Brooklyn celebrates Haitian American leaders, community changemakers at Women of Distinction Awards

Community leaders, advocates, and elected officials gathered at Brooklyn College’s Woody Tanger Auditorium on March 6 for the 9th Annual Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony, hosted by Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn in honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. The event, emceed by Haitian immigration attorney Stephanie D. Delia, executive director of Little Haiti BK, celebrated ten outstanding women from Assembly District 42 (AD 42) for their contributions to business, education, health, housing, environmental activism, and the arts. Among the honorees were several Haitian American leaders making a lasting impact in their communities.

Haitian American honorees recognized for leadership

• Dr. Marie Lily Cerat (Special Presenter) – Associate Director of the CUNY Haitian Studies Institute at Brooklyn College and a scholar on Haitian language, culture, and education. She is also the co-founder of Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees, an organization supporting Haitian immigrants.
• Dr. Florence Saint-Jean – Executive Director of Global Trauma Research (GTR) and a mental health advocate providing trauma recovery services for Haitian-Creole-, French-, and Spanish-speaking communities.
• Wendy Jules, RN, and Carla Nelson – Haitian-American sisters and founders of Fleur De Lis Beauty & Esthetics, a Flatbush-based luxury spa specializing in skincare and wellness for people of color.
• Dr. Carol Reneau – NYC educator and Housing Chair for Community Board 17, advocating for affordable housing in Brooklyn.

Honoring excellence across industries

The awards also celebrated:

• Gail L. Smith (Lifetime Achievement) – A public health leader with 26 years of service, most recently as COO of MetroPlus Health Plan.
• ZamZam Murtaza (Arts & Entertainment) – Kids’ Performance Director at the Pakistani American Society for Women’s Outreach (PASWO).
• Melissa Dain (Environmental Activism) – Founder of the East 19th & Church Avenue Green Team, working on environmental sustainability.
• Dina Rabiner (Community Engagement) – VP of Economic Development at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and Cortelyou Road Merchants Association President.
• Principals Judith Ranft-Quartana (P.S. K315) and Gina Smalley (P.S. 152) (Education Honorees) – Recognized for their contributions to local schools.

A celebration of leadership and progress

The event featured performances, speeches, and special presentations highlighting the achievements of women in AD 42. Attendees included elected officials, community advocates, and local leaders who praised the honorees for their dedication to uplifting their communities and inspiring future generations.

“Our Annual Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony is just one of the ways we show much-deserved appreciation for the exceptional women making an immense impact in Assembly District 42 and beyond,” said Assemblymember Bichotte Hermelyn in a statement.

She emphasized the significance of recognizing International Women’s Day, reinforcing the need to support women’s leadership, equality, and opportunity.

“It was an honor to showcase our community’s remarkable contributions, which illustrate the power of unified women breaking glass ceilings in our district and beyond,” she added.

Spotlight on Haitian-Owned Fleur De Lis Beauty & Esthetics

Among the honorees, sisters Carla Nelson and Wendy Jules were recognized for their entrepreneurial success with Fleur De Lis Beauty & Esthetics, a Haitian-owned spa in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Raised by Haitian immigrant parents, Nelson and Jules built their business to serve thousands of clients, ensuring skincare treatments were accessible and effective for communities often overlooked in the beauty industry.

Their business is deeply rooted in the Haitian and Caribbean community, offering treatments tailored to skin of color and ensuring that Haitian and other Black clients receive the highest standard of care. The name Fleur De Lis is inspired by the French symbol of royalty and honors their mother, Elise.

Honoring Brooklyn’s diverse changemakers

The Women of Distinction Awards continue to spotlight Brooklyn’s diverse talents and changemakers. As the district celebrates its women leaders, advocates, and entrepreneurs, the event reaffirmed its commitment to uplifting voices, fostering inclusion, and inspiring future generations.

“Join us in congratulating this year’s Women of Distinction honorees and every shero making a positive difference!” Bichotte Hermelyn said.

The post Brooklyn celebrates Haitian American leaders, community changemakers at Women of Distinction Awards appeared first on The Haitian Times.