Featured Stories
‘A Safe Haven for Newborns’ Offers a Second Chance for Babies and Mothers in Crisis
By Taryn Jacobs and Delanie Haddad For many people, the thought of abandoning a newborn baby is unimaginable. But for some mothers facing overwhelming fear, isolation, mental health struggles, family pressure, abuse, poverty, or an unexpected pregnancy, desperation can lead to tragic decisions. Every year in the United States, dozens of newborn babies are abandoned, […]
After Losing Her Toddler to Drowning, a Florida Mother Turns Grief Into a Lifesaving Movement
By: Taryn Jacobs | UMTV Reporter In Florida, water is everywhere – in the Everglades, in pools, canals, lakes, and along more than 1,300 miles of coastline. But in a state defined by sunshine and swimming, water also presents a sobering reality: Florida consistently leads the nation in childhood drownings. For Broward County resident Casey […]
Storm-Scarred but Unbroken: A Hurricane-Devastated Community Pushes Forward
By: Wrigley Kordt | UMTV Reporter Take a morning stroll along the sugar-white sands of the town of Fort Myers Beach and it is easy to believe this narrow barrier island on Florida’s Gulf Coast is untouched by tragedy. The Gulf breeze still carries the scent of salt and sunscreen. Waves lap gently along the […]
A Lifeline in a Food Desert: Urban Oasis Brings Fresh Food to Miami’s Most Vulnerable
By: Ximena Hidalgo | UMTV Reporter As federal food benefits remain uncertain for millions of Americans, a South Florida nonprofit is stepping in to make sure families don’t go hungry. At neighborhood farmers markets and front doorsteps across Miami-Dade County, the Urban Oasis Project provides fresh, affordable food to residents who can’t afford to wait. […]
En Pointe Again: A Student-Led Ballet Club at the University of Miami Gives Dancers a Second Act
By: Valentina Carbonell | UMTV Reporter On Sunday afternoons inside Studio D at the University of Miami’s Herbert Wellness Center, the steady rhythm of piano music meets the soft scrape of ballet slippers against marley floors. Arms rise to fifth position. Toes stretch into tendus. For many of the dancers inside, the movements feel both […]
The Art Prevails Project Gives South Florida a Stage and a Voice
By: Laila Pettus | UMTV Reporter For many people, finding their voice is not easy. But in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, one arts organization is proving that sometimes all it takes is a mic, a notebook, and a community that listens. The Art Prevails Project, founded in 2015 by poet, director, and educator Darius Daughtry, has […]
A Path to Recovery: How One South Miami Program is Changing Lives Through Compassionate Addiction Care
By: Luke Bell | UMTV Reporter In the United States, substance use disorder remains one of the nation’s most pressing public health crises. Federal health data shows that nearly one in six adults will struggle with substance addiction at some point in their lives – yet only a fraction ever receive treatment. In South Miami, […]
Giving Old Sneakers a Second Chance
By: Mia Housman | UMTV Reporter You may look at an old pair of sneakers sitting in the back of your closet and think, ‘This is junk, right?’ For Moe Hachem, founder and CEO of Sneaker Impact, the answer is no. “One man’s trash is another’s treasure,” Hachem said, “and his treasure is a growing […]
Breaking the Cycle: How One Organization Gives Children of Incarcerated Parents a Path to Healing and Hope
By: Dylan Davis | UMTV Reporter For millions of children across the United States, a parent’s incarceration doesn’t just mean physical absence. It often brings trauma, instability, stigma, and profound emotional loss. In Miami, one organization is working to break that cycle by surrounding these young people with consistency, compassion, and community. That organization is […]
A South Florida Nonprofit Gives Hope and Opportunity to Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
By: Max Keller | UMTV Reporter At first glance, ScentsAbility Candles in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, may look like a boutique candle company. Rows of neatly poured wax creations carry names like Positivity, Mindfulness, and Purpose. But behind each label is something far more powerful: meaningful employment and community for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities […]