PRODG Entertainment Promotions

PROFILES

Louis Elneus
Founder of HLD

Richard Jeanty
Author & Entrepreneur

Leslie Demangles
Author & College Professor

Danielle Legros-George
Haitian Poet & Autor

Margaret Papillon
Haitian Author

Myrtelle Cherry
Haitian Artist & Painter

Carole B. Joseph
Mass Bay Community College President

Gashford Guillaume
Mozayik Drummer

Pascale Auguste
Haitian Association Against Cancer

Andy Jacques
Haitian Fashion Designer

Phillip J. Brutus
State Representative

Yvecar Momperousse
Haitian Student Alliance

The Maroons
Haitian Writers & Poets

Evans Thesee
Founder HaitianConnection.com

Abdias Charles
Founder of Repair Haiti.org

Mecca AKA Grimo
Haitian Hip Hop Artist & Activist

Fania Simon
Writer, Lecturer & Activist

Nadege Fleurimond
Owner of Fleurimond Catering

Interview: Carole Berotte Joseph, Ph.D.

		Dr. Carole Berotte Joseph was appointed president of MassBay Community College in Boston and became the nation’s first Haitian-born college president. Dr. Joseph who has been on the job for a little over a year spent the past ten years as the Dean of Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer of another college. She moved to the United Sates in 1957 and speaks four languages fluently.
Prodg Entertainment Promotions president, Bleky Seide, recently recently had a chance to speak to Dr. Joseph about her new job, and what it means to the Haitian community.

Continued...

BS: Over the past five years, many Haitian women have gained increased power and authority in all walks of life, can their leadership create meaningful change in the Haitian Diaspora as well as homeland? How? What advice do you have for Haitian women?

CBJ: Yes, I am very proud of so many women in our community. I believe that we must continue to educate ourselves, at any age, and get involved so we can take leadership where we see there is a void. It can be leadership in your family, in your church or in your community. We must continue to challenge the old myths in our culture and not place unnecessary ceilings on ourselves. Those self-imposed limitations will not allow us to flourish and reach our potentials. All of this is only possible when children are nourished with a positive self-concept and have pride in who they are and where they are from. Mothers have a great responsibility to ensure that both their boys and their girls are treated equally in the home.

BS: What are your reflections regarding the impact of Haitian Women living in the States?

CBJ: Life in the US is different from life in Haiti. Women have many more responsibilities with very little help from their communities, spouses or partners but because they are able to earn a living and not depend on a male partner/spouse, they are also happier people and have more interesting lives. I think that we all serve as role models for our sisters in Haiti and in other parts of the world. Though it is difficult to juggle so many responsibilities, it has also been very satisfying. I know that I don't speak for all women living in the US because depending on your class, therefore your earnings, life is different. I am keenly aware of that and I do know that we can make a difference for others and that we should all strive to touch someone else's life positively.

BS: What is your vision for the future of MassBay and your road map for realizing that vision?

CBJ: I want MassBay CC to be known as a school of excellence. I have defined for my campus what I mean by excellence and since it is something that we must all strive for, I expect every staff member, every faculty member and all of our students to do their best at all times in everything that they do. Over the next five years, I plan to provide the necessary support services that students must have to be successful as well as the equipment and training that staff need to be successful in their jobs. Our road map will be the strategic plans that we are finalizing this year.

BS: What is the level of obligation for you as a leader to go above and beyond the task to ensure that the students are taken care of?

CBJ: Every college president wants their college to be successful but I work hard at ensuring that my staff is doing their jobs and that they have the resources to do so. I do go beyond a minimum level of performance and since I lead by example, I expect my Executive staff to do the same. It is the only way that we can ensure that issues are addressed and problems are taken care of in a timely manner.

BS: You seem to be passionate about languages, how did that happen? How does it help you in your current position?

CBJ: I am passionate about languages because I believe that they are the doors to people's cultures. It happened because I grew up around several languages because my Dad spoke Spanish, English and of course spoke French and Creole fluently. He grew up in Haiti and had studied in Belgium and France as well as the US. We also had some intermarriage in the family with Spanish speakers and so I was always tempted to try my Spanish with the new members of my family. I formally studied it in HS and eventually majored in Spanish in college and developed many friendships with Hispanics so I used my Spanish a lot and became very fluent. It certainly does help me to get closer to students, faculty and staff who speak Spanish.

BS: As a socio linguist, does this provide you with a special or different perspective in terms of dealing with students from various backgrounds?

CBJ: I think so. I think that I can relate more easily to people and put them at ease, especially if I know something about their culture and can speak their language.

BS: What can you tell young Haitian Women living in America without a dream?

CBJ: First, I would say: Stop and look at yourself; get to know who you are; be proud of your heritage, your language, your culture; make the decision to do something good for yourself; be happy and continue your education and reach for the stars. If you are not successful at first, keep trying and dream about where you'd like to be in a few years. Set some goals and you will see that your plans become reality one step at a time.

BS: Dr. Joseph, thank you for your time and wish you much success as you embark on your second year at MassBay CC.