For those of you who follow us on social media, you know that we love to share some of the lessons that we’ve learned over the years: from figuring out the business end of running an educational institute to finding unique ways of committing to our original mission of always centering all things Haiti – no matter what. It’s been a wildly interesting ride so far and we can’t wait to see how far we can go on this journey. As we continue to reflect back on what we’ve done so far, we wanted to share some things with you that you might not have known before:

1. We produce the vast majority of our content in-house. From the short stories and workbooks that we write to share with all levels of our Kreyòl language learners to the original songs and games that we co-create for Jaden Timoun children and their families, we pride ourselves on creating content that is culturally relevant, fun, engaging, and useful! This allows us a level of flexibility that we cherish because it means that we can cater exactly to our students’ needs. This is especially important given how hard it can be at times to find specific content in Haitian Creole. We love being able to serve as the educational tool for people seeking to build their Haitian Creole language skills!

2. Part of the HCLI logo was designed to mimic some of the vèvè symbols that are used in the religious and spiritual spaces of Vodou. The vèvè have immense significance in Haitian culture. They are meant to invoke not just the spirits but also to evoke the intense emotions that go hand in hand with the practice of Vodou. We wanted an opportunity to always honor that and since our mission is to always center Haiti, what better way to do than with the image that represents us everywhere? If you look carefully at our logo now, you’ll see it.

3. In the 2 – 3 years before there was officially an HCLI, Founder Wynnie was providing lessons, classes, and workshops in Haitian Creole all over New York City. She prepared lessons, collaborated with community organizations and local artists, and created space within other educational spaces for people to learn Haitian Creole. While she did not initially set out to create a space like HCLI, the demand and interest grew so quickly that eventually HCLI was born!

4. HCLI is a full-fledged language service firm. This means that we offer more than just courses in Haitian Creole. We also offer any language service that you need as it relates to Haitian Creole. This includes everything from voiceovers and dialect coaching for actors to translations and interpretations – and everything in between! We love being a one-stop shop for all things Haitian Creole related!

5. We’ve been listening to all your comments and feedback and don’t worry – we are all about GROWTH at HCLI! We will be offering more options for folks who are interested in learning online. We will be providing more materials and learning tools on our website! And guess what? We’re growing our team! If you are interested in being a part of the HCLI Team as a Volunteer, Intern, or Fellow (more to come soon!) please send an email to info[at]haitiancreoleinstitute[dot]com with the subject line “HCLI TEAM MEMBER”, a copy of your resume, and a one-paragraph answer to this question: What does revolutionary work look like to you? We can’t wait to see what we can create together!