Barbette Lherisson epitomizes the spirit of community care like no other. As a first-generation Haitian American educated in the United States, Lherisson’s commitment to serving others runs deep in her veins.

A graduate of the University of Albany, she learned early on in college that volunteering with community groups, registering students to vote, and marching for causes she believed in gave her purpose. Reflecting on her Haitian roots, Lherisson shared, “As a child of Haitian descent it’s ingrained in you to work hard, uplift the needy, and stand for what’s right.”