Hillsboro Farmers’ market Special Guest
Meet Rosie Alexandre, Ms. Black Hillsboro 2026
We recently had the honor of sitting down with Rosie Alexandre, Ms. Black Hillsboro 2026, to learn more about her inspiring story, her journey as a young community leader, and her vision for making a difference in the lives of children and youth in our community. Rosie is working to organize a nonprofit focused on creating greater opportunities, support, and positive experiences for local young people. We’re excited to share more of her story and learn about the passion behind her commitment to building a stronger, more connected community for the next generation.
Tell us a little about yourself and what inspired you to dedicate your career to supporting children, youth, and families.
My name is Rose Yvenie “Rosie” Alexandre, and I am a Haitian born social worker, child therapist, community advocate, entrepreneur, and Ms. Black Hillsboro 2026. Before any title, I am a woman shaped by my story, my faith, my culture, my struggles, and an unshakable calling to serve.
I was raised in Boston, Massachusetts, where diversity, rhythm, and resilience shaped my identity and sharpened my awareness of children who were often overlooked.
My father, Rev. Meschac Alexandre, showed me what it looks like to live faith out loud through service, compassion, and purpose. My mother, Ghislaine Alexandre, taught me how to love, endure, sacrifice with grace, and rise again even when life feels heavy.
My own experiences with bullying, colorism, grief, and questioning my worth made me sensitive to the quiet pain children carry when they feel unseen, unheard, or misunderstood.
For over a decade, I have walked alongside children, youth, and families. This work is not just what I do. It is part of who I am and the heartbeat of my purpose.
What does being a role model for young girls mean to you, and who were some of the role models who inspired you growing up?
To be a role model is to be real. It is to live in a way that says, “You do not have to be perfect to be powerful.” It is showing young girls that strength and softness can exist together and that faith and ambition can walk hand in hand.
My mother showed me resilience and dignity, while my father showed me faith, service, and the importance of pouring into others.
My eldest sister, Marie Rhoden, is another light in my life. She is selfless, loving, and deeply affirming. She speaks life into people and reminds them who they are when they forget. Watching her taught me that encouragement can be a form of healing.
I was also surrounded by Haitian women who taught me that identity is sacred, culture is strength, and community is everything. I want young girls to know they can be strong and soft, ambitious and grounded, while honoring where they come from.
Your platform is “Rooted & Flourishing: Black Girls Matter.” What inspired you to create this initiative, and what do you hope young girls take away from it?
Rooted & Flourishing: Black Girls Matter was born from memory, healing, and the little Black girl I once was who needed someone to tell her she was already enough.
I know what it feels like to experience bullying, colorism, rejection, grief, and to question your reflection. I also know what it feels like to rebuild your identity, reclaim your voice, and realize that your story was never a mistake.
This platform is my way of giving back what I once needed: affirmation, safety, and belonging.
Through mentorship, self-worth workshops, emotional wellness support, cultural pride experiences, and community connection, I want Black girls to know, I am not waiting to become worthy. I already am.
Most of all, I want them to celebrate their roots and believe that some of their best chapters are still ahead.
What is one message you wish every young girl could hear about her worth, her potential, and her ability to make a difference?
Do not let a painful season convince you that you are a painful person. Do not let rejection rewrite your identity. Do not let someone else’s limited view of you become the ceiling of your life.
There were moments when I did not fully see my own value. Looking back, I understand that even the hardest experiences were shaping me, building my compassion, strengthening my character, and clarifying my purpose.
You are not here by accident. Your voice carries weight. Your gifts carry meaning. Your life has the power to impact someone you may never even meet.
Stay rooted in who you are, keep growing through what you go through, and never stop believing that your life can become something beautiful.
As Ms. Black Hillsboro 2026, what do you hope to accomplish during your year of service, and what impact do you hope to leave on the Hillsboro community?
Being Ms. Black Hillsboro 2026 is more than a title. It is a responsibility, a platform, and an opportunity to serve with greater reach and deeper intention.
During my year of service, I hope to expand Rooted & Flourishing: Black Girls Matter into more spaces where young girls feel seen, heard, valued, and supported through mentorship, self worth workshops, and emotional wellness initiatives. I also want to celebrate my Haitian heritage through food, music, storytelling, faith, and community, creating opportunities for others to experience the beauty of culture and belonging.
A meaningful part of my mission is helping break cycles of intergenerational and intragenerational trauma. I want to create spaces where girls and women can understand their experiences, recognize patterns that may have been passed down, and begin choosing healing for themselves and the generations that follow. I believe that when we heal from the root, future generations have a greater opportunity to flourish.
When this year ends, I hope people remember that I showed up with consistency, compassion, and love in action. Above all, I want to be remembered as a woman who stayed rooted in her faith, honored her culture, served her community with intention, and helped young girls believe that they are worthy, powerful, and enough exactly as they are.
