As Seen in the Miami Herald - Father's Day Feature

Dad and young daughters to talk about writing Sunday at Grove bookstore

By Christina Mayo

Source: Miami Herald

Author and professor Yanatha Desouvre is celebrating Father’s Day this year doing what he does best — inspiring people. 

He’ll be with his family: wife Amy Desouvre, and their four children, daughters Reanna, 10; Danielle, 6; Jolie, 3; and son Antoine, 18 months.

The girls and their dad will be talking about writing from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Bookstore & Kitchen, 3444 Main Hwy., Coconut Grove. In 2013, Reanna and her dad wrote “Big Sister, Little Sister” together and it has become a top seller on Amazon. 

“Reanna, our oldest, co-authored ‘Big Sister, Little Sister’ when she was about 4½. She dictated the words and I jotted them down. Danielle and Reanna co-authored the follow-up to ‘Big Sister, Little Sister,’ called ‘Proud to Be...’ which celebrates our blended Haitian and Jewish cultures,” Yanatha Desouvre said. He was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Amy Desouvre is Jewish and from Massachusetts.

But writing is not all that Yanatha Desouvre does. He is also an information technology trainer at the University of Miami and a marketing professor at Miami Dade College Kendall Campus. 

“I love the teaching side,” he said. “I love the light bulbs that come on in the students’ heads.”

He has written 10 books, some adventurous fiction, others more personal and inspiring. He said he gets his drive, compassion, empathy and work ethic from his parents, who raised him in New York after moving from Haiti. 

Desouvre moved to Miami almost three years ago with his wife and children when UM offered him the IT Training job. Amy is an award-winning broadcast journalist known as Cierra on a weekend 102.7 The Beach radio show.

Perhaps his joy of life and energy are the result of learning to cherish every day at a young age. 

In 1987, when Desouvre was 9, he and his dad went for haircuts at a Brooklyn barbershop. They were there during a holdup and shots were fired. His poem “Walk Through this Journey” tells the story.

“The barbershop shooting at a young age taught me that every moment of life is precious. Being positive, not ignoring the negative, but growing and choosing to learn from it, gives me a more balanced life. With all the negative things that come our way, I try to encourage others, including myself, to have a positive core.”

His latest book, “Revelations: Roads to Redemption,” has just been published. He taped a copy on his chest when he went skydiving to celebrate his 40th birthday. 

“It's a great time to be alive and I am grateful for every moment,” he said. “There is a Haitian proverb that says, ‘Throw your rocks everywhere, they will land somewhere.’ I've been throwing rocks for quite some time. The future is bright.

“To me, as long as you are breathing, know that things can and will be better. We all can tap into the most powerful human force, hope. Through my writing, as a father, husband, friend, colleague, college professor, I commit to honing into that uplifting energy of hope every moment that I can.

“No matter what goes on, from surviving a daytime shooting in a barbershop, or much worse. Being a survivor of a life-threatening situation like that gave me strength,” Desouvre said. 

“Right now, all people are survivors of something. Now, go out there and make a difference. Let others know that we are all more than just survivors. We are conquerors because we tapped into that force of hope.” 

To learn more about the Father’s Day event and Desouvre’s other projects visit www.yanatha.com.

Featured on BlackEnterprise.com: How This Haitian-American Social Entrepreneur Turned Mourning Into Motivation

How This Haitian-American Social Entrepreneur Turned Mourning Into Motivation

By: Kandia Johnson

How This Haitian-American Social Entrepreneur Turned Mourning Into Motivation

Kandia Johnson

In case you didn’t know, the Centers for Disease Control reports African Americans are the racial/ethnic group most affected by HIV in the United States. So in honor of World HIV Day, we caught up with Yanatha Desouvre, a man on a mission to continue the legacy of Daniel Coulanges, Desouvre’s guitarist uncle and godfather who died in 1989 of HIV at age 28.

In 2016, Desouvre discovered lost footage of his uncle’s music. “My uncle Amos Coulanges, a world-renowned classical guitarist, told me there was a rare video featuring Daniel Coulange, his baby brother, performing at a University in Staten Island,” said Desouvre. “I was skeptical but the person who had the footage mailed it to him in France and my uncle shipped the VHS converted to DVD video to me in Miami.”

“I have a wonderful, noisy home full of little ones, however, when I popped in the video everything went quiet. The minute Uncle Daniel started playing he was speaking to me through his music and with every string he plucked I cried. Songs like “Killing Me Softly,” “Ne Me Quitte Pas (Don’t Leave Me),” and “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” tugged on my heart and soul.”

From Mourning to Motivation

What would you like people to take away from your uncle’s career and life?

My uncle had HIV in 1989, during that time it was a death sentence. This was also two years before Magic Johnson announced he was diagnosed with HIV, yet he’s still alive and thriving. So I would like people to #knowyourstatus—whether HIV positive or negative. If you’re HIV positive you can live a prosperous life with the tremendous drugs and resources that are available. If you are HIV negative, still check on your status with your annual physical exam.

My godfather had a short-lived musical career, but he lived a vibrant life. I would like anyone reading about Daniel Coulanges or hearing his music to pursue their dreams and share your talent with the world because you never know who you will inspire. You also never know when you will take your last breath.

What’s your vision for Daniel Coulanges’s work?

I’m doing an Indiegogo project to raise funds to master, produce, and manufacture the 18 music tracks I was able to extract from the video. The crowdfunding will fund the production and digital distribution for the project. With proceeds from the album sales, I plan to start virtual or brick and mortar Daniel Coulanges Center for Arts, Technology, and Business workshops to show artists (writers, painters, musicians, etc.) the business of art and understand how technology can enhance their art as well."

Miami's Own Unforgettable Moment - The Daniel Coulanges Story is Premiering Thursday, May 4, 08:00 pm on WBEC-TV

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EDITORS: For review copies or interview requests

Contact : 561-713-0462

Email : yanatha@yahoo.com

http://www.yanatha.com

(When requesting an interview, please provide an email address.)

The Daniel Coulanges story is Premiering Thursday, May 4, 08:00 pm on WBEC-TV

From Mourning to Motivation: Music For a Movement

Miami, Florida – With an album of lost footage from his uncle, Desouvre encourages people to live their lives to the fullest moment. This Haitian Heritage Month, The Daniel Coulanges story Premiering Thursday, May 4, 08:00 pm on WBEC-TV 63/Cable 19. Desouvre hopes to bring to life the music his late uncle Daniel Coulanges. Kendall resident Yanatha Desouvre shares a heartwarming and remarkable story (featured in the Miami Herald, Miami New Times and WLRN’s The Public Story Teller an NPR affiliate) on www.yanatha.com about one of the world’s finest guitarists, Daniel Coulanges. In 1989, two years before Magic Johnson announced he was HIV positive, Coulanges lost his life to AIDS; he was a mere 28 years old. Although his life ended far too soon, his legacy will last forever. Desouvre is using Coulanges music to raise awareness about HIV, encouraging everyone to know their own HIV status. This is important everywhere, but especially in Miami-Dade County, which Care Sources indicates is the number one county in Florida for new cases of HIV.

It all started this spring, when Desouvre received a package in the mail. He opened the box, found a video, placed it in his video player, and pressed play. The harmonious sounds of his late uncle and godfather, Daniel Coulanges, filled the room as Coulanges played an unaccompanied classical guitar adaption of “Ne Me Quitte Pas.” As the video continued, Desouvre saw and heard a number of musical masterpieces, including Don’t Cry for Me Argentina and Killing Me Softly; Desouvre felt Coulanges' presence as if they were in the same room.

“When I saw the video, with each guitar string my godfather plucked, I cried and cried. I was 11 years old when I last saw uncle Daniel alive. My godfather was speaking directly to me with each and every guitar string he plucked.”, Desouvre spoke. With tears in his eyes, he continued, “I feel I've been called to do something to keep him alive through his music.”  That is exactly what Desouvre is doing.

You will soon have the opportunity to listen to the smooth sounds of Coulanges’ guitar. His music is being remastered and produced has opened listeners’ eyes, ears, and hearts to the music, while nudging them to learn their HIV status. With selected pledges to the “World’s Finest” Indiegogo project, donors will receive a musical album (mastered digital and limited physical cd edition and vinyl), guitar clips, t-shirts, and a video concert. Join Desouvre in bringing Coulanges’ newly found recordings to life by visiting Indiegogo and searching for “Daniel Coulanges.”

About Yanatha Desouvre

Yanatha Desouvre is a prolific author. He was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Philadelphia, Pa. Desouvre now lives in Kendall, Fla with his wife and children. Desouvre has written several books, his latest are To Whom Much is Given, and Proud to Be. They are available on http://www.amazon.com/author/yanatha. Desouvre has two audiobooks: Walk Through this Journey: Volume One and Savor the Moments now available through iTunes and Google play stores. Desouvre earned his MBA in Marketing and Mass Communication and Media Management at Lynn University, and his Bachelor’s Degree in MIS and Marketing at Drexel University

ABOUT BECON

BECON broadcasts educational and instructional programs on BECON-TV (WBEC-TV), an FCC licensed station, owned and operated by the School Board of Broward County, Florida, to air noncommercial, educational programming throughout South Florida.  ###

'Paying tribute to a lost loved one can weigh heavily on our hearts. But Kendall resident Yanatha Desouvre has made it his mission to help the world know and remember his guitarist uncle and godfather, Daniel Coulanges, who died in 1989 at 28 of HIV/AIDS complications.

Kendall man on mission to remind world of late uncle’s talent for guitar playing

 

by BY CHRISTINA MAYO

Paying tribute to a lost loved one can weigh heavily on our hearts. But Kendall resident Yanatha Desouvre has made it his mission to help the world know and remember his guitarist uncle and godfather, Daniel Coulanges, who died in 1989 at 28 of HIV/AIDS complications.

“Imagine the musicians Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, or Amy Winehouse, who all died at a very young age, had some rare unheard creative works that were never shared with the world. What would you do to get that music to the world?” Desouvre said in email.

He last saw his godfather 27 years ago when Desouvre was an 11-year-old boy. Coulanges, was a classical Haitian guitarist, “like his award-winning, world-renowned accomplished older brother Amos Coulanges.” Another uncle in the musical family, Nito Coulanges, was in the Haitian gospel band, Echo Mysteriuex.

Desouvre discovered his late godfather’s music through its remarkable journey to him.

A video of Daniel Coulanges playing “Killing Me Softly” and “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” traveled from New York to Paris to Miami.

“My Uncle Amos Coulanges said, ‘Nephew, someone told me they have a recording of Daniel playing guitar at a college in Staten Island, New York.’ He told me as soon as he gets it he’ll send me a copy,” Desouvre said.

“I received a gift I will never forget,” he said. “I opened the international package and silence filled the room. I put the DVD in my computer and with each guitar string my godfather plucked I cried and cried. My godfather was speaking directly to me with each note.”

“He died on April 30, 1989, two years before Magic Johnson made his announcement, and never had an opportunity to share his talent with the world, until now,” Desouvre said.

In the grainy video (https://youtu.be/nnX9-VhPtMY), Coulanges also plays a stunning classical guitar adaption of “Ne Me Quitte Pas” by Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel.

Desouvre is trying to raise $1,358 through Indiegogo to have the recordings remastered.

He is also trying to raise awareness about HIV testing through the project. Desouvre is a prolific author. He was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, grew up in Brooklyn and Philadelphia, and now lives in Kendall with his wife and three children. Another is on the way. He works at the University of Miami.

He said he remembers his godfather in the Brooklyn apartment. He remembers him playing guitar and he said he does not want to throw away his chance to share that music with the world.

“My wife and I named our second daughter Danielle after my godfather. She shares his drive, ambition and sense of humor,” he said.

As for the recording, he said, “I managed to extract the audio from the video performances. I plan to get the songs mastered and produced so we may share this sentimental musical and video project with the world titled, ‘Daniel Coulanges — World's Finest — Live in New York’ because that was how the host introduced my godfather.”

He relates to and quotes “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and the words in Miranda’s Tony acceptance speech: “Nothing here is promised, not one day.”

“I strongly agree with Lin-Manuel Miranda. I also believe since we all only have just one life to live we must all live that life to the fullest,” Desouvre said. “This is a story of how a nephew/godson wants to honor the legacy of his musically gifted late uncle/godfather Daniel Coulanges. That nephew/godson is me.”

Desouvre is planning to release the album for his godfather in January.

“After the album is produced all the proceeds from that album will create a fund to establish and finance a not-for-profit center called Daniel Coulanges Center for Arts, Technology, and Business where there will be workshops and classes for anyone who wants to learn the business of the art that they are passionate about,” Desouvre said.

Yanatha Desouvre Hopes to Raise HIV Awareness With Album of Lost Footage From His Late Uncle

Kendall Man Hopes to Raise HIV Awareness With Album of Lost Footage From His Late Uncle

By Jessica Lipscomb

courtesy of Yanatha Desouvre

On a stage in Staten Island almost 30 years ago, a host grabbed the mike and announced the next performer, a Haitian classical guitarist.

"One of the world's finest guitarists, Daniel Coulanges," he said. "Please welcome Mr. Coulanges."

Wearing a charcoal-gray suit and a black bow tie, Coulanges took a seat on a black piano bench against a backdrop of verdant treetops. Without further ado, he moved his fingers up and down the neck of his guitar, strumming out the chords of "Killing Me Softly."

Coulanges died of AIDS shortly after the performance, in 1989. His godson and nephew Yanatha Desouvre says he wept when he saw footage of the Staten Island performance for the first time earlier this year. Now, Desouvre, a Kendall resident who works in IT at the University of Miami, is raising money to have the audio remastered and released to honor his uncle's legacy and encourage people to get tested for HIV.

Desouvre says another uncle sent him the DVD of Coulanges' performance this past April. He was instantly flooded with childhood memories of growing up in Brooklyn and enjoying visits from Uncle Daniel. 

"I have a wife and three kids at home, so it's normally really loud. But when I popped in the video, it got quiet," he says. "I saw my godfather alive, and with every guitar string that he plucked, I started crying and crying and crying. He talked to me through the music, and I couldn't hold it in. I was like, I gotta do something with this."

Desouvre remembers spending Sunday afternoons with his uncle watching kung fu movies and soccer games in Spanish, because the commentary was more exciting that way. As a boy, he remembers his uncle cutting his hair in the living room and listening raptly as his uncle played guitar. 

"The house was full of music," Desouvre says. "Music is in my DNA."

Photo courtesy of Yanatha Desouvre

Desouvre was only 11 years old when he learned that his Uncle Daniel had died. It was so sudden and his uncle so young — just 28 — that nothing about his death made sense. It wasn't until two years later when Desouvre found a piece of paper indicating his godfather had HIV/AIDS that his questions were answered. 

"We were told that he was sick and he died," Desouvre says. "It was the late '80s, and no one really talked about it. It was taboo."

Desouvre's mission is twofold: He hopes to encourage people to know their status but also to explore their passions and share their talents. 

"Miami, according to the statistics, in 2014 was number one for new cases of HIV and AIDS, so I want to encourage people to know your status and be able to live your life to the fullest. If you're negative, that's great, and if you're positive, there's medicine that can help you live a fulfilled life," he says. "My uncle didn't get a chance to live a full life, and that's why I'm doing this. I want the music to be out in the world and encourage others to live life."

A literary celebration for kids in Mt. Airy

"Starting in the morning, Roxborough resident and author Yanatha Desouvre along with his daughter, Reanna, talked about the children’s book they made together about the relationship between sisters."

After finishing up their set of rehearsed music, the musicians of Broadway Rox Philly crowded around the music sheet to sing from a book of kid songs they had lying around.

The small group was partaking in a literary-themed mini-festival at the Big Blue Marble Bookstore in Mt. Airy. The all-day event had various authors speaking and intermediate mini-concerts by the local musical group.

They performed songs from movies like "Aladdin" to the more recent "Frozen." One of the group’s founders, Ryan Tygh, said this was a new genre and crowd for them, having typically performed for adults.

“It’s kind of like rehearsal but more fun,” Tygh said.

Starting in the morning, Roxborough resident and author Yanatha Desouvre along with his daughter, Reanna, talked about the children’s book they made together about the relationship between sisters.

Author Jennifer Hansen later showed how the paintings in her children’s book were modeled off of her daughter’s facial expressions.

The author team, D.B Wales, concluded the day by discussing their fantasy book titled “Annwyn and the Owl King."