Women’s Federation for World Peace embraces the Minneapolis, Minnesota Haitian community

Haitian-community members of Minneapolis gave a Haitian dance and drum demonstration during “Love Without Condition” a Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) event.

The Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) and the nation of Haiti has a long time relationship that has been developing since the tragic earthquake struck the island on January 12, 2010. Rose Gbadamassi, a friend of the Minneapolis Family Church and a member of WFWP, is a leader of the Haitian community in Minnesota. She organized a program to bring the Haitian people together in love and unity. Rose has been a regular attendee of Minneapolis WFWP events, so it was natural for us [the Minneapolis Family Church] to want to help support and sponsor her event to bring positive spirit and outcome to Haitians living in Minneapolis.

Elizabeth Patterson (left) shared about WFWP activities around the world.

The program, entitled “Love Without Condition,” was held at the beautiful Christo Rey Jesuit High School in Minneapolis on July 20, 2013. There was a special theatrical performance, as well as a display of different Haitian dishes offered with a joyful heart of service and love to all the guests. Families with children came to watch the program at the beautiful and modern school theater.

Outside the theater, the WFWP display table was headed by Elizabeth Patterson, who shared some of the overviews of the different projects and activities of WFWP.

The program began with introducing Rose as the coordinator and leader of the Haitian community. Her idea for putting the program together, as she said, was “to pull the community together for the sake of unity and through unconditional love among her people”. There were several acts that featured much of the Haitian culture in the form of music, drums, dance and some acting. It was inspiring to hear, see and feel the joyous spirit of the island people and their heartistic expression of life.

A duet musical offering by Scott Pankow and Keiko Takahashi of the Minneapolis Family Church (from WFWP) introduced the theme of Peace as Mrs. Gudrun Gavin introduced the Women’s Federation for World Peace as an organization founded to help realize true peace in the world. “WFWP is an organization that focuses on empowering women to work on four important areas: improving the health of the individual, the family and the society, as well as teaching that today’s women hold the keys for such success,” said Gavin.

Gavin also shared her own experiences working in Haiti as well as the work of the many other women involved with WFWP who bring a message of hope during desperate times of need. “Efforts such as these will bring opportunities to realize positive changes and real peace,” she said.