• 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)

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.

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

https://floridaforgood.com/ffgm/
 

- BACK TO TOP -

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).

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

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

- BACK TO TOP -

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.

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

https://www.summerlearning.org/

- BACK TO TOP -

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.

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

https://www.milliongirlsmoonshot.org/

- BACK TO TOP -

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 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

- BACK TO TOP -

I was 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.

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

https://floridaafterschool.org/index.php

- BACK TO TOP -

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 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.

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/    

- BACK TO TOP -

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 opportunities 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” on how to effectively use social media in an advocacy capacity for their own interests as well as those of the organizations they represent.

My presentation concluded with a Q&A that allowed the attending Youth Leaders Project members to have the opportunity 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/

- BACK TO TOP -

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/

- BACK TO TOP -

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/

- BACK TO TOP -

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

- BACK TO TOP -

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.

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

https://www.summerlearning.org/

- BACK TO TOP -