Meet Them Mondays

We've all experienced the nerves of going to our high school prom. From finding a date to making sure we had the perfect tux or dress, or even planning to "lose" it that night. But some of us never made it to prom, and others like our trans brothers and sisters were not able to attend as their authentic selves.

This weekend the first-ever TransInclusive LGBT Prom is happening in South Florida. Organized by Carson Graham of TransInclusive, a Trans Led Action Support Group, their mission, and values are to minimize disparities in healthcare, education, housing and employment opportunities; Lift discrimination and focus on social equality for the LGB(T)Q community.

The prom is a fundraiser for the TransInclusive resource center and provides a safe and welcoming event for all LGBTQ and allies to attend.

We will also be hearing from Arianna Lint, A Trans Latina and activist and leader of the TransLatina Coalition Chapter and founder of outreach program Arianna's Center.

She also began her work with Transgender Latina Leaders or TLC. TLC gathers all over the country donating their time to organize and advocate for the issues and needs of the Trans Latina Community living in the United States. The vision of TransLatin@ Coalition is to amplify education and resources to promote the empowerment of Trans leaders.

@RoamFreeWrites

@MeetThemMondays

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Leigh-Ann Buchanan the executive director of Venture Cafe and founder of Nyah Project. Venture Café Miami is a nonprofit organization that seeks to grow Miami’s innovation community by working to make it more diverse, inclusive, accessible, and better connected locally, nationally, and globally.

@RoamFreeWrites

@MeetThemMondays

www.roamfreewrites.com

Leigh-Ann Buchanan the executive director of Venture Cafe and founder of Nyah Project. Venture Café Miami is a nonprofit organization that seeks to grow Miami’s innovation community by working to make it more diverse, inclusive, accessible, and better connected locally, nationally, and globally.

@RoamFreeWrites

@MeetThemMondays

www.roamfreewrites.com

I was introduced to the ballroom scene the moment I stepped into my first gay club circa 2006. The room was packed with people all dripping sweat, but the dance floor had a clear runway.

This magical place is respected among those "walking" or "voguing" and many of these club goers are actually competitors and dancers who hold ranks in what are called "houses."

For today's episode we'll be breaking down ballroom culture with special guests Alexis Lords, who founded The House of Lords in 1994 in South Florida and longtime MC and competitor Nikki Blaque.

If you've never experienced a kiki ball fear not, this weekend Alexis Lords and TBoy Mizrahi are hosting the legendary Jungle Ball at The Hangar in Miami.

Follow @RoamFreeWrites

@MeetThemMondays

www.roamfreewrites.com

I was introduced to the ballroom scene the moment I stepped into my first gay club circa 2006. The room was packed with people all dripping sweat, but the dance floor had a clear runway.

This magical place is respected among those "walking" or "voguing" and many of these club goers are actually competitors and dancers who hold ranks in what are called "houses."

For today's episode we'll be breaking down ballroom culture with special guests Alexis Lords, who founded The House of Lords in 1994 in South Florida and longtime MC and competitor Nikki Blaque.

If you've never experienced a kiki ball fear not, this weekend Alexis Lords and TBoy Mizrahi are hosting the legendary Jungle Ball at The Hangar in Miami.

Follow @RoamFreeWrites

@MeetThemMondays

www.roamfreewrites.com

Ever wondered what it would be like to visit your mother's land? The CubaOne Foundation is doing just that for millennial Cuban Americans.

Modeled after the Birthright Israel trips the CubaOne Foundation donates trips to young Cubans looking to reconnect with their roots.

I sat down with co-founder and program lead Cherie Cancio and Amanda Rabines one of the alum from the organizations first trip June, 2016 to talk about what the experience is like for those going back and for first time visitors.

Follow @RoamFreeWrites

@MeetThemMondays

www.roamfreewrites.com

Ever wondered what it would be like to visit your mother's land? The CubaOne Foundation is doing just that for millennial Cuban Americans.

Modeled after the Birthright Israel trips the CubaOne Foundation donates trips to young Cubans looking to reconnect with their roots.

I sat down with co-founder and program lead Cherie Cancio and Amanda Rabines one of the alum from the organizations first trip June, 2016 to talk about what the experience is like for those going back and for first time visitors.

Follow @RoamFreeWrites

@MeetThemMondays

www.roamfreewrites.com

On this episode of Meet Them Mondays we talk about Viernes Culturales, a monthly celebration of culture, art and world music in Miami.

Viernes Culturales began as a community event to enrich the troubled area of Little Havana, but fast forward more than a decade later and the monthly gathering has flourished into the center stage of multiculturalism in Miami.

Pati Vargas, who now directs the monthly celebration sat down with us to speak about the way to event has changed the community, the struggles to find funding, and how the Viernes model continues to thrive despite the pushback from those in the city and community.

@RoamFreeWrites

@MeetThemMondays

www.roamfreewrites.com

On this episode of Meet Them Mondays we talk about Viernes Culturales, a monthly celebration of culture, art and world music in Miami.

Viernes Culturales began as a community event to enrich the troubled area of Little Havana, but fast forward more than a decade later and the monthly gathering has flourished into the center stage of multiculturalism in Miami.

Pati Vargas, who now directs the monthly celebration sat down with us to speak about the way to event has changed the community, the struggles to find funding, and how the Viernes model continues to thrive despite the pushback from those in the city and community.

@RoamFreeWrites

@MeetThemMondays

www.roamfreewrites.com

Evan Snow is a community and culture cultivator representing for Broward County and the co-founder of the #Choose954 movement and Art Fort Lauderdale.

#Choose954 began as a way for Snow to get folks in South Florida interested in the fledging creative community in Broward County, specifically in Fort Lauderdale.

In this episode, you'll hear him talk about the event that catapulted him on this path, the struggles in bringing people together, and how the movement has grown.

@RoamFreeWrites

@MeetThemMondays

www.roamfreewrites.com