What's Happening

October 19, 2026, Adrian, Michigan – Haiti has long been seen as a nation struggling with violence and financial hardship, but Dominique Boyer, Director of Sèvis Finansye Fonkoze (SFF), Fonkoze Financial Services, gave Adrian Dominican Sisters a reason to hope for the future of families from Haiti. 

She offered “An Invitation to Hope in Action,” a special presentation to Sisters, after the annual meeting of the Congregation’s Portfolio Advisory Board (PAB) and Office on September 25, 2026.

“For many years, the Adrian Dominican Sisters have been important partners to Fonkoze,” Dominique said. “You came at a most critical moment. It was an expression of trust…. Your support has not been in vain. It has helped Fonkoze to continue serving and building institutions that exist today.” 

The Fonkoze Foundation was established in 1996, and one of its programs, SFF, was incorporated in 2004. SFF offers the people of Haiti several products and services to help them lift themselves out of poverty: micro and small business loans, savings products, international and domestic money transfer services, currency exchange, and payroll services. In 2021, SFF became the first microfinance institution to be licensed by the Banque de la République d’Haiti. 

FFS operates about 21 branches throughout Haiti, offering a variety of financial services to the local residents who would otherwise have no access to financial services, Dominique said.  

In addition, through close to 1,500 Solidarity Centers, women in local areas come together to learn about ways to help their families become more financially independent. 
“The centers can be under a tree, in a school, in a church,” Dominique explained. “When we go into a community, we work with everybody.” 

Many of the women in the centers are granted microcredit loans to help them establish or improve their small businesses, Dominique said. Some 98% of SFF’s clients in core loan products are women. Many begin with small loans, such as $100. “They have six months to pay back the loan, and then they can get another loan,” often for a larger amount. “We have a relationship with them where we can sit with them and talk with them.” 

SFF has worked to build resiliency with the people of Haiti, Dominque said, yet the mission is still unfinished. Some 67% of Haitians have no access to an account at a financial institution. “Expanding responsible credit, savings, and digital services is a national priority,” she said. She added that a loan recently approved by the PAB will continue to help SFF in its efforts to serve the people of Haiti.

“You really supported us from the beginning, and we wanted to let you know this is where we are today,” Dominique told the Adrian Dominican Sisters. “You continue to stand with us. You believe in our mission.”
 
Learn more about Fonkoze and SFF in this video of Dominique’s presentation:

Caption for above feature photo: Dominique Boyer, Director of Sévis Finansye Fonkoze (SFF), offers an update about her organization to a group of Adrian Dominican Sisters. 

March 20, 2026, Adrian, Michigan – In a Black History Month presentation, Black Firsts: the Present, Sisters, Associates, and community members of Adrian heard of the experience of four Black professionals from Jackson, Michigan, who are the first Black person in their role. 

“The program is about our Black Firsts – how we celebrate when our Black leaders accomplish those high-achieving goals,” said Mykayla Giles, Director of the Congregation’s Office of Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion while introducing the program. “It’s such a monumental event, but we seldom hear from them about their experience.” 

Mykayla introduced the panelists, who are also her mentors. Serving on the panel were Christopher Simpson, Jackson Chief of Police; Kelly Crum, Executive Director of School Climate and Curriculum for Jackson Public Schools; Daniel Mahoney, Jackson Mayor; and John Willis, Jackson Chief Equity Officer. 

As moderator, Mykayla’s questions to the panel focused on the various challenges that they faced as they took on their roles, including what inspired them, their reaction when they realized they were breaking new ground, how they navigated spaces in which they were the only Black person, and the systematic changes they believe still need to be made. 

Watch a recording of Black Firsts: The Present.

Caption for above feature photo: Panelists for Black Firsts: The Present are, from left, Christopher Simpson; Kelly Crum; Mykayla Giles, moderator; Daniel Mahoney; and John Willis.