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Marzo/March 04, 2018 EDICIÓN QUINCENAL
BIWEEKLY EDITION
No. 143
Marzo/March 04, 2018
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DO RAL
Editor in Chief: Ettore Sabatella Managing Editor: Sandra Figueiredo Art Director: Mario Carpio
familyjournal
Marzo/March 04, 2018 • No. 143
Doral Journal
Contributors: Grecia Romero, María A. Pulgar Edda Pujadas, Maria Sabatella Carla De Castro, Belinda León David Pérez Hansen, Ocarina Espinoza
@Doral Journal
Doral Family Journal
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Marzo/March 04, 2018
City | Ciudad
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The campaign “See something, say something” is still active
The city of Doral reinforces the school safety The budget allocated to our Police Department represents more than 40% of the total budget for the City of Doral.
Edda Pujadas, @epujadas
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he City of Doral wants to send a message of peace and safety to the parents and students of our community, they are informing us that the Police Department has, in the present time a School Resource Unit and a Neighborhood Resource Unit, which on a daily basis are rotating around the schools of Doral. Maggie Santos, speaker for the City of Doral explained us this as she stated that the purpose of this special patrolling is to reinforce the safety in our schools, after the terrible events that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. The police officers also assist in tasks such as traffic control and/or at the times for drop off and dismissal in schools. Santos explained that the School Resource Unit works in conjunction with the Miami Dade School District to place the police officers in the schools, with the main objective to keep and create a learning environment that is safe for the students, teachers and staff of the schools. It is important to mention that Public Schools fall under the jurisdiction of the School Police of Miami Dade County, but the Doral Police Department is also ready to assist in all possible emergencies that take place in our city. Doral also has the benefit of having, within our limits, several security agencies, such as the Miami Dade Public Safety Training Institute, which is also ready to act in case of any situation of danger. Regarding the financial resources that are available for school safety, Maggie Santos states that the City of Doral is awaiting the announcement of Rick Scott, Governor of Florida, about the funds for schools and the results of the requests that Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent of the Miami Dade Public Schools have made. Recently, Governor Rick Scott informed that his safety plan for school security will require five hundred million dollars. Scott assured that the state is currently working with a surplus and we have the resources to execute this safety plan. He stated that when he assumed the position there were more than three thousand million in projected income over the actual expenses and since, the
projected income has increased. “We have a strong economy. We have to invest in our schools. Nothing is more important that doing everything possible to assure that an act such as this one, will never happen again”, these were the words of the Governor of Florida. As for the City of Doral, Maggie Santos commented that as of today, more than 40% of the total amount of property taxes that the residents of Doral pay are allocated to Miami Dade Public Schools, in comparison to the 10% that is allocated to the City. She also stated that the budget of the Doral Police Department represents more than 40% of the total budget of the City.
DORAL POLICE IN ACTION
The Doral Police School Resource Unit is formed by a Sargent and seven officers assigned to different schools in our city. Santos states that as of today, there are three more positions for police officers, these positions were already part of the budget for this year and are being assigned to cover the needs of the safety of the schools. “There are really few municipalities that have police officers assigned to its schools, as we are doing,” states Santos, she also adds that the Doral Police keeps a tight relation with all the schools not only to provide surveillance services but also to establish preventative strategies that allow us to avoid violent issues. For example, as of today, the Doral Police is working with all the schools that are interested in evaluating their safety codes and conducting evaluations and analysis of Code Red simulations at the schools, because it is very important that the staff and students know how to react in case of an imminent emergency situation. “We are also working with the Charter Schools (without jurisdiction in the Public Schools) to install Code Red Boxes in the school’s campuses with useful elements such as the school map and a radio, for example. These can be used by the first responder that arrives in case of an alert or emergency call,” Maggie Santos told us.
Additionally, last year, the City of Doral joined other organizations and cities in South Florida and adopted the use of the communication platform “In-telligent”. “Both the City of Doral and the Doral Police Department use this mobile application to issue important safety and/or emergency messages to all the community.” “Using In-telligent as a communication tool assures us that everyone in the city is safer, better informed and more prepared in emergency situations. This application is available for free, for both iOs and Android systems,” Maggie Santos added, while she invited all people working in Doral to also download this application to their mobile phones. At the end of our interview, the speaker of the City of Doral insisted in the importance of the campaign “See something, say something”, as this can play an important role while avoiding tragedies as the one that just happened in Parkland. “The Doral Police makes an important call to all, parents, teachers, students, to please call if you see something abnormal or if you think that there can be a threat. You can always reach them at 305.593.6699 to inform about any irregular situation.” Photo Courtesy: @DoralPolice – DPD and School Administrators conducting our pre-assessment and analysis of Code Red exercise
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Marzo/March 04, 2018
City | Ciudad
www.doralfamiyjournal.com
Se mantiene activa la campaña “Si ves algo, di algo”
La ciudad de Doral refuerza seguridad escolar Edda Pujadas, @epujadas
Marzo/March 04, 2018
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El presupuesto destinado a nuestro cuerpo policial representa más del 40% del presupuesto total de la Ciudad de Doral.
n mensaje de seguridad y tranquilidad desea transmitir la Ciudad de Doral a los padres y estudiantes de nuestra comunidad al informar que el Departamento de Policía tiene, actualmente, una unidad escolar y una unidad comunitaria que rotan diariamente entre los colegios de Doral. Así lo dio a conocer Maggie Santos, vocera de la Ciudad de Doral, quien explicó que el propósito de este patrullaje especial es reforzar la seguridad en las escuelas tras el lamentable suceso acaecido en la unidad educativa Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School en Parkland, además de colaborar con tareas como el control del tráfico o la entrega y/o búsqueda de los niños a las horas de entrada y salida. Explicó Santos que la unidad escolar de la Policía de Doral trabaja en conjunto con el Distrito Escolar del Condado de Miami-Dade para ubicar a los agentes del orden en las escuelas con el objetivo de crear y mantener un ambiente de aprendizaje seguro para los estudiantes, maestros y el personal. Es importante mencionar que las escuelas públicas caen bajo la jurisdicción de la Policía Escolar del Condado de Miami-Dade, pero el Departamento de Policía de Doral está listo para responder a todas las emergencias que ocurran en nuestra ciudad. Doral también tiene la ventaja de contar con varias agencias de seguridad dentro de su territorio, como el Instituto de Entrenamiento de Seguridad Pública de la Policía de Miami-Dade (Miami Dade Public Safety Training Institute, por su denominación en inglés), que también está presto a actuar ante cualquier situación de peligro. Con respecto a los recursos financieros disponibles para la seguridad escolar, Maggie Santos comenta que la Ciudad de Doral está a la espera de los anuncios del Gobernador de la Florida, Rick Scott, sobre los fondos para las escuelas y de los resultados de las solicitudes realizadas por el Superintendente de las Escuelas Públicas de Miami-Dade, Alberto Carvalho. Recientemente, el Gobernador Rick Scott informó su plan de seguridad escolar para el cual se necesitan asignar $500 millones de dólares. Scott aseguró que el estado está funcionando con un superávit y que tiene los recursos para hacerlo, pues cuando entró en el cargo había más de $3
mil millones de ingresos proyectados sobre los gastos actuales y desde entonces, los ingresos proyectados han aumentado. “Tenemos una economía fuerte. Tenemos que invertir en nuestras escuelas. No hay nada más importante que hacer todo lo posible para asegurarnos de que un acto malvado como éste nunca vuelva a ocurrir”, estas fueron palabras pronunciadas por el Gobernador de la Florida.
En lo que a la Ciudad de Doral se refiere, Maggie Santos comentó que, actualmente, más del 40% del total de la tasa de impuestos a la propiedad que pagan los residentes de Doral se destina a las Escuelas Públicas de Miami-Dade, en comparación con el 10% que llega a la ciudad. También mencionó que el presupuesto de la Policía de Doral representa más del 40% del presupuesto total de la ciudad.
POLICIA DE DORAL EN ACCION
La Unidad Escolar de la Policía de Doral consta de un sargento y siete oficiales asignados a diferentes escuelas en toda nuestra ciudad. Santos manifiesta que, actualmente, hay tres puestos más de agentes de policías, que ya formaban parte del presupuesto de este año, que están siendo asignados a cubrir las necesidades seguridad de las escuelas. “Realmente, pocos municipios tienen policías que estén presentes en sus escuelas, así como nosotros estamos haciendo”, señala Santos al agregar que la Policía de Doral mantiene una relación muy estrecha con todos los colegios no sólo para
prestar servicios de vigilancia, sino también para fijar estrategias preventivas que permitan evitar incidentes violentos. Por ejemplo, actualmente la Policía de Doral está trabajando con todas las unidades educativas interesadas en evaluar las instalaciones de seguridad y realizar una evaluación y análisis del simulacro de Código Rojo (Code Red, por su denominación en inglés) de la escuela, pues es muy importante que todo el personal y los estudiantes sepan qué hacer ante un estado de alerta por un peligro inminente. “También estamos trabajando con las Escuelas Charter (sin jurisdicción en las escuelas públicas) para instalar Cajas de Código Rojo (Code Red Boxes, por su denominación en inglés) en los campus escolares con elementos útiles como el mapa del colegio y un radio, por ejemplo, para que puedan ser utilizado por el primer organismo en responder ante un llamado de alerta o emergencia”, señala Maggie Santos. Adicionalmente, el año pasado, la Ciudad de Doral se unió a otras organizaciones y ciudades en el sur de la Florida y adoptó el uso de la plataforma de comunicación In-telligent. “La Ciudad de Doral y el Departamento de Policía utilizan la aplicación móvil para emitir mensajes importantes de seguridad y/o emergencias en toda la comunidad”. “Usar In-Telligent como una herramienta de comunicación asegura que todos en nuestra ciudad estén más seguros, mejor informados y más preparados durante situaciones de emergencia. La aplicación está disponible de forma gratuita para iOS y Android”, agregó Maggie Santos a la vez que instó a todos los residentes y personas que trabajan en Doral a bajar esta aplicación en sus teléfonos celulares. Para finalizar, la vocera de la Ciudad de Doral insistió en la importancia de la campaña “See something, say something” (Si ves algo, Di Algo), pues puede jugar un papel importante evitando tragedias como la que sucedió en Parkland. “La Policía de Doral hace un llamado a todos, desde los padres hasta los maestros y estudiantes, a que llamen si notaron algo anormal o si creen que podría haber una amenaza. Siempre pueden comunicarse al 305.593.6699 para alertar sobre cualquier situación irregular”.
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Marzo/March 04, 2018
State | Estado
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Changes to the gun laws and an increase in the school safety in Florida Scott plans to increase funding to protect schools and to tighten gun restrictions for those with mental health issues. Carla De Castro
Marzo/March 04, 2018
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fter politicians were pressured by a wave one, allowing it to shoot as a machine gun does; for this to be adopted, the approval of the County of protests registered in Washington and similar to the one that Stephen Paddock used in Superintendents or School Board, the House of Florida, where protestors demanded stricter twelve of his rifles when he attacked the crowd that Representatives and Senate is still missing before gun controls, after the Parkland massacre that left was enjoying a Country Music concert the night of the Governor Rick Scott can sign it. Even when there are some states where the 17 dead people and 15 wounded, the Governor of October 1st, 2017, in Las Vegas. These devices are legal and easy teachers already carry arms, the Governor of Florida Florida was forced to take certain to acquire in the United States, in stressed, in these past days, that he wants to focus measures and on February 23rd comparison to automatic weapons all his attention in the reinforcement of the law. “To he unveiled his “action plan” which that are difficult to buy by civilians make sure that we have more police presence, we contemplates the following changes: since the approval of the Firearms will make sure that they are well trained,” Scott • Raise the minimum required age stated. Owners Protection Act of 1986. to buy a firearm to 21 years of In the action plan that Rick Scott announced, he Nevertheless, it is still possible age. to buy thousands of weapons that proposes to have one police officer for every one • Prohibit that people with mental were manufactured and registered thousand students in all public schools. health problems have access to The Superintendent of the Miami Dade Public before 1986, even when they are firearms very expensive, and their sale has Schools, Alberto Carvalho, agreed with this position, • Increase the number of school to be approved by the Bureau of but he highlighted that, “state financing to hire at police officers to one per every Rick Scott Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and least 100 additional officers solely for our schools thousand students in public must be proportional to this proposal.” For this Explosive of the United States. schools After the tragedy in Las Vegas, the National Rifle reason he has already requested thirty million dollars The highest authority in the State also informed Association of the United States, requested to the to hire police officers, school counselors, school us that he will allocate five hundred million dollars to Government to implement “additional regulations” psychologists, and improve the infrastructure. About the polemic idea to arm the teachers as improve the safety in schools, in order to avoid that for the access to bump stocks. It is important to highlight that it is illegal to modify a way to avoid possible attacks in educational tragedies such as the one in Parkland take place again. “I am going to devote every day to make sure the internal components of semiautomatic rifles centers, Carvalho’s opinion is that the idea is crazy. that we get those funds and to make sure that we in order to turn them into fully automatic rifles, but “Teachers should not have that added responsibility. enforce the law and get mental health counselors. bump stocks are exterior mechanisms that do not They are armed with inspiration, they educate, lead and have the right to make it in a safe way break the law. We are going to make things right in our State.” In spite of the initiative to prohibit these without being in charge of guaranteeing the safety “I will work actively with our legislators during of others.” the following weeks in order to achieve this,” Scott controversial devices, the Governor Following that line, he invited the stated in a press conference where he regretted did not request the prohibition politicians to bring common sense to that, “no plan will be able to bring back to life the of the commerce of AR-15 rifles, gun legislation in the United States. seventeen lives that were taken and all the hopes because in his opinion, “to prohibit “It is beyond our understanding, as specific weapons will not solve the and dreams that were ruined.” a society, how have we determined The author of this massacre, 19 years old Nikolas problem.” that an 18 years old teenager is not Cruz, confess that he purchased the semiautomatic allow to buy alcohol but can legally ARMING THE TEACHERS TO AVOID AR-15 rifle, legally, this weapon has been used in purchase a semiautomatic rifle plus MORE ATTACKS? other massacres such as the one in Las Vegas ammunitions”, he wrote. In spite of the fact that Governor (where 58 people lost their lives) and the one at The Superintendent applauded Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, Rick Scott does not agree with that the students are turning their the suggestion of President Trump which left 27 victims in 2012. grief and sadness into action, to Scott, who is a member of the National Rifle to arm the teachers, this past demand from legislators more Association, detailed that fifty million dollars of Tuesday 27th, the Committee of Alberto Carvalho regulations over the gun laws the proposed budget will be used for initiatives in Appropriations of the House of mental health. He also affirmed that he will prohibit Representatives of Florida approved a Statewide stated in the Second Amendment. He considers the commerce of bump stocks, an instrument program to arm teachers in schools under the that thanks to this, “the political courage to make that turns a semiautomatic rifle into an automatic direction of the local law enforcement. In order the right thing has finally emerged.”
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Marzo/March 04, 2018
State | Estado
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Se contemplan cambios en la ley de armas y aumento de la seguridad escolar en Florida Scott planea aumentar los fondos para proteger a las escuelas y ajustar las restricciones de armas a las personas con problemas de salud mental. Carla De Castro
Marzo/March 04, 2018
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uego de que los políticos se vieran presionados por una marea de protestas registradas en Washington y en Florida, donde exigen a viva voz un mayor control de armas a raíz de la masacre en Parkland que dejo 17 muertos y 15 heridos, el gobernador de la Florida, Rick Scott, se vio obligado a tomar medidas y develó “un gran plan de acción” que plantea los siguientes cambios: • Elevar la edad mínima requerida para comprar armas de fuego a 21 años • Evitar que personas con problemas mentales tengan acceso a armas • Aumentar el número de policías escolares a uno por cada mil estudiantes en las escuelas públicas La máxima autoridad del estado también informó que destinará 500 millones de dólares para mejorar la seguridad escolar, a fin de evitar que tragedias como la de Parkland se vuelvan a repetir. “ Me voy a enfocar todos los días para asegurarme de que obtengamos ese dinero y encargarnos de hacer cumplir la ley y conseguir los consejeros de salud mental. Vamos a hacer las cosas correctas en nuestro estado”. “Trabajaré activamente con los legisladores durante las próximas semanas para lograrlo”, indicó Scott en una rueda de prensa en la que lamentó que “ningún plan podrá devolver las diecisiete vidas que fueron truncadas y todas las esperanzas y sueños que fueron arruinados”. El autor de la matanza, Nikolas Cruz de 19 años, confesó que compró el rifle semiautomático AR15 legalmente, instrumento que ha sido utilizado en otras masacres como la de Las Vegas (donde murieron 58 personas) y la de la escuela primaria Sandy Hook, en Connecticut, que dejó 27 víctimas en 2012. Scott, quien es miembro de la Asociación Nacional del Rifle (NRA por sus siglas en inglés), detalló que 50 millones de dólares de ese presupuesto serán para iniciativas de salud mental. También adelantó que prohibirá la compra-venta de los ‘bump stocks’, un dispositivo que permite transformar un fusil semiautomático en automático para disparar ráfagas como una metralla, el mismo que utilizo Stephen Paddock, en doce de sus rifles con el fin de acribillar a la multitud que disfrutada de un concierto de música country en la noche del 1 de octubre de 2017 en Las Vegas. Estos dispositivos son legales en Estados Unidos y fáciles de conseguir, a diferencia de las armas automáticas que son complicadas de comprar
Dade, Alberto Carvalho, manifestó para la población civil desde la estar de acuerdo; sin embargo, aprobación de la Ley de Protección resaltó que “el financiamiento estatal de Propietarios de Armas de Fuego para contratar unos 100 oficiales en 1986. adicionales solo para nuestras Sin embargo, todavía se pueden escuelas debe ser proporcional a comprar miles de armas fabricadas la propuesta”. Por lo que ya han y registradas antes de 1986, aunque solicitado $30 millones para la son muy caras y su venta debe contratación de agentes de policía, ser aprobada por la Agencia de consejeros escolares/psicólogos, y Alcohol, Tabaco, Armas de Fuego y mejoras de la infraestructura. Explosivos de Estados Unidos (ATF, Sobre la polémica idea de armar por sus siglas en inglés). a los maestros como una forma de A raíz de la tragedia en Las Vegas, Rick Scott disuadir posibles ataques en contra la Asociación Nacional del Rifle de EE.UU., pidió al gobierno que haga “regulaciones de los centros educativos, Carvalho opinó que es descabellada. “Los maestros no deben tener esta adicionales” para el acceso a los “bump stocks”. Vale destacar que es ilegal modificar los carga agregada. Ellos están armados con inspiración, componentes internos de los rifles semiautomáticos instruyen, lideran, y tienen derecho a hacerlo de para hacerlos totalmente automáticos, pero los manera segura sin ser los encargados de garantizar la “bump-stock” son mecanismos que se añaden al seguridad para todos los demás”. En esa línea de críticas, instó a los políticos a traer exterior, por lo que no infringen la ley. Pese a la iniciativa de prohibir estos controversiales sentido común a la legislación de armas en Estados dispositivos, el gobernador no pidió la prohibición de Unidos. “Está más allá de la comprensión de cómo la compra-venta de fusiles AR-15, pues a su juicio, nosotros, como sociedad, hemos determinado que “prohibir armas específicas no resolverá el problema”. un joven de 18 años no tiene la edad suficiente para comprar alcohol, pero legalmente puede comprar un ¿ARMAR A LOS MAESTROS PARA EVITAR MAS rifle semiautomático junto con municiones”, escribió. ATAQUES? El superintendente aplaudió que los estudiantes A pesar de que el gobernador Rick Scott no está de transformaran su luto y tristeza en acción, para exigirles acuerdo con la sugerencia del presidente Trump de a los legisladores regulaciones en las permisivas armar a los maestros, el pasado martes 27, el Comité leyes de armas plasmadas en la segunda enmienda. de Asignaciones de la Cámara de Representantes Considera que gracias a ello, “el coraje político para de la Florida aprobó un programa estatal para armar hacer lo correcto finalmente ha emergido”. a los maestros en las aulas, bajo la dirección de la policía local. Para ello, aún necesita la aprobación de los superintendentes condales, así como las aprobaciones de la Cámara de Representantes y del Senado, además de la firma del gobernador Rick Scott para su promulgación. Aunque hay algunos estados donde los maestros ya están armados, el Gobernador de la Florida comentó en días pasados, que quiere centrar toda la atención en el fortalecimiento de la aplicación de la ley. “Asegurarnos de tener más presencia policial, nos aseguraremos de que estén entrenados”, dijo Scott. En el plan de acción que anunció Rick Scott, propone desplegar un policía por cada 1000 estudiantes en todas las escuelas públicas. El Superintendente de las escuelas públicas de Miami
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Cover | Portada
www.doralfamiyjournal.com
Parental involvement, gun access control, increased safety measures
Doral Parents Discuss School Safety and Prevention of Tragic Events
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By Maria Alejandra Pulgar
@marialepulgar - NAHJ #37172
t is difficult not to stablish parallels between Parkland and Doral. Both are suburbs of the MiamiMetropolitan area, with a young, growing population, affluent families and a local government focused on providing their constituents a beautiful, peaceful, place to live and thrive. Ranked in 2017 #8 among the safest suburbs to live in Florida and #4 on Best Places to raise a family, Parkland, is the third largest settlement of Venezuelan immigrants in Florida, after Doral and Weston. They have only one public high school, like Doral. It is too difficult not to feel their recent tragedy closer to home than any other before. A Parkland family and several Doral parents commented their feelings on the situation, their fears and ideas on community safety and prevention. All of them agree that what happened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine’s Day 2018 should be the last time American families mourn children victims of a mass shooting. Enough is enough #NeverAgain.
“LIVING IN PARKLAND WAS LIKE BEING IN DISNEYLAND”
Jeanette Garcia and Marco Flores have been living in Parkland with their son and other family members for ten years. “I never felt unsafe there. For me it was a peaceful place, ideal for raising my child. It was like being in Disneyland” said Jeanette, “it is a small town, we all know each other”.
times were not as fast as needed on this case.” Marco said that for him the system failed “everybody, all authorities knew about this problematic kid, and did nothing to help him. He was expelled from the school, but there was no follow up, any effective procedure. He stayed on the streets and look what he did. There are procedures that need to change to prevent this kind of tragedies.” “As citizens, I believe that at a local and county level have to be reviewed the role of the police, how they should act to protect our children, and how we can support them to work for that. Also, the education system must have more mechanisms to adequately handle people with mental problems; they are sick people who need help and the education and health system is failing them. And after solving that then we can talk gun control.” “First you have to solve the other two points because taking it to a political level we miss solving what is more within our reach. We plan to write, to go all marches and demonstrations and if possible to collect money between the parents at the school and pay for more security” said Jeanette. “It is always someone with mental problems who causes these situations, and then the problem has to be handled. We need to fix a system that leaves people unattended” said Marco. “It is a disease of this society, of families, that has to be taken care of” concluded Jeanette, and Marco added “parents should join in the school, request more security. Do not shut up, demand solutions and follow them up, to avoid innocent people paying the consequences of the lack of attention. We hope this situation that our community has gone through helps make a change.”
Marzo/March 04, 2018
“DORAL IS SAFE, BUT IT CAN BETTER”
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Marco Flores and Jeanette García
However, Jeanette and Marco think in retrospective the community was perceived peaceful because nothing had happened but actually in some instances safety prevention measures were not enough, “we lacked some prevention measures and response
Many parents in Doral, especially those recently arrived at the country were really scared at the situation occurred in Parkland. However, they still consider Doral schools safe, although there is always space for improvement. Pooja Marwah is from India and has been living in Doral for eight years. She considers that “newer schools are equipped with the latest security systems and planned in a manner that is suited to handle any security invasions. The older schools however, need to be reviewed critically for security infrastructural
updates.” She outlined among the changes that have to be taken more control on speed limits around schools, locking off gates of school parking lots, more police presence Pooja Marwah during school hours, more training for parents on safety measures and regular feedback from the community on safety. Alessandra Saligoi is from Italy and has been living in Doral for five years. Comparing security in Doral with what she lived in her country she thinks “security system here is way higher than the one we have back in Italy, in my daughter school they have a fingerprint recognition system […]. In my sons there is internal security that stops everyone from getting into the school before they go through the office registration, even to be a volunteer you have to have your background check by the police; A whole new safety process for me”. Alessandra has learned that in this country there are different instances on security r e s p o n s i b i l i t y, among the different departments of police (Miami-Dade, School Police and Alessandra Saligoi City of Doral Police) that manage different budgets and responsibilities and it somehow makes her wonder how so many different roles can act together in case of an emergency. The primary role for her is the parents “we should be more proactive and present in our kids’ lives, teach them to speak up if they notice something wrong, to don’t be afraid to help each other because they might be label as tellers! We should give this example to them; we should show them to be fearless and stand for themselves and help others to do the same. They need to learn not to turn their head in the opposite direction.” Ana Maria Rodriguez moved back to Doral last year
after spending some time in her native Ecuador. They decided for Doral again because of its schools and safety in the neighborhood. ” I never felt nor do I do now that my kids are unsafe at school.” However, she feels more confident when there is police presence in or around the schools, although when “the police officer stopped coming I figured, since it such a safe neighborhood, maybe it is not needed. […] Due to the latest issues and school shootings, that happened so close to us, I have been a little worried.” Being a teacher, she knows schools regularly practice safety drills and protocols, but as not many parents know about them Ana things that schools should inform parents “not all parents know about these procedures and they should, because that will eliminate part of the panic attacks we all get and I strongly believe affect our kids even more. At times like this we need to take action, the school district needs to distribute more information and open up to parents and their concerns.” Tatiana Ĉerná has been living in Doral since last summer, relocated from Germany and thinks “safety at Doral schools is pretty good, at least at our school, which is the only one I can speak for. The administration and teachers do their best to keep such a big and over populated school within the safety standards. The security staff knows most of the parents, and is capable to identify a lot of who go in and out the school. They are very good at checking that any visitors are properly wearing a visitor’s pass and asking where are they going. The students are being taught about security and they conduct drills at school. Now we also see police Tatiana Cerna cooperating at the school which helps parents to get a sense of security.” On her opinion the City is making an effort to make the community feel safer “They reached out to make sure our children were taken care. Police was sent to the schools, the city did the best to communicate with the community of what they are doing in regards of school safety.”
INVOLVEMENT, COMMUNICATION AND ACTION
In the opinion of the many parents that reached out to voice their thoughts, preventing more tragedies to happen is a collective effort, between parents, community and authorities, where active involvement, communication and calls to action have to be involved to reach effective solutions.
Carolina Piernavieja, who has been living in Doral for twenty years, thinks that “the real solution resides in making our kids fully responsible of their actions, teach them to defend some other kids’ rights, never being Carolina Piernavieja part of a humiliation to anybody. We have to measure our own actions, have a calm attitude against adversity and take action when we see injustice against us. I can sound silly but in a City like Doral with so many traffic problems keeping the calm and act with precaution when other people break the law it is an act of humankind.” “Monitoring social media in our kids phones is a key factor to know who are our kids’ friends and if they can represent a danger to anybody else or even to themselves. Doral police have shown a total compromise with our Schools through the DARE program. This kind of initiatives since Middle School plays an extraordinary impact in our kid’s minds. One second of a bad choice in their life can be fatal. Prevention is the best weapon you can use against violence.” Carolina comments that schools should be given more resources to handle timely students in need: “More psychologists and psychiatrists should be incorporated into our Schools in a way they can follow up on some problematic kids. “ Ana Maria Rodriguez summarizes very well the general opinion “the Doral community is a very safe and family friendly community, but in times like this we as parents need to take upon our responsibilities and work with the school and the authorities to make sure that our kids are safe in our community. There is no better education, than the one we give our kids at home by setting examples. Make sure to pay attention to any signs, anything our kids do towards their body, is a sign that there is something they need to let out. Let us listen to those signs, pay attention; they are our kids, nobody else, only us can understand them.”
FOLLOW A ROUTINE, LISTEN TO YOU CHILD, TUNE IN WITH HIS EMOTIONS
That was the advice of psychologist Erika Angulo on how to handle the stress of witnessing tragic situations in a community, to help our children cope. “It is always very important to connect with what I, as a parent, am feeling, to realize what my fears and fears are, how I am handling the situation. The first thing is to calm down and regulate my emotions as a father so I can help my children, to calm them down. And the second thing is for me to make sure physically
the school is prepared and it’s a safe thing to do. [..] It is very important to continue with the child’s routine, as long as I feel safe that I am leaving him in a safe place and be able to transmit that security to the child. My emotions are going to project into the child’s. […] Each child will elaborate it differently. Although routine is ideal, I must understand that my child is an individual and that he reacts differently. In conclusion: Routine, listening and tune in with the unique needs and emotions of my child.” With regards to the need of more mental health resources at the schools, Angulo thinks that behavior problems in children have to be acknowledged and addressed by the parents as early as possible to prevent they escalate to tragedies. “Since the child is small, the prevention of mental health is important. The earlier it is treated, the easier it will be to help that child” taking in account risk factors such as isolation, addictions, family problems, social situations at home, those are factors that “can lead a child to trigger a depression and that can become suicidal or homicidal”. “The child needs at least one caregiver to meet their needs” says Angulo, someone that is on top of his behavior and can look for help when needed from early childhood, to intervene before it is too late. Parents should be aware of sadness, isolation, aggressive behavior in order to look for help and address the need timely. “These are very important factors to consider. Always seek help, when in doubt, seek help. The most they can say is “everything is fine” but if you need help you are on time.” In Angulo’s opinion, “there should be many more counselors and psychologists available [at schools] I would put more money to that and spaces of expression for the children to give them tools and programs for conflict management, where they can talk about what happens to them, managing their emotions, express themselves.” “Studies have shown that in situations like these children tell you what they are going to do to a peer, a friend and not an adult. If we have spaces of expression they are going to speak, to liberate, and to make allies within the classroom with each other. We need to make programs where as a group children can be helped, [programs to develop] empathy and tolerance for the other, accepting, respecting and including differences.” “I want to be an optimist, it’s time to raise the voices and create emotionally safe spaces. Arming the schools with weapons I do not think is the best solution. We should arm the children not with weapons but with conflict resolution tools, how to manage their social skills and their emotions. And also provide schools with more budgets to have more programs to better help all children” concluded Angulo.
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Participación de los padres, control de acceso a las armas, aumento de las medidas de seguridad:
Padres de Doral Discuten Seguridad Escolar y Prevención de Eventos Trágicos
Por Maria Alejandra Pulgar
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@marialepulgar - NAHJ #37172
s difícil no establecer paralelismos entre Parkland y Doral. Ambos son suburbios del área metropolitana de Miami, con una población joven y creciente, familias acomodadas y un gobierno local enfocado en proporcionar a sus electores un lugar hermoso, pacífico, donde vivir y prosperar. Clasificado en 2017 como # 8 entre los suburbios más seguros para vivir en Florida y # 4 en Mejores Lugares para criar una familia, Parkland, es el tercer asentamiento más grande de inmigrantes venezolanos en Florida, después de Doral y Weston. Tienen solo una escuela secundaria pública, como Doral. La mayoría de sus jóvenes asisten a esa escuela. Es muy difícil no sentir su tragedia reciente más cerca de casa que cualquier otra antes. Una familia de Parkland y varios padres de familia de Doral comentaron sus sentimientos sobre la situación, sus temores e ideas sobre la seguridad y prevención de la comunidad. Todos ellos coinciden en que lo que sucedió en Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School en el Día de San Valentín 2018 debería ser la última vez que las familias estadounidenses lloren a sus hijos víctimas de un tiroteo masivo. Ya es suficiente. #NeverAgain.
Marzo/March 04, 2018
“VIVIR EN PARKLAND ERA COMO DISNEYLANDIA”
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Jeanette García y Marco Flores han vivido en Parkland desde hace diez años. “Nunca me he sentido insegura, para mí era un lugar de paz y tranquilidad para que los niños crecieran, era como Disneylandia” una ciudad pequeña donde todos se conocen. Sin embargo, Jeanette y Marco piensan en retrospectiva que la comunidad se percibe muy segura porque nunca había sucedido nada, pero que realmente algunas instancias de prevención y medidas de seguridad no eran suficientes. “Eso es parte del problema, como todo era tan tranquilo y todos confiados que ahí nunca pasa nada, entonces la parte preventiva y la rapidez con que debió atacarse el problema fue lenta.” Marco piensa que el sistema falló “a nivel de la policía de Broward, a nivel del School Board y el FBI también falló. La ciudad sabía y conocía el caso del muchacho, todo el mundo lo conocía y nunca se le hizo caso.” “Este niño fue expulsado de la escuela, los vecinos no lo soportaban, todo el mundo lo protestó y aun así ninguna autoridad hizo nada” expresa Jeanette. “Lo que yo quisiera es que no estemos sin unirnos, los padres de todos los colegios se tienen que unir para
tener a los hijos seguros.” “Como ciudadanos” dice Marco, “creo que debemos a nivel local y de condados a revisar la función de la policía, como deben actuar para proteger a nuestros hijos y como apoyarlos para que trabajen para eso. Lo segundo, el sistema educativo debe tener mecanismos más expresos para manejar correctamente personas con problemas mentales, que necesitan ayuda y allí está fallando el sistema educativo y de salud. El tercer punto sería discutir el control de armas. Pero primero hay que solucionar los otros dos puntos antes de discutir eso. Debemos hacer primero lo que está más en nuestras manos.” “Yo pienso escribir cartas” dice Jeanette, “ir a todas las marchas y reuniones y, si es posible, reunir plata entre los padres del colegio y pagar por la seguridad. Nadie está seguro en ninguna parte, ni en el cine, ni en la iglesia.” “Siempre es alguien con problemas mentales que causa estas situaciones, entonces hay que manejar ese problema de fondo, educativo, de familia, de sistema, que está dejando a la gente sin atención. Es algo que hay que trabajar y solucionar de raíz, para que no vuelva a suceder” dice Marco. Esperan que todas las comunidades se unan a la causa de Parkland, “vincúlense en los colegios, en la seguridad del colegio, denuncien. Hay que pelear las cosas, que no nos callen, hay que reclamar la solución y hacerle seguimiento. Por la seguridad de nuestros hijos, tenemos que lograr que haya más recursos y cambie la legislación sobre cómo manejar la situación en los colegios. Que esto que nos tocó vivir logre que haya un cambio para todos” concluyó Marco.
DORAL ES SEGURA, PERO PUEDE MEJORAR
Muchos padres en Doral, especialmente los que tienen poco tiempo en el país, se asustaron mucho con la situación ocurrida en Parkland. Sin embargo siguen considerando Doral y sus escuelas seguras, aunque siempre haya espacio para mejorar. Elizabeth Canchola es Mexicana y ha vivido en EEUU hace 18 años, 4 de ellos en Doral. Considera que las escuelas de Doral son seguras y que los residentes deben primero comprender cómo funcionan las jurisdicciones dentro de los diferentes cuerpos de autoridades para poder exigir adecuadamente los servicios, en particular para pedir mayor seguridad en las escuelas.
“Necesitamos comprender como funcionan las escuelas y municipalidades antes de pedir a la Ciudad más oficiales de policía fuera de las escuelas. La policía del MiamiDade School Board es quien tiene Elizabeth-Canchola jurisdicción dentro de las escuelas, no la Policía de Doral o la Ciudad. “Necesitamos entender que este es un problema de toda la comunidad y que necesitamos trabajar todos juntos en nuestras diferentes áreas: nuestros oficiales electos pueden ayudarnos a exigir un mejor control de armas, ellos son nuestra voz. [..] por su parte la Junta escolar puede proporcionar más información para educar a los niños sobre la violencia y sus consecuencias, prevención de bullying, derechos humanos etc.” Por su parte, Yahaitza Gil de Rubio, puertorriqueña con 11 años viviendo en Doral considera que las escuelas “son bastante seguras. Me parece que la ciudad debería asignar un policía a cada escuela para prevenir algún percance. También el sistema público escolar podría contratar seguridad armada para los planteles escolares. Sé que es un problema de presupuesto pero las escuelas deberían tener policías rondando todo el tiempo. No esperar que suceda una masacre para colocar policías uno o dos semanas. Debería ser algo permanente. Hasta ahora nuestra comunidad es tranquila y no se han reportado Isabel Cristina Martin incidentes. Pero debemos prevenir y estar alerta. Hoy en día en la sociedad que vivimos uno nunca sabe.” A Isabel Cristina Martin, quien vive en Doral hace diez años, le produce seguridad que su hija va a un chárter school “protegida y monitoreada directamente por la Policía del Doral, a diferencia de otras escuelas
secundarias de la zona que tienen que seguir un protocolo burocrático donde nuestra policía se ve muchas veces frustrada tratando de ayudar y no se les permite ya que es jurisdicción de Miami Dade Police en combinación de la junta escolar. Este tema de las escuelas secundarias me dan terror […] El director de la escuela de mi hija hizo limpieza el año pasado y depuró la escuela de niños fuera de control, mandándolos a escuelas que sean más tolerantes. Me siento bendecida que la misma policía que le enseña cosas buenas a mi hija en el programa que ofrecen gratuitamente para adolescentes llamado Exprore’s [sic] sea la que cuida su escuela y ha sido de gran ayuda para ella al enseñarle las consecuencias de hacer cosas indebidas” Reyna Molina vive en Doral desde 2016, aunque tiene muchos años en EEUU. Piensa que estar alerta con la seguridad y prepararse es importante porque “si nos confiamos pasamos a ser vulnerables. No digo que entremos en paranoia, pero hay que tomar previsiones, estar alertas y hablar Reyna Molina con nuestros hijos.” Considera Reyna que las autoridades pueden ayudar a preservar/mejorar la seguridad en las escuelas aumentando los programas para educar a la comunidad en cómo reaccionar en situaciones d emergencia e “incorporar un programa de salud mental en las escuelas. Así mismo, podrían colocar una patrulla fija en cada escuela yo lo he visto en otras ciudades […]. Finalmente considero que deben dejar a un lado por un momento los intereses particulares y fijar posición a nivel del Distrito, Estado y más allá en cuanto al control de la venta de armas, no puede ser que comprar armas sea tan fácil y accesible como comprar un par de zapatos. […] No podemos dejar que las muertes de esos muchachos y profesores [de Parkland] pasen por debajo de la mesa, ¡hay que actuar ya!”
PARTICIPACIÓN, INVOLUCRAMIENTO Y ACCIÓN PREVIENEN TRAGEDIAS
“Nosotros tenemos que comenzar por ser PADRES” opina Elizabeth Canchola, “educar y corregir a nuestros hijos; estar presentes siempre para ellos; enseñarles lo correcto e incorrecto con el ejemplo. Todo comienza con nosotros. Si nosotros violamos las reglas, no estamos pendientes de los demás, ¿cómo esperamos que los niños se comporten si somos nosotros los violentos cuando vamos manejando hacia el colegio por ejemplo? Debemos estar presentes, monitorear sus redes sociales y conversar con ellos sobre eso. Compartir tiempo e ideas con nuestros hijos. Ser
verdaderos padres.” Para Isabel Martin “la mejor manera de ayudar a nuestros hijos es involucrarse con ellos en actividades que les den herramientas para su formación […]. Es muy importante ponerles límites a nuestros hijos, inculcarle valores y si vemos un comportamiento e x t r a ñ o Ana María Rodriguez tomar acción inmediatamente averiguando que está pasando para poder ayudarlos a tiempo. Los hijos son el reflejo de sus padres. Tenemos que sembrarles desde pequeños responsabilidad ciudadana, ellos son el futuro.” Ana María Rodríguez, ecuatoriana, quien reside en Doral desde Agosto resume muy bien los pensamientos de todas las entrevistadas: “Doral es una comunidad muy segura y familiar, pero en momentos como el que estamos pasando, nosotros como padres, tenemos que asumir nuestras responsabilidades y trabajar junto a nuestra comunidad, la escuela y las autoridades para asegurarnos de que nuestros niños estén seguros. La educación empieza por casa, y si enseñamos bien a nuestros hijos ellos servirán de ejemplo siempre. Comuníquese con sus hijos, pero sobre todo escúchelos, incluso cuando estén callados, cada actitud y cada acto que ellos cometan contra ellos mismo son signos a gritos de algo que necesitan ayuda.”
RUTINA, ESCUCHA Y SINTONIA CON LAS EMOCIONES
Es el consejo de la psicóloga Erika Angulo, para manejar el stress de presenciar situaciones trágicas en una comunidad, para ayudar a los niños a superar la preocupación y angustia. “Lo primero es yo calmarme y regular mis emociones como padre para poder Dra. Erika Angulo ayudar a mis hijos, para poder calmarlos. Y lo segundo es yo asegurarme físicamente si la escuela está preparada y es algo segura. Difícilmente si yo no siento que estoy dejando a mis hijos en un lugar seguro ellos tampoco se van a sentir seguros allí.”
“Es muy importante continuar con la rutina del niño, mientras me sienta segura que lo estoy dejando en un lugar seguro y poder transmitirle esa seguridad al niño. Mis emociones se van a proyectar en la del niño. Entonces, volver a la rutina pero sintonizándome con las necesidades únicas de mi hijo. En conclusión: Rutina, escucha y sintonía con las necesidades y emociones únicas de mi hijo.” Con respecto a la detección y manejo de situaciones de salud mental en los estudiantes en la escuela y en el hogar, Angulo opina que los problemas de conducta deben ser reconocidos, aceptados y afrontados por los padres lo más temprano posible para evitar que escalen hasta una tragedia. “Desde que el niño es pequeño, la prevención en la salud mental es importante. Cuanto más temprano se atienda, más fácil será ayudar a ese niño. Y tener en cuenta los factores de riesgo que pueden llevar a un niño a desencadenar una depresión y que pueda volverse suicida u homicida.” Entre los factores de riesgo están las características de entorno (familias disfuncionales, pobreza, maltrato, adicciones, etc) que pueden ser estresantes adicionales. Si además el niño se aísla, tiene dificultades en habilidades sociales o problemas de desarrollo hay que atenderlo para evitar problemas posteriores. “El niño necesita por lo menos un cuidador que atienda sus necesidades. Desde que el niño esta pequeño las relaciones con los padres se empiezan a desarrollar y es la base de todo. Ya en la adolescencia son como disparadores y se comienza a querer actuar cuando sea tarde […] un niño triste, encerrado, comportamientos agresivos. Son factores importantes para tener en cuenta” dice Angulo. “Siempre buscar ayuda, ante la duda, buscar ayuda. Lo máximo que te pueden decir es “todo está bien” pero si necesita ayuda estas a tiempo.” En la opinión de Angulo debería haber más consejeros y psicólogos disponibles en las escuelas y también hacen falta más recursos para “espacios de expresión para los niños, para darles herramientas y programas para manejo de conflictos, que puedan hablar de lo que les pasa, manejo de sus emociones, regulación de sus emociones. Espacios de escucha y de expresión. Yo implementaría esas dos cosas. […] Esos programas tendrían que ir hacia desarrollar la empatía y tolerancia por el otro, a aceptar, respetar e incluir las diferencias.” “Quiero ser optimista, es el momento de alzar las voces y crear espacios emocionalmente seguros. Armar los colegios no creo que vaya a ser la solución, al contrario, lo que hay que hacer es desarmar las armas y hay que armar a los niños con herramientas de resolución de conflictos, para el manejo de sus habilidades sociales, para el manejo de sus emociones. Escucharlos a ellos que son protagonistas de esta situación seria lo ideal y ojala se pueda lograr tener más presupuesto para tener más disponibilidad de programas que les pueda servir.”
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Doral Students also say #NeverAgain
Sandra Sabatella, @sandrasabatella
Marzo/March 04, 2018
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o kid or teenager should ever be afraid of going to school. Schools are called to be their shelter and their second home. However, tragedies like the one seen at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school in Parkland, FL, pile up to the long list of places where the dreams of kids and teenagers have been cut short; Columbine, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook, etc. How many more should die before there are preventive actions? This question has been the trigger for numerous students in Florida and the rest of the country to start the movement Never Again (#NeverAgain). This is a conscience call to all of those who make decisions about a situation which has not been taken care of and it should be guaranteed: their personal safety at schools. The students in Doral have come Photo Courtesy: The Amnesty International Club at Ronald W. Reagan Doral together to join the movement. At Ronald W. Reagan Doral Senior High school, they authorities. They also think that #NeverAgain should gathered at the basketball courts with signs demanding be more tragedies. These are their answers: with placards stricter measures for gun control. At Doral Academy High School, they protested on the DORAL COULD BE MORE SECURE soccer fields and participated in a vigil for the victims Regina Gallardo is 17 years old, she is Mexican and in Parkland. she has lived in Doral for the last 5 years. She claims At Middle schools in Doral, to reinforce the measures she is lucky to live in a city so safe. In her opinion, to be taken in the event of a school shooting and safety in schools of Doral is one of the best of Miami to give confidence to students and their families, Dade County. “Security in Doral Schools to my mind emergency drills and talks were offered by the Doral is one of the best in all of Miami Dade County. This Police Department. can be due to the fact that we have a great police With the #NeverAgain movement, which has department. I do full time dual enrollment at Miami become viral on all media, students and protesters are Dade College West Campus as my SAS is there. I feel demanding the legislators for immediate, effective and safe at my school because our campus security and overwhelming actions. There should not be another security chief do a great job to make sure everything life lost to a mass shooting at schools. is in order. In addition, most of the times, you can see In moments like these, opinions and ideas abound. a car from Doral Police pass by to check up in the They include: increasing security measures, arming college.” teachers, hiring armed veterans as security guards, Barbara Citraro is 17 years old and is in her last year training students to take cover and escape, etc. These of high school. “I think safety to a certain extent in are ideas that have been dealt before, obviously with schools is offered but there’s a lot of funding missing no success. for situations that would require more protection. This time around it is different, the youth have taken Schools are very limited in that sense. My school in action and leadership. They have come to talk to particular tends to misplace where safety goes, but I Senator Rubio and even President Trump to raise the don’t want to get into that.” urgency of taking action to the matter for once and for Ricardo J. Segovia is 16 years old and is in 10th all. They are not willing to stop until there are solutions. grade. He claims that in his school, “it feels pretty Doral Family Journal talk to several students in Doral safe because of all the precautions that are taken about how they feel about security in their schools and frequently… Have authorities full time at campus and in the city. Which measures could be more effective control who comes in the school.” and what would they like to ask lawmakers and Ysabella Mia Martin is 15 years old, has lived in Doral
for 10 years and is in 10th grade. “I perceive the safety at Doral to be pretty good, at school we have officers who are there every day watching the school. I’m a police explorer and the officers in charge of the program are the officers that take care of my school, so I feel twice as safe.” When we asked her about what can elected officials do to help improve or preserve security of schools in Doral, she said “authorities should pay closer attention to what is going on. I feel like they should handle things differently than they do right now.” Gerardinna Piccone is 18 years old and she’s currently in her last year of High School. She told us that she doesn’t feel totally insecure because she knows there are security guards and the doors of her school are closed. “After what happened, it was clear that any person can have a gun, and in my school there is no way to know who carries one in their school bags.” Gabriel Bacan is 17 years old and he is in 11th grade. He tells us that his school is closed, there is always security at the entrance and the classroom doors are locked when classes begin. He makes the suggestion to reinforce security at the end of the school day.
TEACHERS WITH GUNS IN THE CLASSROOM?
Citraro told us that there should not be an armed teacher because “that presents an even bigger problem in the classroom, making guns to be available to people who probably should not have them. Having armed officers could work but without letting everybody know of their existence. Undercover officers could be the best.” “Although I would feel safe having an armed official at school grounds, I do not feel the same way about having a teacher with a gun. My reasoning comes from the fact that I know this official has had extensive training with the arms he is carrying. That is his profession to keep us the people safe. We cannot be sure if our teacher in the other hand, has had as much training as an official does. The fact that a teacher might have a gun in the same room as I am scares me. We want to keep guns out of our schools not bringing them inside. As a student, I want to believe that we
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PARENTS CAN HELP
the child is very important to see how they are and what they feel. Ysabella has a very similar comment; “the parents can try to talk to their children and find out what is going on to solve their problem. If their children are being bullied, they can inform the school so that they can take action as a result.” “Teach your children to not be cruel and to not bully other kids” adds Gabriel.
THE SOLUTION IS TO TAKE ACTION
Barbara Citraro thinks that “everyone can get involved. There is certainly no one-time solution or right way to do it, but as long as you can do several things like discussing it in class, contacting politicians, speaking your voice publicly, etc., then we should be able to see some change when it comes to this problem.” Ricardo Segovia said, “participate in protests and report anything that might put people in danger.” While Ysabella Marti told us, “well, I can pay more attention to my surroundings and inform the authorities if I see something weird or off. […] If I see someone who clearly needs help, I’d be sure to inform the school and the authorities.” Gerardinna Piccone thinks that “there should be more security personnel and the school doors should be always locked. There should also be metal detectors and bag checks every morning. I know it would be a lengthy and expensive process but millions of lives are at risk. Besides, I believe the government should toughen the process to acquire guns. At least, introduce psychological exams before they allow a kid to go around the city with a gun where he doesn’t need to defend himself. We don’t live in a jungle where we have to protect ourselves
For Regina, both parents and students alike come across situations when mental health is in central stage and they don’t know what to do. “Parents should be aware that mental health is as important as physical health. Teaching children about mental health with the same emphasis as we teach about physical health is necessary to understand many issues that affect us today. Bully prevention should be something that parents should teach. It is important that parents help their children become tolerant of others from an early age. We live in such a diverse community where inclusion and acceptance should be the main factors driving our driving progress. Bullying at schools because one is different is unacceptable. All of our differences allow us to work together and succeed. When working together, we can help [better to] prevent the tragedy we experienced than if we just were to work by ourselves.” Citraro said that “the parents should be going hawk-eye on their kids but rather have the mindset of wanting to actually get to know your kid and understand them as a human rather than try to crack down on them on social media or monitor their every move. If a parent really knows their kid, then there is trust and a kid will open up to them. If there isn’t, then you start to see lies and secret lives taking place by teenagers.” Segovia underlines that the constant communication with Barbara Citraro
Photo Courtesy: The Amnesty International Club at Ronald W. Reagan Doral
from attacking animals.” The youth need to reckon they have a voice. “First, we need to always keep informed about issues that affect us. Keeping yourself informed helps keep your peers informed. Creating civic discussion groups at school or with your peers helps promote tolerance and find solutions about problems like these. Creating good relationships with our elected officials and authorities help us work together into meeting our mutual goals. Voting and being civically active is the best action young people can make to let their voices be heard. One can preregister to vote as early as 16 years old.”, said the student Regina Gallardo.
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have forces of officials that should keep us safe. In our community, we are lucky to have an extraordinary police team. If we know we have good people protecting us, why should we need more people who might not be as trained carrying arms?”, said Regina Gallardo. This opinion is shared by Ricardo Segovia and Ysabella Martin: “I am completely fine with having armed officials in school grounds because it makes me feel safe, on the other had I would not want a teacher to be carrying around a weapon because you never know what the teacher is capable of doing. I wouldn’t feel safer.” Gabriel Bacan disagrees; “that will eventually drive to more gun violence. The teachers could accidentally shoot an innocent bystander.” Gerardina Piccone does not believe that the answer to stop guns is to have more guns. “Schools should be safe places, not a place where there are guns. Besides, teachers without gun training, could bring more casualties.”
Gabriel Bacan
Gerardinna Piccone
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Estudiantes de Doral también dicen #NeverAgain
Sandra Sabatella, @sandrasabatella
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ingún niño o joven debería tener miedo de asistir a su escuela. Las escuelas están llamadas a ser su refugio y su segundo hogar. Sin embargo tragedias como la sucedida en la secundaria Marjory Stoneman Douglas en Parkland, FL, vienen a sumarse al ya largo rosario de nombres de sitios donde los sueños de niños y jóvenes han sido truncados: Columbine, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook, etc. Cuántos más deben morir para que haya acciones preventivas? Esa es la pregunta que ha sido el detonante para que muchos estudiantes en Florida y en todo el país iniciaran el movimiento #NeverAgain (Nunca Foto: The Amnesty International Club at Ronald W. Reagan Doral Más) llamando a la conciencia de quienes de Doral sobre cómo se sienten con la seguridad en toman las decisiones sobre una situación que sienten que no ha sido atendida y debería estar la ciudad y en sus escuelas, qué medidas piensan que serían más efectivas y qué les gustaría pedir a garantizada: su seguridad personal en las escuelas. Los estudiantes de Doral se han sumado al los legisladores y autoridades. Ellos también piensan movimiento. En Ronald W. Reagan/Doral Senior High que estas tragedias no deben suceder. Estas son sus School manifestaron en los campos de baloncesto con respuestas:
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pancartas solicitando medidas más estrictas sobre el control de armas y en Doral Academy High School protestaron en los campos de fútbol y participaron en una vigilia por las víctimas de Parkland. En las escuelas secundarias de Doral se realizaron, en conjunto con agentes del Departamento de Policía de Doral, simulacros y charlas para reforzar las medidas a tomar en caso de un tiroteo, con el fin de dar mayor confianza a los estudiantes y a sus familias. Con el movimiento #NeverAgain, los estudiantes y manifestantes exigen a los legisladores acciones inmediatas, efectivas y contundentes. No debe haber ni una vida más perdida por un tiroteo masivo en las escuelas. En momentos como estos abundan las opiniones e ideas, incluyendo aumentar medidas de seguridad, armar a los maestros y profesores, contratar veteranos armados como guardias, entrenar a los estudiantes en acciones de huida y barricada, etc. Esas ideas también se han barajado anteriormente, obviamente sin éxito. Esta vez hay una diferencia, los jóvenes han tomado acción y protagonismo, llegando hasta a hablar con el Senador Rubio y hasta al Presidente Trump para plantearles la urgencia de tomar cartas en el asunto de una vez por todas. Y no están dispuestos a detenerse hasta que haya soluciones. Doral Family Journal conversó con varios estudiantes
DORAL PUEDE SER AÚN MÁS SEGURA
Regina Gallardo, tiene 17 años y dice sentirse afortunada de vivir en una ciudad tan segura. En su opinión, la seguridad en las escuelas de Doral es una de las mejores del Condado de Miami Dade. “Esto puede deberse al hecho de que tenemos un gran departamento de policía. Tengo una matrícula doble a tiempo completo en Miami Dade College West Campus ya que mi escuela SAS está allí. Me siento segura en mi escuela porque nuestro jefe de seguridad y seguridad del campus hace un gran trabajo para asegurarse de que todo esté en orden y la mayoría de las veces, puedes ver un auto de la policía de Doral hacienda su ronda para verificar que todo está bien”. Barbara Citraro, tiene 17 años y cursa el último año de secundaria. Cree que “se ofrece seguridad en cierta medida en las escuelas, pero faltan muchos fondos para situaciones que requerirían más protección. Las escuelas son muy limitadas en ese sentido. Mi escuela, en particular, tiende a equivocarse en lo que respecta a la seguridad, pero no quiero ahondar en eso”. Ricardo Segovia, tiene 16 años y actualmente cursa el 10o grado. Asegura que su escuela pareciera bastante segura debido a todas las precauciones que se toman con frecuencia, aunque sugiere: “Tener autoridades a tiempo completo en el campus y
controlar quién entra en la escuela ayudaría a mejorar la seguridad en la misma”. Ysabella Mia Martin tiene 15 años, y cursa décimo grado. Ella percibe que la seguridad en Doral es bastante buena, “en la escuela tenemos oficiales que están allí todos los días mirando la escuela. Pertenezco al Doral Police Explorers y los oficiales a cargo del programa son los oficiales que se encargan de mi escuela, así que me siento doblemente segura”. Al preguntarle sobre que pueden hacer los funcionarios electos para ayudar a mejorar o preservar la seguridad en las escuelas de Doral? Ella respondió “que las autoridades deberían prestar más atención a lo que está sucediendo. Siento que deberían manejar las cosas de manera diferente a como lo hacen ahora”. Gerardinna Piccone, tiene 18 años y actualmente cursa su ultimo año de secundaria. Ella nos comenta que no se siente totalmente insegura, porque sabe que hay vigilantes y las puertas de los salones están cerradas en su escuela, pero “después de lo que sucedió se evidenció que cualquier persona puede tener un arma y en mi escuela no hay manera de saber que traen las personas en sus bolsos”. Gabriel Bacan, tiene 17 años, cursa 11o grado y nos dice que su escuela está cercada, siempre hay seguridad en la entrada y las puertas de los salones se bloquean al iniciar las clases. Pero sugiere reforzar la seguridad al momento de la salida de la escuela. Mathias Braizat, tiene 13 años y cursa 8o grado, nos comenta que su escuela tiene buena seguridad y tienen IDs para mostrar en la escuela.
MAESTROS CON ARMAS EN EL AULA?
Citraro nos dice que no debería haber ningún maestro armado, ya que “eso plantea un problema aún mayor en el salón de clases, haciendo que las armas de fuego estén más disponibles para las personas que probablemente no deberían tenerlas. Tener oficiales armados podría funcionar, pero no deberían dejar que todos lo sepan. Los oficiales encubiertos probablemente serían los mejores”. “Aunque me sentiría segura de tener un oficial armado en la escuela, no me siento de la misma manera con tener un maestro con un arma. Un oficial ha tenido un entrenamiento y esa es su profesión: mantener a las personas a salvo. El hecho de que un maestro pueda tener un arma en la misma habitación que yo me asusta. Queremos mantener las armas
Cover | Portada
www.doralfamiyjournal.com fuera de nuestras escuelas y no dejarlas dentro. Como estudiante, quiero creer que tenemos fuerzas policiales para mantenernos a salvo. En nuestra comunidad tenemos la suerte de contar con un equipo policial extraordinario, y si ellos nos protegen, ¿Por qué deberíamos necesitar más personas que podrían no estar tan entrenadas llevando armas?, es la opinión de Regina Gallardo. Esta opinión es compartida por Ricardo Segovia y por Ysabella Martin: “No me gustaría que un maestro cargue con un arma porque nunca se sabe lo que ese maestro es capaz de hacer. No me sentiría más segura”. Gabriel Bacan también está en desacuerdo, “eso finalmente conducirá a más violencia con armas de fuego. Los maestros podrían disparar a un inocente por error”. “Es una idea horrible porque los estudiantes pueden sentirse amenazados por el personal de las escuelas, y en algunos casos, el maestro podría tener pensamientos de lastimar a los niños y no será muy útil. Las armas no resuelven problemas”, nos dice Mathias Braizat. Gerardinna Piccone no cree que la solución para detener las armas sea tener más armas. “Las escuelas deben ser lugares seguros, no lugares en los que hay armas. Además, con profesores no entrenados en el uso de armas sólo podrían traer más desgracias”.
LOS PADRES PUEDEN AYUDAR
LA SOLUCIÓN ESTÁ EN TOMAR ACCIÓN
Barbara Citraro opina que “Todos pueden participar, sin duda no hay una solución única o la forma correcta de hacerlo, pero siempre que pueda hacer varias cosas
como hablar de ello en clase, contactar a políticos, hablar en público, etc. ... entonces deberíamos ser capaces de ver algunos cambios cuando se trata de este problema”. Ricardo Segovia comenta que se debe participar en las protestas e informar algo que pueda poner a las personas en peligro. Braizat dice que todos podemos hacer una petición y/o llevarla a la corte. Mientras que Ysabella Marti nos dice que se debe prestar más atención a nuestro entorno e informar a las autoridades si se ve algo raro o desagradable. “Si vemos a alguien que claramente necesita ayuda, asegúrarnos de informar a la escuela y a las autoridades”. Gerardinna Piccone cree que “debería haber más vigilantes y detectores de metales e inspección de bolsos cada mañana. Sé que sería un proceso largo y costoso pero millones de vidas están en riesgo. Además, creo que el gobierno debería dificultar el proceso de obtener armas, por lo menos hacer exámenes psicológicos antes de permitir que un niño ande con un arma en una ciudad, donde no tiene de que defenderse, no vivimos en una selva donde nos debamos proteger de animales que nos atacan”. “Primero, debemos mantenernos informados sobre los problemas que nos afectan. Crear grupos de discusión cívica en la escuela o con sus compañeros ayuda a promover la tolerancia y encontrar soluciones sobre problemas como este. Crear buenas relaciones con nuestros funcionarios y autoridades electas nos ayuda a trabajar juntos para alcanzar los objetivos mutuos. Votar y ser cívicamente activos es la mejor acción que los jóvenes pueden hacer para que sus voces se escuchen. Uno puede preinscribirse para votar desde los 16 años”, así lo afirma la estudiante Regina Gallardo. Los jóvenes necesitan saber que tienen voz.
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Para Regina, tanto los padres como los alumnos se topan con situaciones en las que la salud mental está en la etapa central y no saben qué hacer. “Los padres deben saber que la salud mental es tan importante como la salud física. Enseñarles a los niños acerca de la salud mental con el mismo énfasis que manejamos sobre la salud física es necesario para entender muchos temas que nos afectan hoy en día. Es importante
que los padres ayuden a sus hijos a ser tolerantes con los demás desde una temprana edad. Vivimos en una comunidad tan diversa donde la inclusión y la aceptación deben ser los principales factores que impulsan nuestro progreso. La intimidación en las escuelas porque alguien es diferente es inaceptable. Todas nuestras diferencias nos permiten trabajar juntos y tener éxito. Cuando trabajamos juntos, podemos ayudar a prevenir la tragedia que experimentamos, más que si trabajáramos solos”. Citraro opina que “los padres deben tener la mentalidad de querer realmente conocer a su hijo y entenderlos como humanos en lugar de tratar de tomar medidas enérgicas contra ellos en las redes sociales o monitorear todos sus movimientos. Si un padre realmente conoce a su hijo, entonces hay confianza y su él se abrirá a ellos. Si no hay, verá mentiras y vidas secretas”. Segovia nos recalca que la constante comunicación con el niño es super importante para ver cómo están y que sienten… Así muy parecido, es el comentario de Ysabella, quién nos dice que “los padres pueden tratar de hablar con sus hijos y descubrir qué está pasando para que puedan resolver el problema. Si su hijo está siendo intimidado, puede informar a la escuela para que puedan actuar en consecuencia”. “Enseñe a sus hijos a no ser crueles y a que no intimiden a otros”, comenta Gabriel. “Los padres deben vigilar de cerca los teléfonos de sus hijos porque los adolescentes filtran las cosas de forma diferente que los adultos, lo que ha llevado al suicidio y al tiroteo en las escuelas”, afirma Mathias.
Mathias Braizat
Regina Gallardo
Ricardo Segovia
Ysabella Mia Martin
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Education | Educación
Say Yes to the College! By Belinda M. Gonzalez-Leon, Ed. D., MBA Premier Educational Consulting, LLC Ph: (305) 494-9389 • bleon@bleon-pec.com
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igh school seniors have started to receive college acceptance letters. For some students, making the decision on which school to attend has become more difficult than the actual application. How does one make the decision? Here are three important points to consider. First, only consider colleges that you have actually visited. Visiting the campus where you might spend four years of your life is crucial. The campus visit is not just about checking out the dorms, asking questions, and buying a souvenir t-shirt. The point of visiting a college is to determine how you FEEL on campus. Yes, you need to go with your gut. What does your gut feeling tell you? It doesn’t matter if you are accepted by the top college in the country- if you don’t feel comfortable; feel that you belong; believe that you will be happy- then do NOT accept. Everyone is different but you have to feel that you fit into that college’s community because only then will you be able to succeed and do well. The last thing you want is to be miserable and trying to study for good grades. Second, consider the cost of your choice. How much is the tuition and how much financial aid is the college awarding you? Read your financial aid award letter carefully. Determine your direct cost which would be tuition and fees but if you are living on campus you need to include housing and possibly even a meal plan. Once you know the total cost, figure out if that is for a full year or one semester. Now subtract all the “free” aid you have been awarded – subtract grants and scholarships. Do not subtract funds offered through loans or college work study. The amount left over is what you will need to pay. Perhaps you can cover that amount with a Florida Pre-Paid account or a College 529 Savings Plan or other private scholarships you have been awarded. When you know which schools you can afford, you will have narrowed down your choices. If you believe that taking a loan out is the only way to pay for school- be absolutely sure of your school choice and of your investment. Third, consider carefully the curriculum. What do you want to study? Does this school offer a good choice of classes? The college website will give you information on your major and the specific classes you will take. Determine if classes are appropriate, challenging, and of interest. Does the school offer internships? Study abroad? Honors programs? Thesis? Research with a professor? An opportunity to hear speakers from the industry? This is where you have to do a comparison between schools to determine which college will offer you the best education possible. The decision to attend college is one of the first major life decisions you make. However, it is a decision that you can make in an informed manner and with the support of family. Take the time to research and look at all aspects of the college in addition to these three key areas. Consider your feelings when you walked through the campus; do the math regarding tuition; and carefully read the list of courses that you will be asked to complete. When all the factors are in agreement, the choice of what college to attend will be clear to you.
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¡Di SI a la Universidad!
os estudiantes de último año de secundaria ya comienzan a recibir cartas de aceptación de la universidad. Para algunos estudiantes, tomar la decisión sobre a qué escuela asistir se ha vuelto más difícil que la aplicación real. ¿Cómo toma uno la decisión? Aquí hay tres puntos importantes a considerar. Primero, sólo considera las universidades que realmente has visitado. Visitar el campus donde puedes pasar cuatro años de tu vida es crucial. La visita al campus no se trata solo de visitar los dormitorios, hacer preguntas y comprar una camiseta de recuerdo. El objetivo de visitar una universidad es determinar cómo te sientes en el campus. Sí, necesitas ir con tu instinto. ¿Qué te dice tu instinto? No importa si eres aceptado por la universidad más importante del país, si no te sientes cómodo; sientes que perteneces; crees que serás feliz, entonces NO aceptes. Todos son diferentes, pero debes sentir que encajas en la comunidad de esa universidad porque solo así podrás tener éxito y hacerlo bien. Lo último que quieres es ser miserable y tratando de estudiar para obtener buenas calificaciones. Segundo, considera el costo de tu elección. ¿Cuánto cuesta la matrícula y cuánta ayuda financiera te otorga la universidad? Lee atentamente la carta de concesión de ayuda financiera. Determina el costo directo, que sería la matrícula y las tarifas, pero si vives en el campus, debes incluir alojamiento e incluso un plan de comidas. Una vez que sepas el costo total, averigüa si eso es por un año completo o un semestre. Ahora resta toda la ayuda “gratuita” que te han otorgado, restando subvenciones y becas. No restes los fondos ofrecidos a través de préstamos o estudios de trabajo universitario. La cantidad sobrante es lo que tendrás que pagar. Tal vez puedas cubrir ese monto con una cuenta pre-pagada de Florida o un plan de ahorros 529 u otras becas privadas que te hayan otorgado. Cuando sepas qué universidades puedes pagar, habrás reducido tus opciones. Si crees que tomar un préstamo es la única forma de pagar la escuela, debes estar absolutamente seguro de tu elección de universidad y de tu inversión. En tercer lugar, considera cuidadosamente el plan de estudios. ¿Qué quieres estudiar? ¿Esta universidad ofrece una buena opción de clases? El sitio web de la universidad te dará información sobre la especialización y las clases específicas que tomarás. Determina si las clases son apropiadas, desafiantes y de interés. ¿La escuela ofrece pasantías? ¿Estudiar en el extranjero? ¿Programas de honores? ¿Tesis? Investigar con un profesor? Una oportunidad para escuchar a los oradores de la industria? Aquí es donde tienes que hacer una comparación entre las escuelas para determinar qué universidad te ofrecerá la mejor educación posible. La decisión de asistir a la universidad es una de las primeras decisiones importantes que tomas sobre la vida. Sin embargo, es una decisión que puedes tomar de manera informada y con el apoyo de la familia. Tómate el tiempo para investigar y analizar todos los aspectos de la universidad, además de estas tres áreas clave. Considera tus sentimientos cuando caminaste por el campus; haz los cálculos con respecto a la matrícula; y lee detenidamente la lista de cursos que deberás completar. Cuando todos los factores estén de acuerdo, la elección a qué universidad asistir será clara para ti.
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Managing Risk “The greater the risk, the greater the reward.” It’s a statement we’ve all heard referenced in many areas throughout our lives. However, in the investment world, we have some caveats: Taking on more risk with your investments may increase your likelihood of higher returns, but you may also experience the downs of the investment markets, including the risk of losing some or all of your investment. Can your proverbial stomach take that? Investing is sometimes a balance between playing it safe and settling for less or taking some risks with the hopes of gaining more return. In finance, just as in life, you can’t avoid risk completely, but you can try to manage it and make it work in your favor.
Balancing risks
There are many different kinds of risk. One of those is market risk. That’s the chance the value of an investment will go down, not up, causing you to lose money. The second is the possibility that you may not earn enough on your investments to keep up with inflation. And a third common risk is the chance your investments won’t grow enough to get you to your longer-term goals, such as retirement. So how do you find the right balance? Well, the answer lies within each individual investor’s risk profile. At the end of the day, you can’t control the markets, but you can establish a sound, long-term plan for pursuing your financial goals. Your financial professional can help in the process. And we do mean process, because your “profile” may change over time, requiring periodic adjustments to your portfolio.
Understanding your risk tolerance
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There are a number of factors that can help determine your risk tolerance:
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• What is your time frame? The length of time remaining for you to reach your goal matters when it comes to how much risk you can handle in your portfolio. The shorter the time frame, the less risk you may want to assume, given that “riskier” investments may experience greater volatility in the short term. • What can you afford to lose? Another key consideration is how much investable money you have available after identifying your goals and obligations and how much you can afford to lose. • What is your emotional ability to handle risk? Some people can’t handle the ups and downs of the markets and, therefore, are better off choosing a more conservative portfolio. Others see the ebbs and flows as part of the process — and are able to ride out market volatility to reach their long-term goal.
Investors need to be savvy, always balancing the risks they are taking with the possible rewards — and avoiding investments that are beyond their understanding or individual tolerance for market volatility.
of the benefits when stock prices are up, but your portfolio won’t get totally clobbered when they’re down. Of course, diversification cannot guarantee a profit or protect your portfolio from losses.
Investing for the long term
Not too much but not too little, either
When investing for long-term goals, it is important to be prudent and stay focused on the long view. You’re investing for your family’s longterm future, not to get rich by next week. Prices of stocks and bonds can go up and down, sometimes wildly. But if you’re thinking in terms of years and not days, the short-term peaks and valleys won’t seem so large. A reporter once asked J.P. Morgan what the stock market was going to do. Morgan solemnly answered, “I expect it will fluctuate.” Remember: People who have an investment plan and stay with it do better than those who have no plan and jump in and out of the market. A prudent investor helps manage risk by diversifying — spreading money among different kinds of investments that are not correlated to each other. That means not just investing in different U.S. stocks, bonds and mutual funds, but also in international markets and other kinds of assets, maybe even real estate or commodities, which may move in different directions at different times. That way you get some
It can actually be risky to take too little risk. A person in their 20s, who puts all of their retirement savings into conservative investments isn’t at much risk of losing their money. But they may be at risk of running out of money when they retire because they weren’t able to accumulate enough to keep up with inflation. A reliable way to manage risk is to choose a strategy and stick with it. This is as much a matter of managing your emotions as picking investments and an asset allocation strategy that’s in line with your investment profile. Learning as much as you can about different investments and strategies definitely helps. If you’re just getting started, read up on the basics like 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts. If you’re closer to retirement, you may want to learn how you can shift your investment mix and convert your assets into income. Either way, enjoy the ride.
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This material does not constitute a recommendation to engage in or refrain from a particular course of action. The information within has not been tailored for any individual.
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Health | Salud
Marzo/March 04, 2018
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www.doralfamiyjournal.com
Mental Health: The Next Frontier in Schools
t is disheartening that it takes a massacre like Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and Sandy Hook for a community to begin to open their eyes and become proactive. Back in April 2017 a proposal was presented to the Florida Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) to amend the Constitution of Florida and bring emotional literacy into the school system. It was rejected. School shootings are obviously a multifaceted issue. “We have completely neglected many areas for decades: gun control, school safety, family values and the biggest, however, the simplest of all- to teach our children in schools how to develop healthy mental habits. This is the foundation that is lacking and trying to build a home without footing is exactly what we are attempting to do in our society”, said Beatriz Martinez-Penalver, Founder of Triumph Steps, an emotional literacy curriculum. Martinez-Peñalver has said, “Never in my career as a psychotherapist have I ever had a client come in and tell me that they are depressed because they forgot high school trigonometry or history facts. They come in is still missing. Not even after for a multitude of issues that the many massacres that we share a common denominator, have witnessed, the government which is that they want to has been able to realize that achieve happiness.” Martinezif we spend on mental health Peñalver believes that many of prevention services we would not her patients’ issues could have have to spend over 200 billion been prevented if they would dollars a year to treat mental have been taught proper mental health disorders. health habits from an early age. Millions of dollars are also She is an avid believer that spent on research that is telling happiness is a skill that can be us that our brain is not a fixed taught and a choice that can be hardwired organ. Our brain has made. Children just need access neuroplasticity. This means that to tools to help them build the Beatriz Martinez-Penalver the brain changes depending on correct thought patterns early on. She is an activist and a big proponent of bringing the direction of our thinking. Neuro-connections emotional literacy curriculums into the schools. She change moment by moment depending on the strives to deter today’s youth from ending up in her thoughts and the feelings attached to them. If we are to pay attention to the research, we can office, or any office like hers, for issues that they could have combatted themselves by learning the easily deduct that we can teach these principles and what better place to start than in schools. For correct thought patterns from the start. While emotional literacy curricula, like Triumph many years this is what cognitive behaviorist do in Steps, is slowly making its way into very few therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most schools which have enough foresight to invest in well- researched psychotherapy. We can teach our children that all of us have been their students’ mental wellness, a real standard for emotional literacy education in American schools given different circumstances in life and we cannot
control that; however, we can control how we think about the different events in life and how to react to them. Developing these mental skills can be taught in school, just as we teach science, math or language arts. We have always thought that managing emotions is a very complicated thing to do, however when we understand that emotions emanate from thinking it becomes a much more manageable task. If we manage our thoughts we can direct our emotions and therefore our lives. There are programs now that can be brought to schools to guide children develop healthy mental habits. The beauty of these programs is that they require minimal training of teachers. The programs are developed by mental health professionals and with the advances in technology and the support of school counselors, they can be delivered in an effortless and easy way, making sure that they give students the benefits to help them develop the extraordinary life they deserve. It is our responsibility to push humanity forward and prevent another massacre in our schools. We can make sure that our children are given the necessary tools to be happy in life. After all they are 25% of our population now, but 100% of our future.
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How are Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies taxed? changes specified the IRS Code Section 1031 would only apply to real estate transaction going forward.
itcoin and other cryptocurrencies have increasing popularity. Last year cryptocurrencies were frequently in the news due to their volatile price fluctuations. This made many millennials and other age groups into billionaires, as well as others to lose significant amounts of their invested savings. Though several ups and downs, in 2017 the value of the cryptocurrency market cap went from 17.7 billion to 572.6 billion a 3200% growth. With the gained popularity, more and more people are investing and asking us about the tax regulations regarding bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Here we explain cryptocurrencies at glance.
WHAT IS A CRYPTOCURRENCY?
It is a monetary unit that is created, exchanged, and stored electronically, using encryption techniques to control the creation and the transfer of funds. Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency, and it was developed in 2009. Bitcoin and most other cryptocurrencies are built on blockchain technology. This technology is powered through “mining” servers which process transactions. The owner of the mining servers, known as “miners” are rewarded with the coin they are processing the transactions.
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HOW TO BUY CRYPTOCURRENCIES?
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Bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies are traded through a digital “exchange”. There are several different exchanges, and due to different country laws, not all are properly regulated if at all. If you are considering to buy any cryptocurrency, you should make sure you find a regulated Cryptocurrency Exchange. In some environments, virtual currency operates like “real” currency -- i.e., the coin and paper money of the United States or of any other country that is designated as legal tender, circulates, and is customarily used and accepted as a medium of exchange in the country of issuance -- but it does not have legal tender status in any jurisdiction.
WHEN ARE THEY TAXED?
In the U.S., cryptocurrencies are only taxed when a benefit or value is received in exchange for the cryptocurrency. Examples include converting into Fiat money like US Dollars and Euros, or if used in exchange for services, products, tangible or intangible assets such as stocks, property, bonds,
WHAT PROPERTY QUALIFIES FOR A LIKE-KIND EXCHANGE DEFINED BY THE IRS?
etc. The taxable amount would be the value of what was received, minus the cost of the initial investment, plus any costs incurred in between like transaction fees, attorney, internet connectivity, etc.
HOW IS IRS TAXING CRYPTOS?
The IRS states that virtual currency is treated as property for U.S. federal tax purposes. General tax principles that apply to property transactions apply to transactions using virtual currency. Among other things, this means that: • Wages paid to employees using virtual currency are taxable to the employee, must be reported by an employer on a Form W-2, and are subject to federal income tax withholding and payroll taxes. • Payments using virtual currency made to independent contractors and other service providers are taxable and self-employment tax rules generally apply. Normally, payers must issue Form 1099. • The character of gain or loss from the sale or exchange of virtual currency depends on whether the virtual currency is a capital asset in the hands of the taxpayer. • A payment made using virtual currency is subject to information reporting to the same extent as any other payment made in property.
IS CAPITAL GAINS TAX AVOIDABLE LIKE OTHER INVESTMENT ASSETS?
Well up until 12/31/17, it may have been arguable that Cryptocurrency could possibly had qualified for a 1031 “Tax-Free” Exchange. However, that loophole was closed with the latest December 2017 Trump Tax Reform, when the recent tax law
Both the relinquished property you sell and the replacement property you buy must meet certain requirements. Both properties must be held for use in a trade or business or for investment. Property used primarily for personal use, like a primary residence or a second home or vacation home, does not qualify for like-kind exchange treatment. Both properties must be similar enough to qualify as “like-kind.” Like-kind property is property of the same nature, character or class. Quality or grade does not matter. Most real estate will be like-kind to other real estate. For example, real property that is improved with a residential rental house is likekind to vacant land. One exception for real estate is that property within the United States is not likekind to property outside of the United States. Also, improvements that are conveyed without land are not of like kind to land. Real property and personal property can both qualify as exchange properties under Section 1031; but real property can never be like-kind to personal property. In personal property exchanges, the rules pertaining to what qualifies as like-kind are more restrictive than the rules pertaining to real property. As an example, cars are not like-kind to trucks. Finally, certain types of property are specifically excluded from Section 1031 treatment. Section 1031 does not apply to exchanges of: • Inventory or stock in trade • Stocks, bonds, or notes • Other securities or debt • Partnership interests • Certificates of trust Whether cryptocurrencies become an actual currency or not, they are currently taxed as a capital investment. Remember, it is an investment subject to tax even if you don’t receive cash in the sale of the coins. If you have any other tax questions related to cryptocurrencies and other taxation requirements, contact us. If you need assistance, Rosillo & Associates, www.RosilloCPA.com and we can assist you at (305)477-5671.
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Marzo/March 04, 2018
By Grecia Romero
We bring you a variety of activities and entertainment for all ages during this edition. Take a look, and get ready to enjoy what we have for you here:
Marzo/March 04, 2018
KIDS FEST FAMILY DAY AT THE ACTORS’ PLAYHOUSE AT THE MIRACLE THEATRE: March 10th. Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre presents an entire day of theatre fun for the whole family at Kids Fest Family Day 2018. This year’s Kids Fest will feature two performances of the Musical Theatre for Young Audiences production of Beauty & the Beast at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. A ticket to either performance of the featured show secures patrons a Kids Fest Day Pass to enjoy several other great events and activities. More info at www.actorsplayhouse.org/childrens.htm Day Out with Thomas Tour 2018 at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum, March 10th and 11th. Let your preschoolers get the thrill of their lives when Thomas the Tank Engine steams across Miami taking them for a 25 minute ride and talking to them for the very first time! The Museum will also offer narrow gauge train Link Train rides, miniature golf, sandbox Sand Blast, face painting, activities tent, bounce houses, and more adventures in Thomas-themed activities. For more information visit www.gcrm.org DORAL 5K RUN/WALK: March 10th at 7:00am at Doral Meadow Park. Enjoy a day of fitness and fun at
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the Doral 5K Run/Walk! Celebrate health and activity by participating in this 3.1 miles run along with your family as there are several age divisions – everyone is welcome! Immediately following the event, witness the awards ceremony where the winners in several categories will be honored. www.cityofdoral.com FAMILY FUN FEST - A BISCAYNE RENAISSANCE: March 11th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center of Biscayne National Park. A Biscayne Renaissance; the sword in the stone, Arthur and Lancelot, and damsels in distress. This family event is free and includes specially designed activities for children all ages to ensure that the entire family gets to participate. Activities include games, science
experiments, presentations and craft projects. After completing five activities, kids earn a specially designed button to help them remember the lessons learned. More information at: www.nps.gov/bisc/learn/kidsyouth/familyfunfest.htm The International Mall offer excellent opportunities for family to have their Easter family professional photo taken while participating in the extra activities: Miami International Mall • Bunny Eggstravaganza: March 17th, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Center Court Join the mall in celebrating the arrival of the Easter Bunny. Children will enjoy entertainment, crafts and more. After the event, hop over to the Easter Bunny set in Center Court to have your family photo. • Easter Bunny Photos: Join the mall in Center Court to take your picture with the Bunny from March 16th to 31st most of the days from 10:00 am to 8:00pm. There will also be a special day called “Easter Bunny Pet Photo” when pet owners will have the opportunity to bring their furry friend and have a special commemorative photo made during this special limited engagement session. This year, your family can skip the line, booking your family’s reservation at www.simonbunny.com MIAMI DADE YOUTH FAIR AND EXPO 2018: March 15th to April 08th at the Miami-Dade County Youth Fair & Exposition grounds. Calling All Fairgoers for the celebration of the 67th annual familyfriendly Miami Fair with fun new attractions for everyone. Every year, families can experience fun rides, fun games, and mouth-watering food, live outdoor concerts, sensational shows, livestock/agricultural competitions and over 63,000 local artistic, academic and agricultural student exhibits. Youth Fair admission price is $14 for ages 6 to 64, unlimited rides bracelets are $30, Monday through Thursday, and $37 Friday through Sunday, parking $5.00. Access to the fair from 3:00pm. DORAL MOVIES AT THE PARK: March 16th from
7:30 pm to 10:00pm at Downtown Doral Park. Enjoy the movie Brave, a family friendly film “on the green” at Downtown Doral Park on a giant inflatable movie screen. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets, there will be refreshments for purchase. ONLY FOR PARENTS- If you want some fun time out with your partner, but help a good cause at the same time, here you have a couple of options: • Miami Children’s Museum Be a Kid Again Gala 2018: March 17 from 6:30pm at Soho Studios,
Wyndwood. With the theme: Superheroes from Fiction to Fantacy, the Miami Children’s Museum invite all community to support the museum in its mission of offering a wonderful opportunity for kids to play, learn, imagine and create. This fundraising event will feature live performances ny DJ Robin Louis, and the Circus Art Conservatory from Sarasota. There will be silent auctions with cocktails and live auctions. The event will offer dinner, DJ and dancing. Address of the event: 2136 NW1st Ave, Miami. Attiere: Cocktail, Superhero, Fashion or Fantacy. More information at www.miamichildrensmuseum.org • Feast with the Beast: March 17th from 8:00pm to 11:55pm. This is the Zoo Miami Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser benefiting the Zoo Miami and its mission to encourage an appreciation of the world’s wildlife, and help conserve it for future generations. During this event, attendees will enjoy a Taste of the Tropics with delectable bites from more than 25 restaurants, open bars, live entertainment by fusion band ‘Rock With U’, animal encounters, and much more. Different ticket pricing levels. Gifts to the Zoo Miami Foundation are tax deductible. More info at www.zoomiami.org
Por Grecia Romero
DÍA FAMILIAR EN ACTORS’ PLAYHOUSE AT THE MIRACLE THEATRE: 10 de marzo. El Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre presenta un día completo de diversión teatral para toda la familia con su ‘Kids Fest Family Day 2018’. El festival infantil de este año contará con dos actuaciones del ‘Musical Theatre for Young Audiences’: La Bella y la Bestia a las 11:00 am y 2:00 pm. Con la compra de un ticket para cualquiera de las presentaciones, se recibe un pase de un día para disfrutar de otros eventos y actividades excelentes. Más información en www.actorsplayhouse.org/childrens.htm Day Out con Thomas Tour 2018 en el Gold Coast Railroad Museum, 10 y 11 de marzo. Deje que sus niños en edad preescolar se emocionen cuando Thomas the Tank Engine recorra Miami llevándolos a dar un paseo de 25 minutos y hablando con ellos por primera vez. El Museo ofrecerá paseos en tren, golf en miniatura, áreas de juego de arena, pintura de caritas, actividades variadas, inflables para saltar y en actividades con el tema de Thomas. Para obtener más información, visite www.gcrm.org DORAL 5K RUN / WALK: 10 de marzo a las 7:00 a.m. en Doral Meadow Park. Disfrute de un día de entrenamiento y diversión en Doral 5K Run/Walk. Celebre la salud y el deporte participando en esta carrera de 3.1 millas junto a su familia, con varias divisiones para todas las edades y niveles. ¡Todos son bienvenidos! Inmediatamente después del evento, habrá una ceremonia de premiación en la que se reconocerá a los ganadores en varias categorías. www.cityofdoral.com ‘FAMILY FUN FEST - A BISCAYNE RENAISSANCE’: 11 de marzo de 1:00 pm a 4:00 pm en el Centro de Visitantes de Dante Fascell del Parque Nacional de Biscayne. Una actividad del renacimiento de Biscayne; con la espada en la piedra, Arthur y Lancelot, y damiselas en apuros. Este evento familiar es gratuito e incluye actividades especialmente diseñadas para todas las edades garantizando que toda la familia participe. Las actividades incluyen juegos, experimentos científicos, presentaciones y proyectos de manualidades. Después de completar cinco actividades, los niños obtienen un botón especialmente diseñado para ayudarlos a recordar las lecciones aprendidas. Más información en
www.nps.gov/bisc/learn/kidsyouth/familyfunfest.htm El International Mall ofrece excelentes oportunidades para que la familia tome su foto profesional de Pascua mientras participa en las actividades adicionales: MIAMI INTERNATIONAL MALL • Bunny Eggstravaganza: 17 de marzo, de 2:00 pm a 4:00 pm en la pista central. Unase al grupo en el centro comercial para celebrar la llegada del conejito de Pascua. Los niños disfrutarán de entretenimiento, artesanías y más. Después del evento, diríjase al conejito de Pascua situado en el patio central para tener su foto familiar. • Fotos con el Conejito de Pascua: Visite el International Mall para una foto especial con el Conejito de Pascua del 16 al 31 de marzo, la mayoría de los días de 10:00 am. a 8:00 p.m. También habrá un día especial llamado “Easter Bunny Pet Photo” cuando los dueños de mascotas tendrán la oportunidad de traer a su amigo peludo y tomar una foto conmemorativa durante esta sesión especial de participación limitada. Este año, su familia puede omitir la línea, reservando en línea por www. simonbunny.com MIAMI DADE YOUTH FAIR AND EXPO 2018: del 15 de marzo al 8 de abril en los terrenos de Feria y Exposición Juvenil del Condado de Miami-Dade. Todos los amantes de ferias son cordialmente invitados a celebrar la conmemoración número 67 de esta feria anual de Miami, con ambiente familiar, amigable y nuevas atracciones divertidas para todos. Cada año, las familias pueden juegos mecánicos, juegos de entretenimiento y deliciosas comidas, conciertos en vivo al aire libre, espectáculos sensacionales, competencias de ganado/agricultura y más de 63,000 exhibiciones artísticas de estudiantes locales, académicos y agrícolas. El precio de la entrada es de $14 para personas de 6 a 64 años, $30 para los brazaletes de acceso ilimitado a los juegos mecánicos de lunes a jueves, y de $ 37 de viernes a domingo, $ 5 para el estacionamiento. DORAL PELÍCULAS EN EL PARQUE: 16 de marzo de 7:30 pm a 10:00 pm en el Downtown Doral Park. Disfrute de la película familiar Brave sobre el área verde de Downtown Doral Park en una pantalla gigante de cine. Solo lleve sus sillas de jardín o mantas. Habrá
refrigerios disponibles para la compra. No se permiten bebidas alcohólicas, ni envases de vidrio o mascotas. Solo para padres: Si desea pasar un rato divertido con su pareja, y ayudar a una buena causa al mismo tiempo, aquí le ofrecemos un par de opciones: • Miami Children’s Museum Be a Kid Again Gala 2018: 17 de marzo a partir de las 6:30 pm. en Soho Studios, Wyndwood. Con el tema: Superhéroes- De la ficción a la fantasía, el Museo de los Niños de Miami invita a toda la comunidad a apoyar al museo en su misión de ofrecer una oportunidad maravillosa para que los niños jueguen, aprendan, imaginen y creen. Este evento de recaudación de fondos contará con entretenimiento en vivo del DJ Robin Louis y el Circus Art Conservatory de Sarasota. Habrá subastas silenciosas con cócteles y subastas en vivo. El evento ofrecerá cena, DJ y baile. Dirección del evento: 2136 NW1st Ave, Miami. Attiere: Cóctel, Superhéroe, Moda o Fantacy. Más información en www.miamichildrensmuseum.org • Feast with the Beast: 17 de marzo de 8:00 pm a 11:55 pm. Este es el evento de recaudación de fondos anual más grande de la Fundación Zoo de Miami que beneficia al Zoológico de Miami en su misión es fomentar una apreciación de la vida silvestre y ayudar a conservarla para las generaciones futuras. Durante este evento, los asistentes disfrutarán de ‘Taste of the Tropics’ con muestras deliciosas de más de 25 restaurantes, bares abiertos, entretenimiento en vivo por la banda de fusión ‘Rock With U’, encuentros con animales y mucho más. Diferentes niveles de precios de boletos. Las donaciones al Zoo Miami Foundation son deducibles de impuestos. Más información en www.zoomiami.org
Marzo/March 04, 2018
En esta edición le brindamos una variedad de actividades y entretenimiento para todas las edades. Eche un vistazo a la lista y prepárese para disfrutar lo que tenemos para usted:
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Events | Eventos
O
Marzo/March 04, 2018
n February 24, Ronald Reagan’s TV production program hosted the first ever film festival at Ronald Reagan Doral Senior High. The event consisted of high school participants both from Doral and out of the city, including Doral Academy, Belen Jesuit, Columbus, AP Mays, and Ronald Reagan. A total of 24 films of different categories and genres were entered, from which 19 winners emerged at the end of the night. The night began with Ronald Reagan sophomore Vienette Arenal greeting filmmakers and directors alike on the red carpet step-and-repeat. Like in a professional film festival, Arenal had the chance to have a one on one interview with all of the award recipients during and after the event. Local restaurants and companies aided the event through sponsorships. Some included Pisco y Nazca, Kaphee, Film Freeway, Divieto, and Doral Family Journal. This festival is for all schools in Miami Dade. Most school film festivals restrict submissions to solely their own students, while the Bison Film Festival opened their doors to submissions from all over the county. The film festival also acted as a step forward for the Ronald Reagan TV production program. “I wanted the kids from all the schools to have the experience of a film festival and be able to enjoy the job they are doing around other film makers who all have a common interest without the competition,” said director
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www.doralfamiyjournal.com
In the Spotlight
and organizer Rafael Diaz. Diaz said, “Little by little we [as a school] are going to see the shift from simply television and news to film. We are working on becoming a film program, with more in depth courses and bigger opportunities.” As a first year TV production teacher, Diaz has high hopes for the evolution and future of the program. “I hope that by the time the freshmen I have now are seniors, we are able to enter state and national film festivals.” Awards at the end of the night included Best Comedy, won by Belen Jesuit’s Jorge Iglesias, Best Drama, won by Doral Academy’s Monica Matute and Alexander Puga, and Best PSA, won by Christopher Columbus. The Grand Prize Jury went to Chirstopher Columbus with their feature “Every Drop Counts.” Many films touched upon important societal issues. Columbus’s “Rising Tides” tackled water level issues in Miami. Doral Academy’s “Untitled” gave the aura of woman empowerment. In addition, Doral Academy’s “Still Love” brought awareness to the lgbt community, and attacked society’s norms. Overall, it was a successful night full of talent. The featured films left friends, family, and members of the community shocked and impressed with the level of professionalism from the city’s youth.
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Marzo/March 04, 2018
In Flash | Fotos
Dr. Raul Gonzalez en Premios Lo Nuestro Una gran sorpresa se llevo el reconocido Odontólogo, Dr. Raul Gonzalez de las celebridades en su paso por a alfombra magenta de la mas reciente edición de Premios Lo Nuestro en su celebración de 30 años, ya que el publico gritaban su nombre y los medios de comunicación fueron muy abiertos con el, fue muy grato para él este lindo recibimiento, significa el recoger los que se ha cosechado con tanto trabajo y esfuerzo.
www.doralfamiyjournal.com
InterContinental at Doral Miami and Susan G. Komen® of Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Take Action with the Together in Pink Zumbathon™ Campaign InterContinental at Doral Miami and Susan G. Komen® of Miami/Ft. Lauderdale will continue their partnership for the eight-consecutive year by encouraging the community to take action in the fight against breast cancer through the Together in Pink Zumbathon™ movement. Together in Pink Zumbathon™ organizes the Zumba® and business community to help make an impact in the fight to end breast cancer. To support Susan G. Komen® of Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, InterContinental at Doral Miami will host its annual Together in Pink Zumbathon event in October. InterContinental at Doral Miami will also hold and support various events and initiatives throughout 2018 to raise funds for the cause. Hotel vendors, guests, and restaurants customers will also be able to make donations at check out, and when paying their restaurant bill. The two organizations kicked off this year’s partnership with a “Thank You” cocktail this January. Survivors were on hand at the event and touching stories were shared. “Thanks to SGK® and the local support it receives, my treatment was made possible,” said Cynthia Fernandez. During the event, Sherri Martens-Curtis, Operations Manager of Susan G. Komen® of Miami/Ft. Lauderdale shared how the annual race for the cure impacts the community and showcased the support and efforts of the different businesses and individuals who, like InterContinental at Doral Miami, are taking action and supporting Susan G. Komen® of Miami/Ft. Lauderdale. All Together in Pink Zumbathon™ proceeds will
benefit Susan G. Komen® of Miami/ Ft. Lauderdale. During the past seven years the hotel has helped raise close to $200,000 for the organization through its annual event. “Our longstanding partnership with the InterContinental at Doral Miami has made it possible to further promote and create awareness in Doral and Miami-Dade County,” said Martens-Curtis. Efforts like this help Susan G. Komen® reach its big bold goal: A plan to reduce the nation’s current 40,000 breast cancer deaths in the U.S. by 50 percent in the next decade. “Susan G. Komen® of Miami/Ft. Lauderdale has been instrumental in helping the South Florida community and having the monies raised stay local,” said Randal Pasut, General Manager of InterContinental at Doral Miami. Learn how to donate, act and get involved by contacting NMG Consulting at 305-470-4680 or nmgteam@nmgconsulting, and follow #TIPZumbathon.
Marzo/March 04, 2018
Miami Orthodontist Group: Younger Generation Cuts the Ribbon
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The younger generation, Dr. Pedro Alquizar’s family, proudly participated in the Miami Orthodontist Group Ribbon Cutting Event on February 9, 2018. Miami Orthodontist Group welcomes families to visit Dr. Alquizar, get a free consult and even meet the future generation of professionals in Doral. (Mila Ortiz, Dylan Ortiz, Marco Alquizar, Celine Alquizar, and Gianna Tigera). Foto: Alberto Tamargo.
www.doralfamiyjournal.com
In Flash | Fotos
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Officially Opens SEPA Doral Medical Center Carlos Perez MD, Medical Director, is uniquely qualified to meet the needs of their patient base. Dr. Carlos Perez worked as a Paramedic and EMT, prior to completing Medical Training at St. Louis University School of Medicine. President Rene F. Gomez and Executive Vice President Gerald Cohen have over 50 years of experience in healthcare management. To contact them you can call 786.703.9199, visit them at 8000 NW 21calle, Suite # 200 of Doral, or visit their website: www.sepadoral.com/ and follow them through social networks: @sepadoralclinic.
Marzo/March 04, 2018
On Thursday, March 1st, the ribbon cutting ceremony took place at SEPA Doral Medical Center, where its president and founder Rene F. Gomez, Dr. Carlos Perez, and executive vice president, Gerald Cohen did the honors, along with Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez and the President of the Doral Chamber of Commerce, Manny Sarmiento. SEPA Doral Medical Center is dedicated to providing preventive and primary care medicine to the entire community and their families. Patient centered care is at the heart of their mission.
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