MIAMI – Marleine Bastien basked off-stage as prominent speaker after prominent speaker praised her for her much lauded and long time fight for equal and fairer U.S. immigration policies for people of Haiti.
They also paid tribute to Bastien for founding, nurturing and leading the powerful social services and advocacy agency Fanm Ayisyen Nan Miyami (FANM) or Haitian Women of Miami.
“There is no greater champion for the people of Haiti,” declared State Rep. Hazelle P. Rogers.
“Still Standing” the reception and tribute to Bastien drews hundreds of friends and supporters to the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center.
The reception and program in honor of Bastien called was held December 1 at the Adventura Arts & Cultural Center to commemorate FANM’s 20th anniversary.
The event drew a bevy of elected officials including State Sen. Oscar Braynon, State Rep. Daphne Campbell, State Rep. Hazelle P. Rogers, Miami-Dade Commissioner Jean Monestime, Miami-Dade Commissioner Audrey Edmonson, Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones Miami-Dade School Board Member Wilbert T. “Tee” Holloway and North Miami Vice Mayor Marie Erlande Steril.
State Sen Oscar Braynon Marleine Bastien State Rep Daphne Campbell and State Rep Hazelle P Rogers.
They were joined by corporate and civic leaders, FANM supporters and Bastien’s friends and family.
Marleine Bastien at the 20th Anniversary Reception with sons Akim and Tarik and Mama Bastien
“Still Standing,” A Tribute to Marleine Bastien was held on Thursday, December 1, 2011 at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, 3385 N.E. 188th Street, Aventura, Florida. The 20th anniversary celebration is presented by sponsor Dade Medical College and is produced by Roy Campbell’s Entertainment Group.
Miami-Dade Commissioners Jean Monestime and Audrey Edmonson present Proclamation to FANM Founder Marleine Bastien and her board.
The event is sponsored by AT&T Florida, Larkin Community Hospital, City of North Miami, the offices of Miami-Dade Commissioners Jean Monestime and Audrey Edmonson, City of Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence Jones, Waste Management, and the University of Miami Human Rights and Immigration Clinics.
Bastien started FANM in 1991 by gathering a dozen women in her Miami home to address the problems facing Haitian refugees and immigrants. The resulting organization, Fanm Ayisyen Nan Miyami or Haitian Women of Miami worked tirelessly for nearly a decade out of Ms. Bastien’s house on a small budget before moving into its own headquarters in 1999. FANM transitioned from a volunteer to a community-based organization a year later.
In 2000, FANM’s advocacy for Haitian immigrants and other disenfranchised groups was recognized with Amnesty International’s prestigious Human Rights Award. Since then, FANM has grown into a multi-faceted, multi-cultural social services, advocacy and human rights organization.
FANM has been honored locally, nationally and globally and has garnered the financial support of major foundations and government entities.
Along the way, Bastien, a graduate of Florida International University and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, has become the international face of the fight for social justice and fair U.S. immigration policies not only for Haitians but for all immigrants.
