The Importance of Emotional Intimacy in a Healthy Marriage

One of the most essential components of a successful and happy marriage is intimacy. Emotional intimacy is no exception. Is it a problem if you’re not as intimate as you once were? Marriages with insufficient emotional intimacy are more common than you would assume. Couples who are experiencing this circumstance are interested in understanding if the relationship can endure this condition or not, despite the fact that the reasons for this vary. To understand emotional intimacy in marriage, you will need to ask yourself these questions:

• Are you two growing distant from one another?
• Is it difficult for you to communicate with your spouse?
• Do you ever feel that “my partner doesn’t get me” or like two ships that greet each other with a light at night?

If your response to the questions above is yes, you might need assistance. Relationships suffer when there is emotional distance. A strong relationship is built on emotional connection in marriage. You can develop emotional closeness with your spouse.

Read more about the importance of emotional closeness in a healthy marriage in this article along with suggestions on dealing with it.

Understanding emotional intimacy

Emotional intimacy occurs when you strongly connect with your partner and share your vulnerabilities. One of the most fulfilling components of a relationship for many couples is being able to share their most private thoughts and feelings with their partner.

Intimacy on an emotional level promotes security and trust in your relationship. Emotional intimacy is feeling close to, emotionally attached to, and supported by your spouse. You may let down your guard in an emotionally intimate marriage, allowing yourself to be vulnerable and express your concerns, hopes, and dreams with your partner. You can be wholly yourself when both you and your spouse have emotional intimacy.

You’re more prone to experience feelings of loneliness or resentment in a relationship marked by emotional distance. It’s less probable that you’ll experience love, respect, security, or support.

Emotional and sexual intimacy are not the same. Regardless of how enjoyable your sexual experiences are, a relationship will suffer if there is a lack of emotional connection. The best part is that a couple’s sex life usually gets better as they develop emotional intimacy.

Sexual closeness and emotional intimacy are not quite the same. But, it might improve the sex.

We require emotional closeness. We are wired for connection as humans. By releasing the feel-good chemicals oxytocin, endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, emotional connection uplifts our spirits. Even life expectancy can be increased by intimacy.

The importance of emotional intimacy

Lack of intimacy tends to increase if we do not foster it. Sometimes, couples may not have developed emotional intimacy from the beginning of their relationship. This could be due to various reasons such as individual differences, past experiences, or external factors that may have hindered their ability to connect on a deeper level. In such cases, it’s important to actively work towards developing emotional intimacy by communicating openly, expressing vulnerability, and actively listening to each other.

In other cases, emotional intimacy may deteriorate over time, especially as the initial excitement of the relationship fades away. Partners may begin to take each other for granted or become complacent, leading to a lack of effort in maintaining emotional closeness. The reason couples always give is:

“I love my spouse, and I know that he loves me, but I need to experience his proximity more frequently, and I am unsure how to make that happen.”

In such situations, it’s important to recognize the issue and take action to reignite the spark by spending quality time together, expressing appreciation, and engaging in meaningful conversations.

Why the need for emotional intimacy?

Emotional intimacy is an integral part of a healthy marriage. It is a deep connection that allows partners to share their feelings, thoughts, and experiences with each other. When couples build emotional intimacy is a crucial aspect of a healthy marriage. When partners connect on an emotional level, they create a space where they can be vulnerable, understood, and supported. This bond can strengthen the marriage and help partners navigate the ups and downs of life together. Below, we’ll discuss some of the important reasons why emotional intimacy is necessary for a healthy marriage.

• Better Handling of Difficulties

Regardless of your differences, you can overcome obstacles by bonding on an emotional level. Relationship difficulties are unavoidable, so it is essential to learn how to deal with them. When spouses can’t handle obstacles, most partners decide to part ways. The ability to count on your lover for emotional support is made possible by an emotional connection, which is crucial when trying to solve problems.

• Setting Reasonable Goals

The majority of partners have inflated hopes. They are dissatisfied when they discover that their hopes aren’t fulfilled at the end of the day. Establishing emotional connection enables you to set reasonable expectations. It gives you and your spouse the room to respect and encourage each other despite your differences and physical limits. You will be in a position to make better accommodations for what the other partner isn’t providing for you. This fosters a sense of inventiveness, tolerance, and trust. In the end, you both benefit from a fulfilling relationship where you both know what to anticipate from your spouse.

• Elevated Respect Between Partners

In partnerships, emotional closeness makes it easier to express and receive respect from your partner. When there is a disagreement, respect is useful. When there is no respect, there is a vicious exchange of angry words, and no one is willing to admit when they are wrong. Respect enables you to take into account the other partner’s feelings and assist in amicably resolving the disagreement. An emotional connection fosters respect, which is essential for settling disputes between couples.

• Allows for Impromptu Fun

The worst kind of fun a partnership can have is forced enjoyment. Fun gets dull and lackluster when it is planned. Relationships that are emotionally intimate provide you two the freedom to act impulsively and have fun. You may connect more easily when you have emotional ties. You won’t have to work hard to have fun and really appreciate each other’s company. You can both relax and have fun whenever you choose.

• Genuine Communication

You may listen intently for genuine comprehension when you have emotional connection. You’ll be able to pay attention to your companion and comprehend their perspective. This gives you a platform to interact more effectively and pay attention to one another. One of the main factors that contribute to marriages disintegrating so rapidly and readily is a breakdown in communication. Understanding when and how to listen and when you should speak will help you communicate with your partner more effectively. Genuine, sincere conversation can flourish on an intimate foundation.

• Makes Your Relationship More Genuine and Authentic

You don’t hold anything back from your spouse when you feel an emotional connection with them. Instead, your interaction will be genuine and grounded in reality. At all times, your relationship will be built on genuine emotions rather than façade.

• Improves Physical Health

One of the causes of bad health in humans is stress. Your body releases the mood-enhancing hormone oxytocin when you are content in your relationship. A content life encourages connection and strengthens your partnership. This promotes health at its best. Relationships with emotional connection avoid suspicion, envy, and the need for retribution. You’ll benefit from balanced energy, resilience, a healthy libido, and regular sleep cycles. Improved sleep encourages good health.

Constantly make an effort to emotionally connect with your partner. Physical intimacy is crucial, but when coupled with emotional closeness, a relationship is more likely to last longer, be happier, and be healthier.

Marriage Matters

In conclusion, emotional intimacy is a vital aspect of a healthy marriage. It allows partners to connect on a deeper level, fostering trust, empathy, and understanding. When couples cultivate emotional intimacy, they create a strong foundation for their relationship that can weather any storm. While building emotional intimacy may take time and effort, the rewards are worth it, as it can lead to a more fulfilling and satisfying marriage.

If you want to learn more about building emotional intimacy in your marriage, check out Be Strong International’s Marriage Matters program. This program is designed to help couples develop the heart skills and the tools necessary to build and maintain a strong, healthy, and emotionally intimate marriage. With the guidance of experienced coaches, workshops, and events, you and your spouse can learn how to deepen your connection and create a loving and supportive partnership that will last a lifetime.

Visit our website at www.bestrongintl.org/marriage-matters/ or contact us here.

Marriage isn’t always a bed of roses. It doesn’t come with an instruction manual and can often become a bit overwhelming. Couples may appear similar on the surface but no two people are the same, making the union of two souls a delicate game.

Here we’ll share some of the secrets to having and maintaining a healthy marriage:

1. Invest time in one another
2. Show each other respect
3. Discover yourself first
4. Look for intimacy and similar interests
5. Achieve better communication
6. Look for the best in one another
7. Be forgiving of one another

Invest time in one another

Married couples benefit from spending quality time together.  Scheduling date nights or weekend activities is a fantastic way to achieve this special time with your spouse. This time can help you better understand each other, your differences and how to resolve any issues that could come up. Healthy marriages require both quality and quantity.

Show each other respect

The foundation of any relationship is respect.  Treating your partner as you would like to be treated will strengthen your bond. Paying your partner a compliment is a quick and easy way to show them respect. When a couple fails to respect each other, they often slip into negative habits. Research shows that toxic criticism can damage the connection between couples.  It’s important to be mindful of when, how often, and your tone (respect) when criticizing your partner.

Discover yourself first

Many couples begin relationships without fully understanding who they are first. Knowing yourself better can help you develop as a person and as a partner to your spouse. Once you know yourself  you can then make a commitment to learning new things about your spouse.  Just think of the relationship you will have over the course of a lifetime together.

Look for intimacy and similar interests

Intimacy between a married couple can add a new level of happiness and closeness. It’s important to keep in mind that intimacy does not always correlate to sexuality. Learn the differences between emotional and physical closeness. Offering your partner one type when they need the other might strain your union.

When couples have similar interests, they prosper. Similar interests are essential for building a healthy marriage. The goal is to have something outside of your family that you and your spouse can enjoy together. That doesn’t mean you’ll enjoy every activity, but it does allow for more sharing and compromise.

Achieve better communication

Communication is key to a healthy marriage. When it comes to resolving conflicts that inevitably emerge in relationships, effective communication can go a long way. Never assume your partner is aware of your thoughts or emotions and knows when to just listen. Books, marital education workshops, and online courses are among the various tools available to help partners improve their listening skills in a marriage.

Be forgiving of one another

Forgiveness is a crucial virtue in a marriage. Your partner will do something that hurts, irritates, or upsets you at some point in your marriage. Given that nobody is flawless, try to give your spouse some compassion. If you make a mistake, admit it right away and make the necessary repairs. By doing this, you can enhance your marriage and promote forgiveness.

Look for the best in each other

You fell in love with some of your partner’s excellent qualities when you first met him/her. Your perception of said qualities may have shifted over time. Give each other the benefit of the doubt. Make a list of everything you appreciate in your spouse. It will guide you to falling in love all over again.

Marriage Matters to Be Strong

A strong and “healthy marriage” ultimately creates a strong and “healthy family.” And an organization that’s helping married couples to become a better, more unified union is Be Strong International. Be Strong is a Miami-based non-profit that empowers youth and families — to go from brokenness to wholeness.

Be Strong has a program called Marriage Matters that helps guide married couples. The objective of their program is to help couples, at all stages, create and maintain a healthy marriage.

As Be Strong also states, some of the most important aspects of a healthy marriage include:

• Connection
• Commitment
• Giving
• Respect
• Trust
• Intimacy

Relationship counseling  can be the first step to help with marriage problems. Online marriage education and relationship counseling  are not widely discussed topics, but we need to start the conversation to make a difference. Getting marriage education can be a difficult topic, but there’s no need to be scared. Be Strong is there to guide you into having a healthy marriage.

“We believe that marriage gives, and when couples focus on this as a principle, then all other aspects tend to emerge or improve marriage relationships.”

For more information on Be Strong’s Marriage Matters program, click here to visit their website!

Check out last month’s Marriage Matters Ceremony Night. Click here to view the gallery.

It’s a great thing when people want to make a difference in their communities. Whether you live in South Florida or are new to the community, having an interest in its well-being and the lives of the fellow residents can be an amazing experience. It will enrich your life, familiarize you with your community, and connect you to people and ideas that can positively impact your perspective for the rest of your life.

Additionally, helping your community is an opportunity for you to grow as a person, and to better understand how you fit into the world around you. Furthermore, in South Florida, there are many ways you can make a difference in the community. You can shop locally, volunteer your time, donate (clothes, food, or money), become a mentor, etc. The list is endless but find a cause you are passionate about.

For instance, helping the people in the community.

Helping the People in Your Community

Without a doubt, volunteering is a wonderful opportunity to help the people in your community. Volunteers play an integral part in the community. Without volunteers, many of the services and events that we need and enjoy in our communities would not be so readily available. Giving back to the place you call home helps to unite the community and bridge some of the social, economic, and political gaps.

Your South Florida community is made up of many different families; some of whom need support. These families face challenges such as homelessness, poverty, behavioral problems with youth, and family problems such as; single-parent homes, parenting issues, child neglect, and abuse. Reaching out and volunteering your time and resources (food, clothes, money) to community organizations and/or services geared towards helping those in situations such as these go a long way to making a difference in their lives.

An organization that’s spearheading the cause of bettering the lives of South Florida families and youth is Be Strong International. Be Strong is a non-profit organization which provides services and resources to build healthy parent-child relationships and go from brokenness to wholeness.

Let’s talk about the broken families in South Florida communities and how you can make a difference in their lives.

From Brokenness to Wholeness

Volunteering provides a great way to get to know your community and its citizens. Additionally, it will help you to better understand the circumstances of other members of your community. Having a broad, open-minded perspective of the different walks of life around you will help you to be an effective and empathetic citizen.

There are people and youth in South Florida who come from broken families –– divorced parents, single parents. This is a social issue that has too often been ignored in the communities and unfortunately creates generational patterns. Parents and children of broken families often experience financial and economic hardships, mental health issues, lack of educational resources, marital issues, etc.

According to a report by the Heritage Foundation, broken families tend to earn less and experience lower levels of educational achievement. Consequently, they pass the prospect of meager incomes and family instability on to their children, ensuring a continuing if not expanding cycle of economic distress. Fortunately, the federal government and states and local communities can play important roles in changing this culture to ensure that all children reach their full income potential.

This is where you can begin to make a difference. Donating your time to support those around you is extremely beneficial, both for you and your community. It has been statistically proven that people who volunteer regularly are healthier both physically and mentally.

Helping organizations within your community that support these broken families –– becoming a mentor, volunteering your time, donating money, food, and clothes –– can change the economic trajectory and future of these families. Going from brokenness to wholeness.

Be Strong International

There are so many important causes out there that always need volunteers to support the work they’re doing. As mentioned previously, Be Strong International is a non-profit organization that’s on mission to help South Florida parents and youth go from brokenness to wholeness –– And you can be a part of it.

Be Strong offers resources to help parents and youth develop and maintain healthy relationships with each other and with those they interact with outside the family. They have Parent education programs and marriage workshops for couples. Teens and adolescents can participate in fun groups that focus on character development, healthy peer relationships, and other topics of concern.

Be Strong has served 230,000 South Florida community members, students, and parents, including:

• 5,175 parents trained annually on healthy communication
• 7,684 middle and high school students taught in 2020/2021
• 5,000 families fed through the Be Strong & Project P.E.A.C.E monthly food drive

Be Strong’s holistic educational services follow the principles established by education pioneer Maria Montessori, who believed that learning is affected by emotions and social relationships. Students learn most effectively when their whole self is considered – from their physical health to their emotional stability. A child who’s hungry or whose home life is unstable cannot learn as effectively as one whose basic needs are being met. They must also trust their teacher. It’s this holistic perspective that is the foundation of Be Strong’s programs.

Be Strong’s programs include:

Project H.O.P.E.

Most teens and young adults want to make the right choice when faced with temptations like drugs and risky sexual behavior, but they don’t know how. Project H.O.P.E. is an interactive workshop that helps them make the right decisions. Middle and high school students learn to make informed decisions about healthy relationships, character development, careers, and financial literacy. The program uses real-life situations to better prepare participants for facing them when they come up.

Marriage Matters

It really is possible to have an easy marriage if both partners respect each other and communicate in a healthy, positive manner. Marriage Matters helps couples learn to do just that with relationship counseling and marriage seminars that aim to resolve or prevent marriage problems. Marriage is about giving to each other. When couples focus on this principle, all other aspects tend to emerge or improve marriage relationships.

Raising the B.A.R. Parenting Alliance

Raising the B.A.R. is a parenting education program for caregivers that teaches evidence-based strategies for raising happy, healthy children. It’s offered through The Children’s Trust, which supports programs that improve the lives of children and families. The program helps families develop and maintain healthy relationships. Topics include:

• Positive Parenting
• Raising Confident, Competent Children;
• Raising Resilient Children;
• Raising Responsible Teenagers;
• Raising Competent Teenagers,
• and Getting Teenagers Connected.

How You Can Help Be Strong

Here’s how you can help Be Strong and make a difference in your South Florida community. Be Strong has two great ways you can help bring South Florida families from brokenness to wholeness:

Donate

Help Be Strong reach its goal of raising $300,000 in its 30th year. Click here to make a one-time or recurring gift.

Volunteer

Even if you only donate a few hours of time each month, you will be making a huge difference in the lives of your community members who are in need. Click here to Volunteer!

Volunteers are needed to:

• Assist during community events (e.g., handing out food boxes).
• Prepare care packages.
• Register candidates for sessions.
• Help with other areas.

For more information on joining Be Strong’s amazing Volunteer Team, contact the Volunteer Coordinator directly at 305-969-7829.

Honest communication is one of the secrets to a successful marriage, as any relationship expert will tell you. The advice is based on serious research, including the finding that happy couples communicate in a positive way. It only makes sense. You can’t expect to spend the rest of your life with someone if you can’t talk openly and honestly with them. To live as your authentic self and build a healthy marriage, you must be able to express your true feelings and beliefs, especially when they affect your partner. When problems arise, you must be able to start a conversation and say what’s on your mind so you can work out the issue together.

Knowing that is the easy part. How do you begin? There are some healthy ways to start a difficult conversation with your spouse. First, let’s explore why communication is critical to a strong marriage.

Why Communication Matters

According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health, communication is an essential factor in a married couple’s satisfaction with their relationship. Those who communicate in positive ways tend to be more satisfied with their marriage, according to the study’s authors.

Catherine Aponte, Psy.D., explores communication and other relationship matters in the book A Marriage of Equals: How to Achieve Balance in a Committed Relationship. She also writes the Marriage of Equals blog at Psychology Today. Aponte says open communication between spouses “is not a debate between partners’ preconceived notions about what is going on between the two of you . . . (but) is about [spouses] collaborating with each other by sharing perceptions, feeling, ideas, and thoughts so that they can come to an understanding of what is happening between them—what their joint reality is.”

Aponte offers five reasons communication is good for a marriage:

     It keeps you close to each other.

Couples drift away from each because they’ve stopped talking and sharing their ideas and opinions. Sharing openly can bring the two partners together.

     It makes everything clear.

Many disagreements and conflicts happen because one partner assumes they know what the other is thinking or feeling. They could be wrong. But they’ll never know if you don’t tell them what’s really going on.

     It helps you grow as a couple.

Talking with your spouse and sharing what you’re going through will help you grow together in your relationship. When you have nothing to say to each other, you can grow bored and uninterested.

     You’re more likely to be faithful.

Isolation creates fertile ground for infidelity. When you don’t talk to each other, it’s easy to forget why you were attracted to each other, and without sharing your thoughts, it’s hard to bring back those memories.

     Communication prevents divorce.

Lack of communication is the most common reason for divorce, Aponte points out. No wonder – if you aren’t sharing anything and you have nothing in common anymore, why stay together?

“When two individuals come together in marriage, they are committing to creating a life together,” Aponte writes. “But they are, after all, two separate individuals with their own likes and dislikes, values, beliefs, and ideas.” They have to share those ideas for the other person to understand them.

Types of Communication in Marriage

You can start improving your marriage relationship by understanding the three ways we communicate. Many marital issues arise because couples don’t realize the impact of these types.

     Speaking with Your Words

You might think this is the most straightforward form of communication, but it’s not as simple as it seems – especially when it comes to speaking up about a problem. In fact, when marriage problems occur, your spouse may even deny they exist. So to stay alert to marital issues, you must be in tune with the two forms of non-verbal communication.

     Speaking with Your Body

Body language is a crucial indicator of what someone is thinking or feeling. The way someone stands, how their body reacts when speaking or listening to you, and whether they make eye contact with you are powerful clues to what they’re really thinking. If you ask your spouse a question and they avoid your gaze or turn away when answering, for instance, it could mean they’re not being truthful. Learning to translate your spouse’s body language can help you build a strong marriage.

     Speaking with Your Actions

That old cliché is true: Actions speak louder than words, and you should pay close attention to the clues your spouse is sending you with their actions. A spouse who gives you little gifts when it’s not your birthday, who takes over household chores you hate, or gives you time with your friends is saying “I love you” without saying the words. A spouse who doesn’t keep their promises or isn’t there when you need them is saying something else. It could be time for marriage counseling.

Getting Professional Help

There’s nothing wrong with seeking outside help to heal your marriage problems. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) has found a high rate of success for couples who use marriage counseling to improve their relationship. A great place to start is with the AAMFT’s Therapist Locator. If you have health insurance, you may be able to get help at little to no cost to you.

Even if you decide to seek professional marriage counseling, there are some strategies you can use now to develop your communication skills with your spouse and make your marriage stronger.

Top 7 Tips to Start a Difficult Conversation with Your Spouse

The best way to fix a problem is to acknowledge that it’s happening. But both you and your spouse must agree on what the marriage problems are before you can start working on them. That means having a difficult conversation. Here’s how to proceed:

    1. Plan what you want to say.

Don’t plan to “wing it” or improvise. What exactly is the problem, as you see it? Why is it a problem? These are questions your spouse is likely to ask, and you need to have an answer. But it will also help you to clarify the situation for yourself. Write down your thoughts, if possible, but don’t read them during the actual conversation. You need to speak from your heart, not from your notes.

     2. Pick the right time.

If you have children, choose a time when they’re not around or are occupied in another room so you can focus on your spouse and the issues you’re discussing. Avoid talking after the kids are in bed, however; getting them to sleep is sometimes a stressful experience, and you should both be in a relaxed frame of mind.

     3. Use positive body language.

Remember the importance of non-verbal communication. Pay attention to how your spouse’s body is receiving your words but be mindful of your own unspoken words too. Keep your arms at your sides. Be sure to look your spouse directly in the eye and keep your expression friendly and welcoming; you don’t have to smile if you’re not feeling happy but try not to scowl.

     4. Respectfully acknowledge your spouse’s point of view.

You can disagree with your spouse, but don’t dismiss their point of view without considering it and acknowledging they have a right to it. Ask them to explain their opinion and keep an open mind. You might find you agree with them once you understand why they feel that way.

     5. Listen at least as much as you speak.

To understand someone else’s point of view, you have to listen to what it is. Don’t let your assumptions color the way you speak about the situation. Ask questions and, more importantly, listen to the answers.

     6. Thank your spouse.

Start the conversation by thanking them for being willing to talk and thank them again at the end. Showing that you appreciate their time and believe in the need for effective communication will go a long way toward resolving your marriage problems. Often, just making an effort and confronting a problem is enough to improve your relationship. (It’s just the first step, of course.)

     7. Don’t expect change right away.

Be patient. Your first conversation about marital issues should not be about “fixing” a problem but should focus instead on recognizing the problem and agreeing to come together to fix it. Of course, some issues will have obvious solutions, but if you don’t arrive at one, you should feel good that you’ve taken the first step to solving it. For now, success need only mean deciding to work on the marriage problem together – and agreeing to keep talking about it.

Be Strong International’s Marriage Matters Program

Free help is available through Be Strong International’s Marriage Matters program, an eight-week series of workshops and seminars that help participating couples develop and maintain healthy relationships. Communication skills – both speaking and listening – are one of the program’s primary focus areas. Its evidence-based curriculum offers the best marriage advice available. And it’s fun – activities include a date night midway through the program, and the series ends with a meaningful graduation ceremony.

For more information on our program, visit our Marriage Matters Program on BeStrongIntl.org.

To contact us or register for our online-based Marriage Matters classes, click here.

Monika Sánchez, Gerente Senior de Comunicaciones y Oscar Díaz, Gerente de Casos, compartieron acerca de la labor que realiza Be Strong International para ayudar a la comunidad del sur de Florida y en particular, sobre su programa Marriage Matters. Vea cómo Oscar explica cómo el programa de Marriage Matters ayuda a parejas casadas mejorar sus matrimonios enseñandoles habilidades de comunicación efectiva, prácticas de manejo del estrés, educación financiera y mucho más! ❤️

El programa de Marriage Matters, junto todos los programas de Be Strong International, es completamente gratis! Visita el enlace en nuestra biografía para obtener más información! 👆

Agradecemos la gentileza de Doral Voice y su presidente Juan Carlos Esquivel, por abrirnos las puertas y ayudarnos a expandir la voz sobre los servicios que ofrecemos de manera gratuita a la comunidad! 🙏

Para mayor información sobre el programa Marriage Matters, visite la página del programa aquí.

Miami, FL – By 9:30 a.m. on Friday, April 9^th, cars were already lining up around the block to get food boxes and information at the Marriage Matters Drive-Thru Community Fair and Food Distribution Event at the South Dade YMCA.

More than 350 boxes of fresh groceries were given to needy families from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the YMCA, 9355 SW 134th St, Miami, FL 33176. The event organizer, the Marriage Matters program, is one of the newest programs at Be Strong International (BSI).  Marriage Matters is designed to encourage and educate married couples, while enabling them, at every stage, to build and sustain a healthy marriage.

With the help of sponsors and volunteers, BSI not only distributed boxes of fresh food, they also were able to give out free books for children and share information about programs or resources from partners such as Survivors Pathway and Kristi House. “We’re all extremely thankful for BSI continuing to give back to our community by hosting another wonderful event,” says Danielle Cohen Higgin, Miami-Dade County Commissioner for District 8. “We are on the mend, but the need is still great.”

Marriage Matters is seeking couples over the age of 18 that qualify, regardless of race, gender, age, disability, orientation or, religion. The program follows an evidence-based curriculum that has been working for over 40 years.

“Couples may have strained relationships due to job loss, kids at home, and fear about COVID-19,” says Oscar Diaz of BSI’s Marriage Matters Program. “This pandemic is presenting them with challenges they’ve never faced before, and it is easy to get overwhelmed by the constant negativity going on around them. That is why what we have done today is so incredibly important. Spreading positivity and optimism in a time where it’s most needed.”

Partners and donors that made this all possible include Florida state representatives Kevin Chambliss and Vance Aloupis, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins, the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Programs, Univision Contigo, the YMCA, Farm Share, Shake Shack. and Miami Dade County.

For more information about Be Strong International or Marriage Matters, please visit bestrongintl.org or call (305) 969-7829. For inquiries about this event or to arrange an interview, contact Nicholas Fernandez at nicholas@bestrongintl.org.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”24″ gal_title=”Marriage Matters Food Drive”]

Uncertainty in employment and daily living, including food, has caused a great amount of stress on relationships, particularly marriages, during the pandemic. In response, Strong International’s new Marriage Matters program will host a Drive-Thru Community Fair and Food Distribution next month.

The event will take place on Friday, August 9, 2020, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at the South Dade YMCA, 9355 SW 134th St, Miami, FL 33176. The program is seeking to provide some food relief and register interested couples for its eight-week program.

“COVID-19 has strained too many relationships,” says Celida Hernandez, Be Strong’s community outreach liaison. “That is why Be Strong International wants help our community through these tough times, especially the couples within our most vulnerable population in Miami-Dade County.”

During the fair people can get not only a box of food provided by Farm Share, but they can also get free books for their kids provided by The Children’s Trust and much more. Due to COVID-19 CDC recommendations, all attendees are asked to wear masks and remain in their cars until a volunteer approaches. Those interested in attending, can register at https://bestrongintl.org/fooddrive while slots are still available.

The Marriage Matters program is designed to encourage and educate couples in the areas of relationship strengthening, communication, problem solving, stress and anger management, intimacy, parenting, and financial literacy using the MERS PREP 8.0 and evidence-base curriculum. Their goal is to enable married couples, at every stage, to build and sustain a healthy marriage. Interested couples can visit the website to learn more about the program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Human Services.

“In a time where marriages are declining and divorces increasing, it is important that our community knows of the resources they have available that will aid them in keeping their relationships alive and healthy” said, Rosa Lopez, Program Manager for Marriage Matters. “We are excited to have the opportunity to be able to give back to our community, while being able to spread information and bring awareness to the importance of a truly healthy union.”

Partners and donors that made this all possible include Florida state representatives Kevin Chambliss and Vance Aloupis, the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Programs, Univision Contigo, the YMCA, Farm Share, Miami Dade County, Florida Blue, Shake Shack, Bank OZK, Kristi House, Survivor’s Pathway, the Mexican Consulate, UniMas, Amor 107.5, Radio Mambi, Mix 98.3, and WQBA 1140 AM.

Miami, FL – Be Strong International (BSI) has added two innovative new programs to its offering, including the latest that seeks to re-engage broken relationships in the community caused by social justice concerns over the last several years.

The Children’s Trust has awarded the Innovation Grant to BSI for its new Be Strong at the Table (BSATT) program. Beginning in 2021, the year-long program will feature two dinners in each of the five regions within Miami-Dade County. The dinner participants will include a mix of local families, youth and community leaders from different racial, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds to address the issue of social injustice, all while dining together.

“The best part about this is that it is practical, and it has never been done in Miami,” said Juan Camargo, Special Projects and Outreach Liaison. “The secret of its success is that it leads to building meaningful relationships between groups of people who may never have interacted in a close setting.”

The dinners offer an opportunity for the participants to develop empathy and a drive to action. After the dinner, the challenge for the diners is to invite someone of another culture or religion to their home to likewise share a meal in order to develop further discourse and perhaps a personal relationship. This project will culminate in a documentary to be premiered for the community.

BSI has also been awarded a grant for its new “Marriage Matters” program. Last month, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it is awarding a grant of $749,000 to the organization. Congresswoman Donna Shalala (FL-27) issued the following statement after its award:

“Be Strong International has worked tirelessly to install positive youth development practices and social-emotional learning to equip young people with the tools they need to make better decisions about relationships, money, work, and family life. I am pleased they are being recognized and receiving funding to continue the important work they do in our community.”

Participants for these free programs will be selected from both a registration and selection process. BSATT is limited to 50 participants during the first year, and Marriage Matters seeks 80 local couples.

More details will be announced on the website and social media in the coming weeks.