With eighty percent of Haiti’s population living under the poverty line, and an estimated 20% of the population falling victim to the 7.0 earthquake outside of Port-au-Prince, it’s evident that the situation in Haiti is dire. Although Haiti needs our immediate help, the country will also need sustained missions to help get back on it’s feet.

D.C., known as Chocolate City, is reaching out to help it’s brothers and sisters in the African Diaspora. Here are some events that are dedicating some or all of it’s proceeds to different Haitian relief efforts.

• Monday, January 18: Wale will be headlining the DMV Helps Haiti Benefit Concert at the 9:30 Club (815 V Street NW) where all ticket proceeds will be donated to Yele Haiti Foundation and Partners in Health Organization. Other D.C. area artists including D.C. Don Juan, Tabi Bonney, Phil Ade, XO, Kingpen Slim, K-Beta, Que (formerly of Day26) – and special surprise guests will take the stage as well. The benefit concert will be hosted by Chris Cole of BET’s College Hill South Beach. 6:00 p.m. Tickets range $20-100.
• Monday, January 18: Community Of Hope AME Church (3701 Branch Avenue, Temple Hills, MD — lower level of Iverson Mall) is hosting a Haiti Relief Benefit Concert featuring several Gospel and local artists such as Across Life, Reaction Band, Peculiar People, Backyard Band including spoken work artist iWrite. The event will be hosted by Billy Da Kid. 6-10 p.m. Tickets are $10.
• Wednesday, January 20: Every Wednesday for a month, the Young Haitian Professionals group will host a benefit to raise money for Haitian relief. The benefit will feature DJs, live bands, poets and visual art at Liv (2001 11th Street NW). A $20 is requested. All proceeds will be donated.
• Thursday, January 21: Howard University is hosting the Hands for Haiti Benefit Concert featuring Wale X.O, poets, testimonials and various other artist. Tickets should be available on ticketmaster.com no later then Tuesday. All proceeds go to Haiti.

If you have other events that are not posted here, please email them to me! Yele Haiti!