Local Voices (Miami)

Geoff is.............livin in his own type of heaven. Born in New York CIty, he studied business at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, and went to work on Wall Street, before even the beginning of the internet. After 19 years, and remote work became possible, he moved down to Miami Beach, where he manages money for friends and family. Having met his star bass player, Jose de Jesus, in his younger days, Geoff enjoys playing with @lotuscollective and the drummers at South Pointe on Sundays, as well as playing with his cover band, The Mac.Key SIMBA Takeaways:Remember the 4 rungs of life each day:Cleanliness - GodlinessExercise - Touch the SkiesPrayer - PowerTension - ReleaseShare feedback~Simba4133882755

Frankie is.........humbly making Miami a landmark running club city. Born in Coconut Grove, he remembers the first time his dad invited him out for a run, and the rest is history. Loving the feeling of independence and control that running provides, he did cross country in high school, and walked on to two years of track at FIU. After studying public relations as an undergrad, he ended up going for a Masters in Public Administration, realizing he had an affinity for local politics and government work. While working on his own small business, and as an intern for various elected officials, he one day landed himself in a room where the question was asked, Why Miami no longer had its own marathon...........(there use to exist an Orange Bowl Marathon). At the ripe young age of 21, Frankie stepped up to the plate and helped launch the first edition of the Miami Marathon in 2003. Producing races ever since he was a teenager, he was uniquely situated to overcome the red tape and political buy-in required, resulting in an event that has helped bring over 200 million dollars of revenue to South Florida. Since getting bought out by fitness giant, Lifetime, Frankie has been focused on growing the Baptist Health - Nike run clubs, which now total 8 different locations and host thousands of social runners each week, in addition to recently being named Miami's Chief Wellness Officer by Mayor Francis Suarez. Check out one of the run clubs near you by visiting www.runclubnetwork.com, and follow Frankie on IG @frankieruiz. All paces are welcome.

Tiff is...........the Queen of Miami Yoga........she just wants............to dance with Jlo. Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. Born in Durham, North Carolina, she moved down to Florida to work for Sprint as soon as she graduated Meredith College, going back to Duke to get a degree in MBSR, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction from their integrative medicine department. Starting her yoga path during undergrad, she realized she fully loved it later in life, when she was going through some traumas, getting hit by a car on her bike, breakups, and losing her mom. Turning to yoga helped her create her own Utopia, where everything happens for a reason. When Synergy Yoga school owner, Victoria Brunacci, challenged her to grow in her practice and do her first 200 hour training, she answered the call, and followed up with her 300 and 500 hour trainings. Now fully running some of Miami's most creative yoga events, whether that be 4:20 Space Yoga on Saturdays, or weekly Immersive Beyond Monet yoga, or Full Moon Moxy yoga, or even weekly volunteering at the Global Empowerment Mission, Tiffany is living her calling and even has her own website, https://www.tifftopia.com/, where you can review her different events and retreats, like the one she does in Morocco. Follow her on IG @tifftopia, come by to some of her events, and if you're listening Jlo.........

Frankie is...........an artist who wants to.........."nip it in the bud at the youth". What that means is, he's an eclectic crusader. Born in Miami Gardens, he attended a magnet program for acting as a youth, learning to love music from his father, a rapper, and his mother, a singer. He remembers trying to make his first guitar out of a wooden door, then slinging enough cookies and cream Hershey's bars at school, to buy his first real guitar. Performing at the legendary Miami venue, Churchill's, Frankie learned to start making some money with his wrd frndz, and now is full time paying his bills with music, supporting other artists in the studio, and working with his fiancée, Simone, on their nonprofit, Context of a Generation, providing a platform for other local artists in the area. Follow him on IG, @frankiemidnight_, check out his linktree for a link to his new album, Wrd Frndz, and listen to the full episode to catch Frankie spitting some serious truth.

Ron is.............THE MAN at the zoo. Born in New York City, his father a Cuban immigrant, and his mother the daughter of Colombian and German immigrants, he always loved animals, and initially wanted to be a veterinarian. After his family moved down to Florida in 1972 to live on a farm and raise horses in addition to mangos & avocados, he was truly exposed to the raw outdoors. His first job with animals was at the Miami Serpentarium, and his senior year at UF, he was offered the job of zookeeper for the zoo in Crandon Park in Key Biscayne. His first big mentor was Jim Fowler, a side host for the show "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom", who taught him even more about carrying forward a sense of play and wonder with the animals. After being hired as zookeeper for the Miami Zoo, he eventually stared his own endowment, the Ron Magill Conservation Endowment, raising millions of dollars to support high tech equipment for conservation efforts, & enabling youth with scholarships in the field. If he had a billion dollars, he would invest it in the education and sustainable work opportunities of those living in developing countries very near to precious animal reserves. A strong believer in holding up our promise to the urban development line in Miami, he is passionate about preservationism and has many close friends to thank for his progress thus far. Follow him on IG @ronmagillwildlife and listen closely to the episode, to hear some of Ron's favorite underrated spots to see wildlife, in both South Florida and his favorite getaway spot, Africa. He is the man behind the Lion King. Thank you Ron.

Millah is..........the Founder, CEO and voice of the meditation app, YouTuneIn. Born in Brazil, she remembered her calling for music at an early age, putting on Millah shows for her friends & family, eventually going into acting with her passion for psychology and consciousness. She started her own acting school in Brazil, for three years developing her own method for psychic growth, until at one point she had a revelation that her path would be music. Soon following that, she started the Meditation app, Youtunein, (Youtunein.com), to create a guided experience for meditation, helping users become more present and access their higher consciousness. Having worked in social work, healing the people of Brazil, worked on acting sets for Prime level TV Shows, and directed her own screenplays, Millah is versatile and aware of her main mission, contributing to the growth of the collective consciousness of the universe, and helping people tune in to their higher self. Follow her Instagram @millahofficial, check out her app @YoutuneinApp, and come to one of her Vibrational Transformation Events in Miami, to discover deeper levels of peace and vibration in your life.

Maxxi is...........blessed. Well, Puerto Rican, so she knows IT. Born in San Juan, PR, she studied communication, and worked in TV, with Telemundo & Univision, getting transferred to Miami when NBC bought them out. Arriving here in 2008, she quickly went and got a human resources degree from Miami-Dade College, worked in hospitality at the Ritz Carlton, SLS, and Shore Club, was a manager at Blues Burgers, and now at her dream job, manager of La Placita, an authentic Puerto Rican joint in Little Haiti, lit with color and music. During COVID, she started her own company making vegan burgers, ThePlantDelicious, and now supplies them here locally, with a growing operation. Full of pride for Puerto Rico, and passion for good service, Maxxi's dream is to walk dogs for celebrities, and build out her network, since, the sky's the limit.

Raquel is................basically the queen of South Beach, if we're talking vibes. Born in Miami, to Cuban & Puerto Rican parents, she went to UCF for undergrad, switching majors many times, before settling on business entrepreneurship. Taking advice from one great teacher, she decided to pursue what she loves, hot yoga, and make a business out of it. First experiencing Bikram when she was 19 at UCF, Raquel fell in love with her awakening, getting her official teaching degree from the Bikram Yoga College of India in LA, then teaching in Miami at different studios for 10 years, before accepting the call to adventure, when one of the studios needed a new owner. After spending a few years at the Miami Beach Community Church, eventually a space "fell from the heavens, and in 2017 with a new name change, officially Glow Hot Yoga was born. Offering Bikram, hot pilates, Yin Yoga, and other creative sessions, the yoga studio has become a pillar in the community, and one of those most visited in Miami. Visit http://www.glowhotyogamiami.com/ to sign up for a class, and don't forget, to share your glow.

Sammy is...........ready for some more comedy. Born in the Bronx, New York, he moved to Puerto Rico at age 8 to live with his grandparents, after his father died, a heavy bohemian. Noticing his love of music at an early age, he decided one day that he was going to be a percussionist, and was able to attend music school in Puerto Rico. One day at age 18, he decided to go hotel hunting with some friends, and ended up landing his first gig. When his band was invited to come play and live at the Piedmont Inn in NYC for two months, Sammy fell in love with the Big Apple, and when the band broke up, he walked into a music department store, Sam Goodies, and got a job, claiming to be a "jazz expert", becoming a manager after 3 years. One day his life changed, when he was invited to tour the world with famous flautist, Herbie Mann, and ended up becoming the #1 call for any recordings in NYC, winning the DownBeat Poll award for best percussionist, and networking himself into the scene. Always one to answer the call, Sammy ended up hanging up on Miles Davis three times in the middle of the night, before showing up the next morning, and becoming his #1 sidekick. After a career working with the likes of Mick Jagger, Sammy's next chapter began when he met composer Michel Camilo and friend Rachel Faro, and began recording his own records, winning Grammy nominations for "And Sammy Walked in" and "The Magician". With South Florida as his home, he has been developing more and more his creativity, hosting a radio show weekly for WDNA, and recently winning a grant from the South Arts Jazz Road initiative, to tour the country, and honor his father with a new album. Passionate about healing the earth and supporting fringe science, Sammy is enjoying his voice and his role, advocating for a more sustainable world, and always, forever, rejoicing, in his story.

Lian is.........glad she is helping save us humans. First joining the faith-based Rescue Mission back in 2012, originally thinking it was an animal shelter, she has since become an indispensable part of the organization helping more than 15,000 people in need each year. Born in Cuba, she moved to the US at age 15 with her family, attending FIU for a degree in education, and eventually joining the mission as an assistant, moving to volunteer coordinator, and eventually senior community development associate. As bubbly and joyful as can be, Lian has excelled at raising awareness for the organization's mission, helping both fundraise and attract volunteers with a mix of top shelf responsiveness and flexibility. Now spread over across Miami-Dade and Broward with several locations, the Miami Rescue Mission is soon to celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, and is showing no signs of slowing its growth, as a pillar in the community. Check out one of their radio shows, Saturdays and Sundays at 8am, and consider becoming a much appreciated Meals a Month donor, helping feed and advance the less fortunate, with just a few dollars out of your paycheck each month. You won't regret it >> https://www.caringplace.org/meals-a-month.php

Jeff is.........bringing bliss to South Florida. Born in Miami, and raised in Fort Lauderdale area, he went to UF Gainesville for an undergrad degree in business, entrepreneurship, and real estate, before studying law and working at a startup in the area. When that project failed, he went out to San Francisco to work for Google, traveled the world for 9 months working remotely, and when COVID hit he was in New York, dealing with the lows, before making the decision last November to move to Miami, like so many others. After taking a handstand class in Bali, and learning acro yoga in NYC, he discovered an opportunity in Miami, to go stay on a Cacao farm in Nicaragua for 6 weeks. There he discovered ecstatic dance, the power of vasodilators, and met his girlfriend, coming back to Miami a changed man with a new connection to sustainably sourced cacao. Together they started their company, Cacao Sol, first selling at the farmers market in Coconut Grove, and now have plans for their very own store, in addition to providing cacao for all kinds of enlightened events here in Miami. Never tried raw cacao or experienced a ceremony? Follow @jeffmoves and @cacao.sol on Instagram, and open yourself to the power of Anandamide, the bliss molecule.

Hannah is.........living her dream. Born in Santa Cruz, California, she was put into ballet by her parents at an early age, and graduated high school in just 3 years, focused on her goal of pursuing dance professionally. After being initially rejected by the Juilliard School in New York City, she went to go study at the University of Utah, where she was introduced to modern dance, and fell in love with a new kind of technique, eventually quitting college to go back to NYC and dance professionally. She ended up re=auditioning for the Juilliard School and being accepted with a half scholarship, speeding through the program in 3 years. When love led her to move to Miami in 1994, she was immediately very active in the scene here, teaching dance in Miami Beach, when one day one of her students introduced her to her now professional partner Diego Salterini. Together they started Dance NOW Miami in 2020, and have now grown the contemporary dance school into an active force in the community, exposing more than 45,000 students at Miami schools over the years, to elite dance education through their partnerships with local programs and grant subsidies. Check out their website at https://www.dancenowmiami.org/ and come check out a live performance, next one happening this Sunday at the North Beach Band Shell, titled Fall for Dance NOW.

Daniella is.......the mayor of Miami-Dade County. Born in New York City in 1955, she had the opportunity to travel Brazil and Chile in her youth, before going to high school in Brooklyn, and studying psychology at Yale University. Having helped her mom in the slums of Rio de Janeiro as a little girl, she realized that community welfare was always her main ambition, and went on to graduate school at Colombia Law with a focus on Social Work. After meeting her husband in Atlanta, and relocating to Miami over 40 years ago, she eventually founded Catalyst Miami, an organization focused on helping low and middle income families through education and advocacy. There she launched the Prosperity Campaign to help those same people increase their income and savings, and gain more financial independence. Always looking for ways to better the community, Daniella shares with us her initiatives this year for more affordable housing, more walkable urban life, and more sustainable local trade employment. Down to volunteer more this year? Listen in for some great opportunities and the Mayor's very own suggestions.

Julie is the encouraging writing coach, respected nationwide, and based here in Miami. After studying English, and getting her Masters and Phd in Literature, she taught at the university level for 10 years, before starting her own company 3 years ago, to help writers, mostly adults, learn how to better tell their stories. With the barriers to publishing being much lower nowadays, Julie is passionate about helping more prospective authors get their thoughts organized and into a finished product. Follow her on IG @storybold, and send her a DM if you are interested in beginning a project or accessing her self study material. More interested in just journaling a bit more? Start a weekly habit of writing your life memories in chronological order, and wake up to a personal memoir someday!

Josh is the smiling fitness trainer here in South Beach, with a dream to bring more boxing exercise classes to the masses. Born in New Jersey, near Manhattan, he studied criminal justice in college, before pivoting to his true passion and getting a job at Equinox in Chelsea, New York, He excelled as a trainer and created his own group fitness concept called Ablab in Manhattan, when the pandemic struck, and he decided to take his talents to South Beach. Active in the nightlife and outdoor fitness spaces here in Miami, Josh is a humble and driven professional, and a great choice for anyone looking to elevate their personal fitness with a coach. Follow him on IG @joshcast_fit and send him a DM for more info. Learn how to be a lover and a fighter.

Stephanie is the sweet real estate agent from Panama, who is part of a great top rated brokerage here in Miami (https://miamiresidential.com/), and a great choice for anyone moving here or looking at at a new lease this year. After moving from Panama to the states 9 years ago, she finally found her way to Miami 4 years ago, and got her license in real estate while she was doing some marketing at the time. She specializes in leases in downtown Brickell and Edgewater, however her brokerage, Miami Residential Group, is top rated on Google, Facebook, & Yelp, and a great option for all kinds of real estate searches, such as new home purchases and condos. Follow Stephanie on IG @stephloxrealestate, and send her a DM when the time comes to search for a new property. See her at one of our Local Voices Art Walks where we showcase a different district each month (https://www.meetup.com/localvoices-miami/), or one of our Remote Workers Friday Happy Hours (https://www.meetup.com/remote-workers-of-miami/) at a different venue each week. Come join our growing community.

Brittany Brave is the marvelous Mrs. Maisel of Miami, born in New Jersey, raised in Kendall, and developed as an improv teacher, she has taken her personal hardship of the last decade and used it to evolve further as an artist, standing up on stage now all by herself and dishing jokes nightly. Initially in the PR industry after studying PR and Theatre at UF, she studied improv in New York & Second City, went full time into comedy in 2017, won Best New Artist at the 2019 New York Comedy Festival, and has embraced the challenge of COVID and thrived with her new online presence living back here at home in South Florida. Follow her on Instagram @BrittanyBrave, check out one of her many shows, virtual and in person, (https://www.brittanybrave.com/), and come by Showfields on Lincoln Road, Wednesday the 14th at 8pm, for one of her monthly events she hosts "Laughs on Lincoln" (https://www.eventbrite.com/o/showfields-30959176783). She's a riot.

Emilia is the sunrise greeter of Miami Beach, a loving yoga teacher, singer, voice coach, sound healer, and Jamaican dance hall instructor. After growing up on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, and loving surfing and singing, her family encouraged her to go to school on the mainland, where she found herself studying language and phonetics at the University of Miami. She worked as a translator while making music on the side, and eventually discovered yoga as a way to heal her body and build community here in Miami. Follow her on Instagram @emilia_garth, and check out one of her weekly yoga classes, or better yet, attend one of her open mic ceremonies known as Kanikapila, where she unites local people to sing and dance and heal together as one. Have a friend who works at Disney? Let them know there's a real life Moana here in Miami, ready for the next opportunity to inspire the youth with song.

Amaris is the intelligent vibrant soul in soul food, who truly cares about making a difference. Raised in South Philly, she first started loving cooking at her father's church on South Street, where she would help sell dinners on Friday and Saturday nights. After getting into property management, she answered the call one day to be the lifestyle manager for Sean Combs, and proceeded to create a concierge service of chefs for celebrities. Having opened her own restaurant called "South Street", and now a personal chef for rapper Rick Ross, Amaris is an inspiration for women chefs out there who can sometimes be intimidated by male heavy kitchen atmospheres. As someone who has experienced every side of soul food, she is uniquely qualified to help America solve its Food Desert problem, and help get more organic produce and healthy options available to African Americans in the Southeast. Keep an eye out for an annual Local Voices Cookoff, where we highlight the best Souls in town, and give an opportunity for creativity and recognition where it is due.

Ana is the grassy knoll fun loving painter of Miami. Sitting on her chair outside on Ocean Drive, she enjoys bringing Art Deco buildings to life in watercolor drawings from her seat in the shade in Lummus Park. Born in Spain, and trained in accounting, Ana has embraced her retirement and has fallen more and more in love with the process of painting. A regular at local South Florida competitions, and often a winner, she is also very social in the community and looks forward to hosting more Paint n Sips, in the coming years, to help share her passion and encourage more young artists. Have an interest in stretching your creative side? Keep a look out for Paint night announcements on our Instagram @localvoices_miami, and join our monthly Art Walks, which are photo competitions in different districts each month, viewable on our community page over on Meetup.com >> https://www.meetup.com/localvoices-miami/. Embrace the future with more creativity!

ALI is the bold all caps fashionista and local super volunteer who has a lot to teach each of us about developing a more complete sense of agency. Born in Long Beach, Long Island, into a Brooklyn based family with roots in Miami, Vegas, & Cuba, she won an academic scholarship to study education & conceptual art at NYU, getting her MFA and also studying a bit at Parson's School of Design. She was a design director at Limited Express (now known as Express) in its early days, and even started her own fashion company, with an exciting life traveling everywhere from Hong Kong to Milan to the Middle East. After moving to Florida for 4 years ago, Ali has discovered how to live a fulfilling life here, filled with volunteer work in spaces and worlds she cares about, from the Miami Beach Botanical Garden to the Perez Art Museum, to the Adrienne Arsht Center, to the New World Symphony, and even to the local jazz station WDNA. She is an inspiration both to other retirees, and to each one of us who has yet to schedule a weekly time for service in our busy calendars. Open to some help finding a fun and rewarding volunteer opportunity? Text DOWNTOSERVE to our Local Voices (Miami) Volunteer Hotline at (833) 901-0927, to figure out what opportunities might sync with your vibe and schedule. Find out what you love and go serve there. We look forward to hearing from you.

Ignacio is the inspirational visual artist from Uruguay who recently won a contest to create a 4000sq ft mural in South Beach, Miami. After being born into an artist family, and quite literally into a gallery, he studied architecture and the arts in Uruguay, and won many awards in his country, before moving here seven years ago with his wife. Working as a waiter in Kendall by day, and creating various works on the side, Ignacio eventually signed a few contracts such as a mural of Jimmy Hendrix at the Delano Hotel, and invested himself fully in winning the contest here in South Beach with an incredible amount of time and dedication put into his application. Scheduled to be finished by mid March '21, the 4000sq ft mural on Washington St. features Muhammed Ali, Jackie Gleason, Prince, Jayne Mansfield, and Gianni Versace, in beautiful neon contemporary portrayals. You can follow Ignacio's progress on Instagram @marinolarrique, and check out his portfolio of work at www.marinolarrique.com. Don't forget to take a stroll down Washington St. to appreciate the mural, it is located on the corner of Washington & 16th, and is truly stunning from many different angles. Have a few too many white walls? Give Ignacio a ring, he will be open for more projects soon.

Fran is the spirited 80 year old Jewish retiree.....who spreads love everywhere she goes. After studying early childhood development in New York and dedicating her life to children, she followed her husband's love of Miami here to the Magic City, and fell in love with it herself. An avid salsera and aficionado of Latin music, Fran is an inspiration to all those here reaching their golden years. As someone who works out everyday and commits herself to a high level of activity, she is also an inspiration to the younger generation in Miami, who can always learn a thing or two from the elderly. Interested in how you can contribute to your community and be an appreciated companion? Text FINDMEAFRAN to (833) 901-0927, to join our Local Voices (Miami) - Volunteer Hotline, or just befriend one of your elderly neighbors next time you meet in the hallway, and offer a weekly chat. It's that easy.

Michael is the charming producer and art collector of Miami, who truly rocks the community. After studying interior design at Parson's in Paris, and architecture at the Pratt Institute, he networked his way into producing for MTV and PlumTV, a luxury media source that relocated him to Miami. He has won 4 Emmys for his short films, and blossomed into a talented contemporary art dealer, with his own space at Honablue Studios and also South of Fifth. As a middle man between the new real estate in Miami, and hardworking active painters and artists in the area, you could almost say he is the Robin Hood of Miami, who has also played Don Draper. Follow him on Instagram @MichaelHonablue and reach out if you have a piece that needs eyes, or an empty wall that needs art. Come by his studio for a showing.

Ricky is the most consistent dance instructor in Miami, and the most highly rated by his students. Born in Bogota, Colombia, he moved here at an early age and first fell in love with dancing salsa with his wife. After realizing he had a special talent, he invested himself in learning to become an instructor, and ended up teaching at several dance studios, before starting Salsa Central. Now located in the heart of South Beach, on the second floor of a bank, the dance company is open every day from noon onwards and offers privates in addition to group classes of different levels from 8-10pm. Wondering how to spice up your relationship, or how to learn something new to keep yourself nimble? Follow @salsacentralmiami on Instagram, and g0 t0 Mejorconsalsa.com to explore class packages and first time specials. Todo suena mejor con salsa.

Tony is.......the enforcer. Born in New York, schooled in Jamaica, and accomplished as a D1 basketball athlete at the University of Delaware, Tony has found his niche as a supreme motivator in the sports world, and one who leads by example. After training athletes like Gronk & D Wade, and launching a popular video series on Youtube sharing his techniques, he has turned his focus to enabling more people in the Miami area to join his #FitFam. With his new project and mobile app Beat The Gym (https://beatthegym.com/), locals in Miami can sign up for unlimited outdoor fitness sessions for only 30$ / month. A great addition to any workout regiment, BTG classes specialize in building great core strength with some boxing and yoga movements incorporated. Follow Tony on Instagram @TonyThomasSports or @BeatTheGym, and don't hesitate to slot a great core workout into your week. Stronger City? Let's get it.

Michael is the fun loving Miami Beach City Commissioner who will very likely be mayor someday. That's how much he loves our city. Since growing up here as a kid, in Little Havana and Coral Gables, and studying at UM, he has become more and more involved and connected every year, and is now one of the reasons Miami Beach is so clean and great. Dare I say it a paradise half the year that will only continue to get better under his watch. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelGongora to keep up to date on how he is helping improve our community, and text DOWNTOSERVE to (833) 901-0927, to join our Local Voices (Miami) - Volunteer Hotline. Don't be shy

Stephanie is the passionate restaurant owner of the world famous Miami Beach cheeseburger joint, Cheeseburger Baby. After moving to Miami as a teenager, she worked in the service industry from day 1, holding all kinds of interesting jobs, before finding her place as manager and owner of her own restaurant, taking over from legendary promoter, Tommy Pooch. Since 2004, she has turned the burger hotspot into a celebrity haven, with fans such as JayZ, Lil Jon, JadaKiss, Beyonce, and Noriega, often frequenting the restaurant, and also has built her own following of local foodies, who can't help but indulge in her authentic locally sourced goodness, when it is burger time. Follow her on Instagram @cheeseburgerbaby, order from her on all of your favorite delivery apps, and head to cheeseburgerbaby.net or drop by the store on South Beach, to get a taste for what local business is all about.

Harvey is the groovy leader of a local Miami arts magazine (https://www.miamiartzine.com/) and also sits on the board of the South Beach Jazz Festival happening every year in mid January. After moving here from Chicago about 25 years ago, he has witnessed the transformation of Miami from an arts wasteland to an arts mecca, and has proceeded to get more and more involved every year in playing his role, sitting on several boards of foundations, and being the idea guy behind some of the best events here in town. Check out https://sobejazzfestival.com/ for a calendar and listing of events happening every mid January, a chance to see artists with disabilities like the famous Matthew Whitaker play live, as well as several others all for free, on Lincoln Road in South Beach. Get inspired by a local character's zest for the arts.

Eddie is the self control master of Miami nightlife, a family man working hard in the age of COVID to adapt and cater to our innate need for release. After moving from Colombia in the year 2000, he started as a valet driver at Senor Frog's and worked his way up to promoting for famous venues Story and Liv, before moving into his current role running bar crawls for tourists in Wynwood, hosting at venues El Patio and Mayami, and renting out jetskis and boats to those of us seeking outdoor thrills. Follow him on Instagram @miamihosts, check out his Eventbrite events (https://www.eventbrite.es/o/miami-hosts-17448309140), and don't forget to send him a DM if you have yet to ride a jet ski in Miami, it's like paragliding in Lima....a must do.

Victoria is the intense leader of the Miami Beach based yoga studio, Synergy Yoga, now located on Alton Road. After moving to Miami, she took over the studio in 2009 from founder Gaia Budhai, and has brought the first yoga studio in Miami Beach into the digital age, with classes being livestreamed ever since the pandemic began. Follow her on Instagram @victoriabyyoga to experience a bit of her passion for spirituality, and follow the studio @synergyyoga to learn more about different happenings like upcoming teacher trainings, and free yoga every Saturday on Espanola Way. Consider experiencing more enlightenment in your life. Namaste

Mike is the most lovable salsa DJ in Miami, due to his big smile, and passion for the craft. After first taking lessons almost 10 years ago, he has been dancing ever since, and has expanded his skills to include event production and organization. He is open to many diverse styles and is always adapting to the times. Follow him on Instagram @djmcalderon, find him on Facebook @MiamiSalsaDreamTeam, and DM him anytime you find yourself wondering where the best salsa and bachata dancing is happening on any given night!

Sandy is the resilient queen of the Miami Beach Botanical Garden (http://mbgarden.org/). After overcoming Zika, Hurricane Irma, and now COVID, she and her team are looking forward to a future that is bright and rosy with opportunity, as the MB garden is poised to become a more consistent event hub for great performances and culinary feasts. Follow the botanical garden on Instagram @miamibeachgarden, become a member for only $50/year, and keep up to speed with one of the Miami's best venues and blossoming scenes.

Sophie is the energetic leader of the Miami-based sustainability movement, Clean Miami Beach. After noticing that there was a trash problem in the local environment, she starting picking up trash and making like minded friends, until her weekly eco-friendly meetup grew exponentially into the official non profit that exists today. Check out her website, (https://cleanmiamibeach.org/), follow her on Instagram @CleanMiamiBeach, and most of all, listen to her advice regarding how each and every one of us can make small changes to better impact our home, Mother Earth.

Elliott is the gentle leader of a run based community in Miami.....with the laugh of a lion. As an immigrant of Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean, he pursued his knack for fitness and love of leadership, until he started his own tech company in Florida, which has culminated in the mobile application RunAdic (https://runadic.com/). Download the app to meet runners near you, and check out free events happening every day across South Florida. Feeling like making a big change to your lifestyle? Go Elite, and get a certified running coach to personalize your workouts, or better yet, start by just coming out for a Thursday track workout, or a Sunday morning healing run (HealUP Run!). See you out there running more, Miami.

Giovanni is simply.....a legend. As the award winning Pizzaiolo of La Leggenda, he brings his passion every day to his pizzeria on Espanola Way in South Beach, and wants nothing more than to spread Neopolitan Pizza (done right) throughout the world. Get inspired by listening to his charisma, or better yet by trying out his pizza, the best on the planet. Follow @laleggendapizzeria OR @giovannilaleggenda on IG, and go to laleggendapizzeria.com to get energized. Buona sera

Fabio is a softspoken & creative guitarist from Cuba who also happens to be great at cutting hair. Follow him @fabismind or book yourself a fantastic haircut with StudioVega by checking out www.wearestudiovega.com, or texting 786 658 3570.

Steve is a tension free-ak yogi and eclectic leader of Mission Yoga, a hot yoga studio in the Mission District of San Francisco. Never tried Bikram? Take up his 30 day yoga challenge and transform your wellness >> MissionYoga.com (Winner of "Best in SF" and "Best in the Bay")

Niko is a Parks & Rec extraordinaire and positivity Megatron who also happens to work at the gym 24 Fitness, on Market Street in San Francisco.

2nd episode of a weekly series on local characters. Jimmy is a beloved family member of the S&W convenience store team in the Lower Haight.

First episode of a weekly series on local characters.