(Photos: Unspoken Smiles Foundation)
When Jean Paul Laurent took a life-changing trip to Haiti, he paused his previous career plan and pivoted in a big way to pursue a new dream.
The 2017 Columbia School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) alumnus began studying dental hygiene in 2008 at NYU College of Dentistry, with the hope of pursuing his DDS following the Bachelor of Science program.
Then, a devastating hurricane hit his native Haiti in 2010. Laurent traveled to the country to help provide dental care to people affected by the storm.
During his volunteer work, he developed a deep connection with Haiti’s youth.
"The children's stories really touched me," he told The Low Down. "I expected them to be sad, but they were happy and smiling throughout."
Laurent added that he left the trip wanting to help these children and, "tell the story behind those smiles." When he returned to the United States, he made the decision to finish his BS in dental hygiene and, rather than pursue a subsequent degree, leverage his skills immediately to launch a nonprofit to help people across the globe get adequate dental care.
In 2014, he founded Unspoken Smiles, a non-profit dedicated to providing dental care, training, resources, and hygiene best practices to people in disadvantaged countries.
As he launched this new organization, Laurent knew he had the dental talents to make a difference, but he also knew that he needed to develop his nonprofit and management skills.
That’s where Columbia came in.
"I loved the idea of connecting with people from all over the world,” Laurent told The Low Down of his decision to apply to SIPA's Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) program. He said the program allowed him the flexibility to go to school and work on his budding organization.
Laurent said his courses provided helpful information on everything he needed to make a nonprofit more efficient and effective. His professors, aware of Unspoken Smiles, were key in providing tailored guidance.
"I am super grateful for the feedback I received during my Columbia experience," he said.
During his time at the University, Unspoken Smiles flourished and expanded its offerings to seven countries. Realizing he needed to scale his efforts and switch to a broad-based, "think globally, act locally" strategy, Laurent turned his focus to empowering local dentists and hygienists in each country.
This strategy has helped alleviate some of the financial and logistical challenges from Laurent and his teams, and the move has thrilled local dentists, who now have leadership opportunities, added resources, and the chance to make a name for themselves in their communities.
"It was a good decision," Laurent said. "The dentists are super happy because many other organizations that come to their countries don't get local people involved. By leveraging local resources and getting them involved, we have a better chance at making the programs more sustainable."
Laurent encourages his fellow alumni to pursue their passions -- even if they are less lucrative or glamorous than their original plans.
“[Unspoken Smiles] was not initially what I wanted to do -- it was just my calling," he said. “It was the tragedy that triggered that activism for me. It’s a lot of work and a lot of sacrifice, but we’re taking care of people in need."
Learn how to get involved with or support Unspoken Smiles, including through fellowships or donations.
