The Haitian Coalition of Somerville thanking the audience at a vigil hosted by the city on Monday. Community groups from across the city met with residents to discuss relief efforts at the Healey School on Friday, Jan. 15. ~Photos by Tom Nash By Tom Nash Two days after an earthquake left Haiti in ruins, Somerville High School student Daphne Juleus stood in the frozen darkness outside the school's gym. When the moment was right, dozens of her peers lit candles and began singing songs dedicated to those suffering. Juleus, a senior in the nursing assistant program, had already begun leading an effort to raise funds for the Red Cross, but felt the power of the vigil was equally important. She had not heard from several relatives, and had no way of reaching them.

"I was watching the news and I saw these two guys with two candles," Juleus said. "I thought, 'Let's make it bigger.' It came together last minute."

Community groups and city officials were not far behind Juleus. The next day, the Haitian Coalition of Somerville hosted a meeting to coordinate relief efforts at the Arthur D. Healey School.

Hundreds filled the school's cafeteria to discuss the loss, and hope, emerging from the disaster as Somerville's Trauma Response Network spoke with people coping with a range of emotions.

Jean Michel, 5, was determined to hand out a heart-shaped sticker to each person in the room.

"I want them to be happy," Michel explained.

At the Monday vigil hosted by the city, the community gathered to pray and give thanks to those who have helped.

"We will stand side by side until Haiti rises from this crisis, which they will some day," Mayor Joe Curtatone told the audience, later adding, "We welcome your family, your friends, your relatives. We will serve them as we serve you."

On Friday, Curtatone expressed his own desire to go to Haiti to help, and said Somerville emergency response workers would be able to travel there and remain on the city's payroll. The Board of Aldermen has also established a city relief fund.

State Rep. Denise Provost, who appeared with State Sen. Pat Jehlen at Monday's vigil, said Beacon Hill is working to respond to the needs of the state's Haitian community.

"My deepest hope is that we can bring a new love, respect and attention that has been missing in Haiti for so long," Provost said.

The vigil was also a chance for the Haitian Coalition to express its appreciation for the support it has received so far.

"We have faced a tremendous pain we have never bared as a nation, as a community," Board Member Edwich Michel said. "The show of support the community has shown toward us has made it a little bit easier … We want to thank everyone for sharing their grieving with us, and their compassion."

When the audience was given a chance to take the microphone and share their feelings, Sister Dona Belizaire joined several others in sharing a story of survival.

She said God had spared her from the earthquake through the theft of her purse and passport as she waited to board a plane in New York two days before.

Belizaire, who runs an orphanage network in Haiti, said she had waited anxiously for word on the fate of the children she cares for.

"It's only yesterday morning they called me and told me all the children are OK," she said. "The building had not collapsed."

"I believe everybody has a mission," Belizaire concluded. "It's time to take your mission now."

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For information on Somerville's earthquake relief efforts, visit www.haitian-coalition.org and www.somervillema.gov.