Salima Montes was born and raised in Haiti. She migrated to the United States over 15 years ago. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, her Master’s in Education with a concentration in Community Counseling from Lynchburg College, and her Post Master’s Certificate in Community Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. Ms. Montes currently works for the State of Maryland as a Compliance Officer.
Despite her long stay in the U.S, busy work and family activities, Salima has never forgotten her roots. She has always looked back at her beloved Haiti with pride but also with a desire to contribute, support and ultimately, positively impact the lives of Haitians in her own way. It was in this light that she identified sustainable development as her area of focus. In particular, she seeks to promote the work of local artists, artisans and designers, by exposing their talents to the world, thereby creating a wider market for their products.
To achieve this goal, Ms. Montes has engaged in a number of activities. She created HaitiLuxe, a luxury blog that focuses on changing the perspective on Haiti through visual imagery. In June 2013, she successfully enrolled the participation of a Haitian designer at a White House celebration of Caribbean Heritage month.
Salima has volunteered her time to various organizations such as the Haiti Renewal Alliance, the Embassy of Haiti, Haiti Fashion Week and consults for the brand CARIBBEAN APPAREL™.