Critical Response Event: Haiti
Haiti is experiencing crises on multiple fronts with political fragmentation, institutional collapse, armed violence, and economic contraction converging to undermine state capacity and erode the social fabric. The increase of militias and armed groups since 2023 has fundamentally reshaped territorial control, particularly in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, where armed groups now dominate key transportation corridors and critical infrastructure. Civilians in Haiti are confronted with danger as armed groups use violence, extortion, and kidnappings to profit from the widespread instability. Millions of Haitians have been displaced by violence and millions more face food insecurity.
In this Critical Response Event, Smith Maxime, Co-Executive Director of Beyond Borders (Haiti), will provide an overview of the root causes of the humanitarian crisis, possible responses, and the challenges of working in Haiti from an organizational perspective. The Q&A will be moderated by Dr. Ashley Greene, Cohen Institute Specialist.
The webinar is free and open to everyone, but advanced registration is required.
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About the Speaker:
Smith Maximé has served as Co-Executive Director of Beyond Borders since October 2024. Beyond Borders works to overcome poverty, prevent violence and abuse, and develop leaders in Haiti. The organization supports work to: end child servitude, guarantee universal access to quality education, prevent violence against women and girls, and replace systems that oppress the poor with systems that support dignified work and sustainable livelihoods.
This event is hosted by the Cohen Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Keene State College as part of our ongoing series of Critical Response Events. These events are meant to spotlight ongoing or emerging crises across the globe. Speakers in this series represent a wide range of scholarly research and views; our guests' perspectives should not be taken as representative of the Cohen Institute or Keene State College as a whole.
This event is part of the Cohen Institute calendar.
To request accommodations for a disability, please contact the coordinator at least two weeks prior to the event.
