Read more about Evansville’s international community in the January/February 2025 feature story.
Years ago, Evansville real estate agent Gelina Mascoe – a native of Haiti – recognized a growing need in her community. Area hospitals serving newly arrived Haitian immigrants were reaching out for help, particularly for interpreters fluent in Haitian Creole.
“So many families needed guidance — medical assistance, education, housing, and support for navigating life in a new country,” Mascoe recalls. “It was clear they required more than just immediate aid; they needed a foundation for success.”
It is estimated that 10,000-plus Haitians have settled in the Evansville area over recent decades, many escaping poverty, natural disasters, political unrest, and violence in their homeland. While some immigrants came to the U.S. with college degrees and as working professionals, others arrived without English language skills, access to health care, or formal education.
At age 12, Mascoe and five siblings left their grandparents on Haiti’s island of Gonave to join their parents in Florida. Learning English through TV, books, and English as a Second Language classes, Mascoe excelled in high school and later earned multiple health care degrees and her real estate license.
In 2016, Mascoe and her brother, Caberbe Joseph, created Lumiere d’Education (Light of Education), a Haitian organization providing schooling for underserved children in Haiti. While raising funds and awareness with civic and philanthropic groups, Mascoe’s vision for a community hub began coming true.
“I remembered my own struggles as a young immigrant,” Mascoe says. “I wanted to create a space where others wouldn’t have to navigate this alone, where they could find the support and encouragement to build better lives.”
The Haitian Center of Evansville opened in April 2023, offering mentorship, educational programs, and connections to essential services.
“Working with Evansville organizations has been inspiring,” Mascoe says. “I’ve learned that creating change takes persistence, sacrifice, and the belief that every small step can lead to a brighter future.”
