Cherie Abbanat
Cherie is a lecturer at DUSP and in the Department of Architecture where she has been teaching for over twenty years. Cherie lectures on policy, non-profit management, post-disaster rebuilding in New Orleans and Haiti, and the need for grassroots initiatives. Cherie was also a lecturer in CMS/Writing, creating and designing Communication-Intensive writing and presentation classes.
As a practitioner, Cherie joined Haiti Projects Inc., a 501 (c)3 non-profit, in 2013 as its CEO to transform Haiti Projects from a fledgling non-profit into a growing social enterprise. Cherie successfully turned Haiti Projects around financially and then grew the non-profit. Cherie had a staff of 4 employees in the US and anywhere from 150 - 200 employees in Haiti, mostly women. Cherie is passionate about empowering women in Haiti and throughout the world.
Haiti Projects operates a women's sewing cooperative, a women's health clinic that focuses on family planning, health and hygiene services for women and girs. Also, Cherie designed along side the commuity and architects built the first maker library in Haiti. The library is off-the-grid, solar-powered, and included a rain-water collection system. Cherie raised a total of about $4 million over the years to support various projects, including the maker library.
Cherie has also held consulting positions and positions in government working for the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, regulating telecommunication and cable companies prior to deregulation.
Cherie has her undergraduate degree in Economics and French from Simmons College and her Masters with a concentration in Environmental Policy and Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MCP '97).
Professional Projects and Service Learning Projects
Professional Projects
Maker Library, Fond des Blancs, Haiti 2018. Envision, fund, hire architects and builders to design and build the first Maker Library in the Country of Haiti. The Maker Library is also a community center, entrepreneurial hub and possible disaster communication center. The Maker Library is built to withstand earthquakes and hurricanes. The library is powered by solar (backup generator) and has rainwater collection technology. This project was funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Menstrual Pad Project, Fond des Blancs, 2016-2018 Haiti, Funded by UMCOR
Women’s Beekeeping Project, Fond des Blancs, Haiti 2016-2018, Funded by UMCOR
Financial Literacy Project for Women Entrepreneurs in collaboration with MIT students and IDEO, a Haitian Women’s Consulting Firm, Funded by UMCOR
Building Women’s Leadership Capacity and Women Entrepreneurs in Rural Haiti, 2012-2018 in collaboration with IDEO, a Haitian Women’s consulting Firm.
Rural Mobile Technology Learning Lab, 2018-present. Using motorcycles and trucks along with mobile internet and computers to bring computing resources to children in the most remote areas of Fond des Blancs. Funded by Haiti Projects, Inc.
Saturday Kids Club, Fond des Blancs, Haiti, 2013- present
Jeans Project, Fond des Blancs, Haiti and New York, NY 2016-2018. Fond des Blancs expert embroiderers worked with Threaded Tales, a New York Design team to create stories on jeans to be sold at high-end venues in NYC.
Post Hurricane Matthew Rebuild Project – Homes, Goats and Chickens, Fond des Blancs, 2016. Work with local artisan families who suffered devastating losses as a result of Hurricane Matthew, a Category 5 hurricane that struck Haiti in 2016. Assess home damage, live stock loss and work with funders to purchase and supply building materials, goats and chickens to families.
Girls Health, Hygiene, and Soccer Program in Fond des Blancs, Haiti
COVID-19 Mask Making Project in coordination with MIT’s Art Program – Azra’s group**
Temporary Health Care and Dental Clinic, Post Earthquake, Leogane, Haiti 2010
Service Learning Projects
New Orleans, LA – funded by DUSP and Alumni Class funds
Valparaiso, Chile – in collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Centro de Políticas Públicas
Port-au-Prince, Haiti – funded by World Bank
Panama City, Panama in collaboration with Ariel
Harlem, NYC in collaboration with the Harlem Educational Activities Fund (HEAF), 2023-present
