Congratulations to Johwell Saint-Cilien of the Rotary Club for Global Action for being selected as Rotary District 5150's Rotarian of the Month for June 2024! Johwell is a founding member of the Rotary Club for Global Action. Raised in Paris, France, by his Haitian mother, he pursued his dream of filmmaking by moving to New York City. He arrived just days before 9/11 and was lucky to survive as he ran out of Tower One after the planes hit. Such a traumatic experience gave him a perspective on life and living that few of us have. He has gone on to connect and build community in ways beyond his imagination, including a documentary on his friend turned Congressional Representative Jamaal Bowman. In the years following, his focus on community activism included partnering with a successful creative arts youth program known as "Kids Helping Kids: A Hip Hop Experience" as well as a curriculum for NegusWorld Youth which consists of connecting students with their peers in different parts of the country or the world.
In 2014, he co-founded the Negus WorldWide Party, a global event that raises funds and awareness to support groups benefiting children. With Johwell’s leadership, the Negus WorldWide Party partnered with the Rotary Club for Global Action to raise over $18,000 to support the education of girls in Liberia with the Gbowee Peace Foundation. Though we were in the middle of the COVID pandemic, his strong network and infectious enthusiasm brought a global community together, including Rotary senior leaders (then incoming RI President Jennifer Jones), rock stars (Pete Townsend of The Who), luminaries (Gloria Steinem), Nobel Laureates, actors, and activists (US Congressman Jamaal Bowman) over Zoom to make a difference.
In Rotary, Johwell has a stellar track record of dedicating time to attend the majority of meetings, connecting with members and visitors. He stepped up to fill the shoes of the outgoing 2021-2022 membership chair, creating valuable traditions like the virtual box of gratitude where Club members and visitors can share what they’re grateful for during meetings and in between. His Club asked him to cut his role as Membership chair to serve as the President-Elect. He didn’t take the responsibility lightly. He did his due diligence to ensure he could show up for the Club and the community as well as support the incoming Membership chair.
As the President-Elect, he is proving that he is the heart of the Rotary Club for Global Action. He has a clear vision for what he wants to accomplish as the 2024-2025 President and is active in doing the groundwork required for a successful term. He has made time to connect directly with every member of the Club – no easy feat considering his Club is in 20+ countries and as many time zones. He makes sure to listen and do whatever it takes to make sure people have what they need to feel welcome and supported.
Johwell led a successful Rotary Means Business event in 2022. The event was successful, because Johwell took on the responsibility of promoting and emceeing the event. His voice and values ensured that everyone felt not only welcomed but a deep sense of belonging.
He’s a Club MVP, whether it’s joining in conversations during Club meetings, driving for hours to attend a social, even driving for over 90 minutes each way and through an atmospheric river! He brings his special brand of enthusiasm to training meetings in person and virtually. He was the first person to raise a hand to support the Global Interaction Interact Club, taking the steps to get clearance in order to fully support young people participating in our global Rotary community.
He chaired and then emceed the 2023 women’s history month event creating a partnership between District 5150 and the Oakland Museum. In the same year, he led a global fundraiser on 6 continents and 13 global locations through partnership with Rotaract Oceania, PeaceJam, including a Bay Area event in his community of Oakland, California to raise $10,000 for the Mentoring Peace Builders Organization in Cape Town.
He is a dedicated father and role model. Spending the holidays in New York with family from Ireland, Togo, and France, he also incorporated his Rotary family in with a New Year’s Day clean-up. Most recently he has been teaching his “Self-Empowerment to Empower Others” class in local schools for K-12 youth.
Johwell consistently brings a positive and uplifting tone to meetings and every interaction. He is curious, positive, hardworking, and open to giving and taking feedback. He is a caring individual: without fail, he asks if people are okay and is available to hold space for the response (positive or negative). He is always kind and thoughtful and exemplifies the spirit of what a Rotarian is. He is a Paul Harris fellow and the future of Rotary. His contagious energy is the embodiment of what Rotary is looking for to create a culture that engages members and lifts up communities. He puts the FUN in Fundraising, and so much more.
The Rotary Club for Global Action and Rotary District 5150 are honored to have Johwell Saint-Cilien as a valued member and grateful for his many contributions. Johwell walks the talk and puts in the time to make an impact. He is the future of Rotary right now and is most deserving to be recognized as District 5150’s Rotarian of the Month for June 2024!
