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Campaigns are facing challenges in the COVID-19 era. Find out how opponents Sybrina Fulton and Oliver Gilbert are managing on the road to Miami-Dade’s County Commission
POLITICAL CANDIDATES FACE CHALLENGES CAMPAIGNING IN COVID-19 ERA County Commission District 1 Candidates Gilbert and Fulton Take to the Internet
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BY JOSIE GULLIKSEN
Miami-Dade County Commission District I candidates Oliver Gilbert and Sybrina Fulton are facing one major hurdle: How to effectively campaign during the Coronavirus pandemic at a time when shaking hands, visiting residents door-to-door, and hosting large rallies are out of the question due to social distancing.
In his second and final term as mayor of Miami Gardens, Gilbert said his primary obligation right now is reopening the third largest city in Miami-Dade County, which has been largely shut down since March because of the pandemic. Like Gilbert, COVID-19 temporarily suspended Fulton’s campaign activities. The lifelong Miami Gardens resident was even forced to temporarily close the office of the Trayvon Martin Foundation, which she operates on the campus of Florida Memorial University.
“We wanted people to focus on their health, families, career and just making sure they were safe,” said Fulton, who responded to Legacy via email for her interview.
By mid-May, parts of MiamiDade slowly started re-opening in Phase 1 of the county’s New Normal Guidelines. Most retailers were given the green light to open with restrictions, eventually followed by restaurants.
Fulton said once things started opening up “we began checking on people and their welfare, picking up with the campaign functions once again and I began to have a larger media presence.”
On May 29, Fulton kicked off her return to campaigning with an
online fundraiser featuring her friend, latex gloves and a face mask bearing “We also need to talk about the former Secretary of State Hillary the Miami Gardens city logo. He said affordability of housing, not just Rodham Clinton, who encouraged he hopes to reach voters in the district affordable housing,” said Gilbert, who has been endorsed by the Transport Workers Union, Local 291, AFL-CIO, among others. “There are young teachers, government workers, and many other hard-working people who cannot afford to live here, and that’s basic supply and demand. We have to drive down the price. We can’t price our professionals out of the county.” One of Fulton’s top priorities for Miami-Dade County, if elected commissioner, includes public safety. “People need to feel safe in their own communities and this can be facilitated by building stronger relationships between residents and law enforcement,” stated Fulton, whose latest Wearing a mask and gloves, Mayor Oliver Gilbert practices social distancing and safety while distributing food in Miami Gardens. endorsement includes Ruth’s List Florida, the largest organization in Florida that helps progressive proFulton to run for her first choice women get political office. Supporters elected to office. joining the event via “I also aim to Zoom were asked to increase affordable donate up to $1,000 for housing and the chance to virtually rub homeownership, shoulders with Clinton. as well as
“We discussed build stronger Mothers of the Movement, homeowners campaigning for her in associations 2016, how we were fairing and community through the Coronavirus, oversight and police violence and committees.” how those living with bias Fulton and have to recognize it within Gilbert hope to themselves,” said Fulton, succeed four-term who added she worked incumbent Barbara in government services Jordan, who is for more than 20 years Sybrina Fulton takes a selfie with Hillary Rodham Clinton who supported her campaign being termed out. and was inspired to run with an appearance during a virtual fundraiser on Zoom on May 29. Voters in District for office because of her 1, which largely passion to help others. to discuss everything from improving includes Miami Gardens and Opa
Whether it’s interacting with public transportation to reduce traffic, locka, will select a new commissioner the public or his staff in the office, to increasing access to housing for in the Primary Election on Aug. 18. Gilbert is cautious, often wearing average working-class residents. n
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Investment Diversity: We Are Leaving Money on The Table
Even the wealthiest people in the Investing. identify attractive early-stage companies Black community are leaving significant Annually, Angel Investors provide and high-quality sources of information. Kevin Cadette is executive director of amounts of money on the table. Black more than $25 billion to 70,000 plus Our network includes fellow angel Black Angels Miami. Black Angels Americans, as a group, continue to fall companies in the U.S. A Kauffman investment clubs, top-notch investment Miami: Changing the landscape of far behind our white counterparts on Foundation study showed that Angel firms, incubators, accelerators, Angel Investing. Enabling investing the measure of expanding our wealth Investor groups are generating roughly universities and commercialization for a higher reward. Website: www. and successfully transferring it to future 2.6 times return on their investments programs. Through the power of BAM’s blackangels.miami Twitter: @ generations. Amazingly, the biggest in 3.5 years. Black investors amount network, our members get better blackangelsmia deterrence to our growth in this arena is to less than 1.5 percent of the Angel access to attractive companies seeking n Investors in the U.S. Also, the absence investments. Consider us an onramp for
not a blatant barrier — rather, it is our of Black Angels contributes to BlackBlack investors seeking to get on the collective lack of understanding and led start-up companies receiving a super highway that is Angel Investing. active use of the wealth creation tools negligible percentage of this financial BAM believes diverse perspectives that define capitalism. Angel Investing, and professional support. We are missing improve investment outcomes and for example, is one of several methods out on significant wealth creation strengthens capitalism as a whole. It is that can help us increase wealth across opportunities by not being in the game. time to put more Black capital to work Black America. Black Angels Miami was launched and to start closing the wealth gap. So what is Angel Investing? It is in 2019 to solve this problem. BAM is To learn more about Angel the act of investing money in early-stage an angel investment club with a core Investing, stay-tuned for our upcoming businesses, in exchange for a share of the mission to increase angel investment contributions to Legacy magazine that profits. Angel Investors typically invest in knowledge and activity among the will continue to explain the what, how, young companies that are not established Black community. Our members get and why of Angel Investing. Or check enough to attract investments from venture exposed to exciting companies that need out #BlackAngelsU, a digital broadcast capital firms and investors. Sometimes, investments and then we help them to that introduces Angel Investing to a they also lend their relationship and make investment “magic” happen. broader audience through interviews BY KEVIN CADETTE professional experience to the companies. Shark Tank is a good example of Angel BAM uses our broad and international network of relationships to with top professional investors, business and thought leaders.
HEALTH
Broward Health’s Nurse Connect Provides Vital Service for Community
“When people call and are worried, immediate care. The registered nurses Additionally, it is a tremendous help I try to take the fear away,” said Shannon also share information about how to when patients share their complete Heiss, RN, TCRN, lead nurse for Nurse manage symptoms, help schedule medical history with the nurses, said Joe Connect. “I take advantage of the time appointments, connect patients with a DiGiorgio, RN, who works overnight. that I have on the phone with the patient primary care provider when needed, Especially those patients who don’t have to educate them.” Before the call is over, and educate about proper medication a primary care provider. Heiss said, patients often share their protocol. “Number one, we can educate the appreciation. “They tell us all the time When Broward Health expanded patient when we have all the facts,” ‘you really made me feel better today.’” its services to accommodate the needs DiGiorgio said, “and number two, we Nurses work in 12-hour shifts associated with the pandemic, the can facilitate care on a diagnostic level answering hundreds of health questions Nurse Connect team morphed into an assuming they meet criteria.” each day. Many of them have experience important conduit for patients who do Broward Health has two mobile caring for patients in the fast-paced not have doctors and suspect they have COVID-19 testing sites for the South and unpredictable world of Emergency Coronavirus symptoms. Florida community. Patients can call Kedline Maxime, RN, helps guide patients with general health concerns as part of Broward Health’s free Nurse Connect service. Departments. The core group of nurses receives invaluable support from Aldo Calvo, D.O., medical director of “I’m particularly proud – but far from surprised – about how our nurses have delivered incredibly passionate care Nurse Connect for an appointment and should have a written script from a physician. Nurse Connect steps in to fill BY JOY OGLESBY Most days, the calls come in nearly unending waves. Patients have concerns about symptoms they find troubling – ranging from minor to more urgent conditions. On the other end is a Broward Health registered nurse ready to make a swift and sound assessment and provide medical guidance. This is Broward Health’s free Nurse Connect service, which expanded in March to a 24/7 operation. ambulatory care for Broward Health, and Gavin Malcolm, MSW, LCSW, population health director. The team is also supported by about 15 population health nurses who primarily care for patients in ambulatory settings. The nurses expertly “help manage patients’ anxiety, answer questions and triage,” Malcolm said. “It’s been awesome to see the population health nurses flourish in this expanded system.” Through Nurse Connect, patients can obtain guidance on whether to seek in these very challenging times,” Calvo said. Nurses also represent the community’s diversity, as some of the nurses are fluent in Spanish, French, Creole, and Portuguese. The healthcare system also has access to translation services for other languages. The team also makes hundreds of follow-up calls to patients, including sharing negative COVID-19 test results. The Nurse Connect program has been beneficial to the nurses, too. the access-to-care gap for patients who don’t have a primary care provider. Patients are asked to bring a photo ID and the written COVID-19 testing prescription to the mobile testing sites in Lauderhill and Pompano Beach. To speak to a registered nurse at Nurse Connect, call (954) 320-5730. Nurses will not diagnose conditions, but are available to provide valuable information on a range of health-related topics. In an emergency, call 911. n
SOUTH FLORIDA NATIVE MAKES HISTORY AS MIT’S FIRST BLACK STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT
Danielle Geathers of Miami has been elected the first black student body president at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Geathers just completed her sophomore year at MIT and is majoring Geathers in mechanical engineering. She served as the diversity officer last year.
Geathers said she plans to use her platform to make MIT as inclusive as possible.
“Although some people think it is just a figurehead role, figureheads can matter in terms of people seeing themselves in terms of representation,” she said. “Seeing yourself at a college is kind of an important part of the admissions process.” About six percent of undergraduates at MIT are black and 47 percent are women, according to MIT.
MIT students left campus in March due to COVID-19. Geathers campaigned online and through social media from her Miami home. Students elected her by voting online.
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Dennis Moss announced his candidacy for MiamiDade School Board District 9. The seat will be vacated by Dr. Lawrence Feldman who announced last Moss July that he would not run for reelection.
Moss said as a school board member, he will work to ensure the physical safety of schools, ensure that students are safe from the COVID-19 virus, save traditional and challenged neighborhood schools, refine online distance learning, and implement life preparation skills in school curricula such as employability, entrepreneurship and coding skills.
Commissioner Moss is a lifelong resident of District 9 and has served MiamiDade County’s Commission since 1993.
GALLON TO SERVE SECOND TERM ON MIAMI-DADE SCHOOL BOARD
Dr. Steve Gallon III has been re-elected to the Miami-Dade School Board District 1 without opposition. No other candidate entered the race in time for the June 12 qualifying deadline. Gallon’s district includes Miami Gallon Gardens, Opa-locka, and North Miami. He will now serve a second 4-year term on the board. Recently, Gallon was unanimously also re-elected as the vice-chair of the Council of Urban Boards of Education National Steering Committee at its virtual meeting held on April 3. Gallon was re-elected by school board members representing regions from around the country.
YOUNG LEADS TOWER CLUB
Dan Young has been named Chairman of the Board of the Tower Club Fort Lauderdale. Young will provide strategic leadership for the Board of Directors and Club to ensure the growth Young and long term prosperity of the organization. n
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REAL ESTATE. let’s talk
“ Change starts from the ground up, and I hope you will join our movement focused on enacting meaningful positive changes that make Miami-Dade County a better place for all to raise a family, work, and call home.” — Sybrina Fulton, Candidate for County Commissioner, District 1
