Leaders of the Haitian Christian Leaders Coalition met this week with Miami-Dade County commissioners and City of Miami council members in a series of structured listening sessions designed to place Haitian community priorities at the center of local policy discussions.
Topics covered included affordable housing access in areas with large Haitian-American populations, language access services at government offices, small business support programs, and funding for community health clinics serving underinsured Haitian families.
The meetings were part of HCLC’s broader government relations strategy, which emphasizes building sustained, respectful relationships with elected officials rather than one-off advocacy moments. “We want to be a voice that officials know, trust, and return to,” said one HCLC representative.
A follow-up session has been scheduled for the coming quarter, where HCLC will present a formal policy brief outlining specific legislative asks and community-driven solutions.