The Grassroots in Haiti and the US: the struggles for the return of Aristide and against the Child Welfare Industry

Across the US, women & families, particularly those of color or who are poor, are unjustly losing custody of children to child protective services. Instead of helping families with housing, domestic violence protection, legal needs, welfare, etc, children are being detained and put in foster care – Black children at often 3 times the rate as white children. Fast track adoption means those who are incarcerated often lose permanent custody of their children. Yet most children are far better off and safer at home than in foster care, where 1 in 3 report sexual abuse. See a film with, and hear directly from, mothers, grandmothers and supporters involved. Take part in actions to change unjust policies and practices, build public awareness, and challenge the sexism, racism, and prejudices against mothers in every branch of the system. Connected to these conditions and responses will be n international panel from Haiti, Canada, the English-speaking Caribbean and the US to discuss: the situation in Haiti now; the history that has led to the impoverishment of the world’s first Black Republic.