Marketing Volunteer for Fèt Gede at The New Orleans Healing Center

Overview / Description:

The New Orleans Healing Center (NOHC) is seeking enthusiastic, reliable, and creative volunteers to assist with marketing and promotion for our annual Fèt Gede (Haitian Day of the Dead) event on November 1. Fèt Gede is a vibrant community celebration honoring Haitian heritage, remembering ancestors, and celebrating life and collective healing. Volunteers will help raise awareness of the event through social media, flyer distribution, and community outreach. Those interested will also have the opportunity to participate in event planning and attend the celebration on the day of the event.

The Event:

What: Day of the Dead/Fet Gede (Pronounced: Fet Gehdeh)

When: Saturday, November 1st, 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Where: New Orleans Healing Center, 2372 St Claude Ave, corner of St Roch. The event will take place in the Grand Hall.

A Celebration of the Dead

For 44 years, La Source Ancienne Ounfo, a New Orleans-based Vodou society, has celebrated the Day of the Dead/Fet Gede with an annual Vodou ceremony. The celebration offers a comforting reminder that our Dead are not gone, and we can honor and visit with them as a community. In turn, our memory of them keeps their spirits alive and present.

The event coincides with the Mexican Days of the Dead, which occur at the end of October and the beginning of November, when the veil between the living and the dead is believed to be most diffuse. During this time, the Dead return to visit the living. This tradition also aligns with Fet Gede, the festival for the Gede, a family of Haitian Vodou spirits who are the patrons of the Dead.

About the Gede Spirits

The Gede is a family of Haitian Vodou spirits who are the patrons of the Dead. The entire month of November is dedicated to their celebrations in Haiti, though they are especially honored during the first few days of the month. Gede is a trickster who stands at the crossroads between life and death. Described as cocky, crude, and often embarrassing, he is the patron of death, sex, and regeneration. However, he is also the patron of young children and a great healer in life-or-death situations. His colors are purple, black, and white. He is often depicted wearing a top hat and tails or gravedigger's garb and sunglasses, sometimes with only one lens.

Event Schedule & Activities

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Happy Hour

All Evening:

• Dead/Ancestor Altars: Various artists, including Sallie Ann Glassman, Edna Fuentes, Divine Prince Ty Emmeca, and others, will present altars. Attendees are encouraged to bring photos or mementos of their deceased loved ones for the main altar.
• Art Installation: Visit the "Flying Spirits" art installation by Edouard Duval-Carrie in the pocket park.
• Market: The Day of the Dead/Fet Gede market will feature various community vendors.

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm: Ceremony by Sallie Ann Glassman and initiated members of La Source Ancienne Ounfo and master drummers in the Grand Hall.

• Dress Code: Attendees are asked to wear white with purple head scarves or purple and black, which are the colors of the Gede.
• Offerings: Please bring an offering for the Gede or your ancestors. The Gede enjoy items such as rum, cigars, top hats, flatbreads, peppers, and Day of the Dead figurines.

10:00 pm - 10:30 pm: Procession to feed the Dead, say prayers from various traditions, and pass a flame.

THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

Why We Honor Our Ancestors

Standing behind each of us is a long line of ancestors who continue to love and guide us. By honoring the Dead, we embrace the meaning of our own lives and create space for future generations. The New Orleans Healing Center and its businesses will be illuminated for the occasion, offering a new way to experience the spaceKey Responsibilities:

• Create and schedule social media posts to promote Fèt Gede across platforms
• Help design, print, and distribute flyers in the community
• Support outreach to local organizations, artists, and vendors to share event information
• Assist with optional pre-event planning meetings and provide input on logistics, décor, and programming
• Attend Fèt Gede on November 1 to support activities, engage with attendees, and help where needed

Qualifications:

• Interest in marketing, social media, community engagement, or event planning
• Dependable, creative, and comfortable working independently or as part of a team
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Familiarity with social media platforms and basic graphic design skills a plus
• Interest in Haitian culture and community celebrations

Time Commitment & Duration:

• Volunteer period: October 1–31, 2025
• Expected commitment: 1–2 hours per week, with flexibility to attend optional planning meetings and the event on November 1

Benefits:

• Hands-on experience in community event marketing and promotion
• Opportunity to contribute to a meaningful cultural celebration
• Networking with local artists, vendors, and community leaders
• Chance to participate in event planning and be part of Fèt Gede

How to Apply:

Send your resume and a short statement of interest (why you want to help and what you bring) to Jj at NOHC by October 1, 2025 (admin@nohc.org). If you have experience with social media, marketing, design, or event planning, please include that in your application.