Marlène Chouloute-Hyppolite is a graduate of Ottawa University, where she obtained a B.A. in French Language and a B.Ed. in education.
She is the president of GRAHN, Ottawa-Gatineau. GRAHN (Groupe de Réflexion et d’Action pour une Haïti Nouvelle) was created after the 2010 earthquake in Haïti. Presently, GRAHN has a University online, ISTEAH, (Institut de Sciences et de Technologie Appliquées d’Haïti) for post graduate students and is building an elementary school at Milot in the northern part of Haïti.
Marlene is one of the co-writers of the book: Immigration Haïtienne et Choc Culturel: Informer pour Transformer (2016).
In 2008, RAF (Regroupement Affaires Femmes) awarded her the Prix Diamant for outstanding woman of the year. In 2016, she won the Prix du Drapeau d’Haïti for her positive contribution to the youth of the Haïtian community in Ottawa.
Marlene taught in the French Immersion program at Manotick Public School. When she retired in 2013, the staff created an award for excellence in Arts, which bears her name. Every year, she proudly presents it to the winner.
Although Marlene has retired from active teaching, her love for this profession has not ended. As the co-founder of Samedi Littéraire Haïtiano-Canadien in 2002, she continues her adventure in the field of education in different ways, in particular by promoting excellence in education and the teaching of music. Moreover, she participates very actively in programs that support families in raising their children in our community.
For the past 17 years, Marlene has worked very actively with Samedi Littéraire in giving scholarships to students who have completed their High School diploma. In order to benefit from this scholarship program, the students must excel in science or math, and demonstrate their leadership in their school. They must also be willing to pursue their education at a post secondary institution.
Since role models are so important to the learning experience, every year for the past 17 years, Marlene has ensured that the keynote speaker for her activities is a member of the black community who has demonstrated success in his or her chosen career. Those keynote speakers have included Dany Laferrière, member of the Académie française, Mireille Apollon, Mairesse adjointe for the City of Gatineau, Adrian Harewood, journalist with CBC television and the Honorable Frantz Benjamin, député in the Assemblée Nationale du Quebec.
Marlene’s great passion for the successful development of black families in our region as well as elsewhere has taken her to Montréal and Miami as guest speaker in many public events. For example, she participated as a Keynote speaker in the Haïtian section of the Miami Book Fair, where she talked about the Me Too movement.
She is a member of the steering committee for One Vision One Voice, a group funded by the Ontario Ministry of Children to facilitate the development of a Practice Framework to support child welfare agencies in providing better service to African Canadian children, youth and families. Her participation in that steering committee was noted as she showed tremendous commitment and leadership. Marlene is also a member of the advisory committee of SAE (Children’s Aid Society) for the Haïtian community.
After retirement, Marlene’s joy in teaching continues as she teaches music to her grandchildren and many other young members of the Haïtian community in Ottawa. At her École Haïtienne de Samedi Littéraire, her community school, she teaches recorder, choir, as well as basic elements of African cultural tradition through the Haïtian culture. Her main goal is to maintain the Afro-Haïtian tradition alive among our youngsters.
For the past six years, the students of École Haïtienne de Samedi Littéraire, under Marlene’s leadership, have made presentations in several community events in Ottawa, Gatineau and Montréal. The school has performed in Gatineau for CCNG (Conseil de la Communauté Noire de Gatineau), and in Ottawa for Comité Drapeau, during Haïtian Flag day. People in Montréal in particular appreciated their work during a homage to Rassoul Labuchin, former Mayor of Port-au-Prince in Haïti. The school also performs during the annual Galas of Samedi Littéraire.
The accomplishments and community works of Marlène Chouloute-Hyppolite indeed demonstrate that she is a true community builder.