Miami Lakes Branch Library announced the following programs that are available for the public during July: For Children and Families: South Florida Chamber Ensemble’s Super You – Join in celebrating superheroes and what makes each special. Listen to superhero-themed music and make your own superhero symbol based on your strengths. All ages welcome at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 5. Libraries Rock! Board Game Hour –...

  During its annual meeting on June 27, the United Way of Miami-Dade appointed Perla Tabares Hantman, chair of the Miami-Dade Public School Board, as a member of its Board of Trustees. “It is my honor to be appointed as a Trustee and to serve the community in this capacity,” Hantman said. “I look forward to joining the mission of building a better, and stronger, community for all with the United Way of...

  The non-profit organization Giving Gators, along with the help of local business sponsors, school administration and community leaders, unveiled the Giving Gators Community Pantry in June. The goal is to bring food, gently used clothing, toiletries and school supplies to K-12 students and families in need within the community. “Without the proper nutrition and basic essentials, kids cannot concentrate or perform well in...

  Barbara Goleman’s (BGHS) very own Gabriella Mestre created an organization to alleviate the homelessness issue in Miami-Dade by encouraging local teenagers to get involved and do more volunteer work, aptly named Teens Against Homelessness. According to Mestre, “Miami has a high standard of living and is flourishing economically. However, more than 1,000 people are on the streets. No one chooses to be homeless. This issue...

  For the second consecutive year, Erika Castroman’s initiative to help the homeless during the Christmas holidays was a huge success. On December 25, Castroman, a standout softball player and academic scholar at American High School, and her family distributed 100 drawstring bags full of non-perishable food items and toiletries to the homeless community in Downtown Miami. Castroman increased her goal to 100 bags from 50 bags...