Meet Board Member Teresa Henry
Finding Joy in Family, Flowers and Haiti
Teresa Henry dedicates her life to family, flowers and Haiti.
Knowing she wanted to be a florist from the age of 16, Teresa received a degree from the college of Agriculture at the University of Illinois with an emphasis in Ornamental Horticulture. In 2002, Teresa opened Boulder Blooms, a full service florist. “It was wonderful growing the business and working with many amazing young employees, most of them women,” Teresa said. “We specialized in wedding flowers, so summers were crazy busy.” In 2013, she sold Boulder Blooms in order to devote time and energy towards her love for Haiti. Although owning a busy flower shop was too time-consuming to also work in Haiti, she has kept her license as Teresa Henry Consulting and frequently does weddings, funerals and special events.
Teresa has been actively involved with CHP as a volunteer, employee and now, a board member. “Working in Haiti has been super rewarding. As a 63 year old woman, it is so great to be able to have wonderful relationships with children and young adults there,” Teresa said. “The countryside where we work is beyond beautiful. There are tree-covered mountains down to a flat plain about a mile wide and then the Caribbean Sea! As a plant lover, I could go on and on. Not only is the wild vegetation beautiful, but also the cultivated land. Following Agronomist Raphael around and seeing the programs he is developing is so inspiring.”
Participating in the Courage Classic bike ride
“A life in Haiti and a career as a florist have been amazing gifts but an incredible family is probably the biggest gift of all,” she said. Teresa is blessed with a large family, a tolerant and loving husband and three wonderful children; two daughters, Clara and Anneliese and a son, Bobby, who passed away in 2008. “I am forever inspired by Bobby to live each day to the fullest and to live it all with joy.”
In spring of 2019, Teresa and her husband, Dan, spent five and a half months in Petit Trou volunteering at St. Paul’s school. Dan tutored math and Teresa was a substitute English teacher and held an after school art club.
“We loved our time in Haiti. I feel like we had a cadre of grandkids who hung out in our yard and came over to play. One boy particularly became so dear to us, Jamesley. He lived right behind us and visited us at least three or four times a day. He is such a bright light and we miss him so much.”
Teresa believes the most amazing aspect of CHP is the willingness to learn and change. “I have been involved for over 12 years and we are constantly revisiting our purpose and how we work,” Teresa said. “And in the last few years, I especially appreciate the emphasis on cultural awareness in how we move forward. In all decisions, I feel like the voice of Petit Trou is critically important. We might not be able to know and understand completely what is important to the community but I always feel like we are trying and it is an essential part of each decision.”
