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Miami Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
The Children's Trust: Program allows parents to get a pass for summer
While our children often experience summer with wide-eyed excitement - picturing endless playdates, pool days, and screen time - parents often brace themselves for the real summer marathon. Gone are the structured school hours that gave parents precious windows to work, run errands or simply breathe. With school out, routines can easily fly out the window as well and, for many, stress can fly in. Summer may feel like a season of leisure for kids, but for parents, it's often a three-month juggling act with no intermission. Summer can be filled with long, unscheduled days without meaningful activities if parents and caregivers don't prepare. Plus, fewer than half of American families will take a summer vacation this year, according to recent studies. For many, the classic summer getaway is more a fantasy than a plan. It's enough to make parents yearn for a break - a pass, even. And now, they just might get one. The Children's Trust is offering a refreshing new initiative as part of its already popular Parent Club aimed at supporting parents exactly when they need it most. It's called the Parent Club Pass, and while it won't give you a literal time-out, it offers something even better: family rewards and recognition for parents who take an active role in growing their parenting skills and connecting with others. Here's how it works: By attending three different Parent Club workshops, parents qualify to receive a Parent Club Pass. This pass unlocks free access to local family-friendly outings like theater or sports events, movie nights, or admission to popular attractions like museums and parks. It's a small gesture with big impact — a way of saying, 'We see you, parents, and we appreciate what you do.' These aren't dry lectures either. Parent Club workshops are offered in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole, and they're designed to be welcoming and practical. The sessions cover topics for parents and caregivers of children at every developmental stage, into the teen years. Parents who attend in-person workshops at some locations benefit from free child care for kids ages 3 to 12, snacks and a chance to win raffle prizes. For those who prefer the comfort of home, virtual workshops are available too. The program not only equips parents with real-life tools for handling everyday challenges — from tantrums to teen troubles — but also fosters a sense of community. That's crucial in a time when parenting can feel incredibly isolating. For many, the Parent Club is as much about connection as it is about education. Credits toward the Parent Club Pass are earned by attending different workshops and completing a short survey. Once you've racked up three credits, The Children's Trust will send you a notification to redeem your pass. It's that simple. For more information and to sign up for a workshop, visit And the support doesn't stop there. Parents can also take advantage of The Children's Trust's upcoming 2025 Family Expo, happening August 2 at the Miami-Dade County Fairgrounds. This free, family-centered event offers everything from school supplies to games, entertainment and connections to helpful local child and family programs. It's a great one-stop-shop to prepare for back-to-school season while also having some fun. Learn more at Meanwhile, Miami-Dade County Public Schools is also offering its Parent Summer Academy, a series of webinars and watch parties in July designed to build community and share valuable resources. It's another way to plug into learning, support, and shared experiences— without leaving your house. Visit Parenting in the summer may not always be easy, but with programs like the Parent Club Pass and other family-friendly initiatives, this season can be a time for connection, growth, and a bit of joy. So here's to making the most of the sunshine months — not just for our children but for ourselves, too. Let's turn this summer into a time where we all get a little something back. Director of Programs Bevone Ritchie, M.S., oversees a wide range of parenting and family development programs across the county for The Children's Trust. For more information, visit
Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Haiti gang violence claims 5,000 lives in less than a year, UN report
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: A woman holding a banner that reads in Haitian Creole 'Drones are for the people, not against the people', during a protest against insecurity, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jean Feguens Regala/File Photo PORT-AU-PRINCE - Almost 5,000 people have been killed in Haiti since October 2024, displacing hundreds of thousands as gang violence has escalated particularly around the capital Port-au-Prince, according to a U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) report published on Friday. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The surge in violence is deepening Haiti's humanitarian crisis, destabilizing the country and raising concerns of spillover effects in the region. KEY QUOTES "Violence increased sharply in recent months," the OHCHR report said. "Human rights abuses outside Port-au-Prince are intensifying in areas of the country where the presence of the State is extremely limited," U.N. resident and humanitarian coordinator in Haiti Ulrika Richardson said in a press release on the report. "The international community must strengthen its support to the authorities," she added. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore ST will have Govt's 'full confidence and support' in its mission: PM Wong Singapore ST will aim to become an indispensable partner to S'pore's communities: Editor Jaime Ho Singapore Heartbeats & Headlines: ST's 180-year legacy comes to life in immersive exhibition Singapore Trusted news, smarter experience with new Straits Times website and app Singapore Community space Stranger Conversations blossoms as a 'library of human stories' and life experiences Singapore Judge declines to void alleged sham marriage in S'pore, says it is for Parliament to decide Singapore New list of technologies that reduce carbon footprint of buildings to be ready by Q1 2026 Singapore Man who killed 5-year-old daughter gets life sentence after he appeals against 35-year jail term BY THE NUMBERS Between October 2024 and June 2025, 4,864 people have been killed in Haiti amid worsening gang violence nationwide. Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas accounted for more than 1,000 of the deaths. CONTEXT Gangs have increasingly taken control across Haiti, overwhelming local security forces and forcing international aid organizations to scale back operations and forcing tens of thousands of residents from their homes. Hospitals, including the key University Hospital of Mirebalais, have closed due to insecurity, worsening Haiti's fragile health sector. Less than 25% of health facilities around Port-au-Prince remain operational, according to UN estimates. WHAT'S NEXT The UN report warned that the escalating violence in Haiti is threatening to destabilize the country but also other countries in the Caribbean. REUTERS
The Star
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Haiti gang violence claims 5,000 lives in less than a year, UN report
FILE PHOTO: A woman holding a banner that reads in Haitian Creole 'Drones are for the people, not against the people', during a protest against insecurity, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jean Feguens Regala/File Photo PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) -Almost 5,000 people have been killed in Haiti since October 2024, displacing hundreds of thousands as gang violence has escalated particularly around the capital Port-au-Prince, according to a U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) report published on Friday. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The surge in violence is deepening Haiti's humanitarian crisis, destabilizing the country and raising concerns of spillover effects in the region. KEY QUOTES "Violence increased sharply in recent months," the OHCHR report said. "Human rights abuses outside Port-au-Prince are intensifying in areas of the country where the presence of the State is extremely limited," U.N. resident and humanitarian coordinator in Haiti Ulrika Richardson said in a press release on the report. "The international community must strengthen its support to the authorities," she added. BY THE NUMBERS Between October 2024 and June 2025, 4,864 people have been killed in Haiti amid worsening gang violence nationwide. Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas accounted for more than 1,000 of the deaths. CONTEXT Gangs have increasingly taken control across Haiti, overwhelming local security forces and forcing international aid organizations to scale back operations and forcing tens of thousands of residents from their homes. Hospitals, including the key University Hospital of Mirebalais, have closed due to insecurity, worsening Haiti's fragile health sector. Less than 25% of health facilities around Port-au-Prince remain operational, according to UN estimates. WHAT'S NEXT The UN report warned that the escalating violence in Haiti is threatening to destabilize the country but also other countries in the Caribbean. (Reporting by Harold Issac; Writing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Marguerita Choy)
Miami Herald
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Bipartisan bill demands Trump administration come up with strategy to help Haiti
One of Haiti's staunchest advocates in Congress wants to force the Trump administration to come up with a clear U.S. strategy for helping the gang-ridden Caribbean nation return to stability — and to consult with various groups and experts before devising it. U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks, a New York Democrat and the ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced late Wednesday the bipartisan 'Strategy to Address Key Priorities Affecting Security and Empowerment in Haiti Act of 2025.'' The bill is also dubbed the 'SAK Pase in Haiti Act of 2025,' which plays off the popular Haitian Creole saying meaning, 'What's happening?' 'The level of human suffering in Haiti is completely unacceptable, and we need a comprehensive strategy to address it,' said Meeks, who is co-sponsoring the legislation with U.S Rep. Greg Murphy, a North Carolina Republican. 'Today's legislation represents a bipartisan commitment in the House of Representatives to adopt a comprehensive strategy that will support the Haitian people during the ongoing dire humanitarian and security crisis.' Murphy, a physician, worked as a medical missionary in Haiti, where today most of the hospitals in the capital are shuttered due to gangs and a faltering health system. Schools and social services are on the brink of collapse. 'As a medical missionary, I spent a great deal of time in Haiti and understand first-hand the issues that are plaguing the country and the need for stability,' Murphy said. 'I am proud to support the bipartisan Sak Pase Act with Ranking Member Meeks and look forward to exploring ways the U.S. can bring peace to Haiti.' The legislation, if it passes, would require Secretary of State Marco Rubio to submit to Congress a comprehensive strategy to counter gang violence and advance stability in Haiti within 90 days of enactment. The State Department would also need to consult with key groups in developing a strategy, including Haitian civil society, international partners such as the European Union, Canada, the 15-member Caribbean Community known as CARICOM, as well as the United Nations and other international agencies. The legislation also requires the secretary of state to submit to Congress a report describing progress made in implementing the strategy no later than 120 days after the submission of the strategy and annually thereafter for five years. One requirement in the bill that sets it apart from other congressional legislation is that it also asks for an assessment on the importance of supporting the Haitian national police, the Armed Forces of Haiti, the Multinational Security Support mission headed by Kenay and other security forces to counter gang activity and violence in Haiti. The legislation also seeks to support the current under-resourced Kenya-led security mission, whose funding runs out in September, and figure out the feasibility of a formal U.N. peacekeeping mission. The inclusion of the Armed Forces of Haiti is unusual and underscores a growing call among Haitians for the formal recognition of the country's small army and the need for its use in the fight against gangs. The force was disbanded years ago, and past human rights violations have prevented it from being properly armed or supported by U.S. officials. Nevertheless, there is emerging consensus that Haiti needs a second force and that the country's army, barely 1,000 individuals, can't remain on the sidelines at at time gangs have forced 1.3 million people out of their homes and pushed schools, hospitals and the economy to the brink of collapse. The Trump administration has yet to define a clear strategy on Haiti. U.S. officials have commended Kenya for stepping up to help the Haitian police fight gangs, but have not said if they will continue to support the mission, which remains under-equipped and under-funded as its mandate heads to renewal before the U.N. Security Council in October. That lack of clarity has also stalled any action by the U.N. Security Council, whose members on Wednesday once more condemned the escalation in gang violence and armed gangs' rapes, murders and recruitment of childre,n but failed to take any serious action. 'The lack of security, and overall instability in Haiti, threatens to impede the holding of free and fair elections in a timely manner, while the territorial expansion of the gangs threatens to undermine the important gains made by both the Haitian National Police and the Multinational Security Support mission,' John Kelly, the U.S.'s acting representative at the U.N., said Wednesday during a discussion on the situation in Haiti to decide on the renewal of the mandate of the U.N. office, which expires on July 5. 'A few days ago, at the OAS general assembly, the United States made clear we believe this regional organization needs to take a stronger role in Haiti. That is why the United States co-sponsored a resolution to galvanize action for Haiti and complement efforts here at the U.N.,' Kelly said. 'The resolution passed unanimously. As we have said before, an increased role for the OAS is compatible with various models of U.N. support under consideration.' Last month, while answering a question about the escalating gang violence in Haiti, Rubio said the State Department was currently working on a strategy. In the meantime, Haiti observers have watched contradictory measures by the Trump administration, which recently used Haiti's ongoing gang violence as a rationale for ending immigration protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitians in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status. Both Meeks and Murphy say the United States has a national security interest in helping Haiti deal with the security, economic, political and humanitarian crises. Their bill also mentions expanding economic opportunity for Haitians through the duty-free Haiti HOPE/HELP program. 'The gangs unleashing violence and suffering across Haiti represent a threat to stability in Haiti and the region,' the legislation says. 'Stabilization of the security situation and full participation of civil society in Haiti must be a precondition for open democratic political processes; and a lasting solution to the crisis in Haiti must garner support from and be led by the Haitian people.'
Boston Globe
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Former mayor from Haiti sentenced to nine years for visa fraud
During Friday's sentencing, Viliena's attorney, Jason Benzaken, maintained his client's innocence and asked for leniency because it was his first criminal conviction. Benzaken did not respond to a request for comment Friday night. Until his arrest two years ago, Viliena had Advertisement 'Today's sentence brings a measure of justice for the lives he shattered and sends a clear message: the United States will not be a safe haven for human rights abusers.' Viliena was also Advertisement Viliena served as mayor of Les Irois from December 2006 until at least February 2010, Foley's office said. Prosecutors detailed a pattern of violence and intimidation linked to his time in office during the two-week trial that led to his conviction. Both during his campaign and tenure, Viliena committed numerous violent acts backed by Korega, a hardline political faction notorious for attacking journalists, activists, and opponents, the statement said. In 2007, Viliena allegedly led a mob targeting David Boniface, a witness who testified against him. When they found only Boniface's younger brother, Eclesiaste, at home, Viliena and his men shot and killed him. One attacker 'smashed his skull with a large rock before a crowd of bystanders,' the statement said. In 2008, when local activists and journalists launched a community radio station, Viliena and his allies forcibly shut it down. He armed Korega members—some carrying machetes and picks—and personally led the attack, according to the statement. Viliena pistol-whipped and punched one victim, Nissage Martyr, and when Martyr tried to flee, ordered an associate to shoot him. Martyr was hit in the leg and later had it amputated above the knee. Another victim, Juders Ysemé, was shot in the face and left permanently blind in one eye, according to Foley's office. In 2009, as Haitian investigators probed these actions, Viliena fled to Malden on a legal visa. After being indicted in Haiti in 2010, he skipped trial, and no in absentia proceedings occurred, according to a Advertisement Boniface, Martyr, and Ysemé filed the civil suit in 2017 under the Torture Victim Protection Act, which allows victims to seek justice in U.S. courts when denied in their home countries, Foley's office said. Both Boniface and Ysemé testified at Viliena's criminal trial as well. Boniface broke down on the stand when shown a photo of his brother's bloodied body. 'This is the picture of my brother who Jean Morose and his group assassinated,' he said, speaking in Haitian Creole, the Globe On Friday, Viliena's attorney argued for a lighter sentence for his client. 'Mr. Viliena has never been convicted of a crime and therefore this is his first incarceration,' said Benzaken. 'It has been a jarring and destabilizing experience for him, and 33 months of imprisonment is significantly impactful to him.' The court rejected those arguments. In addition to the nine-year prison term, Viliena was sentenced to three years of supervised release and faces deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence, according to Foley's office. Rita Chandler can be reached at
