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Our Team

Board of Directors

Believe in Haiti has a very dedicated and qualified Board of Directors. Each Board member is passionate about Believe in Haiti’s programs, mission, and vision. Board members serve on a strictly volunteer basis and receive no compensation. Board meetings occur monthly, and as needed throughout the year. Board members are required to visit Haiti on a biannual basis to develop and maintain relationships with the people that we serve, which deepens the Board’s commitment to the strategic objectives of Believe in Haiti.

Whitney Henwood

Co-Founder

Whitney and her family lived in Haiti in 2012 and has been continuously involved since that time. While in Haiti their family had the opportunity to meet and work with the people of St. Roch. It was through these efforts that the need for the current organization was discovered. Whitney, along with the local liaisons began the current feeding program to help provide for the physical needs of the people of St. Roch Haiti. Whitney is a Registered Nurse who worked in Haiti with people in need of acute medical care and medical education. She has 8 children she is raising and has been “Mom” to many others through the foster program in the US and Haiti. Her passion is keeping families together with the hope that through their efforts with the feeding clinic, school sponsorship program, and job creation, they can ease the burdens of Haitian parents who are faced with losing their children on a daily basis.

Whitney Henwood

Co-Founder

Whitney and her family lived in Haiti in 2012 and has been continuously involved since that time. While in Haiti their family had the opportunity to meet and work with the people of St. Roch. It was through these efforts that the need for the current organization was discovered. Whitney, along with the local liaisons began the current feeding program to help provide for the physical needs of the people of St. Roch Haiti. Whitney is a Registered Nurse and worked in Haiti with the people on acute medical needs and medical education. She has 8 children she is raising and has been “Mom” to many others through the foster program in the US and Haiti. Her passion is keeping families together with the hope that through their efforts with the feeding clinic and school sponsorship program and job creation they can ease the burdens of Haitian parents who are faced with losing their children on a daily basis.

Jenny Allbright

Secretary

Jenny had the opportunity to go to Haiti in Nov. 2012. She immediately fell in love with the beautiful Haitian people and their culture. Haiti worked its way into her heart and settled in there to stay. Jenny is married and has four of her own children who she loves and adores. She is an executive assistant for Keystone Care which operates in the industry of healthcare, more particularly nursing homes. As the secretary, Jenny is responsible for the day to day upkeep and communication that comes with running Believe In Haiti.

Monica Allen

Education Liason

Monica has been involved with Believe in Haiti since her first Vision Trip in August 2017, where she fell in love with the country and the beautiful people of Haiti. A native Texan, Monica began nonprofit work as a young teenager and quickly developed a passion for charitable work. After completing her MA in Audiology from the University of Texas at Austin, Monica teamed up with a classmate to start and run a non-profit, Children’s Hearing Aid Texas. After her family relocated to the Denver area, Monica changed careers and is currently an elementary special education teacher. Monica enjoys spending time with her husband and four children finding adventures outside and learning new things. In her spare time, she coaches children’s Muay Thai and adult kickboxing, practices Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai, enjoys photography, music, her 2 dogs and anything involving the outdoors.

Dave StJuste

Country Advisor

Fritzner (Dave) St Juste is from St Roch Haiti. He started out working for Believe In Haiti several years ago after he had spent several years helping and volunteering for the organization. He graduated from Institution Mixte Père Coatalem, which is the high school Believe In Haiti supports in the St Roch community. After High School he worked for BIH in the community while starting college in Haiti. He was miraculously able to get a student visa and is currently in the US studying Cybersecurity. His perspective and insight to the community of St Roch and its people is invaluable. Dave is committed to serving the community and providing the US team with a critical Haitian perspective.
Erin Hale

Erin Hale

Country Advisor

Erin has been involved with Believe in Haiti for several years and is grateful to have traveled to Haiti multiple times. Through these experiences, she has built meaningful relationships and gained invaluable insight into the community and its needs. She holds a degree in Family Studies and Human Development and recently earned a certificate to teach English to speakers of other languages. Erin is passionate about expanding educational opportunities in Haiti and is currently working to relaunch English classes using technology and collaboration between teachers in the United States and Haiti.

James Albert

Country Advisor

James has been with Believe In Haiti since the beginning. James first joined as one of our students. He later graduated high school and has now finished technical school. Throughout all of Believe In Haiti’s time James has been an incredibly helpful asset to our team. He was always the first to volunteer to help with a project or jump in hands on to work with us. As James grew older he first took small positions with the organization and has worked his
way up in trust and abilities to be our most trusted on the ground leader. We are grateful for James and all he brings to the team. 

Cary LaCouture, DDS

Medical/Dental Team Leader

Cary F. LaCouture, DDS, graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry 1985. He practices in Parker & Franktown, Colorado. He has been involved in dental research, teaching & practice development.He is affiliated with Local & International Humanitarian Organizations with recent dental clinic set-up & service in Cambodia & Haiti. Presently, he serves on the Board of Directors for Arapahoe House, Believe in Haiti, & Seeing is Believing & supports and serves Plan International & Ayuda Humanitarian. Cary is a 37 year Professional I USPTA member. He served as Head coach of Ponderosa High School Men’s Tennis for 18 years. Cary and Karen have 6 children & 4 grandchildren. He is a passionate outdoor photographer & bi-Lingual in French.

Dimitry Florestal

Haitian Advisor

I’m Dimitry Florestal, born in 1984, February 9th, my mom used to explain me all the time this day, she had c- section, right after she delivered the baby (me), Doc said that I am not going to make it, because I was tiny and under weight. But For God the doc was wrong , I survived. Born in a ghetto my parents was forced to leave the 2nd Ave Bolosse , because it started to be a dangerous place to raise kids so we moved to Carrefour, when I was 2. I went to a good primary school which teach me french. (7years) so when I was ready to go to a secondary school I picked College St Pierre which was a prestigious expensive school that my father wasn’t able to afford. I remember he told me this: if u go to this school I won’t be able to feed you son and I whispered : it’s ok Dad , I really want to go to that school. So I did it even if I was malnourish for several years.

So I grew up, finished my secondary school. In the same year 2003 I meet the lds missionary and I get baptized (Sept 2003) because they answer my big questions, went to a university to learn computer skills for 4 years but after 2 years my Dad passed away I quit because I wasn’t able to pay. I married Elmase Celestin Who is my friend, sister, and celestial wife, the who always support and help me through my trials, I have so much thing to say about her I should write a book loll. I started to drive taptap, worked for the MSPP (health ministry, Blood safety psrogram, I quit 2 years after the earthquake, and start working for NGOs like: Sionfonds, CRS, DayOneResponse,Degenkolb, etc, but I liked Sionfonds the most because I like being involved in kids education, because (Education gives wings to fly wherever you want). On my road I meet Jean Pierre Johnny who is my lds friend , he introduced me to BIH which is an organization that mixed with my goals to help more my brothers and sisters and Haiti and I falled in love of the Henwoods and their Dreams, purposes. I always wanted to leave the country because bad things happening sometimes , but when travel I realized that bad things happen everywhere, only by living the Gospel of Jesus Christ someone can have peace and joy.

Do good to everyone you meet and good things will happen to you. That’s what my father used to tell me.
Now that I work for BIH I understand more this phrase: if you want to change the world start by changing your community and be honest because honesty is the best policy.

Sincerely yours.
Lil bit of me.
Dèyè mòn gen mòn

Team Members

Our committee members are a critical part of the Believe In Haiti team! These individuals give of themselves to create cohesiveness and determination to keep the Believe In Haiti mission going even amidst the struggles facing our Haitian friends and families. Their ‘can do’ spirits and loving hearts inspire the team and provide hope to our St Roch friends.

Erin Bretzing

Marci Davison

Dimitry Florestal

Sierra Forstrom

Karen LaCouture

Crystal Porras

Michelle Standifird

Susan Turek

On The Ground Staff

Helen, Jean Claude,
Rosalie, DouDou,
and Dadoune

Anne Carie Congé

On The Ground

Anne Carie Congé lives in Bois Djoute, Haiti, and serves as a sewing instructor with Believe in Haiti. She is currently studying haute couture while teaching sewing skills to members of the community of St Roch.
She is helping young men and women learn practical skills that can lead to economic opportunity and self-sufficiency. Through her classes, students learn to make many types of clothing and develop strong sewing skills.

Francois (Gama) Saint Juste

On The Ground

Francois (Gama) Saint Juste is from St Roch, Haiti, and serves as an agronomist and administrator with Believe in Haiti. He studied agronomy and administration and uses his training to support both the agricultural and operational efforts of the organization.
Francois works with local farmers and community members to help in the farmland and support agricultural projects in St Roch. In addition to his agricultural work, he also assists with administrative responsibilities, helping ensure programs run smoothly and effectively.