The City of Medford begins a series of Haitian Heritage Month events with a screening of the film “1804: The History of Haiti” in Bonsignore Hall at the library. The 2017 documentary tells the story of how Haiti won its independence, carrying out the first-ever successful slave rebellion. After the film (1 hour, 55 minutes) there will be a moderated conversation by Bernadette Désiré, co-director of education programs at the Gawou Ginou Foundation, and Fulbright scholar Falianne Forges, with special guest Vijaya Sundaram, Medford’s poet laureate. There also will be Haitian art, jewelry, and more from Loretta’s Legacy, a Saugus gallery celebrating the vibrant and rich traditions of Haitian art.

Other events in the series will be a Haitian Children’s Book read at the library on May 11; and on May 18, a Create Your Own Haitian Art workshop at the Medford Family Network and a Haitian Flag Day Celebration at Andrews Middle School.

The series is a collaboration between the City of Medford’s Health Department, Medford Family Network, Medford Public Library, and DiamondTale Consulting Inc.