A week after the devastating earthquake in Haiti on January 12, Katherine Charles called an emergency meeting.
“About 50 people attended because we wanted to do something,” said Charles, a senior at CUNY’s City College and vice president of the Black Student Union.
Charles contacted William Leverett, a member of the CUNY Leadership Academy and a junior at Queens College, and for several weeks the two student leaders held weekly meetings at their campuses to coordinate and organize what became “From CUNY to Haiti: Let Hope Ring,” a talent show and benefit concert that took place on Friday, April 16 in the Aronow Theater at City College.
The show raised around $1,200 for two charities, the National Association for the Advancement of Haitian Descendents and Doctors without Borders.
“It was very successful, I was very proud of myself, William, the volunteers and the performers,” said Charles. “We raised awareness and money.”
For an admissions fee of $5, audience members saw 24 artists, singers, spoken word artists, dancers – and also viewed Haitian artwork and learned historical information about the nation. They also had the chance to purchase and eat Haitian food.
