Jessie Lavelanet earned her Bachelor Degree in the field of Psychology. She has over 20 years experience working with children and families. She has worked in various systems providing counseling and supportive intervention strategies to ensure that her families are adequately equipped to traverse the difficulties they encounter. Jessie migrated from Haiti in her teenage years and recalls the difficult time she experienced being in a new land surrounded by foreigners. This difficult transition was further exacerbated by the absence of a Haitian community in her new surrounding which made it impossible for her to form immediate connections with individuals from her Haitian culture. In fact Jessie had to move out of the State of Michigan 15 years later to reconnect with her community. This experience was the catalyst for the path that she chose to follow in her professional journey.

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Jessie has consciously chosen positions which allow her to provide the guidance and support to diverse group of individuals but closest to her heart are the Haitian families entering the US. She is passionate about educating others about the Haitian community and advocating for them to ensure that they are not treated unfairly. Jessie takes every opportunity to speak out on their behalf despite the barriers she encounters. She has since dedicated her time counseling individuals, children and families in the human service arena. Her experience entails drug rehabilitation counseling, family reunification from foster care placement, foster care placement and most recently Jessie has been working in a school setting with younger children and their families in the prevention of adjustment issues. Jessie takes great pride in being afforded the opportunity to serve in any fashion the Haitian community in keeping their identity as they navigate the American system.