Be Strong International’s Hearts in Rhythm 2026 Delivers Powerful Night of Youth Transformation in Miami

Sold-out waterfront event honors community leaders and highlights life-changing impact of Heart Skills® programs

Be Strong International’s Hearts in Rhythm on the River 2026 concluded on April 30 with a sold-out gathering of community leaders, philanthropists and supporters at Seaspice Brasserie & Lounge. The annual event celebrated the organization’s impact on youth and families across South Florida while raising critical support for its Heart Skills® programs that equip young people with tools for fostering stronger relationships at home, in school, and in the community.

Set along the Miami River, the evening was filled with vibrant energy as guests connected, shared stories, and celebrated the life-changing work of Be Strong International. The ambiance reflected a true sense of unity and purpose, as attendees engaged in heartfelt conversations and experienced firsthand how Be Strong International’s programs are transforming the lives of youth by building confidence, improving communication at home and fostering connection among their peers as a result of the organization’s Heart Skills® programs.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 2026 Stronger Together Award to four distinguished leaders: Cathy Burgos, Director of the Community Services Department for Miami-Dade County; George Joseph, President and CEO of Dade County Federal Credit Union; Rodrick T. Miller, President and CEO of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council; and Madeline Pumariega, President of Miami-Dade College. Each honoree expressed deep gratitude and pride in receiving the recognition, underscoring their shared commitment to strengthening the South Florida community. Reflecting on the mission of Be Strong International, Madeline Pumariega shared, “Successful people have heart. Be Strong International’s focus on helping youth and teens develop those heart skills not only strengthens our community, it strengthens who we are as individuals. I am honored to receive this award because our values are truly aligned.”

The program also featured an inspiring moment from 2026 Rising Star student Kristel Gonzalez, who delivered a powerful and heartfelt speech about her journey in Be Strong’s after-school program. Kristel shared how the program helped her build confidence, form meaningful friendships, and develop essential life skills she did not have before, especially Heart Skills®, which transformed her relationships with her family, friends, and teachers. Her story served as a powerful reminder of the organization’s lasting impact on youth.

“Hearts in Rhythm is more than an event. It is a reflection of what happens when a community comes together to invest in the next generation,” said Michelle Shirley, CEO and Chief Heart Officer of Be Strong International. “The energy in the room and the stories shared remind us that transformation is possible, and it starts with equipping young people with the right tools.”

This event was made possible through the generous support and championship of community partners, including TD Bank, Amazon, Mastercard, Dade County Federal Credit Union, Evo Air, and MPS Credit Union, among many other institutions committed to advancing the mission of Be Strong International. Proceeds from the event will directly support Be Strong International’s programs serving youth and families across Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Click the gallery to view the pictures of the evening: https://www.bestrongintl.org/events/gallery/

http://[foogallery id=”314870″]

 

Local leaders, residents, and partners gather to mark milestone investment, strengthening safe spaces for families 

Be Strong International (BSI) welcomed community leaders, partners, and supporters on April 10 to celebrate a $30,000 roof donation from Greener Roofing & Solar, a critical investment that strengthens the organization’s ability to serve more than 16,000 families annually across South Florida. The newly completed roof at BSI’s Palmetto Bay headquarters ensures a safe, stable environment for delivering life-changing relationship and youth development programs. 

The celebration brought together local officials, business leaders, and community advocates in a shared commitment to advancing strong, healthy communities. By addressing a vital infrastructure need, the roof installation allows Be Strong International to focus resources on expanding its Heart Skills® programs, which equip youth and families with tools for healthy decision-making, communication, and long-term relationship success. The event also provided an opportunity for attendees to engage directly with the organization’s mission and witness the power of community partnership. 

About Greener Roofing & Solar 

Greener Roofing & Solar is a family-owned company based in Palmetto Bay and a trusted leader in the South Florida community. Rooted in integrity and quality, the company provides roofing and solar solutions designed to protect homes, enhance energy efficiency, and provide homeowners with long-lasting peace of mind. Founded by Maycol Delgado, Greener Roofing & Solar is dedicated to both outstanding craftsmanship and meaningful local impact. This commitment is personal; having grown up in a lower-income environment, Maycol understands the importance of providing resources and support to those in need. This perspective continues to drive the company’s mission today. 

We also extend our sincere thanks to Community Newspapers for highlighting this milestone and helping share our story with the community.

To read the full article, visit:
https://communitynewspapers.com/palmetto-bay-news/greener-roofing-solar-donates-30000-roof-to-be-strong-international-expanding-impact-for-16000-families/

[foogallery id=”314635″]

Michelle Shirley, CEO and Chief Heart Officer of Be Strong International, was recently featured in VoyageMIA Magazine, where she shared her personal journey, professional path, and the experiences that shaped her passion for relationship education and emotional wellness.

In the interview, Michelle reflects on growing up in Miami as the daughter of Jamaican immigrant parents and how witnessing domestic violence in her childhood influenced her life’s mission. Rather than allowing adversity to define her, she transformed those early challenges into purpose, dedicating her career to helping individuals, couples, and families build healthier, stronger relationships.

Michelle also opens up about the realities of nonprofit leadership, including navigating uncertainty, advocating for the organization’s mission, and making personal sacrifices to support her team. Her story highlights resilience, courage, and a deep commitment to creating meaningful, lasting impact in the community.

For Michelle, success is measured not by recognition but by transformation, the quiet yet powerful moments when individuals gain clarity, families reconnect, and people discover new ways to communicate and grow.

👉 Read the full VoyageMIA feature here:
https://voyagemia.com/interview/check-out-michelle-shirleys-story/

Miami, FL — Be Strong International is pleased to announce the appointment of Ernesto M. Diaz to its Board of Directors. Ernesto brings more than a decade of professional experience, strategic insight, and a strong commitment to community service that will further strengthen the organization’s mission to build stronger families and communities.

Ernesto is a Principal in Kaufman Rossin’s Tax Services Advisory Group, where he advises domestic and international clients on tax planning and compliance matters. His expertise includes tax structuring for U.S. real estate investments by foreign investors, as well as strategic tax planning for family-owned businesses and high-net-worth individuals. His professional background spans multiple industries, including professional services, real estate, hospitality, and distribution.

Prior to joining Kaufman Rossin, Ernesto served as a Tax Managing Director, leading and mentoring professional teams while delivering tax, accounting, and consulting services. He advised clients on complex domestic, international, state, and local tax matters and worked closely with audit, risk advisory, and cost segregation teams to provide comprehensive solutions. His experience also includes estate and trust planning.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Ernesto is actively engaged in the business and nonprofit community. He is a member of Business Network International (BNI) and a graduate of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Miami program. He has contributed to the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA) Emerging Leaders Program and supports several charitable organizations, including Be Strong International and the Baptist Health Young Philanthropists.

Ernesto is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Florida and holds memberships with both the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He earned his Bachelor of Accounting and Master of Accounting degrees from Florida International University.

Be Strong International is honored to welcome Ernesto M. Diaz to its Board of Directors and looks forward to the leadership, expertise, and passion he brings in support of the organization’s continued growth and impact.

Be Strong International (BSI) is proud to announce that it has been selected as a recipient of a 2025 Mental Well-being grant by the Florida Blue Foundation, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s mission to promote emotional wellness and healthy relationships across South Florida.
This competitive grant program recognizes nonprofits making measurable impacts on mental health. BSI’s award of $400,000 will support a multi-year initiative to expand the reach of its innovative Social Yaks card game. The accompanying training program is designed to foster connectedness, empathy, and emotional resilience among youth, families, and older adults. Through this funding, BSI will:
•Serve 4,000 adolescents, their families, and older adults in high-need communities across Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
•Train 1,500 public school teachers, counselors, and mental health professionals, particularly in under-resourced schools on the use of Social Yaks to enhance classroom engagement and emotional support.
•Host community workshops and awareness events to address isolation, loneliness, and depression through the power of social empathy and connection.

 

[foogallery id=”312631″]

“This moment is a true milestone for us. The generous support from the Florida Blue Foundation has left us absolutely elated,” said Michelle Shirley, CEO & Chief Heart Officer of Be Strong International. “We envision a future where our Heart Skills® framework will be woven into the fabric of every school and community, contributing to eradicating the loneliness and isolation our community is feeling. Through the application of Social Yaks, our latest tool, we aspire to foster environments where adolescents and their families reignite a shared commitment to connect in more meaningful ways while strengthening family bonding time.”
This is the first time Be Strong International has been awarded funding from the Florida Blue Foundation, the philanthropic arm of GuideWell, a not-for-profit mutual holding company committed to advancing health care and community well-being.
“We are proud to support nonprofit organizations like Be Strong International, who share our commitment to improving mental well-being for families across the state,” said Susan Towler, executive director of Florida Blue Foundation. “By providing support and resources, we can help amplify their work, ensuring more individuals and families have access to the resources and support they need to thrive.”

Sadly – and strangely – toxic relationships are being promoted in music and popular culture as the ultimate expression of romance. “But there’s nothing romantic about being in a toxic relationship,” says Sabrina Jules, Program Manager Youth Services for Be Strong International, which is helping young people build healthy relationships through Project H.O.P.E., an interactive workshop series offered at 25 middle and high schools in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

No matter what the songs say and the movies show, love doesn’t hurt. But when you’re young and in your first romantic relationship, it can be easy to think your partner is proving their love for you with hurtful actions. Jealousy, controlling behavior may seem passionate and romantic, but it’s just emotional manipulation that often leads to physical abuse.

If you’re experiencing this harmful kind of relationship, you’re not alone. According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, up to 19% of teens experience sexual or physical dating violence, about half face stalking or harassment, and as many as 65% report being psychologically abused.

We’re spotlighting Project H.O.P.E. during Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, observed every February by the National Domestic Violence Hotline’s Love Is Respect project. The event raises awareness and offers support, information and advocacy for young people ages 13-26 who have questions or concerns about their romantic relationships. This year’s theme is “Respect That.”

Respecting others must begin with respecting yourself, and that means learning to communicate in a healthy way with those who hurt you and call it love. That’s what teens learn in Project H.O.P.E.

“To know what a healthy relationship is, you have to first know yourself – your values, your beliefs and how to be your best person,” says Jules. Project H.O.P.E. takes a holistic approach that looks at the whole person, not just the part that dating represents.

The workshops teach participants how to recognize harmful relationships and the feelings they create and then how to speak up and express their discomfort or even fear. Role-playing is one of the workshops’ foundations.

“We might show an example of what is not a healthy way of communicating with somebody, with a child shouting and calling names,”  Jules explains. “And then we’ll ask you to show us a healthy way to communicate.”

Teens learn to express themselves rationally, with words like “I feel” and “I think.” Setting emotional and physical boundaries is another foundation of the workshops.

“We all come from different childhoods, different homes and different traumas, so we all have different boundaries,” Jules says. “For example, I don’t like when someone is shouting or yelling at me, so for me, everything is about tone of voice.” Someone else might set boundaries around physical contact.

When someone crosses the boundary, it can be a red flag leading up to violence by the person who claims to love you. The first step is to communicate the feelings of discomfort or anxiety:

“I don’t like when you’re yelling, screaming, or shouting at me.”

“Things are going a little fast, and I’d rather not be physically intimate with you right now.”

It’s not easy for many teens to communicate these feelings, so Project H.O.P.E. teaches workshop participants to begin by simply trusting their instincts.

“Even if you’re not able to use your words, listen to your body, listen to your breathing, listen to how your body is,” Jules says.

And don’t keep the situation to yourself, she adds. She urges young people to talk to their parents when faced with these situations. If that’s not possible or you don’t feel comfortable, talk to another trusted adult.

“Just use your voice and be brave,” she advises. “But know when to leave.”

More information

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month: www.loveisrespect.org/get-involved/tdvam

For help in a crisis: www.thehotline.org

Project H.O.P.E.: www.bestrongintl.org/project-hope

South Florida faces many social, economic and political challenges. Yet we also have a growing roster of dedicated, caring leaders who have committed to making life here better for everyone.

During Black History Month, Be Strong International salutes the many Black professionals driving meaningful change at nonprofit organizations, charitable agencies and other improvement programs. Whether mentoring young people, advocating for equal access to resources or providing vital support to families in need, these nonprofit leaders embody resilience, vision, and commitment to positive change as they work tirelessly to uplift their communities.

“These dedicated professionals have been incredible role models for me and many others who want to serve those in need, not just economically but socially and emotionally too,” says Michelle Shirley, Be Strong International’s CEO and Chief Heart Officer. “From Althea McMillan, the beloved founder of our organization, to my fellow members of The Miami Foundation’s 2024 Saltwater Fellowship, these amazing individuals have inspired my career and been invaluable to me as mentors. I’m honored to have known and worked with many of them.”

Here are some of the men and women who have made a meaningful difference in our community and for our neighbors:

  • Althea McMillan (1943-2024+) 

Founder, Be Strong International

  • Dr. Delvena Thomas

Corporate Psychiatrist at The GEO Group, Inc. and Medical Director at Be Strong International.

  • Gale Nelson

CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami

  • Rodrick Miller

President and Chief Executive Officer, Miami-Dade Beacon Council

  • Dexter A. Bridgeman

Founder/CEO, MIA Media Group

  • Yolanda Cash Jackson, Esq.

Shareholder/Lobbyist, Becker and Poliakoff, P.A.

  • Germaine Smith-Baugh

President/CEO, Urban League of Broward County

  • Julie Robison

Founder, South Dade Women Veterans Alliance

  • Amber Williams

Founder/Clinical Director, Upright Spine Center

  • Michelle Johnson

Faith and Community Leadership Liaison, Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Office

  • Shownda Pagan

CEO, Belafonte Tacolcy Center

  • Stephanie Sylvestre

Co-founder, Avatar Buddy

  • Trina Harris

CEO, Touching Miami with Love

  • Nikisha Williams

Vice President of Collective Impact, The Mami Foundation

  • Tiffany Wilson-Worsley

Director of Collective Impact, The Mami Foundation

  • Toni Randolph

Philanthropist

  • Symeria Hudson

President/CEO, United Way Miami

  • 2024 Fellows, Saltwater Fellowship

The Saltwater Fellowship is a new initiative of the Miami Foundation that invests in leaders who can create data-driven solutions to the problems facing the community. The inaugural class of fellows focuses on the persistent racial inequality felt throughout South Florida.

  • Kerry-Ann Royes, Class Chair and President/CEO, YWCA South Florida
  • Tina Brown, CEO, Overtown Youth Center
  • Esther Rose McCant, CEO, Metro Mommy Agency
  • Derek Negron, Co-founder, The Light Preparatory Academy
  • Marq Mitchell, Founder and Lead Steward, Chainless Change
  • Darius Daughtry, CEO/Artistic Director, Art Prevails Project
  • Fritzie Santoiry, CEO/Founder, Genesis Hopeful Haven
  • Santra Denis, Executive Director, Miami Workers Center
  • Tina Carroll-Scott, Medical Director, South Miami Children’s Center
  • Zelalem Adefris, CEO, Catalyst Miami
  • Michelle Shirley, CEO/Chief Heart Officer, Be Strong International

These accomplished professionals work year-round for the communities they serve, but Black History Month gives us a timely reason to thank them for all they do. Their greatest work may not be what they do today, but the achievements they will inspire by  those who come after them.

At Be Strong International, we take great pride in recognizing the dedication and hard work of our team members. This year, we are honored to celebrate a significant milestone—five years of service—for several outstanding employees. Their unwavering commitment to our mission has played a vital role in strengthening families and communities.

Celebrating Five Years of Service

Reaching a five-year milestone is a testament to perseverance, passion, and dedication. We extend our deepest gratitude to Emmanuel Ovalle, Rodlin Gelin, Juan Camargo, Carlos Villacis, and Everson Joseph for reaching this incredible achievement. Each of them has consistently excelled in their roles, demonstrating outstanding leadership, professionalism, and a commitment to excellence. Whether managing projects, providing support to families, or contributing to our overall mission, their hard work and dedication have made a significant impact on our organization. They continue to inspire us all with their passion for making a difference, and we look forward to many more years of shared success.

A Heartfelt Thank You

As we celebrate these milestones, we extend our sincerest appreciation to all our team members who continue to embody the spirit of Be Strong International. Your dedication and service are the foundation of our success, and we are honored to have you as part of our team.

Congratulations to Emmanuel, Rodlin, Juan, Carlos, and Everson on their well-deserved recognition! We look forward to many more years of growth, impact, and shared success together.

 

[foogallery id=”307848″]

Be Strong International is proud to celebrate a remarkable milestone for our team member, Carlos Andres Villacis, who has been appointed as a Board Member for Chamber South! This achievement highlights an exciting new chapter for both Carlos and Be Strong International as we continue to strengthen our ties with the vibrant South Florida community. 🏆

The announcement of Carlos’ appointment took place at the Chamber South Luncheon: “New Year Resolutions: Health, Wealth & Nutrition,” the first luncheon of 2025. The event brought together influential leaders and stakeholders from the South Florida region, marking a powerful start to the new year. Carlos was joined by seven other incoming Board Members as they were officially welcomed to the Chamber South leadership team. 🌟

Be Strong International is a proud member of Chamber South, a dynamic regional chamber of commerce dedicated to serving the communities of South Miami, Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, and Kendall. Chamber South provides invaluable resources, networking opportunities, advocacy, and professional development for local businesses. By fostering collaboration and community engagement, the organization plays a vital role in supporting economic growth and innovation across the region.

Carlos’ involvement with Chamber South strengthens Be Strong International’s connection to the local business community, helping us build partnerships that advance our mission of empowering individuals and families. Together with Chamber South, we are committed to creating a stronger, healthier South Florida community through collaboration and shared purpose.

As we celebrate this exciting milestone, Be Strong International looks forward to the opportunities that lie ahead. Congratulations, Carlos, on your appointment to the Chamber South Board! 🙌

Check out our Instagram post here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DE2ijQntVFg/?img_index=1

 

We’re thrilled to announce a significant and heartfelt milestone in our journey: “Be Strong Way” is now officially on the map! This incredible moment serves as a landmark not just in our community but in our organization’s mission to empower, educate, and uplift families and young people throughout Miami-Dade County.

On this special day, we were joined by Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Palmetto Bay Mayor Karyn Cunningham, who both delivered words of encouragement and support that truly resonated with all in attendance. It was also an honor to have our very own CEO and Chief Heart Officer, Michelle Shirley, lead the celebration with her inspiring vision and steadfast dedication. Each of these leaders, along with all who came out to support, helped make this event unforgettable and affirming.

The unveiling of “Be Strong Way” stands as a vibrant symbol of our commitment to strengthening families, building healthy relationships, and fostering resilience in our community. This street name is more than a marker on the map; it embodies the heart and soul of our work at Be Strong International. It’s a reminder that each day, with every workshop, conversation, and outreach event, we are collectively taking steps forward—empowering individuals and transforming lives.

Thank you to everyone who shared this moment with us, and to all our supporters who believe in our mission. Here’s to many more steps forward and continued impact as we keep walking down Be Strong Way, paving paths of empowerment and positive change!

 

Check more pictures here: https://www.bestrongintl.org/events/gallery/