Community Outreach

Private Charity Dinner with JUANES

Published

2 years ago

February 1, 2024

South Florida Insider

JUANES Unveils Charity Event ‘A Good Evening’ to Raise Funds and Awareness for Peace in Colombia.

January 29th, 2024

One of the most recognized names in Latin music, JUANES has sold more than 40 million albums and wowed crowds across the globe. The groundbreaking artist and humanitarian is now joining forces with Charitybuzz to welcome a handful of fans and philanthropists to join him for a special dinner in Miami, to raise funds and awareness for his charity, Fundación Mi Sangre.

This exclusive event is not open to the public, and is only accessible through Charitybuzz sweepstakes, auctions and private sales.

Online charity auction, closing February 8th: Charitybuzz.com/JUANES
Donate-to-win charity sweepstakes, closing April 7th: JUANESforCause.com

“A Good Evening with JUANES” will take place on April 25th, 2024, and will feature a rare, unique acoustic performance from the star himself, fine dining, cocktails, and meaningful conversations. JUANES announced the auction through his social media channels today: https://twitter.com/JUANES/status/1752105430216523979.“My purpose is to contribute to a peaceful Colombia through my art. I am passionate about helping the young people in Colombia as well as connecting directly with foundation supporters, and this is the perfect opportunity for both of those things,” said JUANES. “I look forward to celebrating and honoring the foundation’s work with Charitybuzz at this special event.”JUANES co-founded Fundación Mi Sangre with social entrepreneur Catalina Cock Duque. Fundacíon Mi Sangre has been instrumental in developing a culture of peace in Colombia and other regions of the world since 2006. The organization has impacted more than two million people and mobilized seven million more in regions most affected by conflict.

Charitybuzz’s new “Good Evenings” events bring together the power of celebrity and the energy of in-person hospitality to offer customers once-in-a-lifetime experiences that unlock important funds for charitable organizations. Participants have included and will include Brad Pitt, Cher, George Clooney, Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, and Steve Carell and the cast of The Office. To learn more, please visit https://www.charitybuzz.com/GoodEvenings.

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Community Outreach

Miami Beach’s Rainbow Crosswalk Unveiling

Published

3 weeks ago

April 11, 2026

McKaela Lulic

On Ocean Drive, under the South Florida sun and in one of the most historically meaningful stretches of Miami Beach, the unveiling of the Rainbow Crosswalk marker felt like far more than a routine public event. It felt emotional, defiant, and deeply rooted in memory.

April 11, 2026

Set at 12th Street and Ocean Drive, the Rainbow Crosswalk already carries symbolic power. The site honors Miami Beach as a diverse and inclusive city while recognizing the LGBTQ+ people who helped preserve and revitalize this historic community over the decades. But at this unveiling, officials and advocates made clear that the meaning of the crosswalk has only deepened in a moment when queer visibility and protection feel especially urgent.

One of the most moving ideas repeated throughout the event was that showing up is its own kind of power. There was a sense that simply gathering, standing together, and refusing to be silent mattered. Another message that stayed with the crowd was the reminder to craft love from heartbreak, a line that captured both the pain behind this history and the resilience that continues to define it.

The remarks from local leaders gave the ceremony its sharpest edge. One speaker made the point plainly: “If there’s an attack on one of us, there’s an attack on all of us.” Another underscored that this was “more than a ribbon cutting” and instead “a statement about who we refuse to remove.” That idea landed hard. This was not just a celebration of design or public space. It was a refusal to let queer history be erased.

Perhaps the most memorable line of the morning came with a truth that felt impossible to ignore: “You can try to remove symbols, but you can’t erase people.” In a moment where symbols are often targeted first, the crosswalk stood as proof that visibility still matters and that public recognition still holds power.

There was also a haunting historical connection drawn during the event by a member of the community I had the pleasure of speaking with, with mention that one of the first rainbow crosswalks torn up elsewhere had been in front of Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, where 53 gay people were shot in one of the deadliest acts of violence against the LGBTQ+ community in American history. That reminder gave the unveiling an even deeper emotional charge. This was not just about paint, stone, or signage. It was about survival, memory, and the insistence on being seen.

And maybe that is why another phrase heard during the event felt so fitting: from the destruction comes the resurrection. At the Rainbow Crosswalk, that spirit was everywhere. Not only in the marker itself, but in the people gathered around it, in the history beneath it, and in the message it now sends to everyone who passes by.

Community Outreach

Miami Could Finally Get an Official Anthem as Elevated Tracks 305 Global Song Contest Launches

Published

2 months ago

March 5, 2026

McKaela Lulic

From Latin pop and hip hop to electronic music and jazz, the sounds of the 305 have traveled far beyond South Florida. Yet despite its enormous cultural influence, Miami has never formally adopted an official city anthem.

March 4, 2026

A new global initiative hopes to change that.

Elevated Tracks 305, a newly launched songwriting competition, is inviting artists from around the world to compose an original anthem that captures the spirit, rhythm, and cultural identity of Miami. The contest officially opened submissions on March 4 and will accept entries through March 30, 2026.

The project is led by Elevate Miami and Guitars Over Guns in collaboration with the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, bringing together music education, industry leadership, and civic culture to create what organizers hope will become the city’s defining musical tribute.

Artists interested in participating can learn more at

https://www.elevatecities.org/miami/elevatedtracks305/

Elevated Tracks 305 Launches a Global Search for Miami’s Sound

The Elevated Tracks 305 contest invites musicians, producers, and songwriters with a meaningful connection to Miami to create an original song that reflects the city’s identity.

Organizers say the goal is to capture the qualities that make Miami unique, including its diversity, resilience, cultural fusion, and global influence.

The competition is open to all musical styles. Artists are encouraged to submit songs across genres, including Latin, pop, hip hop, R&B, jazz, electronic, and fusion, reflecting the city’s multicultural soundscape.

Submissions are being accepted through

https://elevatecities.submittable.com

Six winners will ultimately be selected across adult and youth categories.

Music Industry Leaders With Miami Roots Support the Project

The Elevated Tracks 305 initiative has drawn support from major figures in the global music industry who have deep ties to Miami.

Among the artists and industry leaders backing the competition are:

Rico Love, Grammy Award winning songwriter and producer
Jon Secada, Latin Grammy and Grammy Award winning singer songwriter
Rudy Pérez, internationally recognized songwriter and producer
Danny Flores, Latin Grammy winning producer and Frost School of Music alumnus

The judging panel will also include Julio Bagué, Vice President of the Latin Division East Coast and Puerto Rico at peermusic, along with Dr. Chad Bernstein, founder and CEO of Guitars Over Guns.

More information about the nonprofit organization can be found at

https://www.guitarsoverguns.org

Faculty members from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami will also serve on the jury.

Learn more about the Frost School at

https://frost.miami.edu

Cash Prizes and National Exposure for Winning Artists

The contest will award six total winners, including three adult winners and three youth winners.

Prize awards include:

First place

$10,000

Second place

$2,500

Third place

$1,000

Beyond cash prizes, winners will also receive citywide and national media exposure, as well as opportunities for live performances and digital amplification throughout 2026.

Final selections will be determined through a hybrid voting model comprising 50 percent jury voting and 50 percent public voting.

Organizers expect winners to be announced in early May 2026, just ahead of Miami’s annual 305 Day celebrations.

A Cultural Initiative Designed to Celebrate Miami

While the Elevated Tracks 305 competition will crown winners, organizers emphasize that the project is meant to do more than launch a song contest.

The initiative is part of a broader cultural effort from Elevate Miami, a civic platform created through the Elevate Prize Foundation, to strengthen community connection and civic pride through the arts.

By inviting artists across generations to participate, Elevated Tracks 305 aims to create a musical tribute that reflects Miami’s creative ecosystem and global cultural influence.

Joe Deitch, founder of the Elevate Prize Foundation and Elevate Cities, describes the initiative as an opportunity for artists to help define how the city presents itself to the world.

With one of the most diverse music scenes anywhere on the planet, Miami may soon have an anthem that reflects the sound of the city locals simply call the 305.

September 28, 2025

Miami knows how to throw a party with a purpose, and on Friday, September 26, the Mayfair House Hotel & Garden bloomed into The Enchanted Garden for Luminous Global’s 4th Annual Light Up the Night Gala. The evening was equal parts glamour and heart, with guests arriving in style to support a mission that is transforming breast health awareness.

Supermodel and Real Housewives of New York original star Kelly Killoren Bensimon turned heads on the pink carpet, where she was joined by Luminous Global founder and CEO Marylin Dans and Florida House Representative Fabian Basabe. The arrivals set the tone for a night that was as celebratory as it was meaningful.

Inside the garden-inspired ballroom, the setting was pure magic. Guests sipped champagne beneath twinkling lights, live music floated through the air, and conversations flowed as advocates, changemakers, and community leaders came together. The energy of the room made it clear that this was not just another Miami gala. It was a gathering of people determined to make a difference.

The program honored this year’s awardees whose dedication to advocacy continues to shape the future of breast health. Their stories brought both smiles and tears, reminding everyone of the power of education, awareness, and early action. Proceeds from the evening directly supported The Luminous Advocacy Project, a nonprofit focused on promoting early detection, advancing education, and ensuring women everywhere have access to equitable medical care.

Highlights of the Evening

Guests were introduced to Luminous, the first breast familiarity tool designed to give users a visual reference of their own breast health. Presented as an app and awareness lifestyle guide, it helps women and men build consistent habits for self-familiarity. Luminous does not replace medical exams but complements them by empowering people to recognize changes early.

The gala also spotlighted the organization’s global outreach efforts. Upcoming missions include Medical Mission Honduras 2025: Pathway to Wellness, where volunteers and medical professionals will bring diagnostic care, health education, and vital breast health services to underserved communities abroad.

On the educational side, guests learned about the project’s commitment to spreading awareness through multilingual resources and school outreach programs, ensuring that communities both local and international have the knowledge they need to take charge of their health. The initiative’s vision also includes working toward FDA Class III approval for its device, a milestone that would make this technology more widely available.

A Night That Truly Glowed

By the time the music quieted and the last glasses were raised, it was clear that the night had lived up to its name. The gala was beautiful, it was fun, and it carried a glow of hope that left everyone inspired. Guests walked away with more than memories of an enchanting evening. They carried with them the reminder that awareness is action, and that together, Miami’s community can shine a light on change.

To learn more about The Luminous Advocacy Project click HERE!