When DJs, artists, and cultural curators unite members of the community through joy, celebration, and dance for an ultimately greater cause, events like Souké are born.
Souké, a day party and fundraising celebration of Haitian and Caribbean heritage based in New York City, came to Miami for the first time on Jan. 4, 2026. The proceeds from the event, which took place at Lakou in Little Haiti, directly supported the Gaskov Clergé Foundation (GCF), a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities and healthcare services in Haiti.
GCF’s president, Cosy Joseph, and her son, Ianko Joseph, worked together to found Souké as a fundraising event that encourages mindfulness, creativity, and joy while supporting meaningful causes. Every action helps expand access to healthcare, education, and youth development in underserved areas of Haiti.
Souké was an evening of music, community and culture held at Lakou Miami.
(Elisabeth Campbell for The Miami Times)
“When we align celebration with purpose, we extend our impact far beyond our immediate communities,” said Ms. Joseph. “The Gaskov Clergé Foundation leads medical missions, provides healthcare services, and empowers young people through sports and education in remote areas of Haiti… The needs are great, but the progress is real.”
A big part of the ethos of GCF is to give back to Haiti as members of the Haitian diaspora, connecting Haitian people to the resources they need at home. The effort is for Haitians, by Haitians. The word “Souké” itself means “to shake” in Haitian Creole.
Souké is a day party and fundraising celebration of Haitian and Caribbean heritage.
(Elisabeth Campbell for The Miami Times)
“I think for us, the significance is obviously to promote dancing, but also to promote shaking it out, switching up what we’re doing, switching up our approach, switching up our perspective,” said Ianko. “I think Souké is meant to be a cultural bridge for Haiti, not just for Haitians but for non-Haitians as well.”
Ianko speaks against the desensitization of his generation, having witnessed great evils in the world during their lifetimes. His fight is the fight of others, and though he cannot help everybody, he seeks to share his desires to do good around the world in a fight against corruption.
All ticket proceeds were donated for medical relief in Haiti.
(Elisabeth Campbell for The Miami Times)
Ianko also called upon the throughline of national pride and the joy one takes in representing their country, no matter where they are from.
“If you’re anybody that’s from anywhere, there’s something to pull [from the national pride of Haitians],” said Ianko. “It’s not just about the Haitians that are here; it’s about the Haitians at home. It’s about the Haitians everywhere. And it’s also about humans: human beings and our pursuit of happiness.”
The party on Sunday was accompanied by an information seminar held the day before, a conference that painted the bigger picture of what has happened in Haiti. The GCF wants to foster an environment of positivity and uplifting energy through Souké while also doing justice to the country’s current circumstances. The point of the information seminar was to speak on the gang crisis in the capital, which is causing resources to ebb in the south of Haiti. People living in the south are not receiving the same resources as those in the north due to the roads being held up by some of the gangs.
(L-R) Ianko Joseph (Ianko FJ) and Raphael Vulcain (RARA) go back to back on a set at Souké’s Miami debut.
(Giahni Bosquet)
The seminar began in the present, went backwards to the past, and then ended in a conversation about the future — how people can be optimistically involved in benefiting Haiti, and therefore the world.
Attendees play dominoes at Lakou.
(Elisabeth Campbell for The Miami Times)
“I am 100% of the belief that Haiti’s fight is Venezuela’s fight, is Congo’s fight, is Palestine’s fight,” said Ianko. “It’s the fight of so many, the fight against systematic oppression. It’s the fight to be.”
The event featured DJ sets throughout the afternoon and evening, including Jonathan Saint-Dic, RARA, and Ianko FJ.
(Elisabeth Campbell for The Miami Times)
As a part of GCF, Souké is a global effort. Raphael Vulcain, a local DJ known professionally as RARA and a Haitian himself, was the connection for Souké to make it to the Miami community.
“Ianko and I share a lot of music, and we also share the Haitian heritage,” said Vulcain. “The artists, creatives, and DJs [that are part of Souké] figured out a way to merge their interests with their mission… I’m glad that I was able to experience Souké as a Haitian man. I feel truly represented.”
Many attendees took pictures throughout the event.
(Elisabeth Campbell for The Miami Times)
Souké will be returning to Miami in the near future. The organizers believe that a lot of the good that is to be done for GCF is going to be done in South Florida, the heart of the Haitian diaspora. This event, with a mission to connect and enrich the community through charity and the arts, directly impacts lives in Haiti, continuing to build healthier and stronger communities there.
“Our social lives can become powerful platforms for change,” said Ms. Joseph. “By choosing to gather with intention, through events like Souké, we can raise awareness, build solidarity, and generate resources for global issues such as healthcare insecurity. When we align celebration with purpose, we extend our impact far beyond our immediate communities.”
Find out more about Souké by following @gaskovclergefoundation on Instagram or by visiting www.gaskov.org.
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Souké was held in partnership with Olilous Film Lab, Burgundy, and Neighborhood Thread.
The party was preceded by a research sharing and community bonding seminar dedicated to discussing the causes of the current crises in Haiti.
Haitian flags were distributed to each attendee throughout the venue during the event.
Souké was held in partnership with Olilous Film Lab, Burgundy, and Neighborhood Thread.
The party was preceded by a research sharing and community bonding seminar dedicated to discussing the causes of the current crises in Haiti.
Haitian flags were distributed to each attendee throughout the venue during the event.