Miami-Dade County

Art exhibit in Little Haiti celebrates women affected by breast cancer

By Raisa Habersham
In this untitled piece titled, Magdala Charles portrays a faceless woman wearing a flower crown atop her head with an amputated breast. The Breast Cancer Awareness Month pin is interwoven in the flower crown. Charles’ work is a part of an exhibit, La Couronne Des Fleurs at the Little Haiti Cultural Center. It runs through November 22.
In this untitled piece titled, Magdala Charles portrays a faceless woman wearing a flower crown atop her head with an amputated breast. The Breast Cancer Awareness Month pin is interwoven in the flower crown. Charles’ work is a part of an exhibit, La Couronne Des Fleurs at the Little Haiti Cultural Center. It runs through November 22. Courtesy of the Little Haiti Cultural Center

When Jonise Louis found a lump in her breast at 35, she initially was optimistic that it would be early stage breast cancer that could be treated quickly.

She soon realized that wasn’t the case. She was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.

A week later, she learned she was pregnant. “That threw a complete curveball,” the Lauderhill resident and mother of two told the Miami Herald. “I was thinking, ‘would I even be able to keep my baby and go through treatment?’”

The double whammy came in September 2020, during the height of the pandemic. Still, she persisted: She sought out community among women who were in similar position and came across nonprofit Hope for Two, a network of women who are pregnant and also have a cancer diagnosis, that connected her to an OB-GYN, a peer-mentor who was also pregnant and had cancer, and other resources to guide her through the process.

Little Haiti Cultural Center director Dasha Saintremy (left), Magdala Charles (center) and Jonise Louis at the opening night of the exhibit La Couronne Des Fleurs, which also honors those affected by breast cancer.
Little Haiti Cultural Center director Dasha Saintremy (left), Magdala Charles (center) and Jonise Louis at the opening night of the exhibit La Couronne Des Fleurs, which also honors those affected by breast cancer. Courtesy of Little Haiti Cultural Center

Now, the married mother of two — who gave birth to a son she calls her “Chemo baby” more than four years ago — makes it her mission to encourage other Black women to get their mammograms and genetic testing. “You are your biggest advocate. You know your body more than anyone else,” she said.

Louis shared her story with an intimate audience last Friday at the debut of an art exhibit called “La Couronne Des Fleurs” by Haitian American artist Magdala Charles at the Little Haiti Cultural Center. It is the first exhibit curated by LHCC director Dasha Saintremy, and is intended to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month and women affected by the disease. The exhibit is open through Nov. 22. The center is holding a Pink and Paint initiative to coincide with the exhibit on Saturday.

In this untitled piece, Magdala Charles portrays a faceless woman wearing a flower crown atop her head with an amputated breast. The Breast Cancer Awareness Month pin is interwoven in the flower crown. Charles’ work is a part of an exhibit, La Couronne Des Fleurs at the Little Haiti Cultural Center. It runs through November 22.
In this untitled piece, Magdala Charles portrays a faceless woman wearing a flower crown atop her head with an amputated breast. The Breast Cancer Awareness Month pin is interwoven in the flower crown. Charles’ work is a part of an exhibit, La Couronne Des Fleurs at the Little Haiti Cultural Center. It runs through November 22. Courtesy of the Little Haiti Cultural Center

Louis said illnesses such as breast cancer aren’t spoken about among Haitian immigrants, and not doing so could have harmful effects. Louis said she didn’t know her great aunt had stage 4 metastatic breast cancer until she died. “In Haitian families, we don’t talk about illness,” she said. “It’s always, ‘pray about it’ or ‘take a natural remedy.’ Because of that, when someone has cancer in the family, we don’t always know. If these conversations were happening, I could have taken preventive measures.”

African-American women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have a 40 percent mortality rate, the highest month of any U.S. racial or ethnic group, according to nonprofit Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, which works to eliminate toxic chemicals and other environmental exposures that lead to breast cancer. The mortality rate for Black women diagnosed with breast cancer is 42 percent higher than that of white women.

Research has indicated that women in Haiti develop breast cancer earlier and had worse outcomes. In Haiti, breast cancer was one of the most common cancers among women, and ranked No. 3 among cancer deaths, according to 2022 data from the Global Cancer Observatory.

In this piece entitled “Majaste,” Magdala Charles portrays a faceless woman wearing a flower crown atop her head a deep mauve dress with a singular breast exposed. Her work is a part of an exhibit, La Couronne Des Fleurs at the Little Haiti Cultural Center. It runs through November 22.
In this piece entitled “Majaste,” Magdala Charles portrays a faceless woman wearing a flower crown atop her head a deep mauve dress with a singular breast exposed. Her work is a part of an exhibit, La Couronne Des Fleurs at the Little Haiti Cultural Center. It runs through November 22. Courtesy of the Little Haiti Cultural Center

Charles said she became more aware of breast cancer after moving to the United States. Raised in Brooklyn, Charles attended Clara Barton High School for Health Professions, a vocational high school which also has a nursing program. Breast Cancer Awareness Month was part of the curriculum and in their studies they learned about breast cancer, testing and prevention.

Charles has had several loved ones affected by breast cancer, which is why her exhibit is dedicated to those who have battled the disease. The untitled crowning piece features a faceless woman with a flower crown and a single mastectomy, in a tribute to women affected by breast cancer. The piece is being auctioned to raise money for Metavivor, a nonprofit organization that focuses on research for stage 4 metastatic cancer.

“Battling and overcoming breast cancer is something that should be recognized,” Charles said. “The woman in my painting has her breast amputated but wears a crown. It’s my way of saying she deserves her flowers.”

This piece, “Voloptuous,” by Magdala Charles features a full-figured woman and is included in the exhibit, La Couronne Des Fleurs at the Little Haiti Cultural Center. The exhibit runs through November 22.
This piece, “Voloptuous,” by Magdala Charles features a full-figured woman and is included in the exhibit, La Couronne Des Fleurs at the Little Haiti Cultural Center. The exhibit runs through November 22. Courtesy of the Little Haiti Cultural Center

Louis said she hopes her advocacy and Charles’ exhibit encourages more Black women, especially Haitian women, to discuss their health and take proactive steps.

“Know your family history,” she said. “Be your biggest advocate. If something doesn’t feel right, push for answers. Don’t be afraid to talk about it, and don’t wait until it’s too late.”

If you go:

What: La Couronne Des Fleurs by Magdala Charles

When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; through Nov. 22. Pink and Paint event is at 4 p.m. Saturday

Where: Little Haiti Cultural Complex, 212 Northeast 59th Terrace Miami, FL 33137

Cost: Free

Info: https://www.eventbrite.com

This story was originally published October 17, 2025 at 11:01 AM.

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