Held virtually on October 22–23, KONBIT25 brought together language professionals, technologists, educators, and cultural advocates to explore the power of Haitian Creole across education, healthcare, technology, and the arts. Hosted by Creole Solutions in honor of Creole Heritage Month, and streamed worldwide by MultiLingual Media, the two-day event featured keynote addresses, panel discussions, and live performances — all centered on the theme of Haitian Creole as a bridge to understanding.
Opening Remarks and Artistic Tribute
MultiLingual Media’s CEO, Eddie Arrieta, opened the event by welcoming attendees from across Haiti, the United States, Canada, France, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic. He framed KONBIT25 as a combit — a Haitian tradition of collective labor — reimagined as a global collaboration to uplift language and community.
The event began with a performance by Metis Cacao, blending music, rhythm, and movement to honor the cultural soul of Haiti. The performance underscored the inseparable bond between language, art, and identity.
Opening Keynote: The Unexplored Power of Haitian Creole
Marleen Julien, founder and Chief Creolist of Creole Solutions, delivered the opening keynote titled “The Unexplored Power of Haitian Creole in Global Dialogue.” Drawing on her experience as a community interpreter during the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Julien described language as a lifeline — a source of calm, dignity, and connection.
She traced the evolution of Haitian Creole from its origins on the plantations of Saint-Domingue to its modern-day presence in digital platforms like Google, Facebook, and OpenAI.
Julien highlighted Creole Solutions’ work in education, healthcare, safety, and justice — from developing Creole-based learning materials to translating medical and legal documents. She emphasized that Haitian Creole is not broken French, but a complete, poetic, and living language.
Panel: The Essential Role of LSPs in an AI Era
The first panel of the event explored the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and language services. Moderated by Arrieta, the discussion featured:
- Constance Leys, founder of CreolePro and CreoleMT
- Jean-Marc Julien, software engineer and educator
- Fritz Gerald Zephirin, CEO of Defilex LS
Panelists addressed the challenges of translating underrepresented languages like Haitian Creole using AI. Lais emphasized the need for human oversight, citing the lack of online data and the difficulty of translating idioms and cultural expressions. Zephirin explained that AI systems rely on probabilistic modeling and lack semantic understanding, stressing that human translators are essential for ensuring accuracy, especially in fields like law and medicine.
Panel: Language Inclusion in TPS Workforces
Day two of KONBIT25 opened with a panel on workplace inclusion, featuring:
- Lorraine Sanchez, Benefits Specialist
- Evelyn Marte, HR Director at John Knox Village of Florida
The panel highlighted the importance of multilingual orientation and Creole translation in improving employee engagement and safety. Sanchez and Marte shared how their HR team implemented Creole-based onboarding materials, grievance procedures, and benefits communication to support Haitian employees.
Lessons Learned: Best Practices in Haitian Language Work
This session featured insights from three seasoned professionals:
- Jean Louis J Mc Neil, translator and interpreter
- Edlens Ulysse, Language Services Specialist
- Marc-kensen Curvinglines, translator and educator
Panelists discussed terminology management, quality assurance, and the ethical responsibilities of translators. Curvinglines shared his experience translating Alice in Wonderland into Haitian Creole, highlighting the creative decisions required to preserve meaning while honoring cultural context.
Closing Keynote: Technology, Youth, and the Future of Haitian Creole
William Lesly Balan-Gaubert a Haitian-born historian and public intellectual, called for a revolutionary approach to education, inspired by Paulo Freire’s pedagogy of the oppressed. Gobert envisioned a future where Haitian children learn science and history in their mother tongue, supported by digital tools and culturally relevant pedagogy.
He emphasized that Haitian Creole must be embraced not only in songs and jokes, but also in science, policy, and diplomacy. “The limitation is not the language,” he said. “The limitation is us.”
Beyond Celebration: A Call to Action
KONBIT25 was a powerful affirmation of Haitian Creole’s role in global dialogue. From AI ethics to HR inclusion, from translation workflows to revolutionary pedagogy, the event showcased Haitian Creole as a language of dignity, opportunity, and transformation. As Julien concluded, “When we free the language, we enrich the world.”
Watch the Recordings
Watch the first day of KONBIT25 here: https://www.youtube.com/live/ndbLrnFgLwg?si=MIq9uT_HyrEHJ2m1
Watch the second day of KONBIT25 here: https://www.youtube.com/live/VHHIKuBqdmA?si=yqXbWa7y97U-xR5G
