Katia M. Philippeaux, is an inspiring young leader in the Haitian-American community. Discovering her curiosity for policy making and international relations while attending high school, Katia decided to study Political Science and International Relations, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Thomas University in 2011. Katia began several volunteerism efforts in 2009. In the memory of her late brother Robert, she continues to lead an annual fundraising campaign for the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida for their Walk the Talk initiative. Since her participation in 2010, Katia and her family have helped raise over $20,000 in efforts to find a cure and fund several programs assisting those with epilepsy. In addition to the walk, she has also donated toys during the holidays to benefit the kids in the foundation. Katia has also participated and volunteered in different initiatives, including: • Medical mission trips in Haiti organized with the Haitian American Professional Coalition (HAPC) and the Haitian American Nurses Association (HANA) • Post-earthquake ‘Give a Limb’ fundraising committee with the Haitian American Leadership Organization (HALO) • Mentoring through Communities in Schools at the North Miami Middle School • Citizenship and Temporary Protected Status drives with the Haitian Lawyers Association (HLA) • Board Member of REVIVE, Haiti and the Sylvia O. Charitable Foundation • Member of the inaugural class of the 2015-2016 Sant La Fellows Program Katia was recognized in March 2015 in honor of Women’s History Month for her tireless work in the North Miami community by former Councilwoman Marie Erlande Steril, in May 2015 by the Southeastern Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist and in June 2015 by the Association of Exchange and Development of Activities and Partnerships, Inc. (AEDAP). Katia is currently the Legal Administrative Assistant at the Office of the City Attorney of the City of North Miami. She is currently completing her Master’s degree in Public Administration at Barry University and expected to graduate in December 2017.