About HSI

Haitian Studies Institute

Established in 2016 at Brooklyn College, the Haitian Studies Institute is the youngest such ethnic entity inside CUNY, with the main mission of supporting studies on Haitians, Haiti, and its diaspora.

Located less than a mile from the newly renamed Little Haiti subway stop, it is a vital center for studying, celebrating, and strengthening one of our borough’s most vibrant communities. The HSI strives for interconnectedness while acknowledging where the institute can make the most impact. Thus, our central commitment is to become better students and stewards of Haiti’s past, present, and future.

This means we undertake research initiatives and present academic and cultural programming with the understanding that to better continue honoring our history and culture we must ensure a healthy and stable cultural future. At the same time as we are uplifting local Haitian youth through professional development workshops and experiences, we are studying and advocating for ways and means to impact public policy in New York, in the United States more broadly, and in Haiti.

Who We Are, What We Do, and Why

1. Stand as a leading international research institute for Haitian studies
2. Support scholars and connect institutions pursuing scholarship on Haiti, Haitians, and people of Haitian origin
3. Augment capacity for collaboration between CUNY and higher education institutions in Haiti and those involved in research on Haiti and the community
4. Examine achievements of Haitians and Haitian Americans on the world stage
5. Connect researchers through outreach that deepens understanding about policies that affect the lives of Haitians in the diaspora and Haiti

Haitian Studies Institute

The City University of New York Haitian Studies Institute (CUNY HSI) is an academic unit that encourages and supports studies on Haiti and Haitians. It has a threefold mission:

• to contribute to the body of knowledge about Haitians and the Haitian diaspora and advance the intellectual field of Haitian studies through interdisciplinary research and practice;
• to facilitate a community of collaboration with emerging scholars and learners of all ages, public intellectuals, university professors and students, school teachers, educational institutions conducting research on, or otherwise serving, Haiti and the Haitian community, and community-based organizations serving the Haitian diasporic community; and
• to engage in analysis and research practices to better understand policy and programs directed at Haiti and the Haitian community.

The CUNY HSI, while focusing on Haiti, Haitians, and people of Haitian origin, will also foster collaboration with scholars and institutions engaged in research initiatives on other Caribbean nations and the African diaspora where appropriate.

Goals and Objectives

• Become a leading international research institute for the field of Haitian studies.
• Support scholars and connect institutions pursuing scholarship on Haiti, Haitians, and/or people of Haitian origin.
• Augment capacity for collaboration between CUNY and higher education institutions in Haiti and those involved in research on Haiti and the Haitian community.
• Examine achievements of Haitians and Haitian Americans on the world stage.
• Connect researchers through community outreach that deepens understanding about policies that affect daily lives of Haitians in the United States, the Haitian diaspora, and Haiti.

To fulfill its mission, and to meet the goals and objectives set, CUNY HSI supports and engages in scholarship and research activities across all disciplines. The institute strives to contribute to the advancement of the field of Haitian studies. In that prospect, the institute devotes its resources to work and support emerging scholars, university professors, students, public school educators, and educational agencies conducting research and/or serving the Haitian population as well as community-based organizations that service Haitians and other diaspora groups. Moreover, the institute facilitates connections and collaborations between academic and organizational entities whose work brings forth social actions and changes that positively impact and improve the lives of Haitian populations and other racial and ethnic communities.