Conventional wisdom places most Haitians living in the United States either in Miami and vicinity or in the metropolitan New York City area. The truth is, however, that Haitians now reside in many other places in the United States: from north to south and from east to west.

Those who live in these places – be they second generation Haiti-Americans or more recently arrived immigrants - share much more than their Haitian heritage. They share a desire to succeed in their new homeland, to maintain their heritage as they undertake that quest, and, at the same time, to contribute to the well being of the land they left behind as well as to the communities they now call home.

This section presents snapshots of five communities in the United States where these events are unfolding. These snapshots of communities that are diverse in location, evolution and size help us to have a larger picture of how Haitians in America are striving to meet their individual and collective goals.