For the first time in more than 50 years, Haiti will compete on soccer’s biggest stage, and a new Atlanta initiative aims to make sure the city’s Haitian community has a central place to celebrate.
From June 13 through June 27, Haïti Haüs will serve as Atlanta’s official home for Haitian culture, commerce and community during Haiti’s participation in the FIFA World Cup. Headquartered at Rock Steady, a Haitian-owned Caribbean restaurant in Midtown, the initiative will also connect Haitian-owned and Haitian-aligned restaurants, bars and cultural venues across the city through a unified program calendar.
The grassroots effort was co-founded by Naomy Grand’Pierre, an Atlanta-based creative strategist and retired Haitian Olympian, alongside Haitian creative director Leo Volcy. The Atlanta pilot is intended to showcase Haitian culture while creating lasting connections among businesses, artists and community organizations.
“This is a grassroots effort, so we really want to invite Haitian businesses, Haitian people, the Haitian community to really plug into Haïti Haüs and help us build this pilot together,” Grand’Pierre said.
Haïti Haüs functions as both a physical gathering place and a digital hub where residents and visitors can discover Haitian cultural events taking place throughout the city during the World Cup.
The programming extends beyond soccer, offering visitors multiple ways to experience Haitian culture throughout the two-week activation. On June 13 at 5pm, Haïti Haüs will kick off its celebration with a kickoff event and watch party for the Haiti vs Scotland game; bringing together fans to cheer on Haiti while enjoying Haitian cuisine, music and community.
A Konpa dance class, scheduled for June 18 at 6:30 p.m.,will highlight the rhythms and traditions of Haitian culture through music and movement. Participants of all experience levels are invited to learn Konpa, a traditional Haitian partner dance that originated in the 1950s, offering both longtime members of the Haitian community and newcomers an opportunity to celebrate and experience the culture together
On June 17, Haïti Haüs will host a screening of “This Unexpected Love” from 6 to 9 p.m. Directed by Abdias Laguerre, the film follows the whirlwind journey of friendship and love while blending Haitian and Nigerian traditions, offering attendees an opportunity to experience Haitian culture through cinema, storytelling and conversation.
Event programming is subject to change. For the most up-to-date schedule, additional events and ticket information, please visit haitihaus.com.
Grand’Pierre said Atlanta was a natural home for the initiative.
“Atlanta, because it’s where I live. It’s very magical that Atlanta happened to be hosting one of Haiti’s games,” she said.
The initiative is being presented in partnership with the Federation of Haitian Chambers of Commerce, the Georgia Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce, the Consulate General of Haiti in Atlanta and Æra Hope Creative Incubator. Organizers say the Atlanta activation also serves as a pilot for the first-ever Haitian cultural house planned for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games in collaboration with the Haitian Olympic Committee.
Grand’Pierre said launching the project on a compressed timeline presented one of its biggest challenges.
“Time has been the hardest part,” she said. “My collaborators probably spent at least three weeks without sleeping, just working around the clock to launch a business and launch a pilot and build a website and build the logo and the brand identity.”
She added that the collaborative nature of the project will help shape its future expansion.
“Luckily, this is a pilot, and basically the community is building together. This has definitely been a collaborative effort so that, come the Olympic Games, we really have a strong understanding of what Haïti Haüs is and how it can better benefit the community.”
Beyond celebrating Haiti’s return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, organizers say the initiative seeks to provide a unified platform for Haitian businesses and cultural organizations while introducing the broader Atlanta community to Haitian food, music, art and traditions.
Grand’Pierre hopes visitors will see a different side of Haiti.
“The pride and the joy and the excellence that our culture is, and by going to haitihaus.com or visiting the social media platforms, you can see all the places in the city where you can enjoy Haitian culture.”
Haïti Haüs is still seeking sponsors and community partners to support the Atlanta pilot and future programming.
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