Miami Dade College - North Campus

Back-to-School Success Must Include Students With Disabilities
By Lixon Nelson 
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Alliance Community &amp; Employment Services (ACES)
As families across Miami-Dade County prepare for another school year, parents are buying supplies, arranging transportation and preparing children for new classrooms and routines.
For families of children and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, back-to-school preparation often involves far more.
Parents may be navigating Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), 504 Plans, accommodations, therapies, and meetings with educators. As their children get older, families may also face an important question: What happens after high school?
Will there be opportunities for higher education, employment, and independence? Will young people know how to advocate for themselves? Will employers recognize their abilities rather than focusing on their disabilities?
These are questions families should not have to answer by themselves.
At Alliance Community &amp; Employment Services (ACES), we believe that preparing young people with disabilities for success means providing individuals and families with access to information, resources and opportunities that extend beyond the classroom.
Parents need to understand their rights and feel confident in advocating for their children. Young people need opportunities to develop self-advocacy, leadership, and employment skills that prepare them for adulthood.
Employers also play a role. Individuals with disabilities bring talent, creativity, resilience, and valuable perspectives to the workplace. Building a more inclusive South Florida requires schools, employers, nonprofits, government agencies, and families to work together to create pathways from education to employment and independence.
That is why ACES is hosting the Leaders with a Destiny Summit on Saturday, August 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Miami Dade College North Campus, located at 11380 NW 27th Avenue in Miami. Event Registration:<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leaders-with-a-destiny-summit-tickets-1992927622166?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Eventbrite Registration</a>.
The free community event will bring together youth, families, educators, disability advocates, and community organizations for discussions on education, self-advocacy, resilience, leadership, employment readiness, and independence.
Attendees can participate in educational breakout sessions, hear from national speakers and disability advocates, and connect with organizations at a community resource fair. A complimentary lunch and a backpack and school-supply giveaway will also be available.
Backpacks and supplies help students start the school year prepared. But what goes inside a backpack can only take a young person so far.
We must also equip our youth with confidence, knowledge, opportunity, and a belief in what is possible.
As we begin another school year, our community should ask not only what students need for their first day of class but also what they need to build successful futures.
A disability should never determine a person’s destiny. Every individual deserves a path to discover their potential, pursue their goals, and live with dignity, purpose, and greater independence.
Lixon Nelson is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Alliance Community &amp; Employment Services (ACES), which supports individuals with disabilities and underserved communities through employment, education, mental health services, advocacy, and personalized guidance.

Local Event: Back to School, Ready for Life: Empowering Students With Disabilities

Miami-Dade County

Miami

Florida

Back to School, Ready for Life: Empowering...

Back-to-School Success Must Include Students With Disabilities
By Lixon Nelson 
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Alliance...

Back to School, Ready for Life: Empowering Students With Disabilities

Model City Branch Library

Brownsville FL

Summer Homework Help and Tutoring

Wildlife Show

Vision Board Project

Hawks Cay Marina

Put on your red, white, and blue, lace up your running shoes, and get ready for the annual Heroes Salute 5K on beautiful Duck Key. Join active-duty military, veterans, law enforcement, firefighters, EMS personnel, and supporters from across the community for one of Hawks Cay's favorite traditions. Dress to impress in your best patriotic gear for a chance to win on-the-spot prizes!
Registration is limited to just 200 participants, so sign up today to reserve your spot.
SCHEDULE:
<ul><li>Friday, September 4 | Packet Pickup 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Pick up your race bib, timing chip, and T-shirt on the Marina Event Lawn, then stay and enjoy First Friday on the Promenade.</li><li>Saturday, September 5 | Race Day 6:00 AM – 6:55 AM Onsite Registration &amp; Packet Pickup 6:55 AM National Anthem 7:00 AM Race Starts</li></ul>
REGISTRATION INCLUDES:
Race bib, timing chip, and official race T-shirt. Please note: T-shirt sizes are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be guaranteed.
CATEGORIES: Women | 17 and under, 18-49, 50+ Men | 17 and under, 18-49, 50+
Medals and Prizes awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in each category.

Local Event: Heroes Salute 5K Run/Walk

Monroe County

Duck Key

Heroes Salute 5K Run/Walk

Put on your red, white, and blue, lace up your running shoes, and get ready for the annual Heroes Salute 5K on beautiful Duck...

Scott Galvin Community Center

Join Us for the Ultimate Cultural Experience Experience the flavor of the Black world at South Florida's #1 African and Caribbean food festival.
Location: Maison AfriKin, 1600 NE 126th Street, Downtown North Miami, FL 33181 
Date: Labor Day, Sunday, September 6th, 2026 
Time: 6 PM – 9 PM (doors 5:30 PM, VIP early entry 5:00 PM)
Tickets: <a href="https://taste-of-afrikin-2026.eventbrite.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://taste-of-afrikin-2026.eventbrite.com</a>
Event Page: <a href="https://afrikin.org/taste-of-afrikin.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://afrikin.org/taste-of-afrikin.html</a>
Press Release: <a href="https://afrikin.org/press-release-2026.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://afrikin.org/press-release-2026.html</a>
Video Promo: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-L8JwGnNvM" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-L8JwGnNvM</a>
<hr>
Featuring the Cuisine of 15 Confirmed Countries
Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cabo Verde, Eritrea, Ghana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sint Maarten, Suriname, Trinidad &amp; Tobago, and the United States.
Taste of AfriKin is a celebration of culture, cuisine, and community, featuring masterful chefs from across Global Africa and the Diaspora. Guests move through a curated tasting experience built around the signature dishes, spices, and culinary traditions that connect the African and Caribbean world.
The Jollof Cook-Off - Who makes the best Jollof rice? This year's cook-off puts West African nations head to head in Miami's most talked-about culinary showdown, a friendly battle of pride, technique, and flavor.
<hr>
Live Performances
Rozz Parker Band (United States) — Headliner A dynamic live band carrying the night's energy from dinner into celebration with a genre-spanning set.
Connis Vanterpool (Sint Maarten) — Saxophone, Opening Soulful, powerful, and unapologetically Caribbean. Vanterpool brings decades of stage experience and a signature saxophone sound that has become a fixture of Caribbean music culture.
Binghi Blaze (Jamaica) — Roots. Rhythm. Revolution. A live reggae performance rooted in the sound and spirit of the movement, bringing conscious lyrics and raw stage presence to Maison AfriKin.
Jerilyn Davis (Nigeria) — Vocals Soulful, powerful, and unapologetically African. Davis delivers a vocal performance grounded in Nigerian musical tradition with contemporary reach.
Nadia Sol (Jamaica) — Dance A fire performance dancer whose work blends Caribbean ritual and visual spectacle, adding a striking theatrical element to the evening.
Following the live sets, a DJ carries the night through Afrobeat, Amapiano, Soca, and Gwo Ka.
Music That Moves Culture.
<hr>
Celebrate Your Birthday With Us
If someone in your group is celebrating a birthday on Labor Day weekend, we invite them to join the party and receive a free bottle of champagne from us with the purchase of a VIP table.
<hr>
Ticket Information
Presale tickets at $40 are sold out. General admission and VIP tickets are now available.
General Admission — $55 Unlimited food tastings from all 15 countries, cocktails and beverages, live music all evening, access to the Jollof Cook-Off, and entry to the art installations and vendor village.
VIP Experience — $125 Everything in general admission plus an AfriKin swag bag (tote, coffee, and spices), early entry at 5:00 PM, express check-in, front row seating, VIP lounge access, a curated tasting menu, and premium cocktail service.
Table of 8 — $440 Reserved group seating for 8 guests, with unlimited food tastings, cocktails, live music, and Jollof Cook-Off access included.
Free parking, all ages welcome, no refunds. This event will sell out.
<hr>
Music, Art, Dance &amp; More
Alongside the cuisine, attendees enjoy a vibrant mix of live music, Afro-diasporic dance performances, art on display, and a curated vendor village featuring handcrafted goods, fashion, and lifestyle brands from across the Diaspora.
<ul>
 <li>Afrobeat, Reggae, Soca, Hip-Hop, and Soul</li>
 <li>Visual arts and installations</li>
 <li>Traditional and contemporary dance</li>
 <li>Limbo competition</li>
 <li>Afro-inspired cocktails and drinks</li>
 <li>Local and international vendors</li>
</ul>
<hr>
Join Us for the Ultimate Cultural Experience
Taste of AfriKin is where art meets flavor and where the past meets the future. It is where we come together as kin to honor the richness of the African experience. Whether you are a foodie, a music lover, a cultural explorer, or all of the above, this is the place to be this Labor Day.
Maison AfriKin at the Scott Galvin Center, Downtown North Miami, 1600 NE 126th Street, North Miami, FL 33181
For media inquiries and additional details, contact: <a href="mailto:info@afrikin.org">info@afrikin.org</a>
Listings inquiries: <a href="mailto:listings@afrikin.org">listings@afrikin.org</a>
Website: afrikin.org
About AfriKin AfriKin Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit platform showcasing African artistry, culture, and innovation, promoting dialogue and connectivity among diverse communities globally.
In diplomacy and sovereignty of culture, AfriKin Foundation, Inc.

Local Event: Taste of AfriKin | Miami Spice 2026

Taste of AfriKin | Miami Spice 2026

Join Us for the Ultimate Cultural Experience Experience the flavor of the Black world at South Florida's #1 African and...

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Events and Things to Do in Brownsville, FL

Saturday, August 8

Back to School, Ready for Life: Empowering Students With Disabilities

AUG

8

9:00 AM

Miami Dade College - North Campus, 11380 NW 27th Ave, Miami, FL

Saturday, September 5

Heroes Salute 5K Run/Walk

SEP

5

9:00 AM

Hawks Cay Marina, 61 Hawks Cay Blvd, Duck Key, FL

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Please confirm event details with the organizers before attending

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Back to School, Ready for Life: Empowering Students With Disabilities

Heroes Salute 5K Run/Walk