Don’t be shy, meet the staff!
Laveaux Narcisse
Office Manager, IT & Computer Program Director: Laveaux oversees the daily office operations, ensures tasks are carried out smoothly, and works closely with management and program staff to ensure operations are consistent with the mission. He also manages and maintains the computer lab, the server and software to ensure reliable performance throughout the organization. Laveaux also develops lesson plans and teaching materials suitable for beginners and advanced learners and ensures that content is accessible, inclusive, and up-to-date with current technological trends. In addition, he supervises trainers and provides training on teaching methods and tools.
Lina Anescar Meile
Children & Families Program Director, Assistant Administrator
My name is Lina, and I am Haitian. I have lived in the U.S. for 25 years, since I was 13 years old. I am an Elementary School teacher and received my B.S in Early Childhood Education from Florida Atlantic University and a B.S. in Early Childhood Unified: Birth-Grade 8 from Newman University. I also received my Masters in Nonprofit Management from Florida Atlantic University.
As the Director of the Children & Families Program at Hands Together for Haitians, I teach the PK-4 students, tutor elementary students, work with parents and coordinate and lead HTH’s youth program.
As the Asst. Administrator for HTH, I work closely with the President and am involved with all the administrative responsibilities of HTH, community & partnership outreach, and staff & program activities.
I am married with an 8-year-old daughter, and I am a permanent guardian to my 14-year-old nephew. I have been involved with Hands Together for Haitians since the age of 18 as a recipient of their programs and I now work for this great organization. My passions are teaching, doing mission work and helping others; I am so privileged that I can corporate all of these into my work at HTH.
Maxerne Saint Val
Financial Literacy Program Director: MAXERNE was born in Danache-Dessalines and raised in Saint Marc and Port Au Prince, Haiti. He attended Law School in Haiti and graduated in 1993 and received his law license in 1998. Maxerne worked as a Jurist in the Casdastral Office for 8 years, attended Education Science School and worked as a professor of Experimental Sciences in several High Schools in Saint Marc from 1988 to 2002. Maxerne was a founding member of Saint Val and Associates Law Firm in Haiti and has been a member of International Union of Lawyers, based in Paris, France since 2018. Maxerne has worked as a moderator, facilitator and observer on projects in Haiti for USAID, NDI, MSI, CHECCHI, OIM and more.
Maxerne moved to USA in 2003 and attended Keiser College and PBSC in the field of Paralegal/Communications (study not completed). He has worked with local Haitian Community Group in Palm Beach County, supported and participated in various Haitian relief organizations for more than 15 Years. Maxerne is a dynamic leader, keynote speaker and serves as Financial Literacy Program Director at Hands Together for Haitians, teaching individuals & families money management, how to make a budget, debt management, savings and more, encouraging financial freedom and how to take financial control of their future.
Additionally, Maxerne is in charge of the Home Maintenance Program, assists in the adult computer classes & the weekly Food Pantry and helps with the parent workshops for the Children & Families Program. Maxerne has been a critical part of Hands Together for Haitians’ work since 2005 and is married to Stephanie and has 6 children.
Tanaze Joseph
English Literacy Director:
Orestal Michel
Food Pantry Program Director: Orestal is the Food Pantry Program Director and is in charge of all responsibilities associated with providing a clean, safe and efficient work area, including, working with & organizing deliveries from local food partners, managing the Food Pantry Team, which includes recruiting, training, scheduling & educating employees and volunteers on safe food practices, customer service best practices and policy & procedures, maintaining a positive work environment, as well as handling client issues. Food pantry work is labor intensive; each week over 9000 pounds of food, meats, fruits, vegetables, dairy, dried & canned good, breads and desserts are loaded into a van, unloaded at the HTH office, and then organized, refrigerated/placed in freezer, shelved and then later boxed for distribution.
Additionally, Orestal assists with the computer classes, financial literacy presentations, individual guidance and holding parent workshops at Elementary School, that encourage parents to take active roles in helping their children to read at grade level.
Orestal has been an integral part of the work of Hands Together for Haitians since 2005. He is married to Solanie and has 3 children.