Council recognizes Haitian Independence Day; local coalition calls for attention to growing Haitian community

Wilmington City Council on Thursday passed a recognition for Haitian Independence Day and heard from community leaders representing the Center for Global Africa and the Haitian Coalition of Delaware.

Alicia Clark of the Center for Global Africa introduced two guests from the Haitian Coalition of Delaware and noted that Senator Darius Brown had filed a resolution in the Delaware Senate acknowledging the holiday. Keta Deriska, cofounder and cochair of the Haitian Coalition of Delaware, told council the coalition’s mission is to improve the Haitian community’s social, educational and economic development in Delaware through amplifying community voices and cultivating partnerships.

Deriska said the Haitian population in Delaware has grown substantially and noted that Haiti is the third most common birthplace for foreign‑born Delaware residents, with the Haitian population in the state nearly doubling between 2010 and 2022 (as stated in remarks). “They are seen, they are heard, and they are wanted,” Deriska said, urging continued outreach and services.

Council members thanked the speakers and invited them to stay engaged with city staff. Council President Trippie Congo and members posed for a group photo with the speakers after the meeting. The record also contains a submitted statement from the Wilmington Center for Education Equity and Policy (WCEEP) supporting the newly created Office of Educational Advocacy and urging a city role in monitoring education for Black and Brown students.

The council’s ceremonial recognition acknowledged the historical and cultural importance of Haitian Independence Day and the Haitian community’s contributions to Wilmington and the region.