About Us
Helping Haitian Migrants
Men Anpil is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that seeks to help Haitian migrants integrate and establish a successful, productive, and healthy presence in the United States.
In the center board member of Men Anpil (Shari Draayer) , a retired professor, providing ESL courses for Haitian migrants at Zion Community Church.
Our Story
Men Anpil (All Hands Together) started as an extension of and a result of the work that “Helping Haitian Migrants” has been doing since August 2021. Since its inception by Pastor Christopher Nielson, Helping Haitian Migrants has worked to welcome and coordinate the care and help that many Haitian migrants need once they arrive in the United States. Working independently and as members of this group, founders Phara and Esaie actively assist Haitian migrants in numerous ways, including transportation to health clinics and appointments, registration of children into school, assistance with housing and finding work, translation assistance, stipends for food, clothing, and more.
Under the umbrella of Men Anpil, they both hope to continue this work and extend the support that they offer the migrants. Men Anpil will continue to coordinate services for the migrants as well as elicit support from the community at large. To that end, Men Anpil, invites you to join hands in supporting the migrants. Join us in driving, in registering, in translating, in partnering, in putting our hands together to work to make a difference in the lives of others as well as your own and that of your family.
Our Mission
Men Anpil provides support to Haitians in the greater Philadelphia area. We provide rental assistance, translation for medical and legal services, ESL courses, furniture, clothing, transportation, registering kids in school, immigration support, and others as they presented. Men Anpil promotes social, spiritual, and other community gatherings and events to provide, connection, supports, friendships, growth, and more.
Our Vision
Men Anpil was established to welcome individuals from Haiti into the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area. We work to determine, address, and develop programs and resources to meet need of all Haitians. Our goal is to live in a community where all are welcomed and have the opportunity to live a fruitful, productive, active, and healthy life.
Meet The Team
Esaie Pierre
Co-Founder
After leaving Haiti in 1981, Esaie lived in New Jersey for 18 years. He attended Rutgers University for his undergraduate and graduate studies in Biology. In 1999, Esaie moved to Pennsylvania for work and continues to live there with his wife and children. In 2010, after many years of traveling to Haiti to train mathematics teachers, Esaie and Dr. Arthur Powell founded Elevating Learning Above Teaching (ELAT), a nonprofit organization to train Haitian teachers how to teach mathematics. This organization took Esaie, Arthur and other supporting colleagues to various parts of Haiti, such as Port-au-Prince, Jacmel, and other areas, where they trained numerous teachers on different techniques of teaching mathematics.
In late 2021, Esaie became greatly disturbed by the news that many Haitians were gathering under a Mexican bridge in an attempt to enter the U.S. Once he learned that the U.S government was letting some Haitians into the country, Esaie started looking for ways to get involved. This search eventually led him to Pastor Meaurice Choizi. Pastor Choizi suggested that he join a group that Pastor Christopher Nielson was leading to help the Haitian migrants. Esaie quickly became an active member of this group. After months of helping many Haitians migrants and meeting many other like-minded Haitians who were helping, Esaie decided to start Men Anpil with his co-founder Phara Clermont. Their goal is to combine their drive, help, coordinate and support all Haitians to establish a successful life in the U.S. Men Anpil is part of the Haitian and universal saying that goes “Men anpil chaj pa lou” (Many hands make light work), which Esaie hopes that the community will work hand in hand to lift us all up.
Phara Clermont
Co-Founder
Phara Clermont frequently traveled into the United States since 1984. In 1986, her family decided to move into the U.S. permanently. Growing up in Haiti, she was privileged to have a family that was financially stable. Her mother was passionate about serving other and it was common for her mother to cook meals in the household in Haiti and share with the neighbors who could not afford to eat. Phara’s mother sponsored many kids in the neighborhood, she was known for paying for some children’s education in the community. Phara also learned from her mother that when you love someone, you will be patient with them. It’s the individual's responsibility to understand their position and to give without expectation.
Phara moved from Haiti to New York where she continued the work of serving others by devoting her time to help the Haitian immigrants. She translated for the immigrants when they needed help and provided transportation to various activities. In 1993, Phara moved to Philadelphia to continue her education, and became a Respiratory Therapist. In 2020, Phara continued her education and decided to go to school for Christian Ministry. While she was in Christian Ministry school, many Haitians were crossing the borders of Texas due to political issues, which caused a lot of disturbing news and treatment of the Haitian immigrants. Since 2021, many immigrants are coming to Philadelphia for a better quality of life. Phara took action by involving herself in the Haitian community in the Philadelphia area. It was important for her to help with prenatal care and to help individuals find employment.
As a philanthropist, she was introduced to the group “Helping Haitians Migrants”, by Sister Yole Bien Aimé. Currently, Pastor Christopher Nelson is in charge of this group, which was how she was introduced to Esaie Pierre. Phara and Esaie decided to take this opportunity to start a non-profit organization, Men Anpil. The goal of this organization is to help Haitians integrate and establish a successful, productive and healthy presence in the United States.
Reverend Christopher Neilson
Board Member
Reverend Christopher Neilson is founding president of Christianity for Living Ministries and Pastor of The Living Church. Operating in/on the divine mandate to make community whole, he has spearheaded and overseen ministries on the international, national, regional and local levels, including mobilizing aid, engaging in advocacy and activism, facilitating and leading to opportunities and wholistic outcomes. He currently spearheads and works on immigration causes and campaigns in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.
In October 2021, responding to the plight of the Haitian migrants crossing the southern border (some of whom made it to the Philadelphia region), he started the Welcoming Haitian Migrants initiative. The initiative has mobilized and marshalled a network of churches, community leaders and members, organizations, and government entities, to welcoming the migrants in/by addressing their needs and providing opportunities. This has fostered and facilitated the hosting of events such as Welcoming Haitian Migrants and Celebrating the migrants with Soup Joumou; offering clinics for legal services and filing of/for TPS, Work Authorization and Fee Waivers; providing educational programs; offering services for school enrollment, medical services; finding and establishing housing; securing funding and providing financial assistance; crafting health emergency initiative of awareness and preparedness in response to COVID-19; and garnering the support and assistance of institutions and individuals.
Shari Draayer, MA, ABD
Board Member
Shari Draayer, MA, ABD, began her adult professional work as a nurse. Very soon after getting married (a requirement for doing foster care half a century ago), she began doing medical foster care and continued for 37 years. Shari loved being a mom and adopted as many of the children as came available. In 1983, newly divorced, she heard and was so inspired by Tony Campolo that she sold most of her belongings and moved to Philadelphia with her three little boys, to study sociology under this renown giant of sociological practice. In the process she added Professors Don Gray and Dave Fraser to her sociology and justice mentorships. Second only to motherhood, Shari was offered her next favorite opportunities to teach as an adjunct in several Philadelphia area universities, including her undergraduate alma mater, Eastern University. During this time Shari also completed coursework and exams to earn her Ph.D. but was derailed when her entire doctoral committee left the University. She is excited to have the privilege of using her sociology education, experiences and training doing sociology and justice through the eyes of faith with Men Anpil.
Lamy Saint-Fleur
Board Member
Bio coming soon
Nastry Brignol
Board Member
Bio coming soon
MarieJude Joseph
Board Member
Bio coming soon