SAKALA Board of Directors
DANIEL TILLIAS
Board president
As a co-founder of SAKALA who grew up in Cité Soleil, Daniel Tillias has been leading SAKALA since the beginning in 2006. A visionary community leader, Daniel was named a CNN Hero in 2019 and has been internationally recognized for his human rights and environmental work.
EDWIDE MARCELIN
Board member
Edwide Marcelin is a licensed accountant and human resources expert who has been active with many nonprofit and environmental groups throughout Haiti.
Rose-Laure Bien-Aime
Rose-Laure Bien-Aime has been instrumental in many SAKALA projects over the years along with her work in other nonprofits. She was the chief agronomist overseeing the launch of the world-famous Jaden Tap Tap, the community garden at SAKALA that is now Haiti’s largest urban garden. She was born and raised in Cité Soleil and is a role model particularly for the girls and young women growing up there, showing what can be achieved with courage, hard work, and intelligence.
VLADIMIR LAGUERRE
Board member
Vladimir Laguerre is a communication strategist, human rights activist, and investigative journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times. He is from Port-au-Prince, Haiti and now lives in Bridgeport, Ct, where he is the producer and presenter of Entre Nous (Between Us), a public affairs talk show focusing on Haiti.
JEAN CHARLES MOLIERE LOUIS
Board member
Jean Charles Moliere Louis is a sports journalist in Port-au-Prince. In the 1990s, he was the original founder of the Inyon (Union) soccer team in Cité Soleil which was a great inspiration for SAKALA’s work. His work continues to inspire generations of young leaders in Cité Soleil.
NANCY YOUNG
Board member
Nancy Young is a writer and editor who first visited SAKALA in 2010. Greatly inspired by their work, she co-founded a sister organization based in the US called SAKALA International to further the work of SAKALA and other organizations doing environmental work in Haiti. When she is in Haiti, Nancy stays at SAKALA and is proud and grateful to call the great community of Cité Soleil home.
KAKO BOURJOLLY
Board member
Kako Bourjolly is a very famous comedian in Haiti, but at SAKALA we know him as a philanthropist and our great champion. Through his nonprofit organization Kako’s Kids, Kako has been instrumental in helping SAKALA with everything from getting school supplies to renovating SAKALA’s athletic field. Most importantly Kako always brings joy and love to SAKALA. Every time Kako comes to SAKALA it is like a big party.
Dr. Mackenson Saint Fort
Board member
Dr. Mackenson Saint Fort is a surgeon and medical professor who has been very active in treating patients and advocating for better health conditions in Cité Soleil.
Cassandre Chéry
Board member
Cassandre Chéry is a certified life coach and author who specializes in empowering women of color rise to leadership positions. She has nearly a decade of work in nonprofits, including the United Nations.