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Join us at Studio 620 to celebrate the history and rich culture of Haiti. See the country through over 40 photographs by seven St. Petersburg Times photojournalists who have worked in Haiti. Photographs depict culture, politics, news and daily life over a timespan of about 20 years. Opening night events on Friday, June 11, and Saturday, June 12 will feature Haitian food, music and a history discussion. The photos will be on display at Studio 620 from June 10 - 16. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. Visit Studio 620's website for more information.

Kathleen Flynn - photographed in Haiti in 2003 for a story about Carol Herget of Brooksville, Florida. Herget was a missionary in the Caribbean for about 54 years until she passed away in 2003. ... Read more

For These Children

Two hours after losing her parents, sister and home, a single mother wandered the remains of her neighborhood. Hysteria, crowds of people, chaotic sounds and unfamiliar smells surrounded her. But none of it seemed real. Her mind felt numb, shocked, unable to process the world. It was a baby’s cry, a need cry, from the rubble that finally reconnected her. Her mind snapped back. The cry anchored her and pulled her between two angled pieces of concrete, where she found a two week old baby in a miracle space. To the infant’s left and right lie her less fortunate parents, crushed under concrete. Her face was swelling badly. Cadiche Julande Jean Baptiste, 30, took her new daughter and went to look for her other two children. Both were found alive and well. She named the baby Princess Miraky. Princess Miracle. Now they all live along with her niece, who lost her mother, under a tarp in a tent city. Princess Miraky struggles to eat the sugar water Baptiste cobbles together for her with the help of neighbors, but the swelling has gone down. “There are a lot of kids on the street without mothers and fathers. Those with parents don’t have any money or any where to live. But we love our children. I love these children. I love this baby.” ... Read more

Pinellas Park firefighter / paramedic Ryan Mitchell recently spent time in Haiti on a medical relief deployment. He was with a team stationed at a field hospital under the umbrella of Project Medishare and the University of Miami. It was one of the largest field hospitals in Port-au-Prince and really became the level 1 trauma center for Port-au-Prince as well as one of the only places that had neurosurgeons. While in Haiti, he made a variety of photos with his iphone. We spoke with him about his experiences there. (Click on "see more photos" below to see all of Ryan's text and photos.)

I actually responded with 2 other team members, a fellow medic and co-worker Brian Davies as well as a close friend of mine Melissa Plummer who happens to be an R.N. who was raised in Haiti. With something of this magnitude, I think it's hard not to want to give yourself to the aid of people in need. The Haitian people are practically our neighbors. They're only about 700 miles off the coast of Miami, about the distance it is from St. Pete to Raleigh, North Carolina. Add to their close proximity the fact that this earthquake was one of the largest, most devastating natural disasters in the western hemisphere in the last 100 years, in the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, I was absolutely compelled to respond. I couldn't get it out of my head, none of us could. The breadth of the disaster was too great not to want to help.

You took a number of photos while you were there.  What motivated you to make pictures?

Initially, they were just for myself and my fellow teammates. There's so much to process and it's quite overwhelming. I didn't want to forget what I'd seen, for myself, I couldn't come back to the land of have everything at my fingertips and risk forgetting the true plight of my fellow human. It's a humbling experience and these photos help me keep things in perspective and remain thankful. They also serve as impetus to return and help again and again as much as I can here and in Haiti.

Once I looked through the photos, I realized that the images, the essence of what we'd seen, were necessary to be seen by others. I think it's important for people to get as strong of a perspective regarding Haiti as can be had without actually traveling there. I think that in some cases a situation is made more real when someone you know, family, a friend, a neighbor brings back a first hand experience of a situation. Bringing this home, it seemed once I looked back through, is necessary. We all need to be as aware as possible of the hardships of others, especially people so close in geography and in community. We have a formidable Haitian presence within our own community here in Florida. This disaster hits closer to home than some may have realized.

Is there a photo you made (or multiple photos) that are particularly powerful for you?  Which one(s)?  Why?

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Clearwater firefighter / paramedic Brad Keating spent eight days in Haiti with a team from Bayfront Medical Center. He says he wanted to be part of something bigger than himself, and that he came back a changed person.

Children are among the most affected from the earthquake in Haiti. We share a collection of pictures that depict what some of these children have been dealing with since January 12th. There are a variety of ways to help the children and other earthquake victims. READ THE STORY: SMALLEST SURVIVORS POSE ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS

A child waits to be medivaced by U.S. Army soldiers from the 82nd Airborne to the USNS Comfort in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Planeloads of rescuers and relief supplies headed to Haiti as governments and aid agencies launched a massive relief operation after a powerful earthquake that may have killed thousands. Many buildings were reduced to rubble by the 7.0-strong quake on January 12. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) ... Read more