The Evanston Haitian Community Festival held a block party Saturday to celebrate students going back to school and the community returning to in-person events.
More Top Picks Jewelry Organizer
Funds from the event at Harbert Payne Park were used to purchase backpacks, folders, pencils and other school supplies for Evanston’s students. The event also serves as a way to bring community members together, organizers said.
“We haven’t been able to do anything because of COVID,” said Gerald Daye, founder of the festival. “It’s important that we get together and support the community.”
The Haitian Community Festival has been an annual gathering since the 1990s in Evanston as a means for Haitians in the Chicago area to meet and connect. The festival is normally held on the Fourth of July and the leftover funds are used for a back-to-school drive. However, the festival has been canceled for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Daye decided to make the back-to-school block party the main event this year so that the community could still celebrate together. Community members said that it was important for them to have a space for Haitian residents to meet each other.
“It’s important to see who’s Haitian because we’re spread out,” said community member Gabrielle Jean. “We need to know each other, and the youngsters are coming up so they need to know their roots.”
Each student who attended the block party received a backpack and school supplies for the upcoming school year.
Many local vendors and organizations were in attendance, including the Evanston chapter of the NAACP, the Evanston Public Library and the Haitian American Nurses Association. These organizations gave resources and information to parents on their various programs throughout the year.
Parents who attended said that they appreciated having an event that puts going back to school at the forefront.
“We actually saw a flyer in our dentist’s office,” said Tatiana Johnson Boykin, parent of two boys in pre-K and first grade. “Sometimes parents can’t get their children to different spaces like the library or (know) how to get childcare, so having these tents out makes it easier for us to come to one spot and get a lot of information.”
Not only was there information for the parents, but also games, free books, food and a live DJ for all participants to enjoy. Children drew pictures, got their faces painted and played various lawn games in the park.
Daye wants to create an inviting atmosphere near his family home for all of Evanston.
“It’s not just for Haitians,” Daye explained. “Everyone is welcome to come and have a good time.”
Residents could drop off supplies at the Evanston Community Bank or ByLine Bank for the block party, or make electronic donations with the festival’s GoFundMe page. The organizers of the festival hope that these funds will be used to serve those in need in the Evanston community have a good school year.
Emily Little is a freelance reporter.