“As much as we think we already know about Haiti, I don’t think anyone is ever prepared for what is really happening there. What I witnessed in Haiti was hope…even with all of the challenges from the earthquake; you just see the hope in all of the people. It was amazing.” – Sheila Johnson

For me, this trip to Haiti was one of discovery. I travel to Haiti as often as I can, but what amazes me about this country is that there is always something new to see, something beautiful to uncover. It renews me.

On this most recent trip, I had the privilege of taking Joel Towers (the dean of Parsons) and Sheila Johnson with me. It was a remarkable time to be in Haiti as we were approaching the two-year anniversary of the quake. The purpose of this trip was to revisit many of the places that we first fell in love with when we visited Haiti two years ago and have continued to develop since. I was just so struck by the enormous strides that have been taken and the resilient way this country is rebuilding – the progress is extraordinary!

I was so excited to show Joel and Sheila the progress and talent of the artisans and to introduce them to some of the people I have come to know and love in Haiti. I was especially excited for our meeting with David Belle, it represented a powerful coming together of like-minds. We discussed adding to the Cine Institute and bringing the artisans in as a part of the curriculum, not only to provide tools and training, but also to create a workshop where product can be crafted and delivered to market. To see culture and education come together in this way would be fantastic, and the thought of collaborating with Parson’s to bring this to fruition would be a dream come true for me.

After Sheila and Joel left, we had a beautiful opportunity to meet with President Martelly’s Minister of Tourism, Minister of Interiors, and Minister of Foreign Affairs to discuss the blossoming potential in Haiti – a conversation I am always delighted to be a part of. Joining the conversation was Elizabeth Landers, an absolutely brilliant woman who serves as an economic advisor to President Martelly. We had a fantastic cultural excursion… we took a helicopter tour that showcased Haiti’s gorgeous shoreline with such brilliance and beauty and then we visited Jérémie, this little jewel of a town. The community in Jérémie had prepared a cultural show for us and it was absolutely breathtaking!

After Jérémie, we went to Jacmel – my favorite place in Haiti. There, we had a truly inspired conversation about a new vision for Haiti, which includes developing three amazing hotels and cultivating a new plan for tourism. I am so excited to see the way the culture of Haiti can be preserved through the new ventures and I am looking forward to sharing more details about this with you in the coming months.

Not only was this trip one of discovering new aspects of Haiti, it was one of discovering new people. While in Jacmel I had the pleasure of connecting with Dr. Leon-paul and orthopedic surgeon who divides his time between New York City and Haiti (two of my biggest inspirations!). Dr. Leon-paul invited us to his stunning coastline home and, to me, the beauty of it really represented the tremendous development that is in Haiti’s future. It was exhilarating to be in Jacmel experiencing something new.

After our visit with Dr. Leon-paul, we had a dinner with one of my favorite women in Haiti – Caroline Sada. I know I’ve shared with you about Caroline many times before, but I just have to say again how fantastic I think she is. She is a connecter, a diaspora and a true community builder. Caroline is a champion of everything celebratory and positive in Haiti and I am always invigorated because of the time I spend with her. Before heading back to NYC we were able to connect with Philippe Dodard (who is now the head of the fine art’s school and I couldn’t be more proud of him!) and Maryse Kadar, two individuals who have been pillars in my Haiti experience.

I have to say that I am truly filled with such gratitude for the people I have come to know in Haiti. To acknowledge what has been done in just two years is absolutely incredible, and I know this progress is borne out of the passion and genuine love that the Haitian people have for each other and their country. It has been, and will always remain, a privilege and an honor for me to be a small part of Haiti’s story.

To learn more about our progress in Haiti, I invite you to read my blog on the Huffington Post and to watch our Honoring Haiti slideshow.