| Jacques Dady Jean: The Pride of an immigrant community |
By: Jessie Blo
"I am blessed!" declared Jacques Dady Jean at Jacq & Associates traditional Christmas party, when asked about his professional and community achievements. Jacques is a computer engineer; he has worked for major organizations including Lucent Technologies, Metropolitan Computer Tech Network and the Town of Randolph. He is also the chairperson of Town Computer a successful Technology solutions provider. However, Jacques is best known as a political activist.No one can deny Jacques commitment to the Caribbean community, and his reputation as an achiever seems to reach an international level. Last month, he was selected to participate in a delegation that will be observing the next congressional election in Haiti. The U.S. government financially sponsors this delegation composed of U.S. and Caribbean citizens and it will have the mission to monitor the voting process to elect the new members of Haiti’s House of Representatives and Senate. Jacques Dady Jean, a human rights activist, a writer, and community newspaper publisher, is also chairman of the Caribbean Connection International, Inc., a Boston-based organization designed to promote the Caribbean culture throughout the United States of America.
Jean is a native of Haiti and is very knowledgeable of Haitian political affairs. His ability to make impartial judgments is distinguished along with his honesty, his fairness and his commitment to promoting democracy in the Caribbean countries including his most impoverished Island of Haiti. During the past ten years, Jacques Jean has developed a very intense relationship with the Caribbean leaders here in United States and in the Islands. He was highly recommended to become a member of this delegation by several leaders, including former governor Bill Weld of Massachusetts. "The task will not be difficult because of the good intentions demonstrated by the Haitian government to organize a free and fair election," said Jacques. However, his friends and family have continued to express their worries about his potential trip to Haiti due to the escalating violence occurring in the Islands recently.
Jacques Dady Jean left Haiti on January 4, 1990 , he was released from jail in this very day and the military rulers of Haiti forced him into exile, ever since he has resided in Boston and has become very involved in U.S. politics. He created the Haitian-American Political Action Committee, an organization devoted to promoting voter registration in the Haitian-American community , and he also created The Boston Connection Newspaper, which is now entering its 5th year of publication. His wife, Karrie Ann Jean, said she wishes that Jacques would decide not to go, but she vowed to be at his side at every step of his life. Jacques appeared to be very delighted to have the opportunity to participate actively in building the democracy in his homeland. Jacques will also receive the Caribbean Foundation Testimonial of Appreciation Awards for his distinguished contribution to the community. This awards banquet is organized every year to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. "I am honored by this nomination, there is nothing more precious than being recognized by your community, this distinction has convinced me that I am in the right track," he said.
This is for the third time Jacques Dady Jean will be recognized as an outstanding citizen. He was honored in 1982 by the Christian Center of San Francisco for his distinguished commitment to advocating for the children of Bizoton, his hometown, then in 1987 he received another award from the Black Achievers Alliance for his commitment to the African-European community. ¨