Cornerstone at Canton Associates Share Pieces of Home at Haitian Cultural Celebration Event

CANTON, MA— Ahead of Haitian Heritage Month, stunning artwork and show-stopping dishes made for an unforgettable celebration of Haitian culture at Cornerstone at Canton’s Grab Your Passport! event in April. Associates Joe Badio and Rhode Orisma, who shared pieces of their home through incredible food and art, were proud to help put together the event and honor their native country. 

Grab Your Passport! is a virtual travel program where residents at Cornerstone at Canton immerse themselves in new cultures and learn about the world around them from the comfort of their community.

Rhode Orisma, a Resident Care Associate, was born in Haiti and has been at Cornerstone since the community’s opening in 2015. As she saw the residents discovering new cultures and reminiscing on their own travel experiences, she was inspired to share with them the art, food, culture, and other traditions she had grown up with. 

At the event, Rhode put her favorite Haitian-made artwork and traditional dresses on display. As the residents walked into the room, she proudly held up colorful embroidery pieces. She also showed them the blue and white karabela dresses worn to celebrate Haitian holidays such as Independence Day and Flag Day, and mahogany wood that had been hand-carved into small sculptures, tools and vases. Rhode had learned the traditional style of embroidery in school, and cherished the opportunity to share a piece of her childhood while showcasing all the creativity and joy that Haiti has to offer. 

“Haiti is a beautiful country that is very rich in art and music,” remarked Rhode. “I really enjoyed honoring that.”

For Cook Joe Badio, the event was an opportunity to showcase his love for his country through food. Joe was also born and raised in Haiti, and grew up with traditional dishes such as squash soup (soup joumou), which all Haitians enjoy on Independence Day on January 1st as a symbol of freedom. His other favorites include chicken with Creole sauce, and djon-djon, or black rice with mushrooms. When it came time to prepare the Grab Your Passport menu, there was no question in Joe’s mind about how to best represent Haitian cuisine. 

“I love what I do,” Joe said. “And when I do something, I want to do it well.”

He wanted to show the residents the dishes that he knew and loved, and that would remind his fellow Haitian associates of home. Each plate he served was full of joyful memories and pride for his country, surrounded by delicious flavors.

As Joe prepared the butternut squash soup, chicken and haddock with Creole sauce, and djon-djon, every aspect of the plate was a love letter to his home. He roasted the vegetables to perfection, prepared different sauces for the chicken and fish, and plated each item with care. To round out the meal, Joe’s dessert was truly the star of the show. He prepared mango flambé, blending the elegance of the dishes from his culinary training with mango, a staple fruit in Haiti. The residents marveled at the fire-roasted mangos and refreshing vanilla ice cream.

As Joe served the residents and watched them enjoying the food, he recalled the joy and sense of community he felt every time he had the same meals growing up. Cooking had become his love language for Haiti.

“I wanted to impress the residents with Haitian culture and make the food as it should be represented,” said Joe. “It was very special to see that they loved it.”

“We’re so proud to have such an incredible group of associates here in the community,” shared Rebecca Scalzo, Cornerstone at Canton’s Executive Director. “The diverse backgrounds they bring enrich our residents’ experiences, and we’re so grateful for that.”

For both Joe and Rhode, the best part of the event was seeing the residents truly enjoy the experience, try the dishes near and dear to their hearts, and admire the artwork. As they shared stories and pieces of their lives through Haitian culture, the event enriched their own perspectives as they learned how valued they were for the incredible stories and backgrounds they brought to the community.

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Cornerstone at Canton offers seniors service-enriched assisted living and two state-of-the-art Compass Memory Support programs for those with MCI, Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. Cornerstone is committed to helping seniors stay socially connected and independent through evidence-based arts, fitness and lifelong learning programs. Learn more at www.CornerstoneCanton.com.