“Springfield True Talk,” Live online

WBNS reported Haitian leaders in Springfield are going on-air to spread the truth about Haitian-Ohioans in an online radio program called “Springfield True Talk,” hosted on New Diaspora Live.

Below are excerpts from the story. Check out the program here.

New Diaspora Live is an online radio station serving Springfield’s Haitian community. The programming changed in recent weeks in an attempt to help educate and combat the disinformation about the city’s immigrant population.

“Here in Springfield, I remember when I came in 2021, it was a small town that welcomed me personally. I was about to start a school here in town to teach English and computer literacy to the Haitian community,” Jerome said. “I remember everyone was showing their support and welcoming us, not because we were newcomers, but because we were able to bring positivity, a new air where we could see Springfield will revitalize and grow again. We were able to come to Springfield seeking job opportunities and to find the jobs, start working, and pay the taxes. Multiple taxes actually. We had to thrive through that.”

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“We’ve seen different groups, even the governor himself, supporting. At least we’ve received a lot of people coming to our businesses to show compassion and talk about how this affects them,” he said. “The group of the people already pushing that narrative and rhetoric, even the lies, they are still doing it.”

Jerome said they’ve opened the radio station up to the community to ask questions they have in an effort to clear up any falsehoods or stigmas people might have.

“What we’re doing is definitely working. We’ve been able to have some random and some of the simplest conversations with some for the community to demystify some of the things they believe,” Jerome said. “If you have any doubt, we will be able to clarify that. Making sure you know what it is and not necessarily sharing what you don’t know or think you know.”