They Renamed Her at School. As an Adult, She Took Her Name Back.

MarieYolaine grew up between two worlds: Haitian at home, American everywhere else. At six years old, a teacher couldn't pronounce her name and gave her a new one. She answered to it for decades. It wasn't until she went back to Haiti, walking up a mountain and hearing people call her real name, that she realized how much she had missed it.This is a conversation about what it means to carry your culture with pride, navigate identity across borders and generations, and reclaim what was always yours.IN THIS EPISODE:The Power of a Name: The moment she realized her identity had been taken, and the journey to take it back.Haitian "24/7 and Twice on Sundays": Navigating the distance between cultures without losing the connection.The Reframe: Why she left her corporate career after the 2010 Haiti earthquake to found C2C Haiti.Closing the Gap: One practical step anyone can take to reconnect with their own heritage.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 — Introduction: Tami shares her journey of cultural reconnection.02:32 — Identity: "I am Haitian, 24/7 and twice on Sundays".05:07 — Two Worlds: Navigating life in a "dual identity" between home and school.11:31 — The Lesson: The difference between insulating children and preparing them for life.17:45 — The Name Story: How a first-grade teacher replaced "MarieYolaine" with "Marie Brown".20:10 — The Reclaiming: Hearing her real name called on a mountain in Haiti.22:16 — The Filter: Why using a person's correct name is an act of dignity and respect.30:20 — Closing the Gap: One step anyone can take to reconnect with their heritage.CONNECT WITH MarieYolaineC2C Haiti: https://c2chaiti.orgInstagram: @MarieYolaineTomsTAKE ACTION TODAY:JOIN THE CULTURAL ROOTS RECONNECTION CLUB: Access exclusive resources, community calls, and guided support for your own journey of reclamation.SUBSCRIBE: Follow the show on this platform to never miss an episode.REFLECT: What is one small step you can take this week to "close the gap" with your roots?READY TO RECONNECT WITH YOUR ROOTS?If this episode stirred something in you, that pull toward your heritage or your family story, you don't have to figure it out alone. MarieYolaine reminds us that it is not about "disconnection," it is simply about "distance." Whether you are just beginning to close the gap or you are ready to stand ten toes down in your truth, Roots Renewed is a space built for you.Your heritage is yours. No one gets to define it for you. It’s something you claim, and when you do, it changes how you move through the world.As MarieYolaine says: Period, full stop.