• Featured Guest Speaker; "Teach the Truth" Documentary Screening and Q&A | First Star University of Miami Academy (July 2024)
• Featured Guest Speaker; "Learning Challenges and Inclusivity" Training Session | First Star University of Miami Academy (June 2024)
• Featured Guest Speaker; "Teach the Truth" Documentary Screening and Talkback | URGENT Inc. (June 2024)
• Student Lobbyist; "Afterschool for All Challenge" Lobbying Initiative | Afterschool Alliance (June 2024)
• Featured Guest Speaker and Presenter; "Power of the Purse" Annual Event | The Women's Fund Miami-Dade (April 2024)
• Featured Panelist; IMPACT Edition Magazine's March 2024 Issue Release Party | Impact Magazine (March 2024)
• Featured Panelist; “Amplifying Youth Voices: STEM Experiences and Perspectives" Panel Session | The National Girls Collaborative Project (March 2024)
• Featured Co-Presenter; “Learning Challenges and Inclusivity" Training Session | Alliance for Camp Health (February 2024)
• Lead Moderator; “Teens as Teachers: Teen Summit” | Perez Art Museum Miami, Teen Arts Council (January 2024) 
• Panelist; “Building Better Together Through Business, Activism, and Climate Mental Health” Event Discussion | Florida For Good Miami (October 2023)
• Featured Panelist; “Youth Voice: How to Listen and Lift” Session | Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program 2023 Summer Symposium (July 2023)
• Session Speaker; “Learning Challenges and Inclusivity” Workshop | National Summer Learning Association, National Youth Leadership Institute (July 2023)
• Session Moderator; “Let the Youth Decide: Centering Youth Voice, Cultivating Changemakers” Workshop | Million Girls Moonshot "Flight Crew", “Girls Build Solutions” Conference (June 2023)
• Featured Panelist; “Sheroes of the Ocean” Session | World Ocean Celebration Weekend (June 2023)
• Featured Guest Speaker; “Youth Voices” Session | Florida State After School Summer Symposium (April 2023)
• Event Facilitator; “Teens as Teachers: Teen Summit” | Perez Art Museum Miami, Teen Arts Council (April 2023)
• Featured Guest Speaker; “How To Use Social Media For Advocacy” Presentation | City of Houston Mayor's Office for Education and Youth Engagement, Out 2 Learn’s "Youth Leaders Project" (February 2023)
• Presenter and Panelist; "Engage Every Student" Webinar | U.S. Department of Education, Afterschool and Summer Learning Programs Initiative (January 2023)
• Featured Guest Speaker; "Youth Voice and Agency" Webinar | FHI 360, AnLar and National Institute for Work and Learning (December 2022)
• Featured Speaker; "Youth Leadership" Training Module | Project RISE (October 2022)
• Presenter and Session Panelist; “Summer Changes Everything” Conference | National Summer Learning Association (October 2022)

Asked to screen my "Teach the Truth" documentary to the students of the First Star University of Miami Academy by the organization's Co-Founder, Kele Marcia Stewart. I also shared my experience of making the film and the honor of receiving the Princeton Prize in Race Relations "Certification of Accomplishment" for my efforts.

First Star University of Miami Academy is a holistic college prep program for youth impacted by the child welfare system. The goal of the academy is to keep youth on track for high school graduation and prepare them for higher education and adulthood.

To learn more about First Star University of Miami Academy, visit the link below:

https://www.law.miami.edu/academics/experiential-learning/clinics/children-and-youth/first-star-academy/
 

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Invited to present a "Learning Challenges and Inclusivity" training session to the faculty members of the First Star University of Miami Academy. I shared my experience of being a neurodivergent thinker with dyslexia and dyscalculia, as well as spoke about the importance of including nontraditional teaching methods to engage all types of learners.

First Star University of Miami Academy is a holistic college prep program for youth impacted by the child welfare system. The goal of the academy is to keep youth on track for high school graduation and prepare them for higher education and adulthood.

To learn more about First Star University of Miami Academy, visit the link below:

https://www.law.miami.edu/academics/experiential-learning/clinics/children-and-youth/first-star-academy/
 

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Asked by URGENT Inc. to attend a session of their Summer Film Institute and speak to the students about my experience filming my "Teach the Truth Tour with Dr. Marvin Dunn: Learning From The Acts Of Racial Terror In Florida’s Black History” documentary.

During the Q&A, the students also wanted to know about the Princeton Prize in Race Relations "Certificate of Accomplishment" award I won for the film.

URGENT Inc. is a creative youth development organization that utilizes an asset-based approach to help young people uncover and cultivate their unique talents and skills. Through its innovative programs in digital media arts education, positive youth development, and STEAM career-connected learning, the organization recognizes and builds upon the diverse strengths and assets of young people.

To learn more about URGENT Inc., visit the link below:

https://www.urgentinc.org/
 

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Selected to represent the Afterschool Alliance's National Youth Ambassador Program during the organization's "Afterschool for All Challenge" lobbying initiative that occurred in Washington, DC.

In just one day, student leaders - like myself - from all over the country converged on the nation's capital and participated in 130 meetings with Congressional offices, while 600 supporters called from home, all urging members of Congress to sustain vital investments in afterschool programs.

During our visits, I provided testimony about my involvement in numerous local and national afterschool and summer learning programs that helped me develop critical personal, academic, and professional skill sets.

The Afterschool Alliance works to ensure that all youth have access to affordable, quality afterschool programs by engaging the public and increasing public and private investment in afterschool program initiatives at the national, state, and local levels.

To learn more about the Afterschool Alliance, visit the link below:

https://www.afterschoolalliance.org/
 

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Honored to receive a special invitation by The Women's Fund Miami-Dade's Executive Director, Marya Meyer, to join the list of distinguished featured Guest Speakers and Presenters at the “Power of the Purse” event, which was held at the beautiful Hilton Miami Downtown on April 26th.

The annual networking and fundraising event attracts some 1,000 “Who’s Who” female leaders, philanthropists, and game-changers throughout South Florida.

The mission of The Women’s Fund is to create positive change for women and girls through advocacy, investment, research, and collective impact. The organization envisions a Miami-Dade County where power and possibility are not limited by gender.

To learn more about The Women's Fund Miami-Dade, visit the link below:

https://womensfundmiami.org/
 

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IMPACT Edition Magazine hosted a release party and panel discussion at the Moonlighter FabLab in Miami Beach to celebrate their March 2024 issue.

I was honored to be one of the guest panelists who appeared in the special spotlight issue of the magazine that featured articles on Miami's most vocal advocates for change and progress in various areas impacting our city. My fellow Ransom Everglades Upper School classmate, Will Charouhis, and I are featured on the magazine's cover for their "Why Not Us?" article, which highlights our acts of environmental activism as leading Miami youth advocates.

The event began with a warm greeting from Yulia Strokova, IMPACT Edition's Founder and Publisher, followed by a panel discussion moderated by IMPACT Edition's Editor-in-Chief, Samantha Schalit. During the panel discussion, I spoke about my active involvement in the Miami Waterkeeper Junior Ambassador Program (JA), working closely with Executive Director, Rachel Silverstein and the Education and Outreach Director, Erin Cover, on local clean-up initiatives, clean water legislative advocacy, and environmental educational programming for my three years as a JA member and the Social Media Coordinator.

IMPACT Edition is a Miami-based nonprofit publication dedicated to sustainable development and collective impact, with a mission to elevate the voices of local changemakers advancing social and climate justice in the communities within South Florida.

To learn more about Miami Waterkeeper, visit the link below:

https://www.miamiwaterkeeper.org/
 

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Had the honor of being selected as one of the five youth panelists featured for a virtual session titled "Amplifying Youth Voices: STEM Experiences and Perspectives" during Day 1 of the National Girls Collaborative Project's 2024 Collaboration Institute.

As 2024 STEM Youth Advisory Board members for the National Girls Collaborative Project, each of the panelists provided the session attendees important insights into the types of activities in which STEM girls are participating and the reason why and best practices for encouraging girls to pursue STEM careers as well as strategies for helping girls balance academics and extracurricular activities to benefit their mental wellness.

The National Girls Collaborative Project believes STEM skills can be acquired by anyone, and fostered in everyone. Its initiatives build confidence and create a community of “lifelong STEM activators.” Through the power of collaboration, the organization sparks curiosity and develops a passion for STEM, as well as strengthens the capacity of programs by producing and sharing exemplary practices, research, and program models.

To learn more about the National Girls Collaborative Project, visit the link below:

https://www.ngcproject.org/

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Invited to be the Co-Presenter for an hour-long virtual training session for educational facilitators from across the country attending the Alliance Camp Health 2024 Annual Symposium.

The training session was developed by my fellow Co-Presenter, Zach Rosen, and I. It focused on detailing the importance of creating inclusive learning environments for a variety of different types of learners. We began the session by defining neurodivergency and then explained how it impacts the manner in which various classifications of neurodivergent thinkers - specifically those with ADHA, dyslexia, and dyscalculia - process educational material.

The session also included activities for the attendees to perform, which simulated the challenges faced by some neurodivergent thinkers. Zach and I concluded by providing examples for creating non-traditional learning environments that engage a variety of learning styles.

Serving the three distinct communities of nurses and healthcare providers, behavioral health specialists, and camp directors and administrators, the Alliance for Camp Health serves as the knowledge center for camp health services. The organization prepares healthcare providers, behavioral health specialists, and camp leaders to address the well-being of youth and young adults in out-of-school learning environments.

To learn more about the Alliance for Camp Health, visit the links below:

https://allianceforcamphealth.org/   

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The Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) and Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (MOCA) co-hosted the “Teens as Teachers: Teen Summit” at PAMM on January 19th.

As a member of the Pérez Art Museum Miami Teen Arts Council, I was selected to serve as the Lead Monitor for the event, which focused on learning how young people nurture their creativity and elevate their voices through teen programs at local museums and community organizations.

In my role, I was tasked with welcoming the gathered audience of South Florida youth and educators to PAMM and introduced each of the teen ambassadors, who spoke about their various after-school and summer learning programs. After the presentation, all of the attendees were provided with the opportunity to create art in an intergenerational space.

To learn more about the Pérez Art Museum Miami and the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, visit the links below:

https://www.pamm.org/en/ | https://www.mocanomi.org/    

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Had the honor of being a member of an amazing panel at the “Building Better Together Through Business, Activism, and Climate Mental Health” event sponsored by Florida For Good Miami during the VoLo Foundation Florida Climate Week (October 2-8) at the Future of Cities Innovation Hub in Little Haiti.

The event brought together purpose-driven business leaders, activists, and mental wellness professionals to explore how collaboration and community-building can lead the way to a more climate-resilient future.

The evening began with a screening of 'Gen Z Mental Health: Climate Stories' by Stranded Astronaut Productions and was then followed by an engaging panel discussion.

The panel included me, Sarahi Perez (The CLEO Institute, Lead Organizer), Miren Oca (B Corp Ocaquatics Swim School, Founder), Jaime Salm (B Corp MIO Culture, Co-Founder, Sustainability Consultant and Creative Director), E. Katia Moritz, Ph.D., ABPP (Neurobehavioral Institute, Co-Founder and Chief Clinical Officer, Institute Licensed Psychologist) and was moderated by Sirena del Mar Andras (B Corp Creative Chi, Found and Creative Director).

This event was a huge success and emblematic of what can be achieved when community stakeholders - businesses, activists, and mental wellness professionals - synergistically come together to address our climate crisis.

The mission of Florida for Good Miami is to serve Florida as an ally and resource for the advancement of impact-driven business, facilitate the spread of Certified B Corporations in the state, and educate both consumers and companies on the importance of supporting and adopting a values-driven approach within the corporate ecosystem.

To learn more about the Florida For Good Miami, visit the link below:

https://floridaforgood.com/ffgm/
 

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Chosen to represent the Afterschool Alliance Youth Ambassador Program and the Million Girls Moonshot Program as a panelist for the “Youth Voice: How to Listen and Lift” session at the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program 2023 Summer Symposium held in New Orleans.

The session allowed the attendees to hear about the "do’s" and "don'ts" of youth voice work and how including strategic partners in programming can strengthen the work of youth organizations as well as enhance youth experiences.

I was joined by fellow student leader panelist, Kaiya Dixon, and the session moderators were Veronica Gonzales (Communications Director, STEM Next Opportunity Fund) and Leah Silverberg (Project Manager, Afterschool Alliance).

The Afterschool Alliance National Youth Ambassador Program works to ensure that all youth have access to affordable, quality afterschool programs by engaging the public and increasing public and private investment in afterschool program initiatives at the national, state, and local levels.

The Million Girls Moonshot Program is an organization dedicated to strengthening STEM learning through efforts to build knowledge, systems, and capacity in the field through strategic investments designed to help education leaders, policymakers, and funders understand how to effectively build the STEM learning field.

To learn more about the Afterschool Alliance National Youth Ambassador Program and the Million Girls Moonshot Program, visit the links below:

http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/youth-voices.cfm | https://www.milliongirlsmoonshot.org/
 

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As a designated Counselor-in-Training for the National Summer Learning Association’s “National Youth Leadership Institute” held in Washington, DC on the campus of American University during National Summer Learning Week (July 10-14), I was provided the opportunity to co-lead a training workshop session titled “Learning Challenges and Inclusivity”. As a student who works diligently each day to overcome my own challenges with dyslexia (difficulty with reading or interpreting words, letters, and other symbols) and dyscalculia (a learning disability in math), this topic is important to me.

This interactive workshop, designed for educators and after-school program coordinators, discussed the various types of learning challenges that some youth must overcome during educational programming as well as provided tips on how to create more inclusive learning environments for all youth program participants.

The National Summer Learning Association works to ensure all of America’s students, regardless of background, income, or zip code, can access and benefit from a high-quality summer learning experience every year.

To learn more about the National Summer Learning Association, visit the link below:

https://www.summerlearning.org/

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On the last day of the Million Girls Moonshot “Girls Build Solutions” Conference sponsored by the STEM Next Opportunity Fund in Atlanta, I was honored to represent the 2023 National Flight Crew and moderated the “Let the Youth Decide: Centering Youth Voice, Cultivating Changemakers” workshop for the gathered audience of STEM industry advocates and professionals.

I guided the hour-long conversation with the featured panelists on how those in the industry can support providers in designing STEM programs and activities that amplify youth voices and place them in the driver’s seat of their learning.

The Million Girls Moonshot Program is an organization dedicated to strengthening STEM learning through efforts to build knowledge, systems, and capacity in the field through strategic investments designed to help education leaders, policymakers, and funders understand how to effectively build the STEM learning field.

To learn more about the Million Girls Moonshot Program, visit the link below:

https://www.milliongirlsmoonshot.org/

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During World Ocean Celebration Weekend in Miami Beach, FL - sponsored by ARTSail, Blue Scholars Initiative and other organizations - I was excited to be one of the all-female panelists on the ”Sheroes of the Ocean” session held at the W South Beach Hotel.

I represented the Miami Waterkeeper Junior Ambassador Program and was joined fellow panelists Linda Chung (Before it’s Too Late), Carlee Monique Jackson Bohannon (Minorities in Shark Science), Jennifer Jaquet (Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science), Rumya Sundaram (Key Biscayne Community Foundation), and session moderator Ombretta Agró Andruff (ARTSail).

This exciting panel was brought together to draw attention to the powerful environmental advocacy of women throughout Florida, from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities, who are making positive waves in the state and beyond.

To learn more about the World Ocean Celebration Weekend, visit the link below:

https://bluescholars.org/events/world-ocean-weekend-celebration-mrnyw

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Selected as one of three featured high school students from across Florida to be a panelist for the “Youth Voices” session at the annual Florida State After School Summer Symposium held in Orlando, Florida. The three-day event was attended by state educators, after-school program facilitators and community leaders.

As a panelist for the session, I was asked to speak about my after-school programs and how these experiences have provided me with valuable academic and professional development opportunities.

Additionally, I was able to provide the attendees with my feedback on best practices for designing impactful after-school program experiences for Florida youth.

Florida After School believes that all children and youth should have high-quality out-of-school time opportunities that inspire them to change the world. To do this, it takes high-quality programs and professionals in our local communities supported by a strong network of advocates across the state and Florida After School provides that support.

To learn more about Florida After School, Inc, visit the link below:

https://floridaafterschool.org/index.php

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The Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) and Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (MOCA) co-hosted the “Teens as Teachers: Teen Summit” at PAMM on April 7th.

As a member of the Pérez Art Museum Miami Teen Arts Council, I was selected to serve as the Lead Moderator for the event, which focused on learning how young people nurture their creativity and elevate their voices through teen programs at local museums and community organizations.

In my role, I was tasked with welcoming the gathered audience of South Florida youth and educators to PAMM and introduced each of the teen ambassadors, who spoke about their various after-school and summer learning programs. After the presentation, all of the attendees were provided with the opportunity to create art in an intergenerational space.

To learn more about the Pérez Art Museum Miami and the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, visit the links below:

https://www.pamm.org/en/ | https://www.mocanomi.org/    

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I was honored to be invited by the City of Houston Mayor's Office for Education and Youth Engagement to be the featured guest speaker at the launch of their new Out 2 Learn’s "Youth Leaders Project", an initiative for local middle and high school students from the Houston area.

I was asked to discuss the importance of students advocating for their own future success - particularly their STEM-related goals - as well as advocating on behalf of their current after-school, out-of-school-time, and/or summer learning programs. Additionally, I provided “best practices” in developing a social media profile that serves as an effective tool for building an extensive professional network and highlighting skill sets for scholarships and employment opportunities.

My presentation concluded with a Q&A that allowed the attending Youth Leaders Project members to have the chance to ask questions about how I create my social media posts in addition to finding out more about my personal, academic, and professional backgrounds.

To learn more about the City of Houston Mayor's Office for Education and Youth Engagement, visit the link below:

https://www.houstontx.gov/education/

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Selected as one of five student leader representatives from across the country to participate in the "Engage Every Student" program webinar, hosted by the U.S. Department of Education, I served as both a presenter and panelist during the online event.

Additionally, I was given the honor and privilege of introducing the event's featured guest speaker, U.S. Department of Education Secretary Dr. Miguel A. Cardona, to the event attendees, which included program providers, state and city leaders, school district leaders, and advocates from across the country.

The "Engage Every Student" initiative is a bold new call to action to provide high-quality out-of-school time learning opportunities for every child who wants to participate. It affirms that all students should have the various supports needed to realize their full potential. Afterschool and summer learning programs are a critical part of that support.

The U.S. Department of Education has partnered with the Afterschool Alliance, the School Superintendents Association, the National League of Cities, the National Summer Learning Association, and the National Comprehensive Center to provide schools and communities the connections and assistance they may need to expand access to afterschool and summer learning programs.

In my role as one of the featured student panelists, I represented the Afterschool Alliance and Breakthrough Miami after-school and summer learning programs, respectively. 

I was also asked to give insights on my afterschool and summer learning experiences and describe how these programs have helped develop my leadership skills as well as how they have influenced my academic goals and future career aspirations. My comments helped to provide the event attendees with background and context for establishing "best practices" guidelines for developing impactful youth engagement opportunities.

To learn more about the U.S. Department of Education's "Engage Every Student" Initiative, visit the link below:

https://engageeverystudent.org/

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Invited to be the featured guest speaker for a webinar training session titled “Youth Voice and Agency” as part of a “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Community of Practice” meeting.

The virtual meeting moderators were Amy Detgen and Dr. Marcia Sobers - from FHI 360 - and included DEI professionals from across the country.

The discussion was an in-depth conversation about my personal experiences as a student leader and my active participation in numerous afterschool programs. I provided my thoughts on ways in which youth-based organizations can apply best practices in utilizing youth voice and agency for the purposes of creating engaging programming, providing essential skills development, and developing impactful advocacy initiatives.

To learn more about AnLar and FHI 360, visit the links below:

https://anlar.com/ | https://www.fhi360.org/

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Selected to represent Breakthrough Miami and participate along with two other selected student leaders from Miami-Dade County in a new training module developed by Project RISE at Nova Southeastern University.

Project RISE is a quality improvement initiative funded by The Children's Trust of Miami-Dade County and is designed to help Trust-funded Youth Development agencies raise their quality of care to meet the health and safety, academic, and social-emotional needs of the youth they serve.

Project RISE trains program coordinators and facilitators on the “best practices” to utilize in their youth development instructional activities and events by developing curriculum modules that certify these individuals' mastery of the fundamental core competencies to perform effective youth development.

My participation in this training curriculum module involved an extensive interview that provided in-depth background on my numerous afterschool program activities and how the leadership opportunities afforded me by these programs have helped me in my academic pursuits, community service, and professional activities.

To learn more about Project RISE, visit the link below:

https://www.nova.edu/projectrise/about.html

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Selected to serve as a summer learning student leader session panelist and event presenter at the “Summer Changes Everything” Conference hosted by the National Summer Learning Association at the historic Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC (October 24-26th).

I was honored to have the opportunity to represent Breakthrough Miami and share my experiences with high-quality summer learning programs with a national audience of more than 1000+ cross-sector leaders as well as discuss the important impact programs - like Breakthrough Miami and others - have on the overall personal, academic, and professional development of students, particularly those from underserved communities.

The National Summer Learning Association works to ensure all of America’s students, regardless of background, income, or zip code, can access and benefit from a high-quality summer learning experience every year.

To learn more about the National Summer Learning Association, visit the link below:

https://www.summerlearning.org/

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