Miami Bridge Youth & Family Services, Inc.
Miami-Dade County's only emergency home for youth in crisis

Monthly Electronic Newsletter
February 2019 
GO BEHIND THE SCENES OF HILL DAY WITH MIAMI BRIDGE
The Miami Bridge team is currently in Tallahassee meeting with state legislators to inform and solicit support for the organization's first official bill-Host Homes! Thank you to our state senators and representatives for taking the time out of their busy schedules to share their thoughts and support for our mission and future vision with CEO, Dr. Dorcas Wilcox. We are also incredibly grateful for GrayRobinson's constant advocacy and professionalism as we navigate through the legislative process. We are here to create a better tomorrow for today's kids! 
MEET OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBERS
EDWIN RODRIGUEZ

VP Business Banking, TD Bank

What inspires you most about Miami Bridge?

" I will be forever grateful for belonging to an organization that affects in such a positive way the life of others. It is a total blessing."
MELANIE SANCHEZ

VP Commercial Banker, BB&T

What inspires you most about Miami Bridge?

"I'm most inspired by the fact that by helping children, Miami Bridge is creating a better tomorrow."
STEVEN J. LEZMAN

Senior Director Government Affairs, PepsiCo, Inc.

What inspires you most about Miami Bridge?

“I was immediately impressed with the passionate and professional Miami Bridge staff and their cheerful attitude as they help kids in crisis.”

TICKETS AND SPONSORSHIPS ARE GOING FAST!
JOIN US FOR "POSEIDON'S NIGHT: RISING FROM THE DEPTHS"
PRESENTED BY RYDER SYSTEM, INC.
ACTIVITY RECAP
MIAMI BRIDGE ALUMNI HOSTS GROUNDS BEAUTIFICATION AT MIAMI BRIDGE-HOMESTEAD THANKS TO FIU GRANT
A former foster child who grew up in the “system,” Alecia Rodriguez returned to Miami Bridge, where she once frequented to help beautify the grounds with the help of her nonprofit, Sadie’s Kids, along with volunteers from local South Florida organizations. The event took place at our Homestead campus on Saturday, February 16.

The Miami Bridge grounds beautification project was funded by Florida International University’s (FIU) Global Civic Engagement Mini Grant in partnership with Sadie’s Kids; Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Science of South Florida (MANRRS SoFlo); and The Mission Continues. Volunteers, along with kids being served by Miami Bridge, spent the day planting trees, clearing debris and restoring the outdoor area of the youth shelter.

THANK YOU TO ALECIA AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS INVOLVED FOR BEAUTIFYING OUR HOMESTEAD CAMPUS!
MDC CARES!
January's  #MDCCares  community event at Miami Bridge's Miami central campus was a total success. Thank you to the groups and organizations that helped provide valuable resources to our most at-risk population. Many thanks to the MDC Student Government Association, Capital One, University of Miami- Infectious Diseases Clinic, Genesis Hopeful Haven,  South Florida Educational Federal Credit Union Beauty Schools of America , Youth Source Florida Workforce,  Florida Department of Health (DOH) Florida KidCare Miami-Dade Public Library System  and special recognition to  The Alliance LGBTQ site  and the  FIU Center for Children and Families !

MIAMI BRIDGE STAFF CELEBRATES THE START OF PRIDE MONTHS
On Sunday, February 17, 2019, Miami Bridge opened up  Pride Months in support of our LGBTQ program by hosting a staff outing at the Palace on Ocean Drive in South Beach! It was a wonderful way to celebrate our team and their incredible efforts to provide a safe and stable environment for at-risk LGBTQ youth, as well as their initiative to help empower this population and promote dialogue, wellness and foster social change!
SHINE A LIGHT ON SLAVERY DAY 2019
Our Bridge Kids at our Miami and Homestead shelters joined the END IT Movement on S hine a Light on Slavery Day , this past February 7th,  and helped raise awareness about the fight to end human trafficking. By drawing an "X" on their hands, our youth plastered their message of freedom throughout social media. 
100-DAY CHALLENGE TO END YOUTH HOMELESSNESS
Hard at work in the think tank. Proud to collaborate with  Miami Homes For All  for their  100-day challenge on youth homelessness ! This group is working so hard to come up with innovative breakthroughs to fight the housing instability problem that hundreds of kids and teens are facing in South Florida.
READ ABOUT WHAT MIAMI BRIDGE IS DOING TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN QUALITY STAFF
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THANK YOU TO OUR AMBASSADORS!