Monique Clesca in Conversation: Silence and Resistance

Join Haitian Ladies Network for an inspiring evening celebrating the launch of Silence and Resistance: Memoir of a Girlhood in Haiti by Monique Clesca, presented in partnership with Riverchild Media and Riverchild Literary Press.

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In this powerful new work, Monique Clesca opens the doors to her childhood under the brutal Duvalier regime in Haiti, a time when fear, silence, and family secrets defined her early years. Through honesty and courage, she recounts how hidden truths – from political violence to generational trauma – shaped her life, and how breaking silence became her path to healing, resistance, and freedom.

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The evening will feature a conversation and Q&A with the author, bringing together voices that honor Haiti’s resilience, culture, and ongoing struggles for justice. Don’t miss this chance to hear Monique share her extraordinary story of survival, advocacy, and empowerment, and to connect with a community of readers passionate about truth-telling, democracy, and human rights. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

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About the Author:

Monique Clesca is a Haitian feminist, writer, and lifelong activist for democracy and social justice. She has worked extensively with the United Nations and international organizations, championing the rights of women and children across Haiti and Africa. In 2016, she was awarded Niger’s highest honor, the Commander of the Order of Merit, for leading a national campaign to end child marriage. Since retiring, she has become a sought-after commentator on Haiti’s political and social issues, contributing to outlets such as The New York Times and The Miami Herald, and appearing on CNN, BBC, and MSNBC. Silence and Resistance is her third book.

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About the Moderator:

Marjorie Valbrun is a journalist who has written extensively about Haiti, including domestic politics and economic affairs, U.S. foreign policy in Haiti, and Haitian-American political activism in the United States. She covered military coups In Haiti and the U.S. military intervention there in 1994 and wrote about the challenges and failures of rebuilding Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. She has written widely about efforts by Haitians in Haiti and in the Haitian diaspora to help build and strengthen democratic institutions there.

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She is currently a senior editor at National Public Radio and has worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Miami Herald and The Baltimore Sun, among other news outlets. Her essays, opinion articles and political and social commentary about Haiti have appeared in various national magazines and online outlets and aired on national radio and television broadcasts.

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📚PURCHASE YOUR COPY!

Copies of Silence and Resistance: Memoir of a Girlhood in Haiti will be available for purchase after the event or buy online. Please note that this event is in person only and will not be livestreamed.

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