Today we’re continuing our series on the people who make what we do possible — our supporting members. ❤️ Today we’re featuring South Beach’s own David C.
Where in town might people run into you? Considering I work from home, there is a 90 percent chance you will find me somewhere on South Beach. If I’m not walking my dog along West Avenue or South Pointe Park, then I might be on Lincoln Road drinking a beer at Zeke’s, catching a sunset at Monty’s, or jogging with my wife on the beach. If I’m not at any of those places, or at home working, then there’s a good chance I’m out fishing.
What local business do you think deserves a shoutout? Zeke’s!! I’ve lived on the beach since 2004, so I’ve seen a lot of businesses come and go. When Zeke’s came back recently after a 10-ish year hiatus, I started going back to Lincoln Road more often. I hear a lot of people talk trash about LR, how it’s not what it used to be. No shit, nothing is what it used to be, get over it already. But one thing LR still offers is top-notch people-watching; and now, once again, top-notch beer selection with reasonable prices at Zeke’s!
What’s a local event you went to recently that you loved? Fillmore concerts and Art Basel parties aside, I must say that “True Colors” at Barter (Wynwood) was a very special treat. True Colors was a talent showcase featuring the Teaching Artists from The Motivational Edge, a local nonprofit providing arts education to at-risk youth (full disclosure, I’m chairman of the board). The talent was on par with (actually better than) much of what’s on the tv talent shows these days. We had vocalists singing originals and covers, poetry, comedy, freestyle hip-hop, fresh beats, and tons of positive energy in the room. It was lit! It was our first Teaching Artist showcase in ten years, since we’ve typically put the spotlight on our students. But it was such a great event that I’m sure we’ll be doing more of them.
What made you decide to become a member of The New Tropic? Simply put, I love it! I look forward to reading it every morning. I like the bite-size doses of local news. I love the fact that I can always find interesting events listed. And overall, I love the sense I get that The New Tropic genuinely cares about helping our local communities thrive!
What’s something you’re working on that you could use help with? This question is a perfect example of how I concluded my [previous] answer! Thank you for asking! As Chairman of the Board at The Motivational Edge, I am working on growing our fundraising, and more importantly, our impact! The vast majority of our funding today comes from contracts with agencies that serve our student population, which largely consists of children in foster care, juvenile justice, and poverty assistance programs. While such funding has kept us going for 10 years, it limits our ability to grow without the addition of more individual, family, and corporate donations. So I am constantly thinking of new ways to help us increase those types of donations so we can grow and transform even more young lives in the future. Anyone who is interested in helping out can check out our website at themotivationaledge.org or email me directly at [email protected].
If you only have one meal left in Miami, where are you going (and why)? I’m a seafood fanatic, but I can’t pick just one place. I would have an appetizer at Stiltsville, followed by another appetizer at Mignonette, then an entree at La Mar followed by another at Lure. I left out about five other favorites, but I can only bend your rule so far.
What’s a recent story you’ve read about Miami that you wish more people cared about (and why)? Hmmm, great question. I’m tempted to say the affordable housing problem, but I think plenty of people care about that one. I have to go with water quality/pollution. As a fisherman and all-around water sports guy, I care a lot about the quality of the water I swim in and pull fish out of. The frequency of poop-water alerts is pathetic, especially for an area whose main attraction is beach life. Thankfully we have some local nonprofits working on this issue like Miami Waterkeeper. But I feel like we need more attention focused on identifying the root causes of the problem and then solving them.
What’s your perfect day in our city? That’s an easy one – a day of fishing. Option 2 – wake up early and take Pepper (my dog) to the beach for a sunrise swim with my wife. Then walk around South Pointe Park and maybe grab a bite at Lilikoi or Pura Vida. Then I’d probably chill on my balcony and read or listen to music. After a solid nap, I’d probably head over to Lincoln Road and people-watch as I drink a couple of Alhambras at Zeke’s. Maybe cap it all off with a DJ set at Don’t Sit.
What does it mean to you to live like you live here? I think it means to care about, and take care of, my community and my neighbors; to be invested in their success. It’s a philosophy I embrace wholeheartedly. When I started law school almost 10 years ago, I was super idealistic and on a mission to save the world from corruption. Every year since then, I’ve narrowed my focus of impact to more realistic ends. I finally reached the conclusion that if I can just make a positive impact on my community and those around me, then I have fulfilled my purpose in life.
What are you celebrating in your life right now? I just got married in February, so we’re still in the early stages of our never-ending honeymoon!
Supporting members like David make our work possible — and they get special perks like event discounts, ticket giveaways, and bonus content in the newsletter. Become a New Tropic member today to join the crew.