YLAI Professional Fellows Program, Class of 2016

Makendy Smith is the co-founder, CEO, and Creative Director of MAK PA NOU CREATION, a handcrafted sandals production company incorporated in 2010. He studied Fine Arts at the National School of Arts (ENARTS) and Management of Cultural Organizations at the University of the State of Haiti (UEH). Makendy was named Artisan of the Year in 2011 by the Ministry of Tourism and the newspaper, Lenouvelliste. He has trained many young people in making hand-crafted sandals in Haiti. Makendy was also one of two entrepreneurs selected as part of the joint program between Cedel Haiti and the University of Florida called Economic Empowerment in Haiti (EEH) in 2016.