Haiti 101: From Columbus to Clinton from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.
Haiti 101: An historical perspective on the creation of the western hemisphere's poorest country) An introduction to Haiti, the western hemisphere's poorest country, including an overview of its history (focusing on European domination/slavery), demographics, politics, religion, culture and economy. Jim will blend in his in-country observations during the past two Julys and will offer a prognosis for the future.
Jim Delia, a new member of EC, was born and raised in Bergen County, growing up in Waldwick. He attended St Joseph Regional High School in Montvale and St Joseph University in Philadelphia, where he earned in B.A. degree in political science. He went on to Seton Hall School of Law, graduating in 1987 with a Juris Doctorate degree. Jim has served as law secretary to Superior Court Judge James Murphy; and in the Bergen County Prosecutor's office, as assistant prosecutor, chief of the White Collar Crime Division and deputy chief of the Criminal Investigation Squad. He led a Grand Jury investigation into allegations of guard brutality committed at the Meadowlands. In 1993, Jim entered private practice as a partner in the firm of Wells, Jaworski and Liebman in Paramus. He is a member of the Ridgewood YMCA and Paramus Chamber of Commerce Boards of Directors.
Jim also has history as a soccer player and coach, playing all the way through college and coaching children from the age of 5 through 18. It is this experience with soccer that gave him the entree to coach in Haiti in 2008. He ventured to Haiti for the first time to run a one week soccer camp for 70 youths from the YMCA d'Haiti . He returned this past July for two weeks and helped establish the first YMCA d'Haiti National Team.
