Miami-Dade Public Library System Celebrates
40 Years of Library Excellence with film screening and panel discussion on the WPBT2 Documentary Parallel Lives

 

MIAMI, FL-- In celebration of Miami-Dade Public Library System’s 40^th anniversary, a special screening of the WPBT2 documentary Parallel Lives will be shown on Thursday, May 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Main Library – 101 W. Flagler Street.  Parallel Lives tells the story of two remarkable women - Dr. Dorothy Jenkins Fields and Arva Moore Parks - who both grew up in Miami, but led very different yet amazingly complementary lives. Their experiences of the city, its history, and its culture were seen through vastly different lenses - one was white; the other black.

Following the screening will be a panel discussion with the film’s stars and its producer Mark Baker. The panel will be moderated by Helen Aguirre Ferré, an award-winning journalist and host of the WPBT2 Public Affairs series Issues. Musical entertainment will be provided by Mr. Jon Saxx.

 

WHAT:          Film Screening and Panel Discussion of WPBT2’s Documentary Parallel Lives

WHEN:          Thursday, May 26, 6:30 p.m. 

WHERE:        Main Library, 101 W Flagler Street – 305-375-2665

                                                                

For more information, contact 305.375. BOOK (2665) or visit www.mdpls.org

See also: WPBT2

 

On Wednesday, May 18, 2011, representatives from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation visited Miami Dade College (MDC) to announce that they have selected the college to receive funding through its Completion by Design (CBD) program, a five-year project that will engage a select group of high-performing colleges in identifying and implementing innovative solutions to increase the number of college graduates across the nation. The grant recognizes MDC’s role as a trailblazer in developing innovative strategies to support student achievement and degree completion.

Congratulations, Miami Dade!

 

FILE: Bill Gates and Dr. Eduardo Padron

 

Carrie Meek Clinic Named After Esteemed Former Congresswoman

Ribbon-cutting ceremony of The Carrie Meek Clinic


Miami, FL – Borinquen Health Care Center, Inc. announced the opening of its newest clinic, The Carrie Meek Clinic on Friday, April 29 in an affordable housing residence developed by Carlisle Development Group and Biscayne Housing Group in Miami’s Little Haiti. The community health care center is the sixth Borinquen clinic to open in the Miami-Dade area and the first to be built in an affordable housing residence.

“The opening of this new clinic is just another step on our path to continued success during our long history of providing healthcare services to the community,” said Paul Velez, Chief Administrative Officer of Borinquen Health Care Center. “We are grateful that we were given the opportunity to open the clinic in a place that is incredibly convenient for our patients.”

The new clinic, named after Congresswoman Carrie Meek, officially opened its doors late last month after a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the congresswoman and community leaders from the City of Miami, City of North Miami, Miami-Dade County, State of Florida and the U.S. Congress. Attendees included U.S. Congresswoman Corrine Brown, former Congressman Kendrick Meek, City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado, City of North Miami Mayor Andre Pierre, Commissioner Audrey Edmonson, Commissioner Jean Monestime, along with representatives from the Miami-Dade Department of Health and members from the Miami-Dade County Public School Board.

Borinquen Health Care Center has been providing a comprehensive range of health and social services to the residents of Miami-Dade County for the past 38 years. As a testament to their dedication to providing quality care, the company’s Behavioral Health Resource Center was recently named the recipient of the prestigious 2011 Behavioral Health Pacesetter Award by The Annapolis Coalition on Behavioral Health Workforce in partnership with The Hitachi Foundation. The award acknowledges exemplary workforce practices in community-based behavioral health. Borinquen Health Care Center is dedicated to providing services to improve the quality of life of residents in the most medically underserved areas of the city. The new Carrie Meek Clinic will provide primary, dental, behavioral and health education services.

“Congresswoman Meek has been committed to providing affordable quality health care for Miami’s poor, uninsured and working class families,” said Velez. “Through her foundation, she worked closely with the developers of Villa Patricia Towers, Carlisle Development Group and Biscayne Housing Group, to have them provide the space and funding for the build-out of this clinic.”

The new health clinic was built on the ground floor of the affordable housing residence Villa Patricia Towers on the corner of NE 2nd Avenue and 78th Street. For the next two months, the clinic will be open two days a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) with a physician until July when it will open four days a week. The clinic will have one licensed physician on staff and plans to add an additional provider by fall. There will also be a registration staff, a phlebotomist and a medical assistant.

Congresswoman Carrie Meek, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003, was the first African-American elected to Congress from Florida since Reconstruction. Rep. Meek has dedicated her time and service to the community as a public servant, college administrator and educator. She has taken this lifelong dedication of working for others to found The Carrie Meek Foundation, a not for profit corporation which encourages investment and partnerships in the diverse urban inner-city neighborhoods of Miami-Dade County, improving the overall quality of life, and building a stronger community.


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Last Week, Wilson Hand-Delivered a Letter to President Obama Requesting Immediate Action on TPS

Wilson: “Today’s Announcement is Nothing Short of a Lifeline for Tens of Thousands of Haitians Living in the U.S., especially South Florida”
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-17), the representative of the largest concentration of Haitian Americans in Congress and a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today praised the Obama Administration and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano for granting her request for an extension and re-designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals. In a meeting at the White House last week, Congresswoman Wilson hand-delivered a letter to President Obama, signed by over 50 members of Congress, with this dual request.

The extension takes effect on July 23, 2011 and applies for an additional 18 months, through January 22, 2013. The extension applies to approximately 50,000 Haitian nationals living in the United States through TPS.
“Today’s announcement is nothing short of a lifeline for tens of thousands of Haitians living in the U.S., especially South Florida,” said Congresswoman Wilson. “Last year’s earthquake devastated Haiti and now is not the time to risk the lives of so many Haitians through deportation. I praise the Obama Administration and Secretary Napolitano for upholding its commitment to the people of Haiti and providing Haitians in the U.S. the sense of security and comfort they need and deserve.”

Additionally, Secretary Napolitano has re-designated Haiti for TPS to allow eligible Haitians who have continuously resided in the United States since January 12, 2011 to receive the protections of the policy.

Congresswoman Wilson recently returned from Haiti, where she had an opportunity to observe conditions on the ground, as well as meet with President Martelly and members of Parliament.

Haitians in the United States who are eligible to apply for TPS should go to www.uscis.gov/tps or call USCIS toll-free at 1-800-375-5283.



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If you're interested in buying a Habitat for Humanity home like the families you've seen on television, don't miss a Habitat Homeownership Informational Meeting scheduled for 9:30am - 11:00 am, Saturday, May 14, 2011. The meeting location is Hosanna Community Baptist Church, 2171 NW 56 Street, Miami, FL. You can find more information at http://www.miamihabitat.org/apply-home. Please note that children are not allowed at this meeting.



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Today is the regular election day for the city of North Miami. There is a contentious mayor's race, councilmen seats as well as the city clerk position to be decided. If there are no outright winners, then a runoff election is scheduled for May 31. Get out and vote.



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Miami, FL  – Whether it is recording music, hitting a homerun, improving reading skills, or performing in a play, parents will find dozens of unique summer camps for children of all ages at Miami Dade College (MDC) campuses throughout the county.

 

Below are some of MDC’s 2011 Summer Camps:  

 

Art Camp at North Campus

Young campers interested in drawing, painting, and multi-media work can start building their art portfolio in this hands-on arts camp for children ages 12-17. The camp will begin Monday, July 25, with an orientation at 8:30 a.m., and end Friday, August 12. The cost of the camp is $255. There is limited space available. For more information, please call 305-237-1019.

 

MDC Productions Camp at North Campus

An entertainment production camp designed for aspiring music artists, songwriters, and producers between the ages of 11-14, this camp will give students the opportunity to work on their craft via access to a state-of-the-art recording studio where they will compose, record and produce their own song, as well as choreograph a dance routine for their own music video. An orientation will be held the first day of camp at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 5, and will end Friday, July 22. The cost is $255. There is limited space available. For more information, please call 305-237-1019.

 

CSI Miami Camp at North Campus

Students ages 12-17 who want to major in the sciences in the future will get to experience what it takes to work as a professional CSI agent in the field. Spaces are filled on a first come, first serve basis. An orientation will be held the first day of camp at 8:30 a.m. beginning Monday, June 13, and will end Friday, July 1. The cost is $255. For more information, please call 305-237-1019.

 

LEGO ® Camp at North Campus

These are classes of exploration, problem solving, and risk-taking with a goal of learning and experimenting with how machines work using LEGO® kits. Students will learn a variety of concepts throughout this class, including basic engineering principles, gearing and gear ratios, electric motors and energy, problem solving, and communication skills. There are three different courses, each cost $153, and will be held on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The courses are:  Vehicle Engineering LEGO® Camp (Ages 8-12), beginning Monday, June 13, through Friday, June 17; Collision Cars LEGO® Camp (Ages 8-12) from Monday, June 20, through Friday, June 24; and Jr. Engineering 1 LEGO® Camp (Ages 8-12) from Monday, June 27, through Friday, July 1. For more information, please call 305-237-1019.

 

Airo Skills Camp at North Campus

Discipline, drive, footwork, agility, strength, and speed are needed to produce a healthy successful athlete. Open to children ages 8 to 14, this athletic skills camp is operated by former NFL athletes Sam Madison, Brian Walker, and others. The cost of the camp is $153 per week and will be held on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning Aug. 1-5; Aug. 8-12; and Aug. 15-19. A pre-and-post care session is available for an additional $25 per week. For more information, please call 305-237-1019.

 

Test Prep/SAT and ACT Boot Camp at North Campus

Students planning to take the SAT and/or the ACT can take this boot camp to prepare in one fell swoop for all aspects of these necessary college entrance exams. The camp will help students boost their scores with strategy exercises, methodologies, skill sets, and practice exams in math, reading, science, and verbal comprehension. Students will need to purchase the Barron’s ACT 15th edition book prior to the camp. The cost of the camp is $266 and will be held Monday, July 11, through Friday, July 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please call 305-237-1138.

 

Kids/Teen College at Kendall Campus 

A variety of exciting learning opportunities are offered for children ages 7-12 and teens 13-17 years old. The program begins Monday, June 13, and ends Friday, August 12. Each 15-hour course is a one-week session; each 30-hour course is a two-week session. The classes are held Monday through Friday, three hours each day. The cost for the camp is $110 (one-week class); $179 (two-week class); $289 (three-week class), and $29 for before and after care with lunch. For more information, please call 305-237-2976.  

 

Wild Things Happen at Kendall Campus

Children ages 5-11 will enjoy activities that include: computers, arts and crafts, reading for fun, pool activities, dancing, indoor games, field trips and more. The program begins Monday, June 13, and ends Friday, August 12. The cost is $153 and lunch/snack is included. For more information, please call 305-237-2161.

 

Rock Camp USA at Kendall Campus

Now in its 12th year, Rock Camp USA features intensive performance-oriented instruction given by some of the finest professional musicians in the country. Each camp is two weeks long and culminates with the young rockers giving a live performance in front of hundreds of people in their own concert. The cost of the camp is $595 and lunch is not included. For more information, please call 305-237-2976.

 

Latin Jazz Experience at Hammocks Middle School

Participants will get the chance to develop skills in jazz improvisation, music theory, and gain a better understanding of both traditional jazz and Latin Jazz styles. The campers will be able to make friends, perform in small groups and jam with some of Miami’s top jazz instructors. The following instruments are welcome: piano, bass, guitar, drums, woodwind, brass, strings. The cost is $185 and lunch is not included. For more information, please call 305-237-2976.

 

Soccer Summer Camp at Kendall Campus

The SunBlazer Team Camp will offer an environment for teams to be trained both technically and tactically in realistic game situations, such as team scrimmages. For more information, please call 305-237-2612.

 

Susan Summons MDC Motivational Summer Basketball Camp at Kendall Campus

A motivational summer basketball camp for boys and girls ages 6-17, taught by renowned MDC basketball coach Susan Summons. Participants will receive quality instruction in basketball fundamentals, live skills, and guidance on exercise and nutrition. The camp begins Monday, June 13, and ends Friday, June 17. The cost is $150 and includes one t-shirt. For more information, please call 305-237-2612.

 

Tennis Summer Camp at Kendall Campus

A unique combination of instruction, match play and physical conditioning highlights the Tennis Summer Camp. The program is geared toward children of all ability levels and combines exercises, drills, match play and loads of fun tennis and sporting activities. For more information, please call 305-237-2612.

 

All the camps will allow children and students to enjoy their summer vacation in a fun and safe environment. Fees are subject to change without notice and courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment. MDC will be closed Monday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day.

 

First Annual Legacy Gala guests adorned in floor length gowns and crisp tuxedos were greeted at their vehicles and escorted through the lush torch-lit gardens of the Ancient Spanish Monastery into the Cloisters where the soothing sounds of live Jazz music filled the air and set the mood for a dazzling evening soiree under the stars.

A bidding frenzy ensued in the Chapter House of the Monastery which was filled with graciously donated one of kind silent auction items including a piece painted live during the event by artist Anastasia the Great. Servers from Streeters Catering offered decadent hors d'oeuvres just before gourmet dinner was served to the seated guests.

First Annual Legacy Gala host Neki Mohan of WPLG Channel 10, welcomed the distinguished audience and introduced Dr. Janie Greenleaf, Cloisters Foundation President, to start the program.

The prominent biography of each of the First Annual Legacy Gala 2011 Honorees was read with care and conviction. The Honorable Myron Rosner, Mayor of the City of North Miami Beach, Mr. Michael J. Snyder, President of the Greater North Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Tony Lesesne, Co-founder of Lesesne Media Group and In Focus Magazine, and Dr. Dorothy Jenkins-Fields, Founder of the Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc. were celebrated for their legacies of leadership in the Miami-Dade Community.

First Annual Legacy Gala chair Suzanne Ferguson presented the Honorees with handmade award statues shipped in from Spain specifically for the occasion. Photographers swooned, the crowd roared with applause, and the family and friends of the Honorees beamed with pride.

Each Honoree humbly thanked their supporters and gave the viewers a little insight into why they enthusiastically do the community building work that they do. As the award section of the program concluded The Teen Board presented an expert fashion show displaying the looks of Couture Designer Juan Carlos Piniera and Sara Bigleman Designer for Heartache / KIDS fashions.

Jazz musician Jon Saxx played to the requests of the guests as the evening settled into night and guests danced under the moonlight. A spectacular evening of celebration, dinner and dancing indeed.

The Cloisters Foundation of The Ancient Spanish Monastery thanks the community for their support of the First Annual Legacy Gala which took place on the picturesque grounds of the historical designated Ancient Spanish Monastery in North Miami Beach on Saturday, April 9, 2011.

Kelliann McDonald, Legacy Gala PR Chair & Kevin Michael, INVIZIO Managing Partner stand along side handmade award statues shipped in from Spain specifically for 2011 Legacy Gala Honorees.


Cloisters Foundation President Dr. Janie Greenleaf, Legacy Gala Host Neki Mohan, and Legacy Gala Chair Suzanne Ferguson pose as Michael J. Snyder, President of the Greater North Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce accepts his award


North Miami Beach Mayor Myron Rosner accepts Legacy Gala award with his family by his side


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A forum for the Miami-Dade County Mayoral candidates is scheduled for 6:30 pm - 8 pm, Thursday, May 5, 2011 at Charles Hadley Park, 1350 NW 50 Street, Miami, FL 33142.

Each candidate will be given two minutes to introduce themselves then the floor will be opened for questions. The proposed charter amendments will also be explained.

To date, eight of the 11 candidates have agreed to attend. Spread the word about this important event to all Miami-Dade County residents.

ALL registered Miami-Dade County voters are eligible to participate in this election. Early voting starts May 9 and Election Day is May 24. "Put the power back in the hands of the People".

Forum hosts: Cheryl Kendrick, Janet Dixon and Alma Brown



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Miami, FL - On Saturday, May 7, 2011, The Overtown Music Project (OMP) will host a Gospel Brunch at Greater Bethel A.M.E. Church, 245 NW 8th Street, Miami, FL. The program is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will be followed immediately by a brunch catered by  Jackson Soul Food Restaurant.

Featured performers for the event include Jeanette and Philip Wright and Bobby Stringer.  Overtown was once  recognized as the epicenter and mecca of music in Miami .  Celebrities such as Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Cab Calloway, Josephine Baker, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Aretha Franklin and many other artists performed year round at the Sir John Hotel, Mary Elizabeth Hotel, the Lyric Theater and other Overtown establishments. A major tourist attraction, Overtown was truly a repository of Black culture and achievement.

OMP is a two year old non-profit organization that celebrates the music, history and spirit of Overtown. They are dedicated to the area’s rich history in music.  OMP shines a light on the different genres of music that once made Overtown's integrated nightclubs the rhythmic epicenter of musical Miami. Having created a series of successful events in the past that have attracted about 500 or more people, OMP is  in production on a documentary and is also working on the creation of a jazz and blues residency in Overtown.create opportunities for musicians who live in the area today with a blues and jazz residency.

OMP is hoping this event will also attract the community of Overtown as well as  people outside of the community and engage them bringing back the foot traffic into the Overtown area . Confirmed  program speakers include: Mayor Tomas Regalado, Commissioner Dunn,Commissioner Mark Sarnoff, Dorothy Fields, Antonia Williams-Gary, Irby McKnight, Miami Dade Mayoral Candidate Luther Campbell, Dave Lawrence, DJ Le Spam, Carmel Ophir, Ali Codina and Ruth Shack. The event is expected to attract over 800 people. Admission to the event is free for Overtown residents and $25 for general admission.

For more information about the Overtown Music Project, contact: Amy Rosenberg at 305.610.891 or visit their website at www.overtownmusicproject.org.