You may know that I spent some time working in Haiti, and I was heartbroken by the earthquake in January of this year. One of my colleagues, Gerardo Le Chevalier, was the head of the UN Electoral Assistance Unit. He lost his life when the UN building collapsed in Port-au-Prince.
So although this week is full of joy for me, with the book release, my family coming to town, a fabulous New York book launch party, and “Celebrate Handmade Brooklyn” on Saturday, I do want to take this opportunity to remember those who may be less fortunate than I. Gerardo’s family graciously agreed to allow us to honor him at “Celebrate Handmade Brooklyn” by raising funds for Doctors Without Borders in his name.
Gerardo was a Salvadoran citizen who served in the Senate before moving into the international arena. He used his own skills and experiences to support the development of political parties in Haiti and Paraguay. Most recently, he had returned to Haiti with the United Nations. He is sadly missed by his family and friends, and fondly remembered by his colleagues as a courageous, diplomatic man with a fabulous sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye. Some of the stories are told in this article about him on the National Endowment for Democracy’s website.
So I hope you will come to Posman Books on Thursday and to the Brooklyn Indie Market on Saturday to “Celebrate Handmade Brooklyn.” And please make a contribution to the outstanding and courageous work of Doctors Without Borders in honor of Gerardo Le Chevalier, a true democrat.
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