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MLC2025
Sa’K Pasé, Haiti!
This year, the Mosaic Literary Conference turns its focus to Haiti, a nation whose history embodies resilience, revolution, and the unbreakable power of community. From the world’s first successful slave rebellion to its profound contributions to global literature and culture, Haiti’s legacy continues to inspire and challenge us today.
Building on the momentum of our summer-long Sa’k Pasé, Haiti initiative, the 2025 Mosaic Literary Conference will bring together writers, educators, artists, and community members to explore the rich literary traditions of Haiti and the Haitian diaspora. Through engaging panel discussions, interactive workshops, and thought-provoking presentations, we will delve into the ways literature connects us to history, identity, and collective healing.
MLC2025: schedule
12:10-1:10: Panel
The Sacred Palette: Haitian Spirituality, Folklore, and Art as Tools for Our Storytelling
At the heart of Haitian consciousness lies a sacred triad: the immersive world of spirituality, the resonant wisdom of folklore, and the vibrant language of visual art. These are not mere subjects for storytelling; they are its very tools, its lifeblood, and its most profound grammar. This panel gathers Haitian artists and writers who draw from this wellspring to challenge and go beyond linear narratives, composing works that pulse with the rhythm of Haiti and her diaspora. Discover how our panelists use the Sacred Palette to perform a kind of literary and artistic magic, conjuring stories that are not simply told, but felt, experienced, and remembered in the soul. This is storytelling as ritual—a continuous, spiraling act of creation and reclamation.
Moderator: Stephanie "Phafa" Roy
Panelists: Laurena Finéus, Laurie Zamí Germain, and Lunise Cerin
1:15-2:10: Screening & Panel
Whorl and Impression: Exploring Spirals through Print
The spiral is more than a shape; it is a profound cultural code. In Haitian cosmology, the spiral represents the journey of the soul, the cyclical nature of life and ancestry, and the sacred energy patterns known as vèvè that call the lwa into being. It also echoes the whirl of the kòné—the conch shell used to call communities together—and mirrors the universe itself. It is a map of time where past, present, and future converge, and a symbol of resilience that reminds us that, though we may move in cycles, we are always advancing.
In this hands-on printmaking workshop, we will move beyond the spiral as a simple motif and explore it as a dynamic principle of creation. Participants will be guided through the process of creating their own spiral-inspired prints, using techniques such as monoprint. We will delve into how the spiral can inform not just the image we make, but the very method of making it—embracing repetition, layering, and the accumulation of meaning, much like the Haitian literary philosophy of Spiralism.
No prior experience is necessary. All materials will be provided. Participants will leave with their own unique prints and a deeper understanding of how an ancient symbol can guide a modern creative practice.
Facilitator: Jazmine Arelis Catasús
2:10-3:00: Lunch
Community Conversation
3:00-4:00: Panel
The Haitian Blueprint: Founded on Inspiration while Building with Purpose, Resilience, and Innovation
The story of Haiti is the original blueprint for Black sovereignty and creative defiance. But how does that revolutionary spirit translate into entrepreneurship and innovation? This panel brings together a dynamic group of entrepreneurs of Haitian descent who are channeling their heritage into groundbreaking business ventures. Move beyond the headlines and discover how the world’s first Black republic is inspiring a new wave of enterprise. These founders are not just building companies; they are building legacies, using the core tenets of the Haitian ethos as their guide. Our panelists will share their journeys of transforming cultural inspiration into viable business models. They will discuss how the legacy of Haitian creativity and resilience informs their brand storytelling, product design, and company mission. This conversation will explore what it means to build a business that honors a powerful past while forging a sustainable and innovative future.
Moderator: Wynnie Lamour-Quansah
Panelist: David Jean Philippe and Ruth Jean-Marie
4:05-5:05: Workshop
Where We Build is Where We Heal: Haitian Feminists Architecting a Beloved Community
This workshop explores the transformative principle that our spaces of community care are, themselves, the very sites of our collective healing. Guided by the wisdom and praxis of Haitian feminists, specifically from Alaso: A Haitian Anthology’s first volume title Rezistans, we will delve into how they actively "architect" the Beloved Community—not as a distant ideal but as a living, breathing reality built from the ground up.
We will examine this framework, drawing on ancestral intelligence, spiritual resilience, and radical care to design ecosystems of mutual support. This session is an invitation to understand how the intentional creation of community infrastructure becomes a sacred act of restoration for both the builders and the inhabitants. Together, we will learn how we can all participate in this ongoing, life-affirming process of construction and recovery.
Facilitators: Jazy Cintron and tasha dougé
5:00-5:30: Workshop
JAMES BALDWIN AT 100 FOR “TEACHERS”
Baldwin's identity as a Black, queer writer also opens doors for cross-curricular study in history and media, including film adaptations like I Am Not Your Negro. “Teachers” can further deepen understanding by hosting debates on Baldwin's ideas, inspiring creative projects like art or essays, and inviting community speakers to share Baldwin's impact on their lives.
Facilitator: Branden Janese