January 19, 2018 
By Russell Correa, Ed.M., guest blogger

Consider some examples of what are being referred to as the Matt Lauer guidelines at NBC, after his much publicized firing recently.

• Do not share a taxi home with colleagues.
• If you hug a co-worker, you have to do a quick hug, then an immediate release, and step away to avoid body contact.
• Do not take vegans to steakhouses.
• No office affairs or romances between colleagues.
• If you are aware of an office romance or affair, you must inform the company or face termination for covering up.

Now, I think most of us will agree that it is long overdue that we take issues of power, bullying and harassment seriously and give voice to those who have been victimized in the workplace. And that we should not only focus on women’s issues, but issues across race, religion and culture as we can find decades of illegal and harassing behavior targeted against different groups.

The unintended consequence, though, of this nationwide review of workplace policies, is that inevitably many organizations will overreach (like the ones listed above) in a way that can potentially do more harm than good in terms of creating a culture of respect.

The opposite – a culture of fear – could actually develop as employees question how they are supposed to act in the office in today’s charged environment.  Hopefully, it is a safe assumption that we all want to create a respectful work environment, but just what are the dos and don’ts in the office now?

Well, while I’d love to list out some bullet points or a policy below that you could follow, the easy answer to the question I just posed is that there is no easy answer.  Consider the below example of a “workplace respect policy” that I read the other day.

1. (Company) is firmly committed to ensuring a positive and professional working environment to building and preserving a safe, productive, and healthy working environment, based on mutual respect for all its employees. In pursuit of this goal, (Company) does not condone and will not tolerate acts of disrespectful behavior, including; violence, harassment, discrimination, or bullying against or by any (Company) employee, subcontractor, agency staff/contractor, supplier and client.

So what is your reaction to this? Sounds good, right?

Yes, it does sound good. However, this is where the problem lies in that policies like these are very vague and general and don't really give specifics about day-in, day-out behavior or give employees the opportunity to talk in an open forum about what these topics really mean to them.

I would also add that it’s very difficult to impose expected behavior on people or train employees how to act without their buy-in or agreement. Anger, resentment and fear typically result from this type of initiative.

So what is your organization trying to do to define guidelines for a respectful workplace?  Here are a few suggested Dos and Don’ts, from both an organizational and personal perspective:

DO - Acknowledge the past reality and context of our work environments and how they exist in a broader society that has struggled for decades with issues of racism and sexism.

DON’T – Impose blanket rules without soliciting feedback from your employees. Consider the use of an outside facilitator as these conversations can be emotionally charged.

DO – Review all of your internal policies and procedures related to office behavior to make sure everything is updated. This will also protect your organization against legal exposure.

DON’T – Be afraid of difficult conversations in the office related to gender (as one example). Problems and issues will not just go away without being addressed.

DO – Provide your employees with communication and conflict resolution skills to handle  these difficult conversations in a professional way.

DON’T – Assume all employees feel comfortable reporting issues when they take place. Make sure everyone knows that your organization is a safe space for them.

DO – Consider what you may be doing in the office that makes others feel disrespected. If you say or do something questionable , own it in the moment and think how you can do things differently in the future.

DON’T – Assume the intent or motivation of others. Before reacting or forming a conclusion, take a few moments to analyze the issue that may have upset or offended you. Consider getting outside input and feedback.

DO – Put yourself in the other person’s shoes, so to speak. How are others experiencing you?

DON’T – Be afraid to be yourself. We all can work on our style in the office but do it in a way that is consistent with who you are.

If you would like to learn more insights and tips into this topic, please register for a 45-minute webinar I will be hosting on January 31^st at 12pm - The New Normal: The Dos and Don'ts of Office Behavior in 2018. The registration fee is $35 for individuals and $125 for groups and agencies (for 5 or more attendees). This webinar is part of my ongoing Working Smarter / Living Smarter series that I will be hosting in 2018. For more information and to register, go to https://www.zetaconsultingfl.com/6203202.en.html

About Russell Correa, Ed.M., LMHC
As the Principal of Zeta Consulting Group, Russell Correa brings close to 20 years of experience as a licensed clinician, certified executive coach, HR & Management consultant and trainer to his work. Russell also serves as a board member for Allegany Franciscan Ministries, a funder of nonprofits in the Miami, Tampa Bay and Palm Beach areas. You can contact Russell at 786.457.5371 or [email protected]. You can also visit his website at zetaconsultingfl.com

December 20, 2017 
By Russell Correa, Ed.M., guest blogger

A couple of weeks ago, I was working with one of my coaching clients during an early morning session over coffee. As we spoke, it was pretty evident that something was on her mind. So I decided to change the focus of the meeting and asked her what was up. She proceeded to share a laundry list of issues that she was thinking about, all personal errands and needs that she felt she never had time for due to work and other family responsibilities. She quickly apologized and seemed a little embarrassed for sharing what she considered personal information.

What I said next surprised her – “Listen, I think you need to stop apologizing and start being a little more selfish with your time”.

Now I get that some of you may react negatively to the word selfish. Be more selfish? Seriously? That’s the problem with today’s world – too many selfish people, right? Well, bear with me for a few moments while I describe what I mean by being more selfish.

Now many of us have been conditioned to be the opposite – selfless, especially in the nonprofit and social service industry. But think about it for a second. At a certain point, being completely selfless eventually starts giving you limited returns as self-care deferred is a very slippery slope. Use my coaching client as an example. She was so stressed and overwhelmed by her mounting list of personal things she needed to address, that her ability to be focused and engaged was challenged.

Has this ever happened to you? You’re at work in a meeting and your mind wanders to some pressing personal need you have to do. We refer to this as presenteeism – your body is present but your mind is somewhere else.

This probably happens to a lot of us. The problem is that we tend to exclusively focus on issues external to ourselves at the expense of our own well-being. Think about it and ask yourself the following questions:

• Is there a pressing medical appointment you have to make and you keep in telling yourself you’ll do it tomorrow?
• How many times have you missed your gym time or exercise because of work responsibilities?
• When was the last time you had “you” time?
• Is your checkbook balanced? Do you know exactly how much money is in your account right now?
• When was the last time you got a great night of sleep?

If any of these questions got a reaction from you, then I would challenge you to be a little more selfish today, but in the good sense of the word.

Yes, I do believe being selfish can be a good thing if it allows you to be more energized and available to help others. Try this “selfish” exercise for starters. Stop what you are doing and take 5 minutes and brain-dump everything on paper that you have to do in the next 30 days to attend to yourself. Call it your “selfish” list. Here is mine:

• Call my financial planner and add to my son’s 529 plan (this has been on my to-do list for three months).
• Make a follow up with my dentist to check what happened to my replacement cap (four months on my to-do list).
• Research how to do a cleanse (been on my list since July).
• Finish reading the book Team of Rivals (on my list since January).
• Look up what the heck Bitcoin is (on my list since August).

And now the most important part of your “selfish” list. Book an appointment with yourself and keep it like any other scheduled meeting. Then start taking action. Even 10 minutes day of selfishness will add up to 30.4 hours of time. What could you do in 30 hours? Think about it.

So here is my holiday challenge to you, be more selfish. Really! You might be surprised how much more effective, productive and ultimately selfless you can be.

If you would like to learn more on this topic or had questions about my Consulting, Coaching and Training services, contact me at 786.457.5371 or [email protected]. You can also visit my website at zetaconsultingfl.com.

About Russell Correa, Ed.M., LMHC

As the Principal of Zeta Consulting Group, Russell Correa brings close to 20 years of experience as a licensed clinician, certified executive coach, HR & Management consultant and trainer to his work. Russell also serves as a board member for Allegany Franciscan Ministries, a funder of nonprofits in the Miami, Tampa Bay and Palm Beach areas.

November 22, 2017
By Kailani Acosta

Zelalem Adefris presenting at the APHA Conference 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Climate change and public health are inherently interconnected. For Miami, climate change includes extreme heat, droughts, flooding, intense storms, sea level rise, and saltwater intrusion. Each of these events poses a risk to public health - including mosquito-borne diseases, water-borne diseases, food insecurity, and poor mental health. Across the country, climate change will affect environments and people differently. In order to create a healthy nation, we must address climate change, sustainability, and environmental injustice.

From November 4-8, 2017, Catalyst Miami attended the American Public Health Association (APHA) Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, “Creating the Healthiest Nation: Climate Changes Health”. This theme brought together seemingly disparate issues of health, climate change, and resilience to address how these challenges are in fact interconnected. As part of this conference, Catalyst Miami presented a poster on the impact of our Miami-based climate leadership and advocacy program: CLEAR (Community Leadership on the Environment, Advocacy, and Resilience) Miami.

Between September 2016 and August 2017 there have been three CLEAR Miami cohorts, consisting of a total 55 adult graduates and 17 youth graduates. The CLEAR Miami program greatly increased participants’ understanding of climate resilience, ways to get involved in their communities, and the intersectionality of climate, environmental, and social issues.

In their post-assessment, participants shared what they learned in a short answer format. The size of the words corresponds with how often they were used.

One-hundred percent of participants had a clear understanding of climate resilience after CLEAR Miami, which is a 70% change since starting the program. CLEAR prompted many of its participants to become more environmentally and socially active. Of 46 responses, about 17% of graduates who had never led an action before CLEAR became first time leaders on a climate, environmental or social justice action - all within the timespan of 12 weeks. Six months after graduation, 100% of the graduates have taken a civic action related to climate resilience.

In addition to presenting our findings, we also distributed The CLEAR Toolkit, a guide for creating community resilience leadership programs. The CLEAR Toolkit includes the structure, themes, activities, and evaluation methods utilized in the CLEAR Miami program. We hope that this guide will be helpful for communities, nonprofits, schools, and other institutions that would like to facilitate similar community leadership programs on climate resilience. The CLEAR program was created to be inclusive, accessible, free, and practical. Its toolkit is to be distributed free of charge by nonprofit or community-based organizations for public purposes. Though the climate is changing and communities are at risk, education is key to resilience.

The poorest and most vulnerable communities will be affected first and worst by climate change. Get informed and get active! If you would like more information about CLEAR Miami and the CLEAR Toolkit, please visit https://catalystmiami.org/, contact us at 305-576-5001, or email [email protected].

The CLEAR Toolkit can be found at http://bit.ly/thecleartoolkit.

November 10, 2017
By Russell Correa, Ed.M. (guest blog writer)

A few months ago, I wrote an article for this newsletter on the importance of Networking. At least one person read it as they brought it to my attention a couple of weeks ago at a conference I was attending.

“So I read your article in the Catalyst Newsletter and looked you up on Linked In. Your profile says you have 1,492 connections. Would you mind making some introductions for me?” he said.

“Excuse me,” I responded.

“You are connected to 1,492 people. I’m new to this area. When I went through your network, there were a number of people I’d like to connect with as I think they would help my work in the community I serve,” he responded.

And then it occurred to me; it’s not enough to merely build your network. From time to time, you have to “unpack” your network and see how you can connect like-minded individuals who are trying to make a difference in our communities. So what does it look like to “unpack” your connections? How can “unpacking” your network make a difference?

Consider a recent lunch I was at with a friend of mine who works at a nonprofit located in Overtown. Over the course of our meeting, she shared how her center was in need of some basic infrastructural needs like new chairs so they can attract other agencies and groups to book their center as a meeting and event space. As I racked my brain for ideas, it occurred to me that she didn't need my suggestions at all. What she really needed was an introduction to one of my connections; more specifically an introduction to the vice president of a local foundation that gives out smaller grants designed just for this sort of need. So I set up the introduction over a group text and encouraged them to see how they can work with each other. A few weeks later I found out that my friend received the grant and is in the process of getting new chairs for her center.

But that wasn't the end to this particular story. In fact 3 weeks ago, the foundation vice president was looking for a last minute event space for a conference. The event space he had arranged fell through and the conference was scheduled to start in 5 days with about 50 participants. So what did he do? You guessed it – he contacted my friend at the Overtown center and within a few hours the new event space for the conference was all booked. The same conference I attended that started this article, in fact.

So what’s the point of this story? Well to summarize - one Center got new chairs, one Foundation got an event space and all it took for me to make this possible was a text that took me 30 seconds to write. Could all of this have happened without me? Absolutely! But by “unpacking” my network, I facilitated a connection that created a ripple effect of goodness. We can all do the same so share your networks and save the World (or at least Miami).

If you would like to learn more on this topic or had questions about my Consulting, Coaching and Training services, contact me at 786.457.5371 or
[email protected]. You can also visit my website at zetaconsultingfl.com.

About Russell Correa, Ed.M., LMHC
As the Principal of Zeta Consulting Group, Russell Correa brings close to 20 years of experience as a licensed clinician, certified executive coach, HR & Management consultant and trainer to his work. Russell also serves as a board member for Allegany Franciscan Ministries, a funder of nonprofits in the Miami, Tampa Bay and Palm Beach areas.

October 26, 2017
By Rosemine Lederl

I was first introduced to Catalyst Miami in 2010 through a Parent Workshop at Miami Dade College.  Part of this workshop provided families the opportunity to file our taxes with the Catalyst Miami staff at no cost; where gladly, I have continued to do so ever since.

During my visits with Catalyst Miami staff, I began asking them to present at various PTA/PTSA meetings, parent/family nights, as well as health and wellness fairs.

The staff provided very informative and resourceful presentations to families and staff at Mary McCleod Bethune Headstart, Natural Bridge Elementary, Liberty City Elementary, as well as Miami Northwestern Senior High.

Looking for a way to enhance my advocacy skills, and combining that with my passion and commitment to serve and create change in my community, I signed up for the leadership program, Step Up Miami (a Catalyst Miami program), where we collaborated around root causes of poverty, the criminal justice system and first time youthful offenders, and the never-ending concerns around affordable housing.

As a part of Step Up Miami, we focused our learning on understanding the aforementioned crises and exploring how we could speak up to reach local policy makers regarding our concerns.  Shortly after, I then signed up to be a volunteer tax preparer with Catalyst Miami, which was just as intriguing as Step Up Miami.

Fast forwarding to the future, I then learned of the opportunity to apply and become part of Catalyst Miami's wealth team as an Community Financial Coordinator. I'm happy to say that I was welcomed to the staff since June of this year!

I've shared my story, as I believe it is an good example of how Catalyst Miami engages families at different stages of their journey.  It is no secret that thousands of families live at, near, or way under the poverty line in our community; as thousands more are struggling to make ends meet.  With Catalyst Miami, our families gain the tools to be more financially secure, healthier, and most importantly, more engaged in our neighborhoods as well as in larger communities.  It is my belief, as it is of Catalyst Miami's belief, that all families deserve opportunities to thrive and to shape our own environment, which is why we focus on prosperity, leadership, and collaboration.

Thank you all, sincerely, for supporting Catalyst Miami and allowing me to share my story with you!

Originally delivered as a speech by Rosemine Lederl at Catalyst Miami's inaugural Imagine Miami Luncheon & Fundraiser at Seaspice.

October 18, 2017
By Kristina Reed

Florida is failing when it comes to dental care for disadvantaged children.

According to a 2010 study by the Pew Research Center, Florida was the worst performer of the 50 states with regard to ensuring that low-income children have access to care. Florida met only two of the eight policy benchmarks, receiving an “F” grade for two consecutive years.

One major concern is that there are 32 counties in our state that have no pediatric dentists who accept Medicaid. So, it’s not surprising that only 1 in 3 Medicaid-enrolled kids receive any services.

This is tragic, and a major contributor to the rampant oral health disparities seen in low-income communities.

Why did we receive an “F” grade?

1. Fewer than 25% of high-risk schools had sealant programs. Sealants are thin coatings applied to the molars, where most cavities occur. The Community Preventative Services Task Force strongly recommends school-based sealant programs, which they determined to be both effective and cost-saving.
2. Hygienists could not place sealants without a dentist’s prior exam. The Florida Board of Dentistry voted to permit dental hygienists to apply sealants without supervision in Health Access settings, but as of July 2010, when the survey was conducted, the rule had not been put into effect.
3. Less than 26% of Medicaid-enrolled children received dental care. The national benchmark was 38.1%.
4. Only 27.5% of dentists’ median retail fees were reimbursed by Medicaid. This is a huge reason why many dentists refuse to accept Medicaid, and consequently, children don’t receive services. Even when providers do accept Medicaid, it can be difficult to get an appointment.
5. Florida hadn’t authorized a new type of primary care dental provider. Many communities simply don’t have enough dentists to meet their residents’ needs, so states are exploring new types of providers. Dental therapists in Alaska have been found to provide safe, competent care with high patient satisfaction. Some states have introduced legislation to enact an Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner—a master’s level degree allowing hygienists to provide restorative care.
6. Florida didn’t track data on children’s dental health. States should submit basic screening data to the national database that tracks oral health conditions. Collecting data is a key element of an effective state dental health program. Without it, states struggle to allocate resources and compete for grant funding. Tracking the number of children with untreated tooth decay and the number who have been treated is essential for policy solutions and measuring progress.

So why aren’t dentists accepting Medicaid?

• Low reimbursement: The American Dental Association (ADA) maintains that Medicaid rates do not “provide a valid reflection of market-based dental fees”. In Florida, researchers found that if fees were increased and the administrative burden lightened, the percentage of Florida dentists willing to participate would increase to 70%.
• Burdensome administrative requirements
• Excessive paperwork
• High cancellation rates and a lack of case management to assist patients in keeping appointments
• Poor oral health literacy among affected communities.
• Perceived social stigma of being a Medicaid participant
• Lack of specialists who are Medicaid participants to whom patients can be referred. To address the care for Medicaid-eligible children (especially special needs children), specialists such as orthodontists or oral surgeons may be needed.
• Poor patient compliance to treatment regimens

While it may not be possible to have the perfect dental care system where everyone has complete access to care, we can and must do better.

Being ranked as last in the United States with an “F” grade is unacceptable and embarrassing. Stakeholders, community members, organizations and activists need to prioritize oral health, especially children’s access to care when creating and discussing public policy.

October 17, 2017
By Russell Correa, Ed.M., LMHC (guest blog writer)

During my professional career, I think I’ve facilitated close to 1,000 hours of trauma debriefings. Here are a few remarks from the last debriefing I did.

“I felt like the shooting was never going to stop.”

‘I haven’t slept since the shooting. I’m scared. Every time I hear a loud noise I jump and look around.”

“I don't feel like I am ever going to feel normal again. I don’t feel safe anymore.”

What was the event these people were referencing? While it may elicit an immediate association with the horrific shootings in Las Vegas a few weeks ago, the tragedy I was leading a session for was the shooting that took place at Hollywood International Airport in January of this year. Five people lost their lives that day with numerous others injured by gunshot wounds. Now this event seems like it took place so long ago.

Whatever your politics are with the conversations that take place after these events, I think we can all agree that in the immediacy of these tragedies, we are not only saddened by the event itself, but also by the sheer number of these events (which seem to take place so often now that we forget ones that took place in our own backyard just 10 months ago). Honestly, it seems like every other week we are dealing with a new
tragedy that impacts our sense of certainty and belief about the world and the communities we live in.

As a mental health professional, it’s important to understand what these psychological and physiological impacts can be. From a young age, we all tend to form a psychological assumption of safety that gets threatened when we witness horrific events in our world, even if they don't directly impact us. Think of it this way - whenever a mass shooting takes place, do you experience any of the following:

 Anger and feelings of disillusionment
 Trouble sleeping
 Excessive attention to the news
 Sadness and grief
 General fatigue and lethargy the days after an event takes place
 Withdrawal from your normal activities
 Anxiety about your own safety or the safety of family members/children
 Changing your daily activities or planned events out of safety concerns
 Concern about how to talk to your children about these events
 For employers – employees walking around the office in a daze or seemingly off their game; having a hard time being productive or completing tasks

While these are all normal reactions to abnormal events, it is important to be aware of these feelings and take action before they have a long-term impact.

Here are some things to consider in order to take care of yourself and the people around you.

1. Acknowledge your feelings about the event. Whatever your feeling is, it’s okay. Anger. Grief. Sadness. Cynicism. Hopelessness. Vulnerable. I always find myself walking around in what I call an “emotional fog” in the days after. As humans, we are wired to feel pain and empathy for others when they experience pain and hardship.

2. Do something active to cope. Take action to soothe your feelings and express your anger. Talk to other people, donate money, or volunteer for a cause that you believe in.

3. Don’t overestimate the personal danger. When mass shootings happen, the horror of the event makes us overestimate the likelihood of this type of event happening to us. Try to get out of the “fight or flight” alarm response and take a step back so you can logically evaluate the likelihood of personal danger.

4. Don’t minimize other people’s reactions. Don';t feel like you have to have a perfect response. Sometimes, when people share their feelings, we feel like we have to say something and it’s usually a canned response that minimizes and diminishes their reaction. It’s okay to just let people speak and release the energy. Be a listener.

5. Talk to your children. These can be some of the most difficult conversations to have with your kids but they are important ones. As a parent, your job is to create a safe space for your kids while teaching them some of the realities of our world. My general rule here is to modify the message based on your child’s age. For older kids, you can be more direct about what is happening. This is also a great opportunity to hear their voice and opinion. For younger kids, focus the message on safety and avoid lots of specifics.

6. Develop a sense of urgency related to family and friends. This may be common sense but do the things you want to do with your loved ones. If there is a conversation you need to have with a family member, have it. If there is something you always wanted to do with family, do it. Don’t wait until next week, next month or next year.

7. Take a break from the news. Staying frozen and fixed to the TV or surfing the web for hours can add stress to your body/mind.

8. For employers – Don’t pretend that it’s business as usual after a tragedy. Show some patience for your employees and give them some space to process their reactions.

If you would like to learn more on this topic or had questions about my Consulting, Coaching and Training services, contact me at 786.457.5371 or
[email protected]. You can also visit my website at zetaconsultingfl.com.

About Russell Correa, Ed.M., LMHC
As the Principal of Zeta Consulting Group, Russell Correa brings close to 20 years of experience as a licensed clinician, certified executive coach, HR & Management consultant and trainer to his work. Russell also serves as a board member for Allegany Franciscan Ministries, a funder of nonprofits in the Miami, Tampa Bay and Palm Beach areas.

An editorial by Catalyst Miami staff
September 23, 2017

Category five hurricane Irma, originally expected to hit us directly, actually missed Miami-Dade County, but its aftermath painfully exposed the inequality that plagues our community. From 70 percent of County residents losing electricity, to downed trees and powerlines littering our streets, to thousands of residents going hungry and suffering in the oppressive post-storm heat, the impact of the storm that missed us was not felt evenly across the County. Low-income and working poor communities, lacking the resources to provide for their own relief, struggle to experience the resilience many of us take for granted.

In response to community need, Catalyst Miami worked in coordination with the Community Emergency Operations Center (CEOC), organized by a coalition of grassroots organizations that collected donations and raised funds to purchase and distribute non-perishable foods, water, personal hygiene supplies, batteries, and other essential items in low-income communities. We worked with community-based organizations like Centro Campesino in Florida City, as well as the Culmer Center, the Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum, and the YWCA of Greater Miami in Overtown, where we provided lunch bags and hot meals to residents, and partnered with Legal Services of Greater Miami to help community members fill out applications for FEMA and SNAP replacement benefits and assess additional legal needs. We coordinated food and supply drop-offs at Allapattah, Liberty City, Miami Gardens, and Opa-Locka, and our staff and volunteers conducted community needs assessment surveys.

Being on the ground to provide post-storm relief to low-income and working poor minority communities has left us with a deep sense of urgency as we seek to address climate resilience through social determinants, including housing, economic opportunity, immigration, health care, an effective and affordable public transit system, and more. To many of us, the disturbing picture of extreme poverty exposed by the storm, has made quite clear that no amount of goodwill and resources will make for an equitable disaster response if there is no equity to begin with.

While doing outreach in Overtown, Phalange Brutus, Catalyst Miami’s Networks Coordinator, visited several housing projects; what he saw appalled him, “The poverty was not the result of hurricane Irma, but the result of decades of systemic disenfranchisement. The most pressing issue was the lack of power, closely followed by the lack of non-perishable food.” He also saw that everyone seemed confused about what FEMA covered and who was eligible. There was a lack of planning and execution of disaster preparedness. Brutus would later reflect that “… Irma exposed the deplorable conditions that many [in our community] face every day.”

Despite the fierce and persistent inequality that hindered the disaster response and exposed our ill-preparedness, we also saw a great deal of hope and promise in the combined efforts of many community residents, leaders, and organizations. In every neighborhood we visited we were met with a constant influx of volunteers eager to help their communities, even as they themselves dealt with the lack of power and information, intense heat, and the overall uncertainty of an agonizing recovery process. People donated supplies and money from all over the United States; churches, mosques, and other faith-based organizations turned their buildings into resource centers and sent their more abled members to check on their communities and provide relief, and Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) distributed bags of ice and cases of bottled water among their neighbors.

It would be remiss of us not to mention and be thankful for the support we received from Miami-Dade County’s District 3 Commissioner and from the American Red Cross, who provided hundreds of bags of ice and hot meals for distribution among community residents in Overtown and Florida City. The disaster response was inadequate in great measure because of the lack of coordination and collaboration between local and federal agencies and community leaders and organizations, which only highlights the urgent need of increased civic participation; such civic participation must go hand in hand with the political will to include community leaders and organizations in the decision making processes behind the allocation of funds and resources, disaster preparedness and recovery, and all other program and policy areas that have an impact on their lives.

Only once the most vulnerable among our residents are meaningfully engaged in the civic and political decisions that impact their lives will we be able to call ourselves a truly resilient community. Let’s work together to make that a reality.

***

Catalyst Miami recognizes the hard work and commitment of the many community members and partners who tirelessly worked to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our most vulnerable residents, including The New Florida Majority, Miami Climate Alliance, SEIU Florida, Third Wave Volunteers, H.E.A.R.T. Search & Rescue, Rescue Warriors, The Cajun Navy, Organize Florida, Community Justice Project, Miami Workers Center, Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC), Faith in Florida, Dream Defenders, We Do Better, FANM Haitian Women of Miami, FL Student Power Network, Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC), COH Florida, Central Florida Jobs with Justice, and WeCount. Special thanks go out to our partners at Florida Legal Services of Greater Miami, Miami Music Project, Black Police Precinct and Museum, YWCA, Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Department, Centro Campesino, and the volunteers at Global Shapers.

Catalyst Miami Regrets Rescission of DACA

September 6, 2017

Catalyst Miami is dismayed and very concerned by the Trump administration's announcement that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program will be rescinded, placing more than 800,000 young adults in peril of deportation, losing their jobs, and being back in the shadows. DACA is a successful, bipartisan program that makes fiscal sense and is morally necessary.

Those affected are people who were brought to the U.S. as children, who consider this their home, and who contribute greatly to our communities. DACA allows them to continue their studies, provide for themselves and their families, and contribute to our economy.  The decision to end this program signals to these young people that they do not belong here and that hard work and perseverance are not rewarded in this country.  Eliminating DACA weakens our communities by diminishing their members' resources and ability to make a living.

Young people who work hard and love this country enough to hang on to the mere hope of one day attaining legal status deserve the chance to stay here without the looming threat of deportation.  DACA recipients enrich our country with their labor, their ideas, and their commitment. What we need is a path to citizenship for DREAMers, not another threat to hard working families who are a part of our society. We urge our partners and all members of our community to call upon Congress to act and pass legislation to protect young Americans who happen to be born in other countries.

August 25 , 2017
By Russell Correa, Ed.M., LMHC (guest blog writer)

When I first moved from New York City to Miami in 2008, I didn’t know a single person – literally!

Not one friend, not one business contact.

So I did what most professionals do looking to jumpstart their list of contacts – I hit the Miami networking circuit. If you're unfamiliar with the Miami networking scene, imagine a unique combination of social outing, dating scene, excuse to get free drinks, bad memories of high school cliques and ultimately, connecting to like-minded professionals who seem to share “synergy” with you (which ultimately leads to the synergy email, which leads to the synergy meeting).

To this day, I still remember my the first networker I ever attended in Miami – an event put on by the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce at the old Gianni Versace mansion off Ocean Avenue. I walked in and was immediately steamrolled by a mass of people handing me their business cards. Each interaction must have lasted about 15-20 seconds. Finally, someone asked me what I did for a living and I became tongue-tied. They looked at me oddly and walked away. By the end of the evening, I must have had about 50 business cards but not one relationship. It was then when I realized I had no idea how to explain in a concise and interesting way what I did for a living. I didn't have an elevator pitch.

Now this was over 9 years ago now and luckily I’ve worked on this. But the thing that struck me then still rings true to me now in networking environments, when you only have a few seconds to make an impression and create meaningful work contacts.

• People are really bad at explaining what they do for a living in a concise and compelling way.
• People are really bad at understanding how they are perceived by others.
• People are really bad at delivering an effective elevator pitch that makes others want to learn more about the person and what they do for a living.

So what exactly is an effective elevator pitch?

There are lots of different ways of looking at this, but if we use the classic definition of this, what would you want another person to know about you and you work if you only had the length of an elevator ride to explain yourself – think about 45-60 seconds. Could you do it? Could you do it in a way that would make the person want to learn more about you, the mission of your work and its impact on the communities you serve?

Think of it in a different way – if you had 60 seconds with a potential funder, could you blow them away with your story? Would they want to meet with you again to hear more about your work? If your answer isn’t an immediate yes, then a little work on your elevator pitch – which ultimately reflects your professional image and brand – might be a good idea. Here a few strategies to consider:

• Always start with a “hello” and “what’s your name?” It’s amazing how many people forget this and launch right into their rehearsed monologue.
• Practice and commit your bullet points to memory but don’t sound like a robot.
• Try answering the following questions in 15 words or less (each).

1. Why do people like me?
2. Why do people value my work?
3. What makes me, or my work, different?
4. Consider telling a story about your work using a client example instead of the standard description of what you do.
5. Slow down – 60 seconds is not a long time but running through your words like a speed reader will not gain much interest.

If you would like to learn more on this topic or had questions about my Coaching and Training services, contact me at:

Phone - 786.457.5371
Email - [email protected].
Website - www.zetaconsultingfl.com

About Russell Correa, Ed.M., LMHC
As the Principal of Zeta Consulting Group, Russell Correa brings close to 20 years of experience as a licensed clinician, certified executive coach, HR & Management consultant and trainer to his work. Russell also serves as a board member for Allegany Franciscan Ministries, a funder of nonprofits in the Miami, Tampa Bay and Palm Beach areas.