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As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n
\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

Load More
\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

Load More
\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

Load More
\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

Load More
\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

Load More
\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

Load More
\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

Load More
\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

Load More
\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

Load More
\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

Load More
\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

Load More
\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

Load More
\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

Load More
\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

Load More
\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

Load More
\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

This past November, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. As the co-founder of The Black Hive, a national Black environmental justice coalition, she spoke on the importance of protecting Black communities during the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cWe tried to create a space where community organizations can do deliberation practices, host meetings, and have a safe place for their membership and staff,\u201d said Gunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past November, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. As the co-founder of The Black Hive, a national Black environmental justice coalition, she spoke on the importance of protecting Black communities during the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

In August of last year The Smile Trust opened The Freedom Lab, which will also be home to The Black Collective and other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe tried to create a space where community organizations can do deliberation practices, host meetings, and have a safe place for their membership and staff,\u201d said Gunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past November, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. As the co-founder of The Black Hive, a national Black environmental justice coalition, she spoke on the importance of protecting Black communities during the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

In February 2022, The Smile Trust began an agricultural program in collaboration with the Green Haven Project, named the Smile Haven Community Garden. Around 100 volunteers attended the first event, preparing the land and planting fruits and vegetables to be given to those who need them later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August of last year The Smile Trust opened The Freedom Lab, which will also be home to The Black Collective and other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe tried to create a space where community organizations can do deliberation practices, host meetings, and have a safe place for their membership and staff,\u201d said Gunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past November, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. As the co-founder of The Black Hive, a national Black environmental justice coalition, she spoke on the importance of protecting Black communities during the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cI have been writing data research and policy on a national level for the last two years in partnership with a lot of great organizations and leaders,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2022, The Smile Trust began an agricultural program in collaboration with the Green Haven Project, named the Smile Haven Community Garden. Around 100 volunteers attended the first event, preparing the land and planting fruits and vegetables to be given to those who need them later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August of last year The Smile Trust opened The Freedom Lab, which will also be home to The Black Collective and other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe tried to create a space where community organizations can do deliberation practices, host meetings, and have a safe place for their membership and staff,\u201d said Gunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past November, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. As the co-founder of The Black Hive, a national Black environmental justice coalition, she spoke on the importance of protecting Black communities during the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

In 2021, after winter storms pummeled the South, the Smile Trust worked with various organizations to provide water, food, temporary housing and medical supplies to 50,000-plus families. Gunder then helped engineer a report on the assistance intervention gap between minority neighborhoods and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have been writing data research and policy on a national level for the last two years in partnership with a lot of great organizations and leaders,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2022, The Smile Trust began an agricultural program in collaboration with the Green Haven Project, named the Smile Haven Community Garden. Around 100 volunteers attended the first event, preparing the land and planting fruits and vegetables to be given to those who need them later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August of last year The Smile Trust opened The Freedom Lab, which will also be home to The Black Collective and other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe tried to create a space where community organizations can do deliberation practices, host meetings, and have a safe place for their membership and staff,\u201d said Gunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past November, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. As the co-founder of The Black Hive, a national Black environmental justice coalition, she spoke on the importance of protecting Black communities during the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

The organization, she says, \u201cshows up in the healthiest ways for [its] communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, after winter storms pummeled the South, the Smile Trust worked with various organizations to provide water, food, temporary housing and medical supplies to 50,000-plus families. Gunder then helped engineer a report on the assistance intervention gap between minority neighborhoods and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have been writing data research and policy on a national level for the last two years in partnership with a lot of great organizations and leaders,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2022, The Smile Trust began an agricultural program in collaboration with the Green Haven Project, named the Smile Haven Community Garden. Around 100 volunteers attended the first event, preparing the land and planting fruits and vegetables to be given to those who need them later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August of last year The Smile Trust opened The Freedom Lab, which will also be home to The Black Collective and other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe tried to create a space where community organizations can do deliberation practices, host meetings, and have a safe place for their membership and staff,\u201d said Gunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past November, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. As the co-founder of The Black Hive, a national Black environmental justice coalition, she spoke on the importance of protecting Black communities during the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what Smile Trust has been doing,\u201d said Gunder. \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing that for a long time, so we just continue to do more of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organization, she says, \u201cshows up in the healthiest ways for [its] communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, after winter storms pummeled the South, the Smile Trust worked with various organizations to provide water, food, temporary housing and medical supplies to 50,000-plus families. Gunder then helped engineer a report on the assistance intervention gap between minority neighborhoods and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have been writing data research and policy on a national level for the last two years in partnership with a lot of great organizations and leaders,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2022, The Smile Trust began an agricultural program in collaboration with the Green Haven Project, named the Smile Haven Community Garden. Around 100 volunteers attended the first event, preparing the land and planting fruits and vegetables to be given to those who need them later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August of last year The Smile Trust opened The Freedom Lab, which will also be home to The Black Collective and other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe tried to create a space where community organizations can do deliberation practices, host meetings, and have a safe place for their membership and staff,\u201d said Gunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past November, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. As the co-founder of The Black Hive, a national Black environmental justice coalition, she spoke on the importance of protecting Black communities during the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020. People were losing their jobs and didn\u2019t know how they were going to get by. The Smile Trust again rushed into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what Smile Trust has been doing,\u201d said Gunder. \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing that for a long time, so we just continue to do more of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organization, she says, \u201cshows up in the healthiest ways for [its] communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, after winter storms pummeled the South, the Smile Trust worked with various organizations to provide water, food, temporary housing and medical supplies to 50,000-plus families. Gunder then helped engineer a report on the assistance intervention gap between minority neighborhoods and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have been writing data research and policy on a national level for the last two years in partnership with a lot of great organizations and leaders,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2022, The Smile Trust began an agricultural program in collaboration with the Green Haven Project, named the Smile Haven Community Garden. Around 100 volunteers attended the first event, preparing the land and planting fruits and vegetables to be given to those who need them later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August of last year The Smile Trust opened The Freedom Lab, which will also be home to The Black Collective and other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe tried to create a space where community organizations can do deliberation practices, host meetings, and have a safe place for their membership and staff,\u201d said Gunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past November, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. As the co-founder of The Black Hive, a national Black environmental justice coalition, she spoke on the importance of protecting Black communities during the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

In 2019 Gunder and community leaders such as Florida Rep. Shevrin Jones turned their attention to the damage caused by 2019\u2019s Hurricane Dorian. Donations were collected for 15 days with the help of more than 750 volunteers. Aid materials were packed onto two cargo planes and sent to the Bahamas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020. People were losing their jobs and didn\u2019t know how they were going to get by. The Smile Trust again rushed into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what Smile Trust has been doing,\u201d said Gunder. \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing that for a long time, so we just continue to do more of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organization, she says, \u201cshows up in the healthiest ways for [its] communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, after winter storms pummeled the South, the Smile Trust worked with various organizations to provide water, food, temporary housing and medical supplies to 50,000-plus families. Gunder then helped engineer a report on the assistance intervention gap between minority neighborhoods and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have been writing data research and policy on a national level for the last two years in partnership with a lot of great organizations and leaders,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2022, The Smile Trust began an agricultural program in collaboration with the Green Haven Project, named the Smile Haven Community Garden. Around 100 volunteers attended the first event, preparing the land and planting fruits and vegetables to be given to those who need them later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August of last year The Smile Trust opened The Freedom Lab, which will also be home to The Black Collective and other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe tried to create a space where community organizations can do deliberation practices, host meetings, and have a safe place for their membership and staff,\u201d said Gunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past November, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. As the co-founder of The Black Hive, a national Black environmental justice coalition, she spoke on the importance of protecting Black communities during the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cWe are still trying to carry the dream forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019 Gunder and community leaders such as Florida Rep. Shevrin Jones turned their attention to the damage caused by 2019\u2019s Hurricane Dorian. Donations were collected for 15 days with the help of more than 750 volunteers. Aid materials were packed onto two cargo planes and sent to the Bahamas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020. People were losing their jobs and didn\u2019t know how they were going to get by. The Smile Trust again rushed into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what Smile Trust has been doing,\u201d said Gunder. \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing that for a long time, so we just continue to do more of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organization, she says, \u201cshows up in the healthiest ways for [its] communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, after winter storms pummeled the South, the Smile Trust worked with various organizations to provide water, food, temporary housing and medical supplies to 50,000-plus families. Gunder then helped engineer a report on the assistance intervention gap between minority neighborhoods and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have been writing data research and policy on a national level for the last two years in partnership with a lot of great organizations and leaders,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2022, The Smile Trust began an agricultural program in collaboration with the Green Haven Project, named the Smile Haven Community Garden. Around 100 volunteers attended the first event, preparing the land and planting fruits and vegetables to be given to those who need them later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August of last year The Smile Trust opened The Freedom Lab, which will also be home to The Black Collective and other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe tried to create a space where community organizations can do deliberation practices, host meetings, and have a safe place for their membership and staff,\u201d said Gunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past November, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. As the co-founder of The Black Hive, a national Black environmental justice coalition, she spoke on the importance of protecting Black communities during the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Through all of her work, Gunder has taken King\u2019s words with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are still trying to carry the dream forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019 Gunder and community leaders such as Florida Rep. Shevrin Jones turned their attention to the damage caused by 2019\u2019s Hurricane Dorian. Donations were collected for 15 days with the help of more than 750 volunteers. Aid materials were packed onto two cargo planes and sent to the Bahamas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020. People were losing their jobs and didn\u2019t know how they were going to get by. The Smile Trust again rushed into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what Smile Trust has been doing,\u201d said Gunder. \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing that for a long time, so we just continue to do more of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organization, she says, \u201cshows up in the healthiest ways for [its] communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, after winter storms pummeled the South, the Smile Trust worked with various organizations to provide water, food, temporary housing and medical supplies to 50,000-plus families. Gunder then helped engineer a report on the assistance intervention gap between minority neighborhoods and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have been writing data research and policy on a national level for the last two years in partnership with a lot of great organizations and leaders,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2022, The Smile Trust began an agricultural program in collaboration with the Green Haven Project, named the Smile Haven Community Garden. Around 100 volunteers attended the first event, preparing the land and planting fruits and vegetables to be given to those who need them later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August of last year The Smile Trust opened The Freedom Lab, which will also be home to The Black Collective and other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe tried to create a space where community organizations can do deliberation practices, host meetings, and have a safe place for their membership and staff,\u201d said Gunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past November, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. As the co-founder of The Black Hive, a national Black environmental justice coalition, she spoke on the importance of protecting Black communities during the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

She expanded her work with disadvantaged residents through the Community Emergency Operation Center, which helped more than 23,000 people through the efforts of 350 volunteers in its first mission, and since then has hosted community meetings in Liberty City and Little Haiti aimed at propelling its residents forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through all of her work, Gunder has taken King\u2019s words with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are still trying to carry the dream forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019 Gunder and community leaders such as Florida Rep. Shevrin Jones turned their attention to the damage caused by 2019\u2019s Hurricane Dorian. Donations were collected for 15 days with the help of more than 750 volunteers. Aid materials were packed onto two cargo planes and sent to the Bahamas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020. People were losing their jobs and didn\u2019t know how they were going to get by. The Smile Trust again rushed into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what Smile Trust has been doing,\u201d said Gunder. \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing that for a long time, so we just continue to do more of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organization, she says, \u201cshows up in the healthiest ways for [its] communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, after winter storms pummeled the South, the Smile Trust worked with various organizations to provide water, food, temporary housing and medical supplies to 50,000-plus families. Gunder then helped engineer a report on the assistance intervention gap between minority neighborhoods and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have been writing data research and policy on a national level for the last two years in partnership with a lot of great organizations and leaders,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2022, The Smile Trust began an agricultural program in collaboration with the Green Haven Project, named the Smile Haven Community Garden. Around 100 volunteers attended the first event, preparing the land and planting fruits and vegetables to be given to those who need them later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August of last year The Smile Trust opened The Freedom Lab, which will also be home to The Black Collective and other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe tried to create a space where community organizations can do deliberation practices, host meetings, and have a safe place for their membership and staff,\u201d said Gunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past November, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. As the co-founder of The Black Hive, a national Black environmental justice coalition, she spoke on the importance of protecting Black communities during the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

\u201cWe still show up,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cWe show up in authenticity to speak on behalf of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She expanded her work with disadvantaged residents through the Community Emergency Operation Center, which helped more than 23,000 people through the efforts of 350 volunteers in its first mission, and since then has hosted community meetings in Liberty City and Little Haiti aimed at propelling its residents forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through all of her work, Gunder has taken King\u2019s words with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are still trying to carry the dream forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019 Gunder and community leaders such as Florida Rep. Shevrin Jones turned their attention to the damage caused by 2019\u2019s Hurricane Dorian. Donations were collected for 15 days with the help of more than 750 volunteers. Aid materials were packed onto two cargo planes and sent to the Bahamas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020. People were losing their jobs and didn\u2019t know how they were going to get by. The Smile Trust again rushed into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what Smile Trust has been doing,\u201d said Gunder. \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing that for a long time, so we just continue to do more of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organization, she says, \u201cshows up in the healthiest ways for [its] communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, after winter storms pummeled the South, the Smile Trust worked with various organizations to provide water, food, temporary housing and medical supplies to 50,000-plus families. Gunder then helped engineer a report on the assistance intervention gap between minority neighborhoods and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have been writing data research and policy on a national level for the last two years in partnership with a lot of great organizations and leaders,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2022, The Smile Trust began an agricultural program in collaboration with the Green Haven Project, named the Smile Haven Community Garden. Around 100 volunteers attended the first event, preparing the land and planting fruits and vegetables to be given to those who need them later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August of last year The Smile Trust opened The Freedom Lab, which will also be home to The Black Collective and other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe tried to create a space where community organizations can do deliberation practices, host meetings, and have a safe place for their membership and staff,\u201d said Gunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past November, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. As the co-founder of The Black Hive, a national Black environmental justice coalition, she spoke on the importance of protecting Black communities during the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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\n

Three years before that story was published she founded The Smile Trust, originally named Make the Homeless Smile. It began by feeding 75 people and has sprouted various groups of volunteers helping the unsheltered in Miami and Atlanta, serving more than 400,000 meals since it was established and providing clothes, haircuts, showers and toiletries to the impoverished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe still show up,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cWe show up in authenticity to speak on behalf of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She expanded her work with disadvantaged residents through the Community Emergency Operation Center, which helped more than 23,000 people through the efforts of 350 volunteers in its first mission, and since then has hosted community meetings in Liberty City and Little Haiti aimed at propelling its residents forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through all of her work, Gunder has taken King\u2019s words with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are still trying to carry the dream forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019 Gunder and community leaders such as Florida Rep. Shevrin Jones turned their attention to the damage caused by 2019\u2019s Hurricane Dorian. Donations were collected for 15 days with the help of more than 750 volunteers. Aid materials were packed onto two cargo planes and sent to the Bahamas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020. People were losing their jobs and didn\u2019t know how they were going to get by. The Smile Trust again rushed into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what Smile Trust has been doing,\u201d said Gunder. \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing that for a long time, so we just continue to do more of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organization, she says, \u201cshows up in the healthiest ways for [its] communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, after winter storms pummeled the South, the Smile Trust worked with various organizations to provide water, food, temporary housing and medical supplies to 50,000-plus families. Gunder then helped engineer a report on the assistance intervention gap between minority neighborhoods and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have been writing data research and policy on a national level for the last two years in partnership with a lot of great organizations and leaders,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2022, The Smile Trust began an agricultural program in collaboration with the Green Haven Project, named the Smile Haven Community Garden. Around 100 volunteers attended the first event, preparing the land and planting fruits and vegetables to be given to those who need them later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August of last year The Smile Trust opened The Freedom Lab, which will also be home to The Black Collective and other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe tried to create a space where community organizations can do deliberation practices, host meetings, and have a safe place for their membership and staff,\u201d said Gunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past November, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. As the co-founder of The Black Hive, a national Black environmental justice coalition, she spoke on the importance of protecting Black communities during the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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Indeed, in the spirit of selflessly helping others, Gunder has spearheaded many operations across Florida and the world since The Miami Times profiled her in 2017 as someone who personified Martin Luther King\u2019s dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three years before that story was published she founded The Smile Trust, originally named Make the Homeless Smile. It began by feeding 75 people and has sprouted various groups of volunteers helping the unsheltered in Miami and Atlanta, serving more than 400,000 meals since it was established and providing clothes, haircuts, showers and toiletries to the impoverished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe still show up,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cWe show up in authenticity to speak on behalf of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She expanded her work with disadvantaged residents through the Community Emergency Operation Center, which helped more than 23,000 people through the efforts of 350 volunteers in its first mission, and since then has hosted community meetings in Liberty City and Little Haiti aimed at propelling its residents forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through all of her work, Gunder has taken King\u2019s words with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are still trying to carry the dream forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019 Gunder and community leaders such as Florida Rep. Shevrin Jones turned their attention to the damage caused by 2019\u2019s Hurricane Dorian. Donations were collected for 15 days with the help of more than 750 volunteers. Aid materials were packed onto two cargo planes and sent to the Bahamas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020. People were losing their jobs and didn\u2019t know how they were going to get by. The Smile Trust again rushed into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what Smile Trust has been doing,\u201d said Gunder. \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing that for a long time, so we just continue to do more of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organization, she says, \u201cshows up in the healthiest ways for [its] communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, after winter storms pummeled the South, the Smile Trust worked with various organizations to provide water, food, temporary housing and medical supplies to 50,000-plus families. Gunder then helped engineer a report on the assistance intervention gap between minority neighborhoods and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have been writing data research and policy on a national level for the last two years in partnership with a lot of great organizations and leaders,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2022, The Smile Trust began an agricultural program in collaboration with the Green Haven Project, named the Smile Haven Community Garden. Around 100 volunteers attended the first event, preparing the land and planting fruits and vegetables to be given to those who need them later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August of last year The Smile Trust opened The Freedom Lab, which will also be home to The Black Collective and other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe tried to create a space where community organizations can do deliberation practices, host meetings, and have a safe place for their membership and staff,\u201d said Gunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past November, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. As the co-founder of The Black Hive, a national Black environmental justice coalition, she spoke on the importance of protecting Black communities during the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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After the storm affected more than 6 million people, the Miami native wasted no time gathering volunteers who then made meals for up to 600 people a day in Liberty City, Little Haiti, Overtown, Allapattah, Florida City, Perrine and West Grove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, in the spirit of selflessly helping others, Gunder has spearheaded many operations across Florida and the world since The Miami Times profiled her in 2017 as someone who personified Martin Luther King\u2019s dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three years before that story was published she founded The Smile Trust, originally named Make the Homeless Smile. It began by feeding 75 people and has sprouted various groups of volunteers helping the unsheltered in Miami and Atlanta, serving more than 400,000 meals since it was established and providing clothes, haircuts, showers and toiletries to the impoverished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe still show up,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cWe show up in authenticity to speak on behalf of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She expanded her work with disadvantaged residents through the Community Emergency Operation Center, which helped more than 23,000 people through the efforts of 350 volunteers in its first mission, and since then has hosted community meetings in Liberty City and Little Haiti aimed at propelling its residents forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through all of her work, Gunder has taken King\u2019s words with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are still trying to carry the dream forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019 Gunder and community leaders such as Florida Rep. Shevrin Jones turned their attention to the damage caused by 2019\u2019s Hurricane Dorian. Donations were collected for 15 days with the help of more than 750 volunteers. Aid materials were packed onto two cargo planes and sent to the Bahamas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020. People were losing their jobs and didn\u2019t know how they were going to get by. The Smile Trust again rushed into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what Smile Trust has been doing,\u201d said Gunder. \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing that for a long time, so we just continue to do more of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organization, she says, \u201cshows up in the healthiest ways for [its] communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, after winter storms pummeled the South, the Smile Trust worked with various organizations to provide water, food, temporary housing and medical supplies to 50,000-plus families. Gunder then helped engineer a report on the assistance intervention gap between minority neighborhoods and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have been writing data research and policy on a national level for the last two years in partnership with a lot of great organizations and leaders,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2022, The Smile Trust began an agricultural program in collaboration with the Green Haven Project, named the Smile Haven Community Garden. Around 100 volunteers attended the first event, preparing the land and planting fruits and vegetables to be given to those who need them later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August of last year The Smile Trust opened The Freedom Lab, which will also be home to The Black Collective and other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe tried to create a space where community organizations can do deliberation practices, host meetings, and have a safe place for their membership and staff,\u201d said Gunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past November, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. As the co-founder of The Black Hive, a national Black environmental justice coalition, she spoke on the importance of protecting Black communities during the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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Days before Hurricane Irma hit Florida in 2017, Valencia Gunder was already preparing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the storm affected more than 6 million people, the Miami native wasted no time gathering volunteers who then made meals for up to 600 people a day in Liberty City, Little Haiti, Overtown, Allapattah, Florida City, Perrine and West Grove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, in the spirit of selflessly helping others, Gunder has spearheaded many operations across Florida and the world since The Miami Times profiled her in 2017 as someone who personified Martin Luther King\u2019s dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three years before that story was published she founded The Smile Trust, originally named Make the Homeless Smile. It began by feeding 75 people and has sprouted various groups of volunteers helping the unsheltered in Miami and Atlanta, serving more than 400,000 meals since it was established and providing clothes, haircuts, showers and toiletries to the impoverished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe still show up,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cWe show up in authenticity to speak on behalf of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She expanded her work with disadvantaged residents through the Community Emergency Operation Center, which helped more than 23,000 people through the efforts of 350 volunteers in its first mission, and since then has hosted community meetings in Liberty City and Little Haiti aimed at propelling its residents forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through all of her work, Gunder has taken King\u2019s words with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are still trying to carry the dream forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019 Gunder and community leaders such as Florida Rep. Shevrin Jones turned their attention to the damage caused by 2019\u2019s Hurricane Dorian. Donations were collected for 15 days with the help of more than 750 volunteers. Aid materials were packed onto two cargo planes and sent to the Bahamas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020. People were losing their jobs and didn\u2019t know how they were going to get by. The Smile Trust again rushed into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what Smile Trust has been doing,\u201d said Gunder. \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing that for a long time, so we just continue to do more of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organization, she says, \u201cshows up in the healthiest ways for [its] communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, after winter storms pummeled the South, the Smile Trust worked with various organizations to provide water, food, temporary housing and medical supplies to 50,000-plus families. Gunder then helped engineer a report on the assistance intervention gap between minority neighborhoods and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have been writing data research and policy on a national level for the last two years in partnership with a lot of great organizations and leaders,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2022, The Smile Trust began an agricultural program in collaboration with the Green Haven Project, named the Smile Haven Community Garden. Around 100 volunteers attended the first event, preparing the land and planting fruits and vegetables to be given to those who need them later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August of last year The Smile Trust opened The Freedom Lab, which will also be home to The Black Collective and other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe tried to create a space where community organizations can do deliberation practices, host meetings, and have a safe place for their membership and staff,\u201d said Gunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past November, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. As the co-founder of The Black Hive, a national Black environmental justice coalition, she spoke on the importance of protecting Black communities during the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Days before Hurricane Irma hit Florida in 2017, Valencia Gunder was already preparing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the storm affected more than 6 million people, the Miami native wasted no time gathering volunteers who then made meals for up to 600 people a day in Liberty City, Little Haiti, Overtown, Allapattah, Florida City, Perrine and West Grove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, in the spirit of selflessly helping others, Gunder has spearheaded many operations across Florida and the world since The Miami Times profiled her in 2017 as someone who personified Martin Luther King\u2019s dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three years before that story was published she founded The Smile Trust, originally named Make the Homeless Smile. It began by feeding 75 people and has sprouted various groups of volunteers helping the unsheltered in Miami and Atlanta, serving more than 400,000 meals since it was established and providing clothes, haircuts, showers and toiletries to the impoverished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe still show up,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cWe show up in authenticity to speak on behalf of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She expanded her work with disadvantaged residents through the Community Emergency Operation Center, which helped more than 23,000 people through the efforts of 350 volunteers in its first mission, and since then has hosted community meetings in Liberty City and Little Haiti aimed at propelling its residents forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through all of her work, Gunder has taken King\u2019s words with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are still trying to carry the dream forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019 Gunder and community leaders such as Florida Rep. Shevrin Jones turned their attention to the damage caused by 2019\u2019s Hurricane Dorian. Donations were collected for 15 days with the help of more than 750 volunteers. Aid materials were packed onto two cargo planes and sent to the Bahamas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020. People were losing their jobs and didn\u2019t know how they were going to get by. The Smile Trust again rushed into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what Smile Trust has been doing,\u201d said Gunder. \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing that for a long time, so we just continue to do more of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organization, she says, \u201cshows up in the healthiest ways for [its] communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, after winter storms pummeled the South, the Smile Trust worked with various organizations to provide water, food, temporary housing and medical supplies to 50,000-plus families. Gunder then helped engineer a report on the assistance intervention gap between minority neighborhoods and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have been writing data research and policy on a national level for the last two years in partnership with a lot of great organizations and leaders,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2022, The Smile Trust began an agricultural program in collaboration with the Green Haven Project, named the Smile Haven Community Garden. Around 100 volunteers attended the first event, preparing the land and planting fruits and vegetables to be given to those who need them later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August of last year The Smile Trust opened The Freedom Lab, which will also be home to The Black Collective and other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe tried to create a space where community organizations can do deliberation practices, host meetings, and have a safe place for their membership and staff,\u201d said Gunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past November, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. As the co-founder of The Black Hive, a national Black environmental justice coalition, she spoke on the importance of protecting Black communities during the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like my politics and my imagination have shifted in a good way,\u201d Gunder said. \u201cIt\u2019s broader, bigger and brings more hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Zuniga Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Valencia Gunder helps minorities amid natural disasters","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"valencia-gunder-helps-minorities-amid-natural-disasters","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:08:10","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1660","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1657,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:41:26","post_content":"\n

Six years ago, Ernisha Randolph was featured in The Miami Times as a part of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for 2017. The owner of a successful startup incubator mostly known for her role as CEO of catering company Juanita\u2019s Kitchen at the time, she\u2019d always known she would be successful \u2013 but couldn\u2019t imagine how much more she would accomplish after that story was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 39-year-old Miami resident is the founder of Sweet Butter Hospitality Group and We Shuckin, a successful Southern food restaurant with two locations in Miami and Broward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her entrepreneurial skills revealed themselves when she was just 8 years old, when Randolph remembers selling homemade candy to buy herself a toy. By age 10 she was selling meals from her parents\u2019 home; a few years later she\u2019d turned that effort into a $500-per-week business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2017, the Times story cited her success as a caterer. The next year, after several successful pop-up restaurant events, Randolph opened the first We Shuckin on NW 167th Street near 47th Avenue. The location was take-out only, but business boomed as more people fell in love with the Southern-style cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second location came in 2021 in Pembroke Pines, this time with inside seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a line down the street,\u201d Randolph recalled. \u201cIt was wrapped around the building, wrapped all around the plaza and all the way down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Jivin\u2019 Sauce, an accidental hit after a Super Bowl party, became popular in 2020 and now is sold in stores and online nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all the time when things are like a mistake, those are the things that everyone loves,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career she\u2019s always worked hard \u2013 and has always been motivated by family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just knew that I needed to be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Randolph, her husband, a Full Sail University graduate, has a project called The SMASH Room Network, his own streaming network app. Her sister, Sarah Anderson, helms The Candy Girls, a dessert brand. Both businesses are part of the Sweet Butter Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Randolph\u2019s three children \u2013 Shonee Alicia Randolph, 22, Anthony \u201cAJ\u201d Randolph, 17, and Amarion Randolph, 12 \u2013 have already established several small businesses, including a clothing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her oldest, Shonee Alicia, has been working hard to potentially lead the restaurant and carry on her mother\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe's been a little business person,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cShe got started entering into pitch competitions and everything when she was 16.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randolph would like to franchise the restaurant and return to one of her passion projects: establishing a place where she can make a direct impact on young entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says that although the world we live in is still catching up (in its efforts to realize genuine equality and equity), she believes the new generation of dreamers is much more able \u2013 and encouraged \u2013 to have visions and achieve them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess the ground is fertile for [us] to dream bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cTo achieve bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Costa Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ernisha Randolph wants to help people achieve big dreams","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ernisha-randolph-wants-to-help-people-achieve-big-dreams","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:54:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1657","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1654,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 23:36:14","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only remember the legacy that civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. left behind, but also recognize the hard work of like-minded warriors of today who, just like him, have a dream and are making an impact in our communities through service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cecilia Gutierrez is one of those dreamers. And her strong leadership has demonstrated how people who live in underrepresented communities such as Liberty City can flourish when everyone comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez was named a member of the 2016 class of The Miami Times\u2019 \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d when she was president and CEO of The Miami Children\u2019s Initiative, which helps develop and provide quality education, accessible health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities for families in Liberty City and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left Miami in 2017 and joined the Obama Foundation as part of the My Brother\u2019s Keeper Alliance team. Three years later, she was hired by Blue Meridian Partners in New York as managing director, operations and stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But her commitment to helping children in poverty and working to provide them access to quality education didn\u2019t stop when she left the Sunshine State. Gutierrez continues to fuel her passion for service with a focus on supporting the economic mobility of American families in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy commitment to service or even to the work of Liberty City has never once wavered,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI feel like I have brought Liberty City into every workspace that I\u2019m in. I still feel very much connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gutierrez has proven that her efforts to help minorities, especially those in need in the Black community who have suffered systemic racism for generations, is a primary goal. She\u2019s helped Blue Meridian\u2019s partners invest significant capital in partnerships relevant to that \u2013 approximately $250 million over the last two years, by collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, communities and the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her work with philanthropic activist Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children\u2019s Zone, Gutierrez has implemented strategies that have begun to transform communities across the country through place-based partnerships. Every while single step she\u2019s taken in her career has led her to bigger projects, she has always felt connected to her community and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s about lifting people out of poverty, moving millions of children and their families out of it,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are even worse today than they were during Martin Luther King\u2019s time in terms of people\u2019s ability to achieve economic mobility. I think we\u2019re all still deep in the struggle and trying to figure out approaches and strategies that actually work for children in poverty. I feel like I have dedicated my entire life only to serving the most vulnerable children in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Morales Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Cecilia Gutierrez thrives through her passion for service","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"cecilia-gutierrez-thrives-through-her-passion-for-service","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-17 04:24:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1654","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1627,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:56:33","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, just a few weeks after The Miami Times named him part of a new generation that shares Martin Luther King\u2019s dream, Tarell McCraney gave a heartfelt speech at the Academy Awards. Standing with director, collaborator and fellow Miamian Barry Jenkins, he accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for \u201cMoonlight,\u201d which also won best picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming [kids] who don\u2019t see themselves,\u201d McCraney said onstage with Jenkins at his side. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoonlight\u201d is based on a play McCraney wrote called \u201cIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,\u201d which was inspired by his own experiences as a child. He grew up in Liberty City as a poor, gay Black boy whose mother struggled with drug addiction and eventually died of HIV\/AIDS. He was bullied by the kids in his neighborhood but found a community and peace in the theater world. He went to high school at Miami\u2019s New World School of the Arts and continued on to DePaul University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s now the chair of and playwriting professor for Yale\u2019s School of Drama, and the Yale Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence. He is also a member of the D-Projects Theater Company, which was founded by Teo Castellanos, McCraney\u2019s longtime teacher and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another of McCraney\u2019s plays, \u201cChoir Boy,\u201d has similar themes of sexuality, masculinity and race to \u201cMoonlight.\u201d The work, which was written in 2012, hit the boards at Toronto\u2019s Canadian Stage in November 2022 with some changes to the original 2012 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, McCraney said he thought \u201cChoir Boy\u201d and \u201cMoonlight\u201d are just as poignant today as they were in the past. He referenced the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, such as Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay Bill,\u201d which limits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen \u2018Moonlight\u2019 came out in 2016, I was like, folks will see this and think, oh\u201a that was a coming-of-age story back then,\u201d McCraney told the newspaper. \u201cWhen I think of \u2018Choir Boy\u2019 and \u2018Moonlight,\u2019 I think to myself, wow, I did not expect them to be so relevant and yet here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to theater and film, McCraney has added a TV series to his growing list of projects. \u201cDavid Makes Man\u201d premiered in 2019 and has had two seasons. Its protagonist is a young Black boy who lives in poverty in South Florida but attends a privileged school for gifted children. The show\u2019s first season follows David\u2019s struggle to switch between his poverty-stricken home in the projects and his exclusive magnet school. In the second season, he reaches adulthood and continues to wrestle with the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That exploration of trauma and the reactions one has to it, from despair to resilience, is evergreen in McCraney\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what all great art should do,\u201d he said on NPR\u2019s Fresh Air in 2021. (It should) \u201cremind us that there\u2019s something larger than ourselves and that there is resilience and that there are different ways in which we engage it, but that we are more alike in our engagement than different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

------<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie La Roche Pietri Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Tarell McCraney is making an impact long after \u2018Moonlight\u2019","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tarell-mccraney-is-making-an-impact-long-after-moonlight","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:04:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1624,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:52:59","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shevrin Jones is under siege. In a room in Tallahassee teeming with cameras, activists and journalists, he exudes frustration and anger as he answers questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 recent ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrumbling schools and dilapidated buildings are the issues being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0,\u201d Jones said during a press conference this past Jan. 26. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know and don\u2019t care about what\u2019s happening in Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being named a \u201cNext Generation Dreamer\u201d in 2018 by The Miami Times for embodying Martin Luther King\u2019s legacy, Jones has become a rising star in Florida politics. From Broward public school teacher to state representative to being named one of the area\u2019s most influential people under age 40, the 39-year-old has made a name for himself as a breaker of barriers. In 2020, he made history as the first Black LBGTQ+ state senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care too much for the recognitions and positions,\u201d said Jones. \u201cI look more for changing and enhancing people\u2019s lives. That\u2019s my reward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Miami Gardens, he is the son of a teacher and a preacher. He graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor\u2019s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2006. After that, he taught advanced placement chemistry in Broward County and then biology at Florida Atlantic University High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was teaching, the state changed the assessment requirements for students to graduate, and many of my students were forced to take recovery courses,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I went to the principal and asked him who keeps changing the rules. He said politicians, and I replied: \u2018Perfect, then I\u2019m running for office.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2012 Jones ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and won unopposed in the newly created 101st District. He was reelected until term limits compelled his departure in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That year he ran to represent Florida Senate District 35 in a closely watched election. Despite homophobic and racist attacks, he beat six other contenders by at least 27 points and raised more money than all of his opponents combined. He was elected in 2022 for the newly created District 34 after redistricting and now serves as vice chair of the appropriations committee on education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m teaching; teaching is who I am,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBeing an educator and then being a politician complement each other more than one would think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones has pushed for legislation that promotes record expungement for some felons as well as measures to reduce penalties for marijuana users. He has also advocated for providing incarcerated women with basic health care products, and sterile needle and syringe exchange programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also co-authored a bill to improve financial literacy among students and was a co-author of the so-called \u201cAva\u2019s Law,\u201d which requires pregnancy testing for female detainees in custody for 72 hours or more and mandates that authorities comply with certain conditions for pregnant inmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden recently appointed Jones to serve on the Board of Advisors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), making him one of the administrators of more than $5.8 billion in support of marginalized institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will go as far as the people will take me,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

----<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steban Rondon Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"'Dreamer' Shevrin Jones: From the classroom to the Capitol","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dreamer-shevrin-jones-from-the-classroom-to-the-capitol","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 18:05:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1624","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1617,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-23 00:43:23","post_content":"\n

Back in 2006, Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport is where it all began for Jamaica-born and Miami-raised Barrington Irving. He created a nonprofit educational program called Experience Aviation that inspired young students to learn about STEM education. Two and a half years later, he became the first Black person and youngest pilot to fly a plane solo around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 39 years old, he has witnessed his program become a force for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this since 2006 here at the airport and it\u2019s just been transformative to see not only how the airport has grown, but how the people have grown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Irving was recognized in The Miami Times<\/em>\u2019 inaugural class of its \u201cNew Generation of Dreamers\u201d for his educational program, which is called The Flying Classroom. The program, which the Times said \u201ctakes mentoring to new heights,\u201d ignited an interest in aviation exploration among students from all walks of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, says Irving, \u201cwe\u2019ve had students build airplanes, race cars, hovercrafts, solar go-karts and launched a for-profit curriculum company in over 1,000 schools across the country. We\u2019ve also expanded technical skill training programs for adults and positioned over 100 individuals with well-paying technical careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom has become both a virtual and hands-on educational experience taught in more than 600 schools nationwide. In the near future, Irving plans to expand his educational efforts in a school that will be based near the Opa-locka airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re preparing to launch a technical training center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Chairman Oliver Gilbert III,\u201d said Irving. \u201cA training school will launch in the very same community I grew up in. It\u2019s going to be something special and unique. So many within our communities just need skills and opportunities to occur in short turnaround order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation have already transformed the Opa-locka airport into an enriching learning environment that welcomes a diverse array of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first came to the airport, there weren\u2019t many folks who looked like me,\u201d said Irving. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to know that I\u2019ve helped change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to build accessible educational opportunities for both children and adults of all backgrounds, with a goal of moving them beyond school and into career fields where he believes they can fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin Luther King\u2019s \u2018I have a Dream\u2019 speech applies to so many phases of life,\u201d said Irving. \u201cIn 2015 I was in a position of being a trailblazer. Now I still see myself as [one] but have become more involved with helping to carry others and create greater opportunities for those who may need inspiration, resources and a push to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina Beguiristain Miami Times Contributor | This profile is a collaboration between The Miami Times and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Barrington Irving helps students soar to new heights","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"barrington-irving-helps-students-soar-to-new-heights","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-24 13:52:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/ourhistorymakers.com\/?p=1617","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":775,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:52","post_content":"\n

Vanessa Joseph wears many hats \u2013 and all are committed to empowering Miami-Dade County residents.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didn\u2019t know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today it\u2019s her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Almost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As clerk, Joseph said she has worked to educate North Miami residents on how to vote, what is on the ballot, and how to voice their opinions about city laws and policies. She oversees elections and serves as the official custodian of all municipal documents.
\u201cIt has been a tremendous experience for me to do what I\u2019ve always enjoyed doing, which is empowering people to participate in the community around them,\u201d she said. Though her city position is technically part time, she is committed to the work, even on evenings and weekends.
Joseph was born in Chicago to an immigrant Haitian family. She and her parents moved to North Miami when she was 2 years old and have called it home ever since. She said she was raised with traditional Haitian customs and values, but her parents also taught her the importance of interacting with Miami\u2019s diverse cultures.
\u201cAlmost anything I do is focused on Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had the desire to go anywhere else.\u201d
Joseph has a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science, a master\u2019s degree in public administration and a law degree, all from the University of Miami.
While in law school she worked for the Health Rights Clinic. There, she specialized in representing people who had health issues and were seeking U.S. citizenship.
Joseph said that because of that experience, she discovered a
passion for immigration law. She began working with Catholic Legal Services in 2015, leading legal orientation programs in immigrant detention centers in South Florida, where she helped detainees understand their rights in court.
\u201cWhile interviewing Vanessa, we told her that the pay was not on par with larger private law firms, and asked her whether that would be an issue for her and cause her to quickly move on to other opportunities,\u201d said Randy McGrorty, executive director and CEO of Catholic Legal Services. \u201cShe immediately replied that she would be there as long as she was needed. To date, she has kept that promise.\u201d
Apart from her work as city clerk and practicing law full time, Joseph also volunteers for nonprofit organizations. Much of her community service efforts are dedicated to providing resources to Haitian American organizations like Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and the Haitian American Professionals Coalition. She also works with Casa Valentina, a group that helps disadvantaged youth in Miami-Dade County.
\u201cYou wonder how many hours she has in a day, that girl,\u201d said Leonie Hermantin, director of development, communications and strategic planning at Sant La. \u201cWhen someone asks for her help, she doesn\u2019t just lend her name, she lends her energy and participation.\u201d

This story was written for The Miami Times by Florida International University\u2019s South Florida Media Network.<\/em><\/p>\n","post_title":"Vanessa Joseph empowers her local community","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vanessa-joseph-empowers-her-local-community","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-12 18:10:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=775","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":773,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_date_gmt":"2023-01-23 09:11:02","post_content":"\n

Wayne Messam has several roles: small businessman, dad, husband, and also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected mayor to the growing, diverse city of Miramar. The entire commission, for the first time, in history is all Black. Messam was first elected to the commission in 2011, and ran for the mayoral seat in 2015 against incumbent Mayor Lori Moseley, who had served on the commission for several terms.
\u201cThe decision to invest in a difficult time is paying huge dividends now, for many positive things that will take place in the future,\u201d Messam said.
Messam, as a small businessman, speaks about the private sector in the city, and is glad to see that it is very active. He said that Miramar has attracted many companies into its fold, and one of the initiatives supported by he, and his fellow commissioners, is an upcoming Let\u2019s Talk Job Forum, which will be held in the Commission Chambers. It\u2019s a way to connect small businesses with appropriate job applicants, he said, and to see whether they are a good match.
\u201cWe will have some of those companies right here on our campus,\u201d said Messam, \u201cand they will share with our residents what they are looking for in their candidates, and provide information on how people can be a candidate for one of their available positions. We\u2019re very excited to partner with the private companies, and give the residents every opportunity to find a great job.\u201d
Messam also noted that he, as a small businessman, has an affinity for small business owners, and understands what it was like to own and operate a business and hire talented employees for that business. Miramar, he said, also is a very desirable place for companies to move to, and he hopes it will continue to be a growing hub for businesses from many backgrounds.
\u201cAs a small business owner and entrepreneur,\u201d I understand what it\u2019s like to own a business, said Messam. \u201c \"As mayor, I hope I can use that knowledge and use that experience. We do as much as we can to help businesses to be successful.\u201d
Messam credits his dad as one of his role models, and one of the main people who gave him the drive to be the kind of person he is today. One of his other role models is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Messam says he wants to serve with integrity and honor, much like these two men. Dr. King, said Messam, put his life on the line for what he felt was right, and had the courage and conviction to put himself in danger for the country. Messam said his dad was an awesome role model for him, and that he hopes he is as good a role model for his family. Messam also noted that he won\u2019t be the first Black mayor, nor will he be the last.
\u201cWe have a huge responsibility to govern with integrity and civility,\u201d said Messam. \u201cI am not the first Black mayor in the community. We have a huge responsibility to govern with civility and integrity, which I always try to do. Hopefully my example will set the pulse for whoever will succeed me.\u201d
Messam said that it his, and the commission\u2019s responsibility, to work with whomever is in charge in Washington, D.C. Regardless of whom is in the White House, he said, it is his responsibility to make sure that Washington and Tallahassee understand the needs of the city of Miramar, and to make sure that they do right by the residents in the community.
\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d said Messam, \u201cas a mayor and leader of this community, I have the capacity and the ability to work with whoever sits in the governor\u2019s seat as well as the president\u2019s office, and the various agencies that we rely on to make sure this is a successful community.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Miramar Mayor balances governing and family life","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"miramar-mayor-balances-governing-and-family-life","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_modified_gmt":"2023-02-04 16:48:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dreamersnextgen.live-website.com\/?p=773","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"total_page":false},"paged":1,"class":"jblog_block_24"};

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