Published on: Miami's Community Newspapers
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The 13th Annual Illuminations Gala, in celebration of the 100,000 Faces of Chapman Partnership was held on Saturday, November 1 at JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS MIAMI. The Gala co-chairmen were Susan Kahn, Lani Kahn Drody, Norma Quintero and Alessandra Quintero and Laurie Jennings was the Mistress of Ceremonies. This year’s gala raised more than $1,770,000 and had a record breaking 850 people in attendance, as well as a first ever Midnight Masquerade after-party hosted by Carlos Saballos, Chairman of nextgen, Chapman Partnership’s young professionals group. The evening’s entertainment was provided by Soul Survivors, a candle-lit performance by Miami Choral Academy and the Spam All Stars for the nextgen after party.

Chapman Partnership is Miami-Dade County’s primary emergency intake facility for the homeless and has recently admitted its 100,000th resident since opening 19 years ago. This is Chapman Partnership’s major fundraiser for the year that helps to pay for all the services provided to over 5,500 single men, single women and families that annually reside in Chapman Partnership’s two Homeless Assistance Centers.

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Published on: Miami Herald
By: Douglas Hanks
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Once again, Christina Morua found herself in the South Dade library longer than she would like on a school night. The 28-year-old single mom sat in the bustling children’s section on a recent Thursday, waiting for her fourth-grader to get on a computer and start some online math homework.

“We don’t have any Internet at home,” Morua said as her oldest, 11-year-old Abel, clicked through an assignment on a library laptop while Alina, 9, waited for her turn at a desktop. “We just reserved a computer. We have to wait 70 minutes. He got one of the last laptops.”

With more school materials heading online, parents like Morua find they can no longer count on home for homework. That leaves Miami-Dade libraries as a crucial venue for their youngest patrons, but funding challenges, reduced hours on school nights and aging equipment have made it harder to meet the demand.

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Published on: Local 10
By: Andrea Torres
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Miami- Alvah Herman Chapman Jr. was sitting at his apartment near Miami's Grove Isle.

The World War II veteran and former Knight-Ridder chairman had retired. But he was a busy man on a mission. In his breast pocket, close to his heart, he kept a piece of paper. There were numbers written on it. That was how he kept track of the progress a couple of homeless shelters in Miami-Dade were making.

Helping the homeless was an idea that he had a year before Hurricane Andrew devastated neighborhoods in Miami-Dade. He had finished a religious workshop that he said intensified his sense of compassion. And while driving, he said he knew he had to help the homeless who were leaving under the bridge.

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Published on: Miami Herald
By: Trish Bell
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More than two decades ago, the homeless problem had reached epidemic levels in America, perhaps nowhere more severe and evident than in Miami. We couldn’t then have imagined one day having admitted and helping 100,000 homeless residents.

This milestone, which we have just achieved, is an opportunity for sincere reflection. But the bigger story and, I think, the more-important one is found looking at the faces of the 100,000 residents and the impact we have made on their lives, instead of just the numbers, which by themselves are impressive.

Since the late Alvah H. Chapman founded The Community Partnership for the Homeless, renamed in his honor to Chapman Partnership, our mission has been to serve the neediest members of our community by empowering homeless men, women and children to achieve a better way of life.

Today, Chapman Partnership operates two Homeless Assistance Centers with 800 beds located in Miami and Homestead. We help the homeless by providing a comprehensive support program that includes emergency housing, meals, health, dental and psychiatric care, daycare, job training, job placement and assistance with securing stable housing.

Our goal is the effective transitioning of the homeless to self-sufficiency, accomplished by a fundamental life transformation. There is, of course, much work to do, but the numbers attest to a level of success that is at once gratifying and inspiring, and it offers great hope for the future: The majority of our residents, 64 percent, are able to move to permanent or transitional housing, a rate more than four times the national average of 15 percent.

We owe much of the credit to the more than 20,000 volunteers who serve three hot meals a day, 365 days a year — more than 800,000 hot meals in the past year alone. We’re proud, as well, of our expanded family services helping 44 percent of the residents that are families with children. On any given night, there are 250 homeless children residing with us.

Our medical services treat each homeless patient with dignity and respect. Thus far, our two medical clinics have had more than 165,500 patient visits, and our mobile dental unit has performed 76,500 procedures.

We’re grateful beyond words for our growing partnerships with the private sector. Since 2011 alone, grants from JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo helped fund Employment Specialist Programs providing training in culinary arts, environmental services, security and more, with skills training in computer labs, resume writing, interviewing and assistance with basic work and business attire and materials. This program has helped more than 1,000 people obtain employment and start new careers on the road toward self-sufficiency and success.

We really are in it together. For us, “ partnership” isn’t just another word, it’s a core value. The Miami-Dade Homeless Trust, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the Public Health Trust and Citrus Health, among many others, contribute to the success of Chapman Partnership every day. Other organizations, too numerous to name but including churches, synagogues, civic groups and support organizations as well as departments at the city, county, and state levels, round out the continuum of homeless care in Miami.

At Chapman Partnership, it’s always been about a people-centric approach to a better Miami for everyone. Dedicated staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to make that possible by ensuring adequate funding from generous donors and foundations for the consistent delivery of programs and services for today and tomorrow. This ensures we can fulfill the promise of our mission to empower the homeless.

Alvah Chapman’s founding vision in 1993 was to effectively transform lives by proactively confronting homelessness at its root causes. While 100,000 admissions is a milestone and a testament to the commitment of the board of trustees, employees, volunteers and community partners, it is also a reminder of what Chapman would say: “We’ve come a long way, our prayers have been answered, but our job isn’t done yet.”

Thus far we’ve affected 100,000 homeless residents for the better — one life at a time.

Trish Bell is chairman of the board of the Chapman Partnership.

Published on: Ask Miss A
By: Alexandra Figueredo
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Bring your four-legged furry friend out to The Ultimate Pooch Party Dog Walk and Donation Drive for a morning of fun activities to raise money, spread awareness and donate items for the Chapman Partnership’s Dog Kennel. The event will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2014 at the Chapman Partnership South Center.

The festivities begin at 8:30 a.m. with registration and demonstrations and activities from 9 – 10 a.m. Pet activities include a pet photo, dog owner look-a-like, pet tricks contests, and dog agility and lure coursing demonstrations. All dogs are welcome to participate in the 1K Dog Walk at 10 a.m. Plus, there will be pet adoptions facilitated by the Humane Society of Greater Miami.

A donation of is $20 per dog is suggested, and special “doggy bags” will be available for the first 100 registrants. Dogs must wear current tags to attend. Please read Rules for Pooches before registering. Dogs and their owners, as well as unaccompanied humans, are asked to register online.

Chapman Partnership’s Dog Kennel has taken in over 150 dogs of all breeds and sizes since it opened in 2003. A veterinarian visits each week and completes at least 2 surgeries or special treatments per month. The kennel is in need of special items, including but not limited to dog food, dog treats, shampoo and conditioner, leashes, collars, flea treatments, toys, cages, bowls and dog beds. Donations of items may be brought to the event or dropped off at the South Center. Monetary donations can be made online.

Chapman Partnership empowers homeless men, women and children to build a positive future by providing the resources and assistance critical to growth and independence. They help the homeless by providing a comprehensive support program that includes emergency housing, meals, health, dental and psychiatric care, day care, job training, job placement and assistance with securing stable housing.

WHEN: September 13, 2014 from 8:30 – 11 a.m.

WHERE:
Chapman Partnership South Center
28205 SW 124th Ct.
Homestead, FL 33033
Ph. 305-329-3000

TICKETS: Admission is $20 donation for each dog. Register here. Unaccompanied humans can also register online. For more information contact Faye Wright at 305-329-3092 or fwright@chapmanpartnership.org.

Published on: Miami Herald
By: Paradise Afshar
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Seven months ago, Mohamad Chikh Omar and his three children landed in Miami. They didn’t have a place to stay. They spoke very little English.

But he knew one thing: He and his children — ages 14, 6 and 5 — were secure, thousands of miles away from the shooting, sniper fire and bombs buzzing overhead in his Syrian homeland. His wife, Fatima, was not as fortunate. She disappeared in February 2013, waiting in line to get food for her family.

“I feel safe with the kids because we are no longer living the terror and hearing the scary sounds from the war,” said Chikh Omar, 37, sitting on a futon in a bare-walled apartment in Lauderhill, a temporary home courtesy of the local Syrian community. “But at the same time my thoughts are with their mom, still back there and not knowing what happened to her.’’

Chikh Omar’s story illustrates not only the severity of day-to-day-life in Syria, which the United Nations calls the modern world’s biggest humanitarian crisis with an estimated 9 million displaced people and more than 170,000 people killed since the conflict began in 2011, but the impact the Syrian civil war is having on communities across the globe.

South Florida’s Syrian community is relatively small — about 3,000 who live in Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach counties, according to Census estimates from the 2008-12 American Community Survey. Since 2011, the United States has resettled 142 Syrian refugees throughout the country, according to the Refugee Processing Center, run by the U.S Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.

Many have strong ties to Syria, carrying the weight of worry with each headline. (Tuesday’s news: Insurgents fighting to oust President Bashar Assad detonated bomb-packed tunnels in the northern city of Aleppo, killing at least 13 pro-government troops.)

“I feel so guilty because here it’s like heaven,’’ said Noor Daghistani 27, of Kendall, who was born at Jackson Memorial and is a pharmacy resident at Baptist Hospital. “What they’re going through over there, it’s a daily hell on Earth.”

Before the crisis, Daghistani used to go to Syria every summer to visit her family. Most of her family has been displaced, but some remain in Syria. She was last in Syria about five years ago.

Nour Samra was in the country two years ago. She was raised in Miramar and attended Everglades High School through her sophomore year. Her father, Abdul Hamid Samra, is an electrical engineer who earned his master’s and Ph.D from Wichita State University in Kansas.

In 2006, she and her family moved to Damascus after her father had an opportunity to start Arab International University, a private university. Samra was attending the university in March 2012, a year after the conflict began, when the military raided the school.

Samra and her classmates ran from their computer science classroom and tried to leave the university, but the gates were closed. She ran into the pharmacy building and hid with others in her professor’s office.

“I felt like I was watching National Geographic, when a lion is jumping onto its prey,’’ said Samra, now 23. “I remember being horrified and shocked.’’

At one point, a solider kicked the door down and pointed a gun to her head.

“My professor comes and says, ‘These are students — they won’t do anything.’ ” Samra said.

The solider put down his gun, but forced the roughly half dozen people to stand in the middle and wait until he gave them permission to leave. Samra prayed.

“That experience changed me as a person,” Samra said. “I think for a whole year afterward I would cry at night. It was hard for me to sleep because of the violence. I can’t watch TV shows with violence because it shakes me to my core.”

Three months later, Samra's family moved back to Miramar. She is attending Nova Southeastern University.

“It became unsafe, especially for a young woman,” said her father, now the imam at the Islamic Center of Greater Miami in Miami Gardens.

The family still worries about loved ones in Syria. Last year, government forces abducted Abdul Hamid Samra’s nephew, Mohammad.

“He worked in a bank in Damascus, and had three children. For a year now he’s been missing,” Abdul Hamid Samra said. “He was coming back home and there was something going on in his neighborhood, and they were arresting people for no reason.”

Chikh Omar knows the anguish of having a loved one disappear.

One day in February 2013, he and his wife, Fatima Alsharki, were standing in line to get food being distributed from a truck. The women's line was shorter than the men’s, so his wife volunteered to stand there and told him to go home to the children.

Shortly after he left, he realized they'd forgotten their ID book, which they needed to get the food, and returned home to retrieve it. While he was away, he learned later, someone had told nearby soldiers the women were getting food for the rebel forces. He’s not sure what happened next, as he has heard conflicting reports. Some told him the women were killed; some say they were taken away.

Chikh Omar made fliers with his wife’s photo and passed them around, but no one ever came forward.

By April 2013, it became clear that remaining in Syria was growing increasingly dangerous and Chikh Omar was worried his 14-year-old daughter would be a target for kidnapping. The military had left a dead body in front of his daughter’s school “to scare people.”

“There were snipers everywhere, you could not even turn on the lights in the house because then the snipers would be shooting at you,” said Chikh Omar, speaking through an Arabic translator.

With the help of a friend in the United Arab Emirates, the family traveled to Lebanon, then Jordan, where Chikh Omar obtained visas for him and his children to come to Miami, where he had a friend. They lived in Jordan for a few months, and then Morocco, where they ended up living in a garage.

The stress started taking a toll on the children: Fatin, 14, Muaath, 6, and Zakaria, 5.

“The children were very scared, they’d gone through a lot,” Chikh Omar said. “My daughter started losing her hair.’’

After getting financial help to buy the plane tickets, they landed at Miami International Airport in December. They spent the first two days at an airport hotel, then returned to the airport, where they slept for two nights. By the third day, an airport employee who spoke Arabic noticed the family and directed them to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office. From there, they were taken to the Chapman Partnership’s homeless assistance center in Homestead.

On New Year’s Eve Arlene de Armas of Cutler Bay went to the center with her husband and children to do crafts with the children there. They were decorating wooden objects when she noticed Chikh Omar was the only parent sitting with his children.

“Mind you, it was the weekend,’’ recalled de Armas, 40. “The parents could have been there and he was the only parent there.”

Fatin, his daughter, also caught her eye. She seemed mature for her age, helping her brothers.

The following Friday, de Armas went to her temple, Temple Beth Am, and told her rabbi about the family. Rabbi Rachel Greengrass gave her the number of Saif Ishoof, co-founder of EmergeUSA, an organization that helps underrepresented communities.

“I think that’s what is so telling of South Florida, we are a community that is able to bridge a divide,” said Ishoof. “We are a community that understands the challenges of arriving from a different soil.”

Added Greengrass: “When people let you be part of their life, you want to help all you can. I think when there is an opportunity to rise up, we should. This is who we are at our core as Jews, as Muslims, as Americans, to rise up and help people when it counts.”

Word of the family spread to Doured Daghistani, a board member of the Syrian American Council of South Florida, which has worked to aid Syrians in and out of the conflict zone.

“What moved us was his children,” Daghistani said. “We told him, ‘The community helped because of your children.’ ”

Through a community effort, the Chikh Omars were able to leave the shelter by April and move into an apartment that a local Syrian is allowing them to live in rent-free. The family is working toward political asylum, and the children are attending Salah Tawfik elementary and middle schools in Sunrise, where they are learning English. Said Chikh Omar: “I ask more goodness from God to the ones who helped me, and may God reward them for helping me and my children.”

© 2014 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved. http://www.miamiherald.com

ORLANDO, FL – JULY 10, 2014 – Miami-Dade County’s 2015 Teacher of the Year Myrna Betancourt, an adult vocational teacher and chef with South Dade Education Center, was surprised with the Magic of Giving Award at tonight’s 2015 Macy’s/Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year awards gala at the Hard Rock Live at Universal Studios Orlando. The award, new this year, was presented to Ms. Betancourt by Lee O’Rourke, Macy’s District Vice President for Northern Florida.

“Teaching our students to actively participate in giving back at an early age is key to creating a better society,” said Ms. O’Rourke during tonight’s awards ceremony. “When a teacher is capable of doing that, plus combining learning and fun, education and caring, you know you have come across a very special individual. Myrna Betancourt is that person.”

Ms. Betancourt was selected for the Magic of Giving award as a teacher with a unique ability to create positive change in the community. She was presented with a crystal star trophy and a $1,000 Macy’s gift card.

Ms. Betancourt has been leading what is considered one of Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ most successful vocation programs for the past six years. As an adult/vocational teacher-chef, her kitchen is in the Chapman Partnership Homeless Center in Homestead. Her students range in ages from 16 to 50, many of whom are disadvantaged, homeless and seeking a second chance.

Chef Betancourt created “Café Du Jour” to give her students world class and hands-on training in culinary arts and hospitality. Her students are engaged in many local competitions and catering events to develop their skills and provide them with opportunities to network with potential employers. But her impact is felt far beyond the school grounds – she also teaches the homeless, as well as special needs students, from Homestead Job Corps.

When Ms. Betancourt was a teenager living in Puerto Rico, she wanted “to help people in need,” so she became a social worker and left the island for Chicago. After 22 years of social work, she reinvented herself and went back to school to become a chef. When her family moved to Miami, Chef Betancourt found her way into the classroom at South Dade Educational Center where she expanded the school’s culinary arts program to adult education.

During the award presentation, O’Rourke quoted one of Ms. Betancourt’s students, Kenneth Brown: ”We thank God for having such an inspiring person around us. There is no other teacher who cares as much for her students as she does. She welcomes us into her heart, even under the most difficult of circumstances. She puts us first, empowers us and helps us to maintain our focus on what is truly important.”
Also announced this evening is the 2015 Macy’s/Florida Teacher of the Year, Christie Bassett, K-12 Art Teacher of Highlands Grove Elementary School in Polk County. Hundreds of teachers, school administrators, and state education leaders, along with families and friends, were in attendance at the gala event, hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist Deborah Norville. She was joined by First Lady Ann Scott; Darlene Hanes, Macy’s Executive Vice President, Regional Director of Stores; and Florida Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart for the announcement.

This marks the 26^th year of Macy’s sponsorship of the Florida Teacher of the Year program. Macy’s presented Christie Bassett with a check totaling $10,000, a $1,000 wardrobe, a $1,000 check for her school and an all-expense paid trip for four to New York City to attend this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. For the past 26 years, Macy’s has annually contributed $100,000 to the state-run Teacher of the Year program, making it one of the largest corporate cash contributions to Florida public schools. To date, Macy’s has contributed more than $2.5 million to teachers throughout the state.

During the awards ceremony, 67 district winners, including Ms. Betancourt, were recognized and each received $750 from Macy’s, plus $250 for programs at their respective schools.

About Florida Department of Education
The Macy’s/Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year is chosen from more than 189,000 public school teachers by a selection committee comprised of teachers, principals, parents, and the business community. Florida's top educator is selected on the basis of their outstanding ability to teach and communicate knowledge of the subject taught, professional development, philosophy of teaching, and exceptional school and community service. The winner must also show a superior capacity to inspire a love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities.

About Macy’s
Macy's, the largest retail brand of Macy's, Inc., delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at approximately 800 locations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, as well as to customers in the U.S. and more than 100 international destinations through its leading online store at macys.com. Via its stores, e-commerce site, mobile and social platforms, Macy's offers distinctive assortments including the most desired family of exclusive and fashion brands for him, her and home. Macy's is known for such epic events as Macy's 4th of July Fireworks® and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade®, as well as spectacular fashion shows, culinary events, flower shows and celebrity appearances. Macy's flagship stores -- including Herald Square in New York City, Union Square in San Francisco, State Street in Chicago, Dadeland in Miami and South Coast Plaza in southern California -- are known internationally and leading destinations for visitors. Building on a more than 150-year tradition, and with the collective support of customers, employees and Macy's Foundation, Macy's helps strengthen communities by supporting local and national charities giving more than $70 million each year to help make a difference in the lives of our customers.

# # #

PHOTO CAPTION: Myrna Betancourt from South Dade Educational Center in Miami-Dade County receives the Magic of Giving Award at the 2015 Macy’s/Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year Awards Gala on Thursday, July 10, 2014 at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando, FL. She received the award from Lee O’Rourke, Macy’s District Vice President for Northern Florida.

*Photo credit Phelan Ebenhack of Macy’s*

Published on: Venue Magazine
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Chapman Partnership Womenade, junto con Madeleine Kirsh de C. Madeleine’s, Danny Santiago y Raquel Watters de Rik Rak Salon, acogió la quinta entrega anual del desfile de modas y almuerzo “Take a Walk in Her Shoes” en el Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne. El tema de este año fue la moda vintage de 1950 a 1980 con un enfoque en Channel clásico y atemporal. Las homenajeadas de 2014 reconocidas por su destacado trabajo filantrópico en Miami y sus magníficos logros en la comunidad fueron Lourdes Castillo de la Peña, Lana DeSimone, Pam Garrison, Bárbara Hevia, Laurie Jennings, Liliam López, Marysol Patton, Ayana Rodríguez Boucher, Katherine Fernández Rundle y Maggie Villacampa. Womenade está formado por mujeres voluntarias que se han comprometido a apoyar la misión de Chapman Partnership de llevar a las personas sin hogar a la autosuficiencia.

Published on: The Miami Times, May 29, 2014
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Desmond Meade remembers standing on railroad tracks in Miami waiting for a train to come. Homeless, hungry and broke, Meade became convinced that there was no reason to live. So he waited for a train to kill him. It was a long wait.

“The train didn’t come,” Meade said. “I was there for a while. My mind was filled with thoughts of how much pain I would have to endure to go through with it.”

That was 10 years ago.Today, Meade is a happy step-father of five who graduated with a law degree from Florida International University last Friday. He joined approximately 153 law school graduates who celebrated a festive ceremony at the school’s south campus.

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Published on: Miami Today, April 3, 2014
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While Chapman Partnership's first priority is getting the county's homeless into good places to live, helping them find a steady source of income is a close second.

"Homelessness does not have to be a perpetual cycle," says President & CEO Daniel Vincent. "A consistent, sustainable income is the key to reducing recidivism."

In 2013, he says, Chapman Partnership, successfully outplaced 64% of its clients; the national outplacement rate is 15%-20%.

Over the last 12 moths, its development case managers placed clients in 400 full-time positions with an average hourly wage of $10, in industries as diverse as construction, hospitality, retail, sales, food service, flower arrangement and financial services.

Aiding this effort is Chapman Partnership's job development program, called Housing Opportunities and Personal Enrichment, or HOPE, funded by JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, TD Bank and Banco Popular. Through partnerships in the community, HOPE provides job training for residents of Chapman Partnership's Miami and Homestead facilities.

For example, Mr. Vincent says, the Culinary Arts Program at Chapman Partnership South in Homestead is the result of a partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools' South Dade Educational Center.

The program's chef-instructor, Myrna Betancourt, whose credentials include a stint at Mandarin Oriental Miami, was recently named MIami-Dade County Teacher of the Year. From her kitchen, called Cafe du Jour, students learn to prepare and serve international cuisine, while building a portfolio and making contacts that will help them find employment.

In addition, Lindsey Hopkins Technical Center provides onsite accredited courses in Environmental Services and Private Security Officer unarmed training.

"We previously had a patient care technician class," Mr. Vincent said, "and we are currently seeking funding to reinstate that course."

Job development officers help residents learn the computer skills necessary to apply for jobs, write resumes, and develop interview, basic business and workplace skills. They're also provided with workplace and interview attire donated by local businesses; for example, Burberry recently donated gently used men's and women's suits worn by its sales staff.

"Through case management; job development, training and placement; and access to governmental and social service benefits," Mr. Vincent says, "the average household income for a family of four increase from an average of $13, 800 at intake to $47,520 upon outplacement."

Established in 1995, Chapman Partnership played a significant role in reducing the homeless rate from more than 8,000 in the mid-1990s to 840, as of the January 2014 Homeless Trust Census.