Haiti Cultural Exchange (HCX) is a nonprofit organization established to develop, present, and promote the cultural expressions of the Haitian people. HCX raises awareness of social issues and fosters cultural understanding through programs in the arts, education, and public affairs. Their longer-term vision is to establish a cultural space/center for the preservation and presentation of Haitian culture and heritage.

Haiti Cultural Exchange was founded in 2009 by seven Haitian women with the aim to create a permanent presence for Haitian Arts and Culture in New York City. Led by Executive Director Régine M. Roumain, HCX focuses on the traditional Brooklyn neighborhoods of the Haitian diaspora. HCX also presents and co-presents at major public and cultural sites in the city. HCX programs and services seek to support emerging and established artists, promote cross-cultural exchanges, preserve cultural heritage, and encourage dialogue around contemporary social issues. Through Arts Presentation, Cultural Engagement, and Artist Development programs, HCX has presented Haitian art and artists to both Haitian Diaspora and broader audiences through exhibitions, film screenings, musical performances, multidisciplinary festivals, artists talks and educational programs. HCX has fostered artistic exchanges between Haiti and the US, bringing Haitian and Diaspora artists together in mainstage and community venues. In the face of a public understanding of Haiti that is often framed by political discord and natural disasters, HCX seeks to empower Haitian communities by representing the breadth and influence of Haiti’s artistic heritage, history, and culture.

Jerome Foundation supports Haiti Cultural Exchange’s Lakou NOU Artist Residency program. Lakou NOU (“Our Yard” in Haitian Creole) works with four Haitian Diaspora artists annually inside the commons of one of four Brooklyn neighborhoods that are home to multiple generations of the Haitian diaspora: Canarsie, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, and Flatbush. Artists implement creative projects that connect their artistic skills to existing community needs and assets. Over 8 months, artists start with a listening phase in their respective Lakou; the project is then developed across 3–6 months in response to and in partnership with community. HCX holds professional development sessions for participating artists and each project features several public presentations or performances, concluding with a culminating event and public conversation. Each artist receives a fee with the residency. The Lakou Nou program is run by HCX Program Director, Kassandra L. Khalil.