In a heartfelt celebration of heritage, hospitality, and community, Rooted in Soul, Bound by Love: An Ode to Mrs. Emma will take place on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex Art Gallery in Miami, beginning at 6:00 PM.
This one-night-only event, presented by Dine for Design, Inc. in partnership with MUCE (Miami Urban Contemporary Experience), is a cultural tribute honoring the life and legacy of Mrs. Emma Norelin, the beloved “Southern Belle” of Overtown.
A pivotal figure in Miami’s Afro-Caribbean story, Mrs. Emma opened her home throughout the 1970s and 1980s to Haitian families arriving in the city, offering warmth, guidance, and a sense of belonging. Her acts of grace helped bridge the African American and Haitian communities during a transformative era, fostering unity through food, faith, and shared experience.
“Mrs. Emma’s legacy reminds us that culture is preserved through love, hospitality, and the stories we tell,” said Gabrielle Charles, Co-President of Dine for Design, Inc. “This event is our way of honoring her light while celebrating the union of heritage and heart.”
The evening will include:
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🎨 A curated visual art exhibit featuring Haitian-American and local artists
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🎭 Cultural and artistic performances, including spoken word and storytelling
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🍽 Haitian and Southern-inspired culinary bites and beverages
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💬 A community tribute and dialogue reflecting on Mrs. Emma’s impact
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More than just an exhibit, the night serves as a moving tribute to a woman whose home became a sanctuary—a place where Kompa rhythms danced alongside gospel hymns, and where Southern soul food met Haitian spice. Her legacy lives on in the stories shared, the meals prepared, and the cultural ties she helped forge.
Dress Code: Cultural Chic | Artfully Elegant
Tickets: Available beginning April 23 at www.DineForDesign.org
Location: Little Haiti Cultural Complex – Art Gallery, 212 NE 59th Terrace, Miami, FL 33137
In the spirit of Haitian Heritage Month, Rooted in Soul, Bound by Love invites the community to honor a woman who quietly shaped generations—and to celebrate the enduring beauty of culture bound by love.
