NEWS & EVENTS

Ft. Lauderdale A1A Marathon

And just like that, another 26.2 miles are in the pages of this journey. My second full marathon in Ft. Lauderdale was an incredible experience. Fortunately, we managed to dodge the heavy rain that poured down right after. Thousands of determined runners pounded the pavement together on a cool, blustery, overcast February morning in 2024. The enthusiastic crowds cheered loudly, motivating us through various stretches of the course. I felt strong and steady as I tracked each segment of the course along the ocean. The post-race euphoria was unforgettable - there's no feeling quite like the rush of completing such a monumental achievement. Though my legs were sore the next day, the rewards of all my training were immense. I'm already looking forward to lacing up my shoes and chasing new running goals again soon.

2023 TCS NYC Marathon

I recently completed the NYC Marathon, which challenged me physically and mentally in ways I couldn't have fully prepared for. The 26.2 mile course winds through all five boroughs, testing runners with its hills and bridges. While training got me race-ready, I was pushed to my limits on race day.

Building Community Center in Jacmel

With each passing day, the evidence of climate change on Earth is becoming more undeniable. Unfortunately, whether we’re facing a polar vortex or excessive heat, these changes do not seem to be in our favor. Shelter will always remain a necessity for human life on this planet. An innovative method of repurposing old shipping containers to create affordable and sustainable housing has been gaining popularity globally.

I volunteered with a team to travel to Jacmel, Haiti in 2019 to build a community center made out of recycled shipping containers. Jacmel was one of the areas worst affected by the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake in 2010. Our team brought together volunteers from the Wells Mountain Initiative, the YMCAs of Ridgewood, New Jersey, and local partners in Haiti. So far, they have helped assemble six different facilities to provide spaces for children and youth to play, learn, and connect. With many areas in Haiti lacking adequate spaces and resources for young people to access during this vital period of personal development, every center we help build feels like a step in the right direction.

Exchanging Ideas with the Future

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with students at Hollywood Hills, Florida who had been impacted by the turbulent 2017 hurricane season. Storms like Irma, Harvey, and Maria profoundly affected these students and their families. We took this opportunity to exchange perspectives, learning from each other's experiences. Our discussion focused on brainstorming positive changes we could realistically make to help those in need, not only locally but globally as well.

Interacting with these students gave me tremendous hope. They show the potential of this next generation to drive positive change in the world. Though dealt the blows of climate disasters, they chose to respond with resilience, compassion, and a vision for building a better future.

Little Haiti Book Festival

Jan Mapou's Libreri Mapou set out to empower Miami's Little Haiti community by coupling Haitian food and fiction, drawing celebrated Haitian authors and luminaries to America's preeminent place of Haitian diaspora. The Little Haiti Book Festival, a blossoming 5-year tradition and his brainchild, is now an essential facet of Miami's international literature scene.

May marks Haitian Heritage Month, and Little Haiti's Cultural Center hosted the festival's spirited 2023 incarnation. In song, prose, and poetry, storytellers regaled crowds with tales of Haitian history and humanity. Vibrant textiles lined the halls as patrons young and old feasted eyes and intellect upon myriad facets of the Haitian experience captured within the printed page.

The American community is beginning to embrace Little Haiti's rich culture. As the heart of Haitian America with the largest diaspora population in the US, Little Haiti cradles a wellspring of transcendent art, wisdom, and conception that locals now share openly - and eagerly - with people of all backgrounds. Festivals like this pave inroads of understanding between Miami's diverse communities.

Building with the YMCA in Les Cayes, Haiti

I was fortunate to travel and collaborate with a team of motivated young professionals and seasoned experts on this year's community project in Haiti. It was my first time visiting the country since the devastating 7.0 earthquake in January 2010, which took over 300,000 lives. Our team traveled from the tri-state area to Laurent, near Les Cayes, to construct a community center for local children and families using donated shipping containers and funds from generous donors. Despite 100+ degree temperatures and tenacious insects, we persevered through the most physically demanding work many of us have undertaken all year. Each afternoon as school let out, local kids and community members would stop by to observe our progress. The joy we saw on their faces and our sense of purpose in giving back made the effort worthwhile. The Haitian people have a strong sense of dignity and self-reliance. They worked alongside us, not seeking handouts but opportunities to provide for themselves and accomplish their dreams through hard work. For some team members visiting Haiti for the first time, it was eye-opening to witness the vibrancy and resilience of the Haitian people and culture. Our sincere thanks to the Wells Mountain Foundation, Ridgewood YMCA, YMCA D'Haiti, and all who helped make these community centers a reality. Plans are already developing for the next center, and I eagerly anticipate contributing to such a meaningful project again soon.

Will Speaks with Aspiring Middle School Authors!

Will was honored to serve as a guest speaker at the annual Career Day event held by the Meyer Levin School for the Performing Arts, located just blocks from his former neighborhood of East Flatbush, Brooklyn. He relished the opportunity to engage with these promising students, the next generation of aspiring writers and communicators pursuing their academic passions.