Biography
Marleine Bastien has passionately embraced her purpose to serve others from an early age. At eight years old, she began tutoring literacy to other children and adults in her home village of Pont-Benoit, Haiti. After graduating with her Master’s Degree in Social Work from FIU in 1987, she began working at Jackson Memorial Hospital. In 1994, Marleine received the Miami Dade County Volunteer of the Year Award, followed by the Miami Dade County Social Worker of the Year Award in 2000 for her services. For over 40 years, she has established a global reputation of tireless advocacy for equity/social justice, economic empowerment, comprehensive immigration reform/fairness, and climate justice. She has championed rights for women, children, families, workers, the elderly, and LGBTQ worldwide.
Since 1991, Marleine’s impact toward community empowerment has been felt throughout Miami Dade County, South Florida, and globally as the Family Action Network Movement (FANM) founder. Under her leadership, FANM has grown into a globally recognized model for providing life-enhancing services to low and moderate-income families in healthcare, housing, literacy, technical training, after-school and summer programs, immigration reform, business enhancement, job creation and career development.
Over the years, Marleine has also led many efforts to address the needs of our communities. Upon the request of her dear friend David Lawrence, she served as Treasurer for the campaign to establish the Children’s Trust, with the late Congresswoman Carrie Meek on the Children’s Trust Community Outreach Committee. Marleine has worked on most of these campaigns to improve the quality of life of every citizen in Miami Dade County and South Florida. These programs include the small class size campaign led by Congressman Kendrick Meek, the fight for $15, UTD’s campaign to increase teachers’ salary, the human rights ordinance, fair immigration policies, housing affordability, and many more. She has also served as either founding or board member of many organizations, such as the Miami Climate Alliance, North Miami Education Board, Health Foundation of South Florida, Catalyst Miami, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Haitian American Grassroots Coalition, Center for Haitian Studies, Sant La, Haitian Neighborhood Center, Kristi’s House, GAP (Girl Advocacy Power), Women We Will Rebuild, Miami Workers Center, and the American for Immigrants Justice, among others.