Johanne Meleance & Jeanine Abrams McLean: Reframing Democracy and Haiti Through Joyful, Community-Led Change

Feb 26

Playfull Podcast Johanne Meleance & Jeanine Abrams McLean

Johanne Meleance & Jeanine Abrams McLean: Reframing Democracy and Haiti Through Joyful, Community-Led Change

In this episode, Kristine Michie speaks with Jeanine Abrams McLean of Fair Count and Johanne Meleance of Help for Haiti about reshaping narratives in democracy and global development. They discuss how systems—not people—create undercounted communities, the power of asset-based storytelling, and the role of civic engagement, community ownership, and joy in driving lasting change.

Key Takeaways:

Language shapes perception. Moving from “hard-to-count communities” to “historically undercounted communities” shifts responsibility from people to systems and reframes the work toward justice.
Storytelling is as powerful as statistics. While data validates impact, lived experience changes hearts, and both are necessary for meaningful change.
Haitian-led development matters. Sustainable progress happens when local leaders design solutions rooted in cultural understanding and community ownership.
Democracy requires participation beyond voting. Civic engagement includes organizing, storytelling, education, and creative tools like gaming to activate the next generation.
Giving builds security. As Johanne reflects, helping others isn’t depletion; it strengthens collective and personal stability.

"If you're able to be privileged to have enough, why not share, you know, that will be a sense of security." — Johanne Meleance

"Educate yourself, get engaged, and do something because it is going to take all of us to make sure that we maintain the freedoms that we have in this country." — Jeanine Abrams McLean

More About Johanne Meleance:

Johanne Meleance is a Haitian-American nonprofit executive and global development leader advancing Haitian-led solutions. As Executive Director of Help for Haiti, she leads community-centered work in education, food security, and long-term development rooted in dignity and local leadership. Since 2018, she has expanded impact and built trusted global partnerships while remaining deeply connected to the communities she serves. She holds an MS from Northeastern University, studied at Université Paris-Sorbonne, founded The African Sustainability Project, and is committed to centering Haitian voices in lasting change.

More About Dr. Jeanine Abrams McLean:

Dr. Jeanine Abrams McLean is President of Fair Count, a nonpartisan organization founded by Stacey Abrams to advance fair census counts and sustained civic participation. A researcher with over 20 years of experience, she has authored 25+ peer-reviewed publications and previously advanced public health initiatives at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At Fair Count, she has led statistically robust census undercount mapping in all 50 states, centering Black and Latinx communities and pairing research with grassroots action. She serves on the U.S. Census Bureau’s National Advisory Committee and was recently selected for the 2023 Keseb Democracy Fellowship.