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Jean R. Chery
Founder
Born and raised in Haiti, Pastor Jean R Chery was shaped by the strength, resilience, and vibrant culture of his homeland. From an early age, his life was rooted in faith, which became both a personal foundation and a guiding light through every season of his journey. In 1989, he made the courageous decision to immigrate to the United States, carrying with him a deep trust in God and a vision for building a better future—not just for himself, but for his community.
Pastor Chery has been married to his beautiful wife for 36 years and has two sons. Pastor Chery has lived in the Greater Norwich area for 27 years. He saw firsthand the challenges faced by many Haitian immigrants in this community: language barriers, limited resources, cultural isolation, and uncertainty. But instead of being discouraged, he leaned on his faith and responded with compassion, purpose, and action. He believed that God had called him not only to survive but to serve. That belief led him to establish the Haitian Community Center—a place where Haitian individuals and families could find support, connection, and a renewed sense of hope.
Pastor Chery is also the Founder and senior pastor of Family Church of God. Whether offering a word of prayer, teaching a Bible study, or organizing a community event, he continues to embody servant leadership in everything he does.
Gregory Aurelien
President
Gregory Aurelien, graduated from Three Rivers Community College (TRCC), has an associate in science of nursing. He has a decent amount of work experience in the community field. He is passionate about helping people since he was in his country of origin, Haiti. With four years of psychology study at the Human Science Faculty of the Haitian State University (FASCH-UEH), he used to provide psychosocial support to countless Haitian in the outer part of HAITI. He has worked with Non-Governmental Organizations such as UNICEF, WORLD VISION, SOGEBANK FOUNDATION, to implement programs that improve Haitians health after many natural disasters. Migrated to the United States of America in 2015, He started working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) caring for elderly patients for about four (4) years. Meanwhile, he has also volunteered to work with church youths to promote spiritual and personal development for about four years. He previously served as the Public Relation Director/
Speaker of the board of the Haitian Community Center of Greater Norwich. Now, he is currently the president of this organization for the term 2025-2027. He has been married for 12 years and has two beautiful kids.
Jessica Dorelus
Secretary
Jessica Dorelus is a finance professional and emerging community leader who currently serves as Secretary of the Board for the Haitian Community Center of Greater Norwich. Born and raised in Haiti, Jessica immigrated to the United States in 2016 at the age of 19. Trilingual in Haitian Creole, French, and English, she brings a global perspective and strong cultural awareness to all aspects of her work and service.
Jessica holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Southern New Hampshire University and has accumulated over five years of experience in the banking industry, where she has developed a keen understanding of financial systems, customer service, and organizational management.
In addition to her professional career, Jessica is deeply committed to faith-based and community service. She plays an active leadership role in her church's youth ministry and currently oversees the children's ministry, where she mentors, organizes programs, and fosters spiritual and personal growth among young participants.
Before joining the HCC board, Jessica contributed her time as a volunteer teacher in the Center's English as a Second Language (ESL) program, offering essential language support to new immigrants. This early involvement with the Haitian Community Center helped her cultivate valuable leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills—qualities that now define her contributions as a board member.
As Secretary of the Board, Jessica is committed to fostering sustainable growth and inclusive engagement within the Haitian community in Connecticut. Through her dedication, cultural insight, and financial expertise, she aspires to serve as a vital resource and positive force for change.
Jimsly Joseph Treasurer
Jimsly Joseph was born and raised in Haiti. He migrated to the United States of America in March 1998. He lived in Miami , Florida for the first 5 years .Then he moved to New London , Connecticut since 2003 where he married and became a father of three boys.His past time is reading , going to the movies and spending time with his family.
He is a reserved , reliable and confident person. He is an accountant an tax preparer .He used to work at Foxwoods as a cashier and a Poker Dealer. He is currently the treasurer of Haitian Community Center of Greater Norwich(HCC). His primary duty include budget planning, financial reporting, record-keeping, managing incoming and outgoing funds. His goal is to ensure the financial stability and success of the organization.
Patrice Medor
​Public relations
Patrice (Pat) Medor is a native of Haiti and the fifth child of nine. He received his plumbing degree from J.M Wright Technical High School in Stamford. In 1983, Pat Medor graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a B.S. degree in Business Economics. In 2013 he established and facilitated the Men’s Support Group at BIMEC, a drug rehabilitation and housing facility that is still in operation. At that location, Pat Medor is currently overseeing and teaching weekly this Men’s Support Group on life skills, basic work training and discipline.
He is currently the Owner/ President of Genexo Associates. A General Contracting company specializing in Plumbing/HVAC and Home improvement/repairs for over thirty years. He was a faithful member of Ebenezer Chapel in New Haven for over 30 years. There, he founded the Ebenezer Youth Training Program and became a strong advocate for families and children and has organized the Family & Friends Weekend Festival for several years He is also an ordained minister with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. and have received his certification from Aenon Bible College. He served as Pastor of Exodus Family Worship Center for approximately 6 years. He is currently the Outreach Pastor for Exodus Family Outreach Ministries with a weekly Sunday Night Facebook live broadcast. His international ministry extends to Haiti and Costa Rica where he has traveled yearly to minister and bring financial support. Also included is Israel, India, Kenya, and North Miami, Florida where he has financially assisted with ministry building projects. He is also an active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors with certification from Light University. Pat Medor is married and is a devoted father of nine children.
Matthew Lewellen Marketing Director
Matthew Lewellen is a passionate marketing leader, creative entrepreneur, and dedicated community advocate. He currently serves as the Marketing Director for the Haitian Community Center of Greater Norwich, where he focuses on amplifying community voices, strengthening outreach, and promoting cultural connection.
Matthew is also the founder and owner of Divine Sound Production, a full-service media production company specializing in audio engineering, branding, and live event production. With a background in both media and nonprofit leadership, he seamlessly blends creative strategy with community impact.
His dedication to youth empowerment led him to establish the Coach Lewys Foundation, where he served as a founding board member. He has also made a significant impact in local sports leadership, previously serving as President of the Eastern CT Wolves and as Football Director for the Montville Youth Football League (MYFL) — mentoring countless young athletes along the way.
Matthew holds a degree in Audio Engineering and has earned Nonprofit Skills Certificates from the HR Certification Institute (HRCI), further enhancing his ability to lead mission-driven initiatives.
Whether behind the scenes producing powerful content or on the front lines of community engagement, Matthew brings vision, heart, and experience to every role he takes on.
Rachelle St Surin
Advisor
Rachelle St. Surin was born and raised in Haiti and migrated to the United States in 2013 at the age of 16. She is fluent in Creole and English and possesses a working knowledge of French.
A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and current nursing student, Rachelle brings over six years of experience in the healthcare field. Her deep passion for helping others has fueled her dedication to nursing as a meaningful way to positively impact lives.
In 2025, Rachelle joined the Board of the Haitian Community Center (HCC) of Greater Norwich to broaden her outreach and provide support to individuals within her community, particularly those of Haitian descent. Her volunteer work includes teaching English to Haitian migrants and contributing to initiatives that distribute gifts to children with incarcerated parents during the holiday season.
As a board advisor at HCC, Rachelle is committed to working alongside like-minded individuals to foster positive change and uplift the Haitian community in Connecticut.
Caleb Roseme
Advisor
Caleb Roseme serves as Chief Operations Officer at Assured Quality Homecare, a Connecticut-based agency committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality in-home care. With a background in mechanical engineering from the University of Connecticut and over eight years of experience as a quality assurance and process engineer, Caleb brings a systems-driven, people-centered approach to leadership.
Beyond his work in healthcare operations, Caleb is deeply involved in his community. He serves on the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment and Connecticut Association for Healthcare At Home. Caleb resides with his wife and three children in Norwich, Connecticut. His passions include faith, fitness, community service, and supporting initiatives that uplift underserved populations.
Jeff Petit Homme
Advisor
Jeff Petit Homme is a Registered Nurse and serves as an advisor for the Haitian Community Center of Greater Norwich. Born and raised in Haiti, he immigrated to the United States in 2012. He is fluent in four languages: Haitian Creole, French, English, and Spanish.
Jeff is passionate about reading and lifelong learning, believing that education is the most powerful tool for creating transformative change in society. He enjoys deep and meaningful conversations about God, family, and societal issues, and cherishes time spent with loved ones.
Deeply committed to serving his community, Jeff takes great pride in giving back. One of his greatest hopes is that Haitians will one day break the vicious cycle of division that continues to impoverish our people and hinder our national progress. He dreams of the day we begin to build a virtuous cycle that will support our growth and lead us toward lasting success.
Haiti pap peri.
Contact
We are always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.
860-319-5440