Planted In Miami

Our climate is changing and we are witnessing the effects playing out in real time: heatwaves, rising seas, intense hurricanes, wildfires and the melting of glaciers to name just a few.  So when it's your job to track and report the weather, these unnatural occurrences are hard to ignore.  Luckily for us, we have NBC6 Chief Meteorologist John Morales not only preparing us for hurricanes but also the stark reality that is climate change. John has been fascinated with hurricanes and the weather ever since he was a young boy growing up in Puerto Rico.  After tracking Hurricane David in 1979, which passed just south of the island and ravaged the Dominican Republic, John decided he would pursue a career in meteorology.  Years later as a seasoned and well-respected meteorologist, his beloved island would find itself on a collision course with Hurricane Maria and this time it would not be spared.  Knowing just how serious of a threat this hurricane posed to the people of Puerto Rico, he did a Facebook Live video (no

Think about this for a moment: a child born today can expect oceans to rise one to four feet in their lifetimes; Miami is projected to experience over a foot of sea level rise by the year 2050 and anywhere from 10 to 30 feet by the end of the century.  Add to this that not a single viable solution has been proposed that would keep Miami above water at current sea level rise projections, then the fact that Miami will likely one day be underwater should start to sink in, pun intended.  That is the reality of climate change.  Whether you choose to believe it or not, we're already feeling and seeing its effects and here in Miami where we sit upon porous limestone, the future of our city is at great risk. That's why filmmakers Jimmy Evans and Jack Edmondson decided to make Urban Paradise, to bring awareness to a topic that effects everyone yet is so misunderstood and downplayed by many.  The film follows Sam Van Leer, the charismatic environmentalist and founder of Urban Paradise Guild (UPG) whose single organizin

Jeanne Albaugh has spent her life in service to the homeless, but when she fell and broke her back while inside a fast food restaurant, she not only lost her life long dream of becoming a world champion in barrel racing, she became homeless herself. Once she realized her dream would never materialize, she fell into a deep depression and got addicted to pain killers.  Her husband eventually divorced her and she lost her three children.  Jeanne, who gave so much of herself to the homeless, now found herself living under a bridge.  Even though she attempted suicide several times during this difficult and challenging time, it was a letter from her son that helped her emerge from this darkness and take back control of her life. Now Jeanne is the founder and CEO of Showering Love which provides mobile showers to the homeless via a converted 42 foot city bus.  Not only do these showers provide a safe and comfortable place for South Florida's homeless to bathe, it also restores dignity and hope to those who are too o

"Radical simply means grasping things at the root." - Angela Davis Meet Ana Samantha, part of the Miami Core-Team of the Dream Defenders.  Founded in 2012 after the murder of Trayvon Martin by a few university students across Florida tired of the systematic over policing and incarceration of poor communities of color, The Dream Defenders was started in order to make powerful change come to Florida.  And change is exactly what Ana was looking for a year and a half ago after working a job in retail that left her unfulfilled.  With a desire to get more involved in her community, Ana volunteered with the Dream Defenders and unlocked her passion for activism. This year they released the Freedom Papers, a 7 part manifesto outlining their vision for a Florida that is able to serve the everyday needs of its people and that asks our elected representatives to put our safety before corporate profits. Recently touted as "too radical" by the Republican Governors Association, the Dream Defenders have become a voice for th

  Owning a home was once the American dream, but for quite some time now it's been out of reach for many Americans.  The housing crisis further deepened that chasm and here in Miami where wages are lower than other big cities, the issue of affordable housing is all too real and leading Miami towards a homeless boom. So what's considered affordable?  Paying less than 30% of your income towards your rent or mortgage.  We know, you're probably paying more than that and you're not alone. As the daughter of a Cuban exile, Annie Lord was always sensitive to the plight of those suffering the harshest economic conditions and in her new role as Executive Director of Miami Homes For All, she brings a wealth of experience fostering stability and mobility for those who are economically disadvantaged. Through a number of initiatives focusing on affordable housing, youth homelessness and chronic homelessness, Miami Homes For All is advocating for everyone in Miami-Dade County to be able to afford a safe and stable home. We

Traditionally, decisions about the future of communities are made behind closed doors by a select few in positions of political power, but with more and more local organizations getting involved and demanding a seat at the table, the times are a changing.  Sarah Emmons, and her team at Radical Partners work tirelessly to educate and connect change-makers to accelerate the big ideas that will lead Miami forward and to tackle the issues that are stifling its progress.   With programs such as their Leadership Lab and Social Entrepreneurship Bootcamp which gives community leaders the tools and resources they need to accomplish their goals, they've also crafted the 100 Great Ideas Campaign which crowdsources big ideas for the cities most pressing problems.  In the past, they've focused on issues such as housing affordability and transit and mobility and in November they will gather ideas for climate resilience and sustainability.  Starting November 12th, everyone in Miami is invited to a 5-day, online conversation

Considering it's been predicted that there'll be more plastic in our oceans than fish by 2050, wouldn't it be nice if there was a store that offered solutions to our dependence on plastic and that could help us reduce our waste?  Well, now there is. Verde, located in Wynwood, is Miami's first and only sustainable store. Now, instead of buying another plastic container when you run out of a product, you can take that same container to Verde and refill it with an earth-friendly (and in many instances animal-friendly) alternative.  With several refilling stations from detergent to soaps, shampoos, and conditioners to choose from, you are sure to find one of the many household items you use all the time. Thanks to founders Pam and Marta, Verde is providing a solution to help us all combat plastic and live more consciously. Besides their soap refill stations, you can expect to find spices, oils, food in bulk, local nut milks, kombucha, dog treats, bamboo toothbrushes, and so much more.  With over 250 items and mor

When Nzingah Oniwosan was just 12 years old, she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor on her pituitary gland called Prolcatinoma. Unbeknownst to her, this was just the beginning of a series of illnesses that would eventually lead her to see five different physicians on a regular basis over the course of nine years. After being sick and tired of being sick and tired, Nzingah decided to make radical changes in her diet and lifestyle to heal herself. Today, Nzingah is a holistic health consultant, plant-based chef, interdisciplinary artist and the creator of Yes Baby I Like It Raw, a platform where she uses her skills, knowledge and talents to educate people on how to manage stress levels and take control of their health.  She's also a trailblazer entrepreneur who recently co-founded a co-working space in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti called Impact Hub which works at the "intersection of innovation and society to collaboratively create impact with an entrepreneurial mindset." Nzingah's life story is one of challenge an

5.25 trillion pieces of plastic reside in our oceans compared to the 400 billion stars in the Milky Way. That means we have 13 times more pieces of plastic in our oceans than stars in our galaxy. This startling fact is the first thing you see when you visit the Debris Free Oceans webpage, a not-for-profit organization established by locals, Caiti and Jeremy Waks. Their long-time love of the water and the growing trash problem inspired them in 2014 to get more involved as well as find a fun and engaging way to educate Miami about the damaging effects of plastic pollution. Debris Free Oceans focuses on the reductionist approach to motivate people to rethink disposable and single-use consumption by embracing lifestyles with more action and less clutter. To date, they have picked up over 23,000 pounds of plastics and have educated over 4,700 students in Miami-Dade County about plastic pollution and how to live zero-waste lifestyles.  Through fun events like Keg and Clean where you're rewarded with complimentary b

There are a lot changes occurring in Little Haiti and Abraham Metellus of the Little Haiti Cultural Complex is helping to bridge the gap between community and culture by showcasing programs and events that highlight the Haitian and Afro-Carribean culture. The state of the art facility houses a 300 seat theatre, 2,150 square foot art gallery, outdoor courtyard and a Caribbean Marketplace with local vendors, music, miniature golf, vegan food and more. When we sat down with Abraham we talked about his rediscovery of his Haitian culture upon moving back from Chicago and how he's been able to use his formal education and experience in his role at the LHCC to facilitate programming.  In addition to spearheading free classes and wellness offerings, Abraham has also organized free tours in traditional Haitian Tap Tap buses to enjoy the sights and sounds of Little Haiti. The Marketplace is a definite must visit on Saturdays with a little something for everyone. We hope you enjoy the conversation, Alex and Jeanette For

Cristina Ivory, the founder of Angry Booch, isn't afraid to experiment, which is why upon finding out about the health benefits of kombucha, she decided she was going to make some for herself. If you've never heard of kombucha, you're not alone.  However, the popularity of this effervescent and fermented drink made from tea is on the rise and Angry Booch is serving up some unique, Miami inspired flavors. After perfecting her recipes in her parent's garage and working the farmer's market circuit, Cristina opened up Miami's first kombucha tap room in Palmetto Bay where you can enjoy eight different varieties. Using local, seasonal fruit to come up with creative flavors such as Hibiscus Ginger Orange and Lychee Rose, Angry Booch offers some of the tastiest kombucha around. Cristina also has a passion for health, specifically gut health, which has led her to experimenting outside of kombucha to offer seasonal kimchi, pickles, and sauerkraut.  In addition to the tap room, you can find Angry Booch at the Upper East

Did you know that scattered throughout the vast landscape of the Everglades, far from the city lights of Miami, vehicles from another time, another era, are quietly resting amongst the mangroves and marshes?  By using satellite imagery and investigating rumors, photographer Matt Stock and the brainchild of Abandoned Vehicles of the Everglades, Charles Kropke, go out into the darkness to explore the interaction of man versus nature by photographing these long forgotten relics of the past. By using a technique Matt refers to as ‘painting with light,’ he is able to create hyper-realistic nighttime images of vehicles such as Ford Model T’s, Studabakers, RV’s, and even drug smuggling airplanes while uncovering a side of the Everglades most people may not know exists.  And by strictly photographing these cars in the darkness of night and by virtue of conversations like this one, Matt and Charles are dispelling the fears people might have of the Everglades once the sun goes down in this beautiful and highly endanger

Each day, people in the United States throw enough trash away to fill 63,000 garbage trucks.  A good portion of that trash is food, which could eventually be composted into rich soil used to grow more food. If you're not familiar with composting or if it's been something you've been thinking about but haven't acted on, let us introduce you to Fertile Earth and it's Executive Director, Melissa Selem.  Fertile Earth is a non-profit whose mission is to lead the composting movement in Miami through education, research, community building, and supporting healthy soil. Because of Fertile Earth's efforts, Miami now has two official composting hubs at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens and Smart Bites To Go as well as a pick up service to various cities in and around Miami. Their vision is for composting to be a thriving and integral component of Miami's food systems, local economy, environmental stewardship and community well-being. We sat down with Melissa and talked all things composting and discussed some of the c

On September 1, 1944, the Miami Police Department hired "The First Five" black police officers (then called patrolmen) in order to bring some level of equality to policing in the black communities.  Considering the overt racism and discrimination of our country at that time, this was a historic moment and these men paved the road for those that would come after them.  By 1950, there was 41 black officers on the force and a police precinct and courtroom was established in which to adjudicate black defendants. The building was unique as there was no other known structure in the nation that was designed, devoted to and operated as a separate station house and municipal court for blacks. Today, the Black Police Precinct & Courthouse Museum in Overtown stands as a reminder of the struggles and accomplishments of black police officers in Miami. We sat down with Terrance Cribbs-Lorrant, museum Executive Director and retired Police Lieutenant  Archie McKay, who served from 1955 until his retirement in 1980 as a D

What do you do when you get your dream job in fashion, have amazing friends, live in one of the most popular cities in America but somehow feel like something is off in your life? This is where Colleen Coughlin found herself a few years back trying to discover what it was about her job that wasn't fulfilling her.  The revelation came during a trash day at work when tons of scraps, samples and more were being thrown away and/or burned. It was the waste and disregard for sustainability that didn't sit well with Colleen.  Shortly after, she quit her job, moved to Miami and created The Full Edit, a zero waste consulting and closet editing brand. Her goal is to make the apparel industry more sustainable by lessening the need to "buy more" by investing in quality, conscious, classic pieces that last and keep excessive fabric out of the waste stream. The Full Edit has upcycled 4,062 pounds of fabric and counting. Colleen now holds a Professional Certificate in Sustainable Design Entrepreneurship from FIT and is the

Nine years ago, Barry Rabkin discovered a golfball sized lump on his throat while washing his face. The diagnosis was thyroid cancer and the treatment was invasive surgery and radiation. Upon the suggestion of his wife, he began juicing in an effort to help aid his recovery. Not only did Barry feel better and have more energy, but his blood work was showing signs of improvement with levels in the normal range.  It was at this point he knew he had to help as many people as possible by sharing the power of juicing. However, Barry had no prior food industry experience and his juice recipes where solely focused on nutrition and not taste, a point his partner, Jeff Levine, quickly corrected by bringing his own expertise in the fast casual arena to eventually create Raw Juce. (Yup, there is no "i" in Juce) Today, Raw Juce has nine locations throughout South Florida and offers an array of juices, smoothies, and food such as acai bowls, quinoa salads, raw desserts and more. Barry is now healthy, motivated and excited

At a very young age, Nicole Mejia learned the importance of health and hard work.  After expressing her grievances to her father of being an overweight kid, he motivated her to start running the very next morning.  Together they bonded through overcoming obstacles and life lessons.  Today, Nicole is the founder of Fit and Thick, a women's empowerment brand that teaches the importance of being healthy, embracing your natural physique and living an authentic life. Last year, despite risking alienating her legions of followers, Nicole came ‘out’ as being vegan and announced a Plant-Based meal plan as part of her Fit and Thick workout app. To her surprise, it was well received and has helped her company grow to new heights. Fit and Thick now offers a line of apparel, workout gear, special events and more. And her weekly Vibe Tribe Facebook Live sessions helps others embrace the plant-based lifestyle from discussing meal prep to natural products and everything in between. Nicole’s self awareness and authenticity s

Years ago when P. Scott Cunningham was trying to avoid making eye contact on a New York City subway, he came across Poetry in Motion, an initiative where poems would be featured on the trains instead of advertisements. The poem was called, Hunger, by Billy Collins and it painted a vivid picture of a fox being taken home in a satchel for dinner.  Not having been particularly interested in poetry back then, the poem stood with him years later along with the impact of infusing the written word in the most unlikely places. Today, Scott is the founder and director of O, Miami whose mission is for every single person in Miami-Dade County to encounter a poem during the month of April. O, Miami also has a publishing imprint, a poets-in-schools residency, and other programs that democratize access to literature and re-think the role of the literary arts in American society. Scott also recently released his first poetry book titled, Ya Te Veo, named after a mythical tree that eats people. The book focuses on what "we t

Growing up on the lively streets of Harlem, New York, Rachelle Salnave found an appreciation for her culture and the arts.  Her inspirations from family members to African American films she saw with powerful role models gave her the desire to create her own works of film; a historical feature documentary on the gentrification of Harlem and the Emmy nominated film about her Haitian identity, La Belle Vie: The Good Life. Wanting to expose more Haitian & Black filmmakers, she co-created with her partner, Ayiti Images and the Black Lounge Film Series, both of which focus on curated films that celebrate the Black experience. The Black Lounge Film Series is a monthly film screening featuring different themes in art spaces located in historic Overtown.  In February, the series premiered its first film: Sammy Davis, Jr. - I’ve Gotta Be Me, at the Overtown Performance Arts Center. This month's theme is female filmmakers and will showcase three films: Macho, directed by local filmmaker, Faren Humes, about a twelv

When Australian transplant, Rohan Templeman fell in love and moved across the pond to Miami, he brought his love of farmer's markets and the art of making tempeh with him.  In 2017, after partnering with his father-in-law Dan Jonas, BeCultured Tempeh was born.  Originating in Indonesia, tempeh is a protein source traditionally made from soy.  Describing their methods as part art, part science, this duo has created irresistibly delicious tempeh made from organic beans instead of soy, which they believe makes it a more attractive and sustainable product. A year of challenges and setbacks almost derailed their hopes of bringing homemade tempeh to Miami, however through perserveance and the passion for feeding people good food, BeCultured Tempeh is now open for business at farmer's markets across Miami and select restaurants/stores. We hope you enjoy the conversation, Alex and Jeanette