The 24th annual Haitian American United (HAU) Unity Parade kicks off this Sunday (May 17) at 1 p.m. from Mattapan Square with a march up the inbound side of Blue Hill Avenue to Harambee Park in Franklin Field.
The march is the highlight of Haitian American Heritage Month and is preceded by an ceremonial flag raising at City Hall Plaza on Friday (May 15).
Presiding over the festivities this year will be Chief Marshal Dr. Yves Salomon-Fernández, a Dorchester resident and president of Urban College of Boston. She started there in 2023, and previously was the senior vice president for operations planning at Southern New Hampshire University.
Salomon-Fernández emigrated to Boston from Haiti with her parents and is a graduate of Boston Latin School. She received her undergraduate degree from the UMass Boston and holds a certificate from the University of Oxford.
She earned her master’s degree at the London School of Economics, and her PhD at Boston College.
Other events for Haitian American Heritage Month include:
•Thurs., May 14 – “Makeup & Medicine,”’ a short film by A Cyn Hilaire at Sorrel & Lime, 986 Blue Hill Ave. 7 p.m.
•May 16 – The 7th annual Haitian American Business Expo and Job Fair. Boston Prep Charter School, 885 River St. Noon – 4 p.m.
•May 22 – Red Sox Haitian Cultural Night, Fenway Park. 5:30 p.m.
•May 29 –Haitian Heritage Month Celebration, Mattahunt Elementary School, 100 Hebron St., 8:15 a.m.
•May 30 – TLCC One Year Anniversary, 131A Beverly St., Boston, 4-7 p.m.
•May 30 – Caribbean World Cup Kickoff, Georges Island-Boston Harbor. 5-8:30 p.m.
