Have you ever wanted to start your own company but were too busy or too afraid to try? Melissa Lorenzo-Hervé knows this feeling all too well.

This Miami native, and mother of two, has a full time job as a legal writer in New York but her dream was to start a clothing line for women that would save them time and trouble with one simple dress.

The only thing was she had no idea how to do it. So she took a bootcamp for entrepreneurs and started doing research about design, materials and launching a business.

Then she took a leap of faith. Now she’s the CEO, creative director and co-founder of Pirouette, an online company that makes multifunctional dresses for women that allows them to go from day to night with one outfit, so they’ll never have FOMO again.

Check out our full conversation with Melissa on our website to learn more about her inspiration, the women she’s learned from, and how Miami shaped who she is today.

Here are six cool events happening around town this month, including a screening, a 5K run, and panel discussions to honor outstanding women.

• Join a conversation with U.S. Congresswoman Donna Shalala who will be discussing women’s empowerment issues.
• Check out a screening of the PBS documentary MAKERS: Women Who Make America, that tells the story of the modern American women’s movement.
• Attend the ASPA South Florida Chapter for its 16th Annual Women’s History Month Reception honoring outstanding women leaders in police and fire rescue.
• Learn about Visionary Women: Champions of Peace & Nonviolence at the North Dade Regional Library.
• Run in a 5K through Liberty City with the group behind Women Run Wynwood and enjoy live music and a guest speaker.
• Come to Venture Cafe for a night of entrepreneurship, entertainment and connection for the “Women’s History Month” edition of Pitch & Sips featuring an all women panel and all women founders.

Miami Dade College is also hosting exciting programs for Women’s History Month. Check here for a full calendar of events.

You can’t always get what you want. Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Florida lawmakers asked for $200 million from the federal government for restoration work in the Everglades but instead Trump’s proposed budget drastically cuts spending by the U.S. Army Corps and doesn’t include a reservoir that would reduce polluted water from Lake Okeechobee – a major contributor to last year’s destructive red tide. (Miami Herald)

What exactly do you mean by murder? The passage of Amendment 4 in November’s elections could restore the voting rights of an estimated 1.2 million former felons in Florida, so long as they had completed their sentences and weren’t guilty of committing murder or a felony sex crime. But does that include attempted murder? That’s what Republican lawmakers want to define, potentially limiting who can register to vote. Since the law took effect in January, the state has seen a jump in voter registration, including more black men, who have historically been disenfranchised at higher rates. (Miami Herald)

One man’s crisis is another’s political gain. Could the crisis in Venezuela turn off some Florida voters to progressive proposals by Democrats? That’s what the GOP is hoping by suggesting that things like universal healthcare and education could turn the U.S. into the next Venezuela. Republicans think this anti-socialist message could give them an advantage, particularly with the large Cuban and Venezuelan communities in South Florida. (The Hill)

A history of joy, resistance and defiance. The Stonewall Riots, which happened 50 years ago, were a defining moment for the gay rights movement. In recognition of the the riots, a new exhibit explores the history of the LGBTQ community in Miami-Dade County through photographs. The exhibit, which highlights the discrimination the queer community faced and their resilience, was curated by Dr. Julio Capó Jr. Capó Jr. was born and raised and Miami, and wrote the book “Welcome to Fairyland: Queer Miami Before 1940.” (WLRN)

THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY.

Author Joseph Campbell famously advised people to “follow your bliss.” We hope Melissa Lorenzo-Hervé’s story gave you a little inspiration today to do just that. 💪

See y’all tomorrow.

– The New Tropic