community

Meet Jessica Bakeman, founder of We Met in Miami

📷 Photography by Serena Perez Hi, Jessica! Who are you and what do you do here in town? I am a local journalist, a salsa dancer, a choir singer, a weightlifter, a libra, and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Professionally, I oversee investigations and longform audio storytelling projects like podcasts and documentaries for WLRN, […]

/ March 18, 2024


Meet MBCC Chairman Richard I. Segal

📷 Photo courtesy of Richard I. Segal Hello, Richard! Tell us a little about who you are and what keeps you busy. I am an attorney and a third-generation Miami Beach native (born at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach) with deep roots in the Miami community. After over 10 years of commitment as a […]

/ March 11, 2024


Meet Rosemary Carrera, founder of 305 Pink Pack

📷 Photo courtesy of Rosemary Carrera Hi, Rosemary! Who are you? What do you do? I’m the Founder and Executive Director of 305 Pink Pack, a non-profit that I started after going through breast cancer treatment to help local women who have been diagnosed with cancer. I love what I do because I have the […]

/ March 4, 2024


Meet Madi Paez, co-founder of GI 305

📷 Photo courtesy of Madi Paez Hiya, Madi. What is it that you do here in Miami? I am a co-founder of GI 305, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster social and economic empowerment for the residents and workforce of Miami. We achieve this through a permanent guaranteed income program and grassroots organizing […]

/ February 26, 2024


Meet Leticia Pollock, co-founder of Panther Coffee

📷 Photo courtesy of Panther Coffee Hi, Leticia! Who are you and what do you do? I’m mostly known for co-founding Panther Coffee, where we focus on directly sourcing, roasting, distributing, and preparing some of the best coffees in the world. I was born and raised in Brazil, where I started my career working with […]

/ February 20, 2024


Meet Calvin Early, founder of The Poetry Potluck

📸 Photo courtesy of Calvin Early Hi, Calvin! Who are you? What do you do? I’m a dedicated advocate for community, communication, and culture with a superhero’s appetite for positive change. I have nearly two decades of experience in arts-based education and public speaking. I’ve become an internationally recognized figure and am best known for […]

/ February 12, 2024


Meet Christopher Norwood, founder of Hampton Art Lovers

📷 Photo courtesy of Christopher Norwood Hello, Christopher. Who are you? What do you do? I am the founder and curator of Hampton Art Lovers at the Historic Ward Rooming House Gallery. What neighborhood(s) are you reppin’? Overtown, Miami Lakes, and Brick City (Newark, NJ). What brings you most alive about the 305? Art and […]

/ February 5, 2024


Meet GroundUP’s Paul Lehr

📸 Photography by Brett Hufziger Greetings, Paul. Who are you? What do you do? I am currently the CEO of GroundUP Music Foundation and GroundUP Music Festival, and before that, I was CEO of YoungArts (I was super proud to help transform YoungArts, acquire the spectacular Bacardi campus, and collaborate and create programs with so […]

/ January 29, 2024


Meet Girl Scout Savannah S.

📸 Photo by Carina Mask Hi Savannah, what level of Girl Scouting are you in and what neighborhood do you call home? I’m a Senior level Girl Scout in Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida Troop 1832 and my neighborhood is The Falls. How did you sell 4,360 boxes to become last year’s Top Cookie Seller? […]

/ January 22, 2024


Meet Networking Maverick Lauren Marsicano, Esq.

📸 Photography by Rodolfo Benitez Hi Lauren! Who are you? What do you do? I am a business law attorney and co-founding partner of Miami-based boutique law firm Marsicano + Leyva PLLC and previously worked with global Fortune 100 companies like Bank of America and Ryder. Outside of my law firm, I created the Networking […]

/ January 16, 2024