I first met Gorkie back in the Fall of 2007 when I heard two women outside of Ross Hall (The School of Public Health and Medical School Building) at the George Washington University speaking French. I always like to pretend that my French skills that I worked so hard to learn from Madame Toelman’s 2nd-8th grade class would have made me fluent in French. . . but who am I kidding? I was just trying to make friends with Gorkie! I said hello before our Epidemiology class and then we hurried into class. It was the next week that Gorkie was a real gem when she saw me balling my eyes out as I was trying to compute some crazy Epi lab assignment that was due in the next hour. She sat down with me and helped me finish the assignment.
It wasn’t really until months later that I got to know Gorkie well when we went on a Medical mission to the Central region of Haiti. Gorkie was our Queen translator, where she was one of our two classmates who spoke Haitian Creole. Our memories from Haiti will forever bond us together. We long for the day when we will be able to go back to Haiti. We speak of the ills of the Government in Haiti and there are no words to describe the poverty that the Haitian people experience, however the peace that we felt when we were there is equally indescribable. The Haitian people would give you the only shirt they had off their back. “Blanc, Blanc, Blanc” or “White, White, White” is what the kids in Haiti called me. . . Gorkie and I speak of how we wish that the DC community could feel a small sense of the community we felt in Haiti. We have been buddies ever since. My respect for Gorkie is something that I don’t she will ever quite understand.

I think society uses the term Swagger too much specifically for men. . . and oh how my friends will love this. . . according to the Urban Dictionary (I KNOW I KNOW) Swagger is the way he OR SHE presents themselves to the world and how he OR SHE carries themselves. . . so until I come up with a better word I am going to ask “Has the woman been GORKIFIED?”

This woman does it all!!! Not only is she fighting HIV/AIDS, she is helping fight hunger in Haiti, fighting for social justice everywhere, she just finished ANOTHER masters degree, she worked for Obama, made sure people were able to vote during the election, making sure her parents are well in Canada, making sure her friends are up-to-date with politics, and what is going on in the world today, helping the youth of today, having a little fun, fundraising to name a few! I have friends that will say “You really should come out with us tonight. . .” and if I look like I might not they will follow it up with “and Gorkie will be there.” Ha ha ha they know I am sold. Gorkie is the go to if you have any questions about Washington DC.

Let me count the ways I love Gorkie. . . .

Top Ten Reasons I love Gorkie
10. Venting to Gorkie about my stress : ) Gorkie ALWAYS Lends an ear to listen

9. Gorkie’s “Listserv”- Gorkie forwards e-mails about events in DC related to politics, special interests from Africa, to Haiti, to Public Health to fun, to articles about Obama to anything that might of interest to her fan club!

8. Laughing with Gorkie

7. Talking with Gorkie about going back to Haiti to see the Pharmacist, “the ladies,” and Gorkie’s “friend” in Thomonde who followed her home

6. Taking pictures with Gorkie (we have the best facial expressions and we love the camera!)

5. Talking about how much money we owe GW (Grrrhhhhhhhh)

4. Being on a Public Service Budget with Gorkie

3. Going to Busboys with Gorkie

2. Watching Gorkie with the people she is serving

1. Being in Gorkie’s Presence

Here is Gorkie’s very brief bio:

Gorkie was born in Brooklyn, New York, but grew up in Ottawa, Ontario in Canada, where she completed her elementary and high school education. Her native tongue is French, but she is also fluent in English and Haitian Creole.
She holds a Bachelor of Laws ( LL.B.) from the University of Ottawa, a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Law from Howard University Law School, and most recently she completed her Master’s in Public Health (MPH) in Health Policy at GW.
Prior to coming to DC, she worked in New York where she investigated police misconduct. She has worked as a contract attorney, legal research analyst and a research analyst.
She is passionate about human rights and social justice. She is most proud of her ability to connect with all people, from different backgrounds, class and cultures.

One of Gorkie’s favorite’s Quotes:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Marriam Willamson ( made famous by Nelson Mandela)

I first met Gorkie back in the Fall of 2007 when I heard two women outside of Ross Hall (The School of Public Health and Medical School Building) at the George Washington University speaking French. I always like to pretend that my French skills that I worked so hard to learn from Madame Toelman’s 2nd-8th grade class would have made me fluent in French. . . but who am I kidding? I was just trying to make friends with Gorkie! I said hello before our Epidemiology class and then we hurried into class. It was the next week that Gorkie was a real gem when she saw me balling my eyes out as I was trying to compute some crazy Epi lab assignment that was due in the next hour. She sat down with me and helped me finish the assignment.
It wasn’t really until months later that I got to know Gorkie well when we went on a Medical mission to the Central region of Haiti. Gorkie was our Queen translator, where she was one of our two classmates who spoke Haitian Creole. Our memories from Haiti will forever bond us together. We long for the day when we will be able to go back to Haiti. We speak of the ills of the Government in Haiti and there are no words to describe the poverty that the Haitian people experience, however the peace that we felt when we were there is equally indescribable. The Haitian people would give you the only shirt they had off their back. “Blanc, Blanc, Blanc” or “White, White, White” is what the kids in Haiti called me. . . Gorkie and I speak of how we wish that the DC community could feel a small sense of the community we felt in Haiti. We have been buddies ever since. My respect for Gorkie is something that I don’t she will ever quite understand.

I think society uses the term Swagger too much specifically for men. . . and oh how my friends will love this. . . according to the Urban Dictionary (I KNOW I KNOW) Swagger is the way he OR SHE presents themselves to the world and how he OR SHE carries themselves. . . so until I come up with a better word I am going to ask “Has the woman been GORKIFIED?”

This woman does it all!!! Not only is she fighting HIV/AIDS, she is helping fight hunger in Haiti, fighting for social justice everywhere, she just finished ANOTHER masters degree, she worked for Obama, made sure people were able to vote during the election, making sure her parents are well in Canada, making sure her friends are up-to-date with politics, and what is going on in the world today, helping the youth of today, having a little fun, fundraising to name a few! I have friends that will say “You really should come out with us tonight. . .” and if I look like I might not they will follow it up with “and Gorkie will be there.” Ha ha ha they know I am sold. Gorkie is the go to if you have any questions about Washington DC.

Let me count the ways I love Gorkie. . . .

Top Ten Reasons I love Gorkie
10. Venting to Gorkie about my stress : ) Gorkie ALWAYS Lends an ear to listen

9. Gorkie’s “Listserv”- Gorkie forwards e-mails about events in DC related to politics, special interests from Africa, to Haiti, to Public Health to fun, to articles about Obama to anything that might of interest to her fan club!

8. Laughing with Gorkie

7. Talking with Gorkie about going back to Haiti to see the Pharmacist, “the ladies,” and Gorkie’s “friend” in Thomonde who followed her home

6. Taking pictures with Gorkie (we have the best facial expressions and we love the camera!)

5. Talking about how much money we owe GW (Grrrhhhhhhhh)

4. Being on a Public Service Budget with Gorkie

3. Going to Busboys with Gorkie

2. Watching Gorkie with the people she is serving

1. Being in Gorkie’s Presence

Here is Gorkie’s very brief bio:

Gorkie was born in Brooklyn, New York, but grew up in Ottawa, Ontario in Canada, where she completed her elementary and high school education. Her native tongue is French, but she is also fluent in English and Haitian Creole.
She holds a Bachelor of Laws ( LL.B.) from the University of Ottawa, a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Law from Howard University Law School, and most recently she completed her Master’s in Public Health (MPH) in Health Policy at GW.
Prior to coming to DC, she worked in New York where she investigated police misconduct. She has worked as a contract attorney, legal research analyst and a research analyst.
She is passionate about human rights and social justice. She is most proud of her ability to connect with all people, from different backgrounds, class and cultures.

One of Gorkie’s favorite’s Quotes:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Marriam Willamson ( made famous by Nelson Mandela)