On May 17, the Dargent Group, a private equity firm, announced its commitment of $5 million to the Captain Haiti Foundation, a 4947(a)(1) charity trust. The partnership aims to leverage blockchain technologies to address the housing crisis in Miami and combat the ongoing gentrification of the Haitian community in the city.
The funds will assist residents in Miami’s Little Haiti neighbourhood to acquire land, family homes, and commercial real estate. Nandy Martin, also known as Captain Haiti and the head of the organization, expressed plans to replicate the success of Wynwood’s Wall by launching the “Little Haiti Walls” initiative, which could attract an estimated 150,000 tourists annually and boost the local economy while fostering cross-cultural exchange.
Martin will collaborate with Nusic, a Web3 music infrastructure provider, to facilitate the initiative to create a limited edition geo-located music nonfungible token (NFT) collection that grants collectors the first option to purchase real estate. The Captain Haiti Foundation has set a goal of raising $300,000 to enhance the aesthetics of Little Haiti. Out of the total funds, 30% will be dedicated to neighbourhood clean-up initiatives, the installation of public artwork, and the development of green spaces inspired by the concept of “Little Haiti Walls.”
Two years ago, Martin garnered support from Miami District Commissioner Jeffrey Watson and Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson to leverage blockchain technology to revitalize the Little Haiti neighbourhood. At that time, Martin introduced the Little Haiti Coin on the Cardano blockchain, which offered discounts on Haitian imports, and Watson donated $200,000 to support 40 local businesses in importing Haitian goods.
Marin, who is well-known for wearing an outlandish shield and cape modelled after Captain America, opposes what he sees as gentrification that is taking place in his neighbourhood and that has resulted in expensive housing and emigration. Ashley Toussaint, the co-chair of the Little Haiti Revitalization Trust, stated the following in one letter of support for the proposal that Cointelegraph was able to obtain:
I kindly request your help in resolving this issue and ensuring the continuity of the Little Haiti Wall project, which plays a crucial role in promoting cultural awareness and fostering appreciation within our local community. By doing this, we can ensure that Little Haiti’s creative and cultural heritage is preserved for present-day audiences to enjoy and learn from.
