Miami Bridge Youth & Family Services, Inc.
Miami-Dade County's only 24/7 temporary home for youth in crisis

Monthly Electronic Newsletter
March 2018 
GET TO KNOW OUR BOARD MEMBERS
Marlene Quintana, President

“Our kids are who they are because of our phenomenal staff, and they leave these walls better because of them. The sky’s the limit for our youth; Miami Bridge just makes them realize this truth.”
 
Marlene Quintana is a partner and attorney with Gray Robinson representing private and public sector employers in both labor and employment law matters.   She is recognized as an extremely effective labor and employment attorney and mediator, and has spent countless hours in advancing causes important to her local community. More than a decade ago, she launched the Cuban American Bar Association’s (CABA) first mentoring program and later served as president of CABA in 2008.

Currently, she serves as President of Miami Bridge. Marlene has also reached out to the community to assist a particular child or family in need a number of times during her service to the organization. Through her assistance, Miami Bridge was able to send a youth to Rice University’s Law School in Houston, TX for a week-long seminar in 2015. This youth, who had never traveled out of Florida, graduated from high school this year and was given a full scholarship to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee.

THANK YOU MARLENE FOR DEDICATING YOUR WORK TO BUILDING A BETTER TOMORROW FOR TODAY'S YOUTH!
ENCHANTED NIGHTS GALA 2018

Enchanted Nights Gala, presented by Ryder System, Inc. is unlike any other event. Attend our great and fun interactive cocktail party with lavish cuisine and unforgettable experiences. This gathering of Miami Bridge supporters and prominent community partners allows our organization to keep providing shelter, counseling, mentoring and necessities to South Florida’s neglected and abandoned youth.

Our annual fundraiser will take place at the Coral Gables Country Club on Saturday, April 14, 2018 and will be an exciting evening sure to impress, enchant and delight.

EAGLE SCOUTS GIVE MIAMI BRIDGE’S HOMESTEAD CAMPUS AN OUTDOOR MAKEOVER
Our Homestead campus received an outdoor makeover thanks to Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout Troop #457. This troop is chartered through  Kendall United Methodist Church and serves the Pinecrest Village and the surrounding communities in Miami, Florida. Through the scouting program they maintain a fun, safe environment that teaches their scouts the values and morals they need to become outstanding citizens in our community and nation .


Homestead endured tremendous outdoor damage after Hurricane Irma. We are very grateful to all the community volunteers who continue to lend a helping hand. Thank you Eagle Scout Troop #457 for giving our yard a face-lift and creating a fun environment for our local youth and families.
BRIDGE KIDS TOUR FIU’S STATE OF THE ART 3-D PRINTING LAB
Miami Bridge got a chance to tour the Florida International University’s 3-D printing lab! Our youth had an amazing time learning about architecture, 3-D printing and design work. Both staff and kids walked away learning something new that afternoon! Thank you to the FIU School of Architecture, Alfred Karram Jr, AKJ Design Concepts LLC, and S&S Global Corporation for the opportunity to learn more about this wonderful profession and the tools offered by FIU.
MIAMI BRIDGE ATTENDS THE ATLANTIC’S SCHOOL ACROSS AMERICA MIAMI EVENT
In the School Across America series, The Atlantic is examining how individual communities are grappling with the national challenges of rising inequality and a changing economy. In Miami, they brought together local teachers, policymakers, students and advocates to explore the next steps for building a more equitable and effective education system. What a great experience it was to open dialogue about these important issues!

LA LUCHI FOUNDATION BRINGS M.E. TIME TO MIAMI BRIDGE
Thank you to the La Luchi Foundation  for bringing much needed ME (Mindful Education) Time to our youth. Thank you to the organization and their volunteers for opening the doors to a wealth of productive and educational activities to our shelters ! Now more than ever it is crucial for our kids to learn positive ways to express themselves and be in a mindful state of mind.
BIKERS AGAINST CHILD ABUSE VISITS MIAMI BRIDGE CAMPUS
Bikers Against Child Abuse stopped by our Miami Central Campus this month and shared with us their organization’s mission to create a safer environment for abused children. B.A.C.A exists as a body of bikers to empower children to not feel afraid of the world in which they live. It is such a pleasure to meet with like-minded community partners dedicated to building a brighter tomorrow for today’s youth!
What a treat! A giant thank you to Love on the Streets and Biscayne Neighborhoods Association for hosting a lovely dinner for our youth at Wynwood Diner this month! BNA Edgewater, Andres Althabe and Sue Nelson participated with Officer James Bernat of City of Miami Shelter Program along with Assistant Chief Jackson. Great fun and food for everyone !!
Miami Bridge joined United Way Miami to celebrate Publix Appreciation Day on February 23rd. Our Director of Philanthropy, Marlys Johnson, and Human Resources Director, Lina Aguirre, had a blast visiting local Publix supermarkets, thanking the managers and team members for all they do to support our community and local nonprofits! 
We encourage our community to volunteer and participate with our youth. Any assistance can make a difference in a child's life.
 
Here are ways you can help:
We are partnering with N. I. Kouture Jewelry for the holiday season. Not only can you take care of your holiday shopping but also support us in the process. For each gift purchased, we receive a 25% donation from each N. I. Kouture piece.

You must enter the coupon code: miamibridge