Since the COVID pandemic, many questions were raised about mental health and the devastating impact it’s had on people of all ages. While many have suffered from the changes with which COVID-19 has left us, data suggests that senior citizens and young adults had higher rates of anxiety and depression.

After reviewing data and thinking of new innovative ways to help with the coping factors and strategies for improvement, I prioritized programs that would benefit both age groups. Last year, I had the pleasure of creating the SafteyNet Summer Internship program, which funded existing organizations and helped new programs that gave the South Dade Youth the opportunity to intern in diverse career areas. This does not only give the interns an opportunity to learn new skills, but it also gives them an opportunity to earn money during the summer as paid interns.

With the return of the SafteyNet Summer program, also came a new initiative to work with the senior citizen population. I partnered with the Miami Dade County Community Action and Human Services Department to boost and re-create the senior programs at every District 9 center. This summer was the beginning of many fun adventures and activities to bring our senior citizens back out and reincorporate them into their communities. Activities include bingo, water aerobics, arts and crafts, field trips, and many other social activities. Lunch is also provided at every center, absolutely free of charge.

This brings us to the correlation between the senior programs and the SafteyNet Summer Interns. According to Erik Erikson, one of the first psychologists to describe social development across the lifespan, the final stage of emotional development is experienced around the age of 60 and older. Developing connections with a younger generation can help older adults feel a greater sense of fulfillment. In fact, linking older adults with youth can provide advantages for both groups. For example, such relationships can:

1. Provide an opportunity for both to learn new skills
2. Give the child and the older adult a sense of purpose
3. Help children to understand and later accept their own aging
4. Invigorate and energize older adults
5. Help reduce the likelihood of depression in the elderly
6. Reduce the isolation of older adults
7. Fill a void for children who do not have grandparents available to them
8. Aid in cognitive stimulation as well as broaden social circles should a youth introduce technology into the life of a senior

It is important to care daily of our senior citizens, as they are our living treasures that allow us to learn and never forget our history and the sacrifices that were made for us all to be where we are today. It is also as important for our youth to learn from our elders and to give them a sense of responsibility and respect for the care of our senior citizens and the community.

With the continued success of both of these programs, District 9 will continue to see improvement, community involvement, and family unity! We are #ThrivingInDistrict9 and always putting our #CommunityFirst, because #TogetherWeCanDoMore!

Hurricane Season is from June 1 to November 30. Be sure to plan and prepare ahead of time with the Miami-Dade County Hurricane Guide. 

The Miami-Dade County Office of Housing Advocacy (OHA) is now open and offering assistance to the public. OHA will provide information to residents concerning tenant protections and connect tenants to agencies and community resources. Some services will include referrals for housing complaints; rental assistance and legal services; a tenant hotline; public education outreach; and landlord/tenant rights training. The Housing Advocacy Hotline is 786-469-4545 and is open Monday through Friday (except holidays) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit The OHA website to learn more about the Office of Housing Advocacy.

On Saturday, July 30, 2022, the Miami-Dade County Public Defender's Office in conjunction with the Miami-Dade County Interfaith Advisory Board will host a Seal and Expungement Workshop at Jose Marti Park - 351 SW 4 Ave. Miami, FL 33130 9:00AM - 12:00PM. This event is free to the public! Have you ever been arrested? We encourage you to stop by and see if your arrest can be sealed or expunged. There will also be employment, Rights Restoration services and more.

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and County Commissioner Eileen Higgins with members of the LGBTQ Advisory Board

Unveiling the murals

Members and staff of the Black Affairs Advisory Board with Community Pillars and Young Pillars.

This month Interfaith Advisory Board Vice Chairman Rabbi Mark Rosenberg hosted the launching of Ohel trauma services in South Florida. Local officials, community leaders, first responders and faith-based leaders gathered in support of the announcement. These new services expand the footprint for Ohel’s Zachter Family National Trauma Center, which offers nationwide trauma-based services and specialized training and programs for individuals, workplaces, community groups, and schools. Learn how to work with the Ohel Zachter Family National Trauma Center by visiting www.ohelfamily.org.

During the month of May and June, the Miami-Dade County Asian American Advisory Board (AAAB) helped to commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with the community.

AAAB promotes #TeamAsians4Awareness as they participated in NAMI Walks 2022 and raised more than $3000 to bring awareness to mental health. AAAB encourages everyone to have conversations and stop the silence and stigma surrounding mental illness and mental health.

On Thursday, June 2, AAAB, alongside sister boards from the Office of Community Advocacy, hosted a half-day training with local, state, and federal law enforcement on Hate Crimes, Biased Incidents, and Racism. The Forum included breakout sessions covering Domestic Terrorism, Targeted Violence & Prevention; and Cybersecurity, Active Shooters & Bomb Threat Assessment. AAAB is grateful to the panelists representing North Miami Beach Police Department, Miami-Dade Police Department, Office of the State Attorney - Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, US Department of Homeland Security, the United States Department of Justice and Office of Community Advocacy. Let us all work together as “upstanders” as we continue in this effort to once and for all eliminate hate crimes, biased incidents, and racism within ALL of our communities.

For more information and updates on COVID-19, visit the following sites:

Miami-Dade County COVID-19 General Information:

https://www.miamidade.gov/global/initiatives/coronavirus/home.page

Miami-Dade County COVID-19 Assistance:

https://www.miamidade.gov/global/initiatives/coronavirus/assistance/home.page

United Way of Miami-Dade COVID-19 Resource Center:

https://unitedwaymiami.org/coronavirusresources/

Florida Department of Health COVID-19 Updates:

https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/

CDC COVID-19 Information:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html