J U N E 2 6 , 2 0 0 9

M I A M I B E A C H C O N V E N T I O N C E N T E R

UNIDAD of Miami Beach, Inc. offers aunique and innovative youth developmentand leadership program aimed at providinginner city youth with the opportunity toreach higher, dream bigger, and worksmarter while achieving life and careergoals. The goal of the New GenerationLeadership and Workforce Institute is tohelp prepare today's youth to excel intomorrow's workforce and in their livesoverall.

The New Generation Leadership andWorkforce Institute enhances academic andcareer training by using current and futurelabor market information to create aroadmap of short and long term goals thatalign with participant's abilities and inter-ests. The Program is funded by the SouthFlorida Workforce Investment Board with

If you have suggestions for volunteerspeakers, field trip experiences, fundingsources, sponsors or other programresources, please contact me at:mcepeda@unidadmb.org

T H E N E W G E N E R AT I O N L E A D E R S H I P A N D W O R K F O R C E I N S T I T U T E

MARGARITACEPEDA-LEONARDO

Execut ive D i rec tor

P R O V I D I N G O P P O R T U N I T I E S F O R Y O U T H T O R E A C H H I G H E R , D R E A M B I G G E R A N D W O R K S M A R T E R

support from the City of Miami Beach andThe Children's Trust. 264 youth have grad-uated the program since 2005. The programoffers a year round continuum of academicand career development opportunities andculminates in intensive summer program-ming at two levels for selected youth. LevelI and Level II programming provide moreadvanced leadership, workforce and careerdevelopment activities including intern-ships, work experience, leadership training,civic involvement learning, development ofdebating skills and pregnancy preventingactivities.

Today we celebrate the graduation of the51 exceptional youth who have completedLevel I of the New Generation Leadershipand Workforce Institute. Join us in recog-nizing their achievements!

Waleska Conde and Jackie Bruno,conducting new employee orientation

Class of 2009 during the first day of employment and training

K E Y N O T E S P E A K E R

ANA MARIA POLO, ESQ.TV Personal i ty – Caso Cerrado Cour t TV

Showboat. She also sang with the chorus ofJubilee, who were invited by Pope Paul VI tosing at St. Peter’s Basilica as part of the cel-ebration of the 1975 Holy Year. Anareturned to Miami where she completed herdegree in Political Science at FloridaInternational University and from where shelater received her law degree. Since 1989, Dr.Polo has been dedicated to helping familiesand individuals through divorces, adoptions,paternities, custody suits, and other familyrelated cases. Dr. Polo is an advocate of help-ing domestic abuse and child abuse victimsin her law practice, Polo, Yablan &Associates, located on Lincoln Road inMiami Beach, Florida.

It was here, in Miami, that Dr. Polo inte-grated her communication skills with herlegal expertise by being the guest of severalTV programs such as: The Maria Laria Show,Cristina, America en Vivo, and others. Anaalso took part in several radio programs oneof which was on CMQ Miami and hosted byAngel Martin a popular radio personality.She also contributed her knowledge to an online magazine called Obsidiana.com. In 2001,Ana started her own national televisionshow,” Sala De Parejas”, via NBC’sTelemundo where she developed an audiencewell beyond expectations. On “Sala DeParejas”, individuals with marital issues

and/or conflicts come to “La Dra. Polo” tofind a just and legal resolution. In Januaryof 2005, Ana began a new project withTelemundo, “Caso Cerrado”, a more dynam-ic and diverse show dealing frequently withscandalous and shocking legal battles. Theshow became an instant success. Her workas a legal mediator has won Dr. Polo manyawards including: the INTE 2004, New YorkCity’s ACE 2003 & 2004, FloridaInternational University’s Torch Award, theHispanic Business Salute of San JoseCalifornia 2006, and the Hispanic Alliance“Nuestro Premio” in Atlantic City, NJ, inaddition to the Paoli 2006 in Puerto Ricoand INTE the iberoamericana TV.

Without a doubt, her television personahas made it possible for Ana to convey mes-sages of importance for different causes thatbenefit society. As a breast cancer survivor,she continues her unconditional support forthe Susan G. Komen Foundation. In Octoberof 2005 she was named the Godmother ofcareers dedicated to the cure for breast can-cer in Puerto Rico. Dr. Ana Maria Polo livesher career passionately and with unwaver-ing commitment. This dedication is seenevery day when her TV guests challenge herto find a solution to their problems and shegives them back the hope that there isalways a better way to live.

Away from the formalities of life as alaw practitioner, Dr. Ana Maria Poloreflects humanity and great strength ofcharacter when she faces the TV camerasevery day on her show “Caso Cerrado”. Theprestigious attorney successfully closesevery case that her Hispanic TV audienceentrusts her with, making her an educatorproviding a true service to the community.

Born in Havana, Cuba, Ana came toMiami at a very young age accompaniedby her family. Later they moved to PuertoRico where, aside from graduating fromhigh school, Ana discovered she had artis-tic talent. She participated in differentmusicals such as: Godspell, Jubilee and

Ophelia Valls, Esq. and Armando Alsonso, Esq.Trainers-Management Resources Institute

Elena Brouwer,Trainer-International Etiquette Centre

Nelson Santiago, Ph.D.

T R A I N E R S

G U E S T O F H O N O R

HONORABLE MATTIHERRERA BOWER

MAYOR OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

Honorable Matti Bower, Mayor, City of Miami Beach, was first elected to the Miami

Beach Commission in November 1999. Mayor Matti Herrera Bower has established a

reputation for being dedicated and passionate about the issues that face Miami Beach.

Her enthusiasm to help others recognized by all who meet her. She is recognized as

an independent leader in the community.

Mayor Bower began her career as a community activist over thirty years ago as the

President of the Feinberg Fisher Elementary School Parent Teachers Association (PTA).

She also served as President of the PTA at Nautilus Jr. High and Miami Beach Senior

High Schools. Additionally, she worked on countywide issues as a member of the

Miami-Dade County Public School Board's Attendance Boundary Committee,

Committee on Bilingual Education, Miami-Beach Feeder Patterns, and the Citizens'

Advisory Board. A major cornerstone of her ongoing efforts is to ensure quality edu-

cation for all students, making Miami Beach a great place to live and work.

Mayor Bower has worked tirelessly on issues that directly affect people. Most

recently, she led the Miami Beach fight against the movement to rescind the Miami-

Dade County Human Rights Ordinance, which protects the rights of everyone, regard-

less of an individual's sexual orientation. She is a co-founder of UNIDAD

of Miami Beach, Inc.

New Generation Summer Institute, Level II, Class of 2008

Sarah Abouelwafa

Rebecca Caneus

Retivia Black

Mario Francisco Aly

Andres Cantillo

Questella Bradshaw

Eunice Beauburn

Johanna Castellanos

Nygeria Brown

Kierra Bell

Oscar Cifuentes

Tynetta Brown

C L A S S O F 2 0 0 9

Wendy Andrade,Radio Account Executive

Judge Darrin P. Gayles Dr. Elliot SklarHealth Programs Manager, UNIDAD

Margarita Cepeda-Leonardo,Welcoming Remarks

Josealena Climpson

Chamaya Jones

Kristabal Delgado

Angel Cruz

Sylvia Knight

Sherly Denis

Erick Cruz

Tieqwana Major

Maria Guzman

Martin De Salterain

Karen Mcintyre

Regina Honorat

C L A S S O F 2 0 0 9

Pregnancy Prevention ActivitySergio Urquidi, Journalist Level II, Field Trip to FIU- Rope Track Challenge

Curtis Mcmillian

Demetrius Parmenter

April Nicholson

Miguel Mejia

Dayana Quinto

Jeaniska Norvil

Sebastian Moreno

Monique Refuse

Ingrid Olmo

Zulma Munoz

Michelle Reyes

Alex W. Palma

C L A S S O F 2 0 0 9

Lonnie Bonds, Austin Burke of Florida Girls at SYMS Leadership Session, Team Building Exercise

Jonathan Ryan

Sharlatay Willis

Mahogany Trapp

Anthony Solano

Onyx Santiago

Vanessa Woodstock

Alexander Valerio

Victor Soto

Steward Schwarz

Darlene Valerio

Cliford Taylor

Peta-Gay Sherwood

Erika Vasallo

Clinton Taylor

Gabriella Young

C L A S S O F 2 0 0 9

KEVIN SMITHDIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATIONDEPARTMENT, C ITY OF MIAMI BEACH

MARIA L. RUIZDIVIS ION DIRECTOR OFFICE OF COMMUNITY

SERVICES, C ITY OF MIAMI BEACH

2 0 0 9 C O M M U N I T Y L E A D E R S H I P A W A R D

Kevin Smith has worked with the City ofMiami Beach for over 16 years, mostrecently in the capacity of Director of Parksand Recreation. He administers the profes-

sional functions of a $30 million operationwith 200 full time and 150 part-time andcontractual staff, maintaining over 750acres of parks, landscaped areas and urbanforests and 32 parks. Kevin directs theimplementation of recreation programs andservices at major parks, youth centers, com-munity centers, golf courses and neighbor-hood parks and pools.

Mr. Smith also worked with the City ofMiami as the Assistant Director of Parksand Recreation for 6 years. He was respon-sible for the overall direction and dailyoperations of the Recreation, Day Care, GolfCourses, Programs for Persons withDisabilities, Public Information and SpecialEvents Divisions. Kevin was part of theExecutive Management Team directing theoperations of the Orange Bowl Stadium,three (3) marinas, the Miami BaseballStadium, Miami Marine Stadium, a 400 acrebeach and maintenance of 110 parks andrelated recreation facilities.

Prior to these posts Kevin worked over

an 11 year period as the Recreation ProgramSpecialist, then the Assistant Division Headand finally the Division Head for the City ofMiami Programs for Persons withDisabilities. As the Division Head, he wasresponsible for the development, implemen-tation and evaluation of comprehensiverecreational/educational programs for thedisabled citizens of Miami. Services includ-ed information and referral, vocational jobtraining, the provision of recreation pro-grams and leisure based education.

Kevin received his Bachelor of ScienceDegree in Public Recreation Administrationfrom the University of lowa. He has alsocompleted specialized courses on leader-ship, municipal finance and budget, laborrelations, conflict resolution, publicinvolvement, disaster preparedness, andcustomer service. He is a member of theNational Recreation and Parks Association,the Florida Recreation and ParksAssociation, and the Golf CourseSuperintendents Association of America.

Maria L. Ruiz is the Division Director –Office of Community Services for the Cityof Miami Beach. In this position, she isresponsible for Success University. Ms. Ruizhas a long history of creating and organiz-ing youth programs. She designed andmanaged two youth programs recognized asbest practices at the state and national

level: Performing Arts Academy of SouthFlorida and Neighborhoods First/TruancyPrevention Program. Maria also establisheda variety of annual youth events including:Brain Bowl, Galaxy of Talent, PeaceFestival, Youth Leadership Conference andAbove Ground Concert Series. Another ofher accomplishments in this area includesthe coordination of school recruitment andchapter development for Dade CountyYouth Crime Watch, which resulted in thehighest school participation rate among allregional coordinators in nation’s 4th largestschool district. Youth EmpowermentNetwork is still another one of the programsshe created, linking students and educatorsfrom the City’s public and private schools topromote cooperation ,and improved com-munication and resource-sharing throughshared projects.

She secured a $100,000 planning grantfor Miami Beach Service Partnership and asubsequent $700,000 implementation grant.

These funds established service learningpartnerships and mutual aid agreementswith social service providers and secondaryschool institutions including BarryUniversity, Florida International University,Miami-Dade College and Florida StateUniversity.

Maria Ruiz has expanded and improvedmany human services programs in MiamiBeach, ranging from those serving thehomeless, youth, the disabled, and volun-teers. Her program planning, grant writingand management skills have brought manybenefits to thousands of individuals in ourcommunity.

Ms. Ruiz is the creator of weekly MBMonday Habit, a management resourcepublication for members of the MiamiBeach Service Partnership. She is also aCertified Trainer of 7 Habits for HighlyEffective People and 7 Habits for HighlyEffective Teens.

F I E L D T R I PE P C O T — O R L A N D O , F L O R I D A

Lee Luna, Primerica Jose Diaz Balart, Journalist Miguel Del CampilloDirector of the Miami Beach Housing Authority

S P E A K E R S

Mirizza MenendezCareer Center D i rec tor

Raymond AdrianDirec tor of Operat ions

Waleska E. CondeProgram Coord inator

S T A F F T R A I N E R S

EleanaBrouwerIn ternat iona lE t iquet te

JuanCasimiroIns ight , LLC

ArmandoAlonsoManagementResources

Ophellia M. VallsManagementResources

OfeliaSanchezManagementResources

Katherine HernandezTeam Leader

Rosalin Ortega Counse lor

Gisel ShullCounse lor

Jackie BrunoH u m a n R e s o u r c e sC o o r d i n a t o r

Bradd BlackmonTeam Leader

Wanda Jimenez Academic Adv i sor

Noemarie ZayasYo u t h S t a f f

Corina GrazutisTe a m L e a d e r

Jose BeltranTe a m L e a d e r

8 3 3 6 T H S T R E E T S E C O N D F L O O R M I A M I B E A C H F L O R I D A 3 3 1 3 9

T E L E P H O N E 3 0 5 . 5 3 2 . 5 3 5 0 T T Y / T D D 3 0 5 . 4 7 0 . 5 5 2 9

THE SOUTH FLORIDA WORKFORCE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT/PROGRAM.AUXILIARY AIDS AND SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILIT IES.

D E S I G N & P R I N T I N G B Y G R A P H I K M A R 3 0 5 . 8 8 7 . 3 4 7 3

S P E C I A L T H A N K S T O :

Wil l iam T. Turner Tech High School

West Dade Career Center

Nor ths ide Career Center

Susana and Car los Bus Ser v i ce

Advantage Bus Ser v i ce

Mr. Migue l De l Campi l lo

Mr. Lee Luna

Mr. Serg io Urquid i

Honorab le Judge Darr in Gayles

Jose Diaz Ba lar t