Katia M. Philippeaux is an inspiring young leader in the Haitian-American community. Discovering her curiosity for policy making and international relations while attending high school, Katia decided to study Political Science and International Relations, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Thomas University in 2011. She recently completed her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Barry University. After the sudden loss of her younger brother in 2009, Katia began several volunteerism efforts. In his memory, she leads an annual fundraising campaign for the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida for their Walk the Talk initiative. Since her participation in 2010, Katia and her family have helped raise over $20,000 in efforts to find a cure and fund several programs assisting those with epilepsy. In addition to the walk, she has also donated toys during the holidays to benefit the kids in the foundation. Katia has also participated and volunteered in different initiatives, including:

• Several medical mission trips in Haiti organized with the Haitian American Professional Coalition (HAPC) and the Haitian American Nurses Association (HANA)

• Post-earthquake fundraising efforts with the Haitian American Leadership Organization (HALO)

• Mentoring through Communities in Schools at North Miami Middle School

• Citizenship and Temporary Protected Status drives with the Haitian Lawyers Association (HLA)

She currently serves as President of the Haitian American Leadership Organization (HALO) and is a board member of REVIVE, Haiti, the Sylvia O. Charitable Foundation, and Fondation L’infini, an organization based in Haiti. She is also a member of the inaugural class of the 2015-2016 Sant la Fellows Program. Katia has been recognized in honor of Women’s History Month for her tireless work in the North Miami community by former Councilwoman Marie Erlande Steril, in May 2015 by the Southeastern Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist and in June 2015 by the Association of Exchange and Development of Activities and Partnerships, Inc. (AEDAP). In June 2017, she was recognized by the Haitian American Chamber of Commerce (HACCOF) as one of the Top 20 Under 40 Young Professionals in South Florida and voted Class of 2017 Valedictorian by her peers.

Katia accepts and approaches responsibility with enthusiasm and a zeal to succeed, driven by the desire to serve the community. Acknowledging the importance of investing in her community, she has remained dedicated to volunteerism by giving her time to citizenship and TPS drives, often serving as a translator and as a mentor for the North Miami Mentor Program at North Miami Middle School.