Little Haiti Cultural Complex loses another director. That makes four in six years
Three days after she made an impassioned plea before the Civil Service Board to investigate “inappropriate leadership,” Dasha Saintremy was fired by the City of Miami as the director of the Little Haiti Cultural Complex.
Saintremy confirmed the firing on Friday in a brief conversation with the Miami Herald.
“I’m not surprised,” she said. “I’m OK, and I’m going to be OK.”
Saintremy is the fourth director of the cultural center in six years and is the latest in a series of directors who’ve complained about their treatment by the city. Several previous directors spoke to the Herald and pointed to a systemic lack of funding, restrictive oversight and general neglect of the center’s maintenance. Several told the Herald they were reprimanded for speaking to the media to promote the cultural events being hosted by the center.
RELATED: Suspension of Little Haiti Cultural Complex director exposes years of turmoil
The Herald reached out to the city for comment and a spokesperson said in an email that they do not comment on personnel matters. On Monday,the Herald received a copy of the termination letter , which Saintremy said was delivered to her by the city’s parks and recreation director Chuck Ellis and a human resources employee. The letter was signed by newly hired city manager James Reyes.
Saintremy, who came to Miami after having worked in Philadelphia, tried to revive the cultural center during her brief tenure, hosting an array of events, including her monthly Cultural Conversations series, promoting the monthly concert series Sounds of Little Haiti, and various art exhibitions.
Three months into her role, which began in February of last year, she received a written reprimand from the city for speaking with the Herald. Then later, her probationary period was extended for speaking with Island TV to promote a Sounds of Little Haiti event. She was later placed on a three-day suspension without pay for that incident.
Members of the community rallied to Saintremy’s defense after hearing about the disciplinary measures against her, resulting in two petitions circulating in support of her work at the center. The petitions complained that constantly disciplining Saintremy for speaking about programming undercuts the Little Haiti Cultural Center’s mission, discourages managers from promoting the space or advocating for the community, and perpetuates a cycle of instability that has plagued the center for years.
At Tuesday’s civil service board meeting, Saintremy complained about repeated efforts to undermine her job as the director of the center. “I believe there is a broad pattern of inappropriate leadership practices that is affecting this role that I’m in, involving misuse of authority,” she said, adding the discipline by the leadership of the city’s parks department, which manages the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, has been heavy-handed.
“Had I known what I know now, being in this role, I would still be in Philadelphia,” she told the board.
This story was originally published February 6, 2026 at 5:38 PM with the headline "Little Haiti Cultural Complex loses another director. That makes four in six years."
