pi byen apresye lang kreyòl la—yon zouti pou konekte Ayisyen toupatou nan lemond ak yon zouti pou sèvi pou devlòpman nan sistèm edikatif la nan peyi Dayiti.

Charlot Lucien is a Haitian born storyteller, visual artist, and lecturer on Haitian culture and history, based in Norwood Massachusetts. He is the founder of the volunteer group Haitian Artists Assembly of Massachusetts. He has coordinated cultural events in New England to promote Haitian culture and bridge cross-cultural gaps, partnering with cultural, academic, and community groups. He has presented lectures and storytelling performances in the US, Canada, France, Guadeloupe, and Haiti. He is the author of five storytelling CDs (in Haitian Creole and French), a poetry book, and two volumes of satirical caricatures. He is the recipient of various awards for his cultural advocacy and his promotion of Haitian storytelling. In his professional life, he is a public health administrator for the commonwealth of Massachusetts and has managed HIV/AIDS and refugee health and mental health programs for years. Charlot Lucien ki fèt Ayiti, se yon odyansè, yon atis vizyèl ak yon konferansye sou kilti ak listwa Ayiti, ki rete nan Norwood Massachusetts. Li se fondatè gwoup benevòl Rasanbleman Atis Ayisyen nan Massachusetts (Haitian Artists Assembly of Massachusetts). Li kowòdone aktivite kiltirèl nan New England pou pouse kilti ayisyen an epi konble fose kiltirèl la, nan tèt ansanm avèk gwoup kiltirèl, akademik, ak kominotè. Li prezante konferans ak tire kont nan Etazini, Kanada, Lafrans, Lagwadloup ak Ayiti. Li se otè senk (5) CD kont (an kreyòl ayisyen ak an franse), yon liv pwezi ak de (2) liv karikati mokè. Li resevwa diferan rekonpans pou jan li defann kilti ayisyen an epi pouse lodyans ayisyen. Nan lavi pwofesyonèl li, li se yon administratè sante piblik pou eta Massachusetts epi sa fè plizyè ane l ap jere pwogram VIH/SIDA ak sante fizik ak mantal refijye.

Danielle Joseph is the author of the picture book, I want to Ride the Tap Tap. She also wrote Shrinking Violet (adapted into the Disney Channel movie, Radio Rebel), Indigo Blues and Pure Red. She was born in Cape Town, South Africa and grew up in Boston, Massachusetts. Shortly after graduating from Emerson College, she traded in her sled and snow boots for a pool noodle and flip flops, and moved to Miami. She now lives in Maryland with her family and dog, Ringo. When she’s not reading or writing, you can find her listening to music, being silly, or hanging out at Starbucks. Danielle Joseph se otè liv imaj I want to Ride the Tap Tap. Li te ekri tou Shrinking Violet (ke yo adapte nan fim chenn televizyon Disney a, RADIO REBEL), Indigo Blues ak Pure Red. Li te fèt nan Cape Town, Afrik di Sid epi li grandi nan Boston, Massachusetts. Yon ti tan apre gradyasyon li nan Emerson College, li twoke treno li an ak bòt lanèj li yo pou planch sou dlo ak sapat epi l ap rete Miami. Kounye a li rete Maryland avèk fanmi li ak chen li, Ringo. Lè li p ap ni li ni ekri, ou kapab jwenn li ap koute mizik, ap fè komik, oswa chita nan Starbucks.

Imane Kernizan is ten years old and lives in Miami, Florida. At the start of the pandemic, she co-hosted a Facebook vlog titled I Asked Imane. Imane Kernizan gen dizan epi li rete nan Miami, Florida. Lè pandemi an te fè kòmanse, li te ko-animatè yon vlòg sou Facebook ki rele I Asked Imane.

Inez Barlatier is a multifaceted musician and composer born in Miami of Ayisyen (Haitian) descent. She joined her father’s band, Jan Sebon & Kazak International, at the age of 12, and eventually formed her own band, Kazoots, which she led for 6 years. As a performer, Inez’s incredible vocal delivery organically flows between an ancestral guttural bellow to an airy angelic falsetto. She finds inspiration for her music in Africa, and in Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latin cultures. With a L.E.A.P. grant from Miami Theater Center, Inez produced a children’s show entitled Ayiti: Stories & Songs from Haiti, one of the top 30 featured presentations at the 2021 International Performance Art for Youth Conference.

Jude Joseph is a storyteller, comedian, and writer. He tells stories, and sings in Creole and in French. Through his tales, he shares ideas, and prompts reflection and laughter with stories from his childhood, inspired by his life in Haiti and in France. He is the author of Papa Loko le vent et Brèche le papillon (a bilingual tale in French and Creole with audio CD, 2015) and Haïti Danse les Contes (a CD full of stories and music, 2015). Jude Joseph se yon odyansè, komedyen ak ekriven. Li tire kont ak chante an kreyòl ak an franse. Pase pa kont li yo, li bay ide, li fè reflechi ak ri avèk istwa sou lè li te timoun, ki jwenn enspirasyon nan lavi li nan peyi Dayiti ak Lafrans. Li se otè Papa Loko se van e Brèch se papiyon (yon kont nan de lang franse ak kreyòl avèk CD, 2015) ak Haïti Danse les Contes (yon CD kont avèk mizik, 2015).  Jude Joseph est conteur comédien et écrivain. Il conte et chante en créole et en français. À travers ses contes, il partage des idées, fait réfléchir et rire avec des histoires de son enfance, celles inspirées par sa vie en Haïti et en France. Il est auteur de Papa Loko le vent et Brèche le papillon (Conte bilingue français-Créole avec CD audio, 2015) et de Haïti Danse les Contes (CD de contes en musique 2015).

Muriel Johnson was born and raised in Salisbury, MD. She grew up in an environment where language was celebrated. Her mother was an English teacher, an actress, and an avid reader. As a child, Muriel would sit in awe as her mother would read, tell stories, sing songs, and recite nursery rhymes. By the age of five, Muriel had acquired an extraordinary vocabulary, soaring imagination, and a gift for expression. It was only natural that when Muriel became a mother, and later a teacher, that she was compelled to share the same way her mother had shared with her.  Muriel currently lives in the Bay Area of California, is the mother of three children, and has been an Early Childhood Educator for 20 plus years. She has performed at pre-k and elementary schools, churches, museums, colleges, festivals, and countless other venues, from rural communities on the Eastern Shores of Maryland to the townships of Cape Town South Africa to the coastal communities of Ghana, West Africa. In 2014 Muriel was also a featured storyteller at the renowned  Sierra Storytelling Festival in California. In 2017 she had the distinguished honor of emceeing the festival. Muriel Johnson te fèt ak leve nan Salisbury, MD. Li te grandi nan yon anviwònman kote yo te selebre lang. Manman li te pwofesè angle, aktris, e yon moun ki te renmen li anpil. Lè li te timoun Muriel te konn chita bouch be pandan manman l ap li, rakonte istwa, chante ak resite pwezi pou timoun. A laj senkan Muriel te gen tan gen yon vokabilè ekstrawòdinè, yon imajinasyon k ap file monte ak yon talan pou ekspresyon. Natirèlman, lè Muriel vin manman epi apre sa pwofesè, li vin gen anvi fè menm bagay sa yo manman li te fè avèk li yo.  Kounye a Muriel rete nan Bè Kalifòni, li se manman twa timoun e l ap anseye nan jadendanfan depi plis pase 20 ane. Li fè prezantasyon nan jadendanfan ak nan lekòl elemantè, nan legliz, nan mize, nan inivèsite, nan festival ak nan yon kantite kote depi nan kominote andeyò yo sou kòt lès Maryland pase pa minisipalite Cape Town Afrik di Sid rive nan kominote kotye yo nan Ghana, Afrik de Lwès. An 2014 Muriel te yon odyansyèz vedèt tou nan Sierra Storytelling Festival ki renome an Kalifòni, an 2017 li te gen onè distenge anime festival la.

Nadege Fleurimond is a chef, entrepreneur, speaker, author and business strategist. She graduated with a degree in Political Science from Columbia University and utilizing her Haitian culinary background as a guide, Fleurimond pulls a world of flavors from Asian, Latin American and European Cuisines to create events that inspire, motivate and unify. She is the author of Taste of Life, her debut as author which she presented as “part cookbook, part memoir,” and Haiti Uncovered, a culinary travel coffee table cookbook that delves into the art of Haitian cuisine. Taste of Solitude: A Culinary Journal (Nadege Fleurimond) is not your typical cooking book – it’s also an inspirational and therapeutic guide to dare to live your best life. The book features creative images of Fleurimond’s love for color, fashion, and ingredients as she shares the stories, lessons and themes that emerged from this time: Gratitude, friendship, hope, and so much more. She believes that her book can serve as a bridge, connecting and bringing people from different cultures together especially during a time of much division. Food is often a connector, helping us to celebrate our differences as well as our commonalities – it’s all in the pot!

Paula Clermont Pean occupies a special place in the history of Haiti’s art movement because of the way her creative work combines dance, music, and theater for a fully immersive experience. Paula received a Master’s Degree in Arts and Theater Studies, and her theater work includes over twenty creations. Her two collections of stories Le chant de Miraya and Qui a ramené Miraya bring to life Haiti’s songs, magic, and fantasy. Paula Clermont Pean gen yon plas espesyal nan listwa mouvman atistik ayisyen an poutèt fason travay kreyasyon li mele dans, mizik ak teyat. Li gen yon metriz nan Lèza epi nan Syans ak Teknik Teyat. Li ekri plis pase yon ventèn pyès teyat. De liv kont li yo, Le chant de Miraya ak Qui a ramené Miraya ap pran w nan yon toubiyon chante ak maji.