Celebrating Caribbean Heritage: Past, Present and Future
Celebrating Caribbean Heritage: Past, Present and Future
Our team is comprised of individuals from unique backgrounds and experiences, walks of life and cultures.
As we celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month throughout June, Robert Bistoury, Senior Network Engineer, shares about how he came to join Panasonic after moving to the U.S. from Haiti and how he continues to give back to the community he came from.
I was born in Haiti and moved to Brooklyn, New York as a youngster. My parents had decided to move away from our home country, in search of a better life. As the new kid on the block, I had to adjust to life in the States – new language, new people, new culture, all while being proud of my Caribbean heritage.
Haiti’s history is complex. Having declared its independence in 1804 and supporting the freedom of slaves in the Caribbean and the Americas. Despite a series of challenges – corrupt governments, natural disasters, financial difficulties – the Haitian people have always been extremely resilient.
Among the many things I missed about my home country are the sunny skies, freshly ripened fruit and warm Caribbean breeze on beautiful sandy beaches.
After attending the New York Institute of Technology, I accumulated considerable experience in the IT space, working with several firms in New York. I joined Panasonic’s computer team in the late 1980’s after the Wall Street Crisis. Since then, I have spent many wonderful years at Panasonic.
I’ve seen it all throughout my career at Panasonic – changes in the technology industry, new products, and endless opportunities to make the world a better place.
After leaving the organization to take on new challenges, I rejoined about ten years ago. Since then, I’ve had the chance to continue to grow in my career here and even give back to a community that means so much to me outside of my working hours.
When a devastating earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, many families were left homeless and without basic necessities. With many struggling to get by, I felt it would be helpful to lift the burden of paying for education where possible.
Parents always want to be able to provide their children with a path towards opportunity and success, just like mine did for me when we moved to the U.S. We were able to contact local schools and recruit over 100 kids into our program, focused on fully funding education costs. Since 2010, many of these kids have graduated high school and university, even some entering the workforce to build their own careers.
This is just a small way in which I can honor my ancestors and uplift future generations of Caribbean people. I’m thankful to be part of the Panasonic team, where people of all backgrounds work together to create great things. In a world filled with difficulty, it’s an inspiring example of what is possible.
Learn more about Panasonic’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion here.
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