From teaching Zumba classes in the morning to feeding families in the afternoon, Martha Rodriguez is on a mission to make a difference.

Martha Rodriguez, YMCA volunteer: “The most important for me is give something significant in [my] life.”

And that’s exactly what she does as a volunteer at the YMCA in Allapattah.

The 67-year-old loves checking families in to La Bodega, a free food pantry at the Y, where she is known as Ms. Martika.

Martha Rodriguez: “It’s not only take the food and go. It’s take the food, teach something about the produce to give you what is good for your nutrition.”

Her career with the organization spans decades.

Martha Rodriguez: “This is my diploma.”

Back in the 1980s, Martha studied at the YMCA University in Mexico City.

Since then, she has been hired at nine YMCAs in Mexico and South Florida — working as a preschool teacher, swim instructor and camp advisor.

Martha Rodriguez: “Employee of the Year in 1995.”

That is one of the awards Martha received at the YMCA of Greater Miami. The first of many.

She worked at the Y in Little Havana, where Cuban immigrants could get help.

Martha Rodriguez: “For families that come into this country, and they don’t know nothing, they don’t have nothing. For these families who come in for the first time to this country, going to the YMCA, it’s like extend a family relationship.”

After that YMCA closed down, she started working in Allapattah.

Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Martha had to retire, but she couldn’t stay away.

She eventually came back as a volunteer.

Martha Rodriguez: “It’s a part of my life. It’s a part of my life for all the time.”

Martha has spent 40 years at the YMCA. That’s more than half of her life dedicated to helping people in need. And the staff here in Alappattah say she’s a gift that keeps on giving.

Emilia Solano, Allapattah YMCA: “She’s a member of the family. When you come in her presence, you know that she wants to help you in some way, and she’ll do whatever it takes to do that.”

Martha hopes to leave behind a legacy of hope and change.

Martha Rodriguez: “At the end of the day, we are human beings, human beings, and it doesn’t matter where you are coming from. Go to help somebody or give the change to somebody in their life.”

And everyone agrees, that is exactly what Martha inspires.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

7’s Heather Walker introduces us to him in tonight’s 7Spotlight.

The man in the hat is TikTok star Victor Oliveira from Boston. In the hoodie, is Chuck Johnson. A 12-year-old from Fort Lauderdale.

The two met last month, when Chuck was selling candy on the side of the road.

Victor Oliveira: “I said, ‘Hey, Chuck. What are you selling candy for?’ And he said he was trying to get shoes for school. So that right there just it hit my heart.”

Victor Oliveira is known as the Good Boss on TikTok.

He has millions of followers and became famous for his videos helping homeless people get sober and off the street. But he says something about this teen caught his attention.

Victor Oliveira: “He’s not doing what most kids out there are doing, what I did myself. I made some stupid, you know, mistakes.”

Victor says he has been off drugs and alcohol for 12 years and now focuses on helping others. He took Chuck shopping for the shoes he wanted.

Victor is able to do shopping trips like this thanks to donations from his followers.

Heather Walker: “What were you thinking?”

Chuck Johnson/viral TikTok teen: “In my head, I was like, ‘He didn’t have to do all this for me.’ I was just selling a candy trying to help my mom out, and trying to buy some shoes.”

Chuck has seven brothers and sisters. He uses money from his candy sales to pay their expenses.

Even during his shopping spree, he was thinking of others.

Chuck Johnson: “Mom, you don’t need nothing from Walmart?”

Chuck’s Mom: “Well, not really, because he’s helping you.”

Victor Oliveira: “What is it that you need? You need some bread?”

Chuck’s mom: “Yes.”

Victor Oliveira: “OK, what kind of bread?”

Chuck’s mom: “Just any kind.”

Victor Oliveira: “Just any kind? OK, what else?”

Chuck’s mom: “That’s it, because you’re doing enough for my son.”

Victor Oliveira: “Are you sure? I’ll get you something else. Tell me what you need. Hot dogs?”

Chuck’s mom: “Yes.”

Victor Oliveira: “OK, some bread and hot dogs.”

Heather Walker: “You’re a very giving person, aren’t you? What makes you so giving?”

Chuck Johnson: “Because when, you give a lot of stuff away, it’s going to come back to you.”

And in fact, Chuck says he was trying to help some homeless people right before he met Victor.

Chuck Johnson: “I gave two people food and gave them $10 and then it came back to me.”

Victor and Chuck share this spirit of giving. But they don’t get to see each other often, so we helped arrange a surprise visit.

Heather Walker: “When are you going to see him again?”

Chuck Johnson: “I don’t know.

Victor Oliveira: “What’s up, Chuck?”

Chuck Johnson: “What’s up?”

Millions of people have liked the TikTok videos of Chuck and Victor.

Victor Oliveira: “You said that was the best day of your life?”

Chuck Johnson: “Yeah.”

Victor Oliveira : “What about now?”

Chuck Johnson: “This is the best, best best.”

Even better, a friendship that has gone viral for all the right reasons.

Heather Walker, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

These seniors are baking up something special in Broward.

Paulette: “I don’t know how to make cookies!”

But they’re not making any ordinary cookies.

Instead, the residents at Independence Hall Retirement Community are whipping up treats for some furry friends.

Pat Andrews, resident: “We never really did anything like that before. We’re enjoying it.”

They call it Baking for Barkers.

It’s an idea cooked up by the facility’s program director, Paula.

She knew many of her residents loved animals, so she created the cooking class to play to that passion while bringing the seniors together.

Paula Reis, program director: “So that’s really my job, right? My job is coming here, programming, and that’s what makes me feel good. And I see them doing and laughing and having a great time.”

Paula pitched the idea to the people at a local animal rescue called Abandoned Pet Rescue, and they jumped at the chance to be involved.

Kara Starcyk, Abandoned Pet Rescue: “They said some of their residents were interested in baking cookies for our dogs. Being close together in the same neighborhood, we thought it was a wonderful partnership.”

Each month, the residents roll up their sleeves and roll out the dough.

The baking brings back good memories for many of them.

Pat Andrews: “It’s fun. Everybody relives when we used to bake cookies at home, and we love helping the dogs out.”

The dough is made with eggs, flour, peanut butter and pumpkin puree, which are all safe for dogs.

Pat Andrews: “And I ate one of them, and they’re good. It’s only peanut butter.”

They form the dough into bone and dog shapes, and then put them in the oven to bake.

They’re packed up in glass containers and taken to Abandoned Pet Rescue, where the residents get a chance to spend time with the dogs and the cats.

Kara Starcyk: “I know they’re bringing joy to our animals, and I’m pretty sure that the animals are bringing joy to them as well.”

It provides a sense of purpose for these seniors, and some tasty treats for the dogs.

Heather Walker, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

Meet South Florida’s latest influencer.

Jaime Arslan, raccoon mom: “In Miami, he’s kind of known as a little bit of a fashionista.”

Louie the Raccoon is on a mission: to brighten social media, one viral video at a time.

Louie’s Instagram page has more than 373,000 followers.

Jaime Arslan: “That was never my intention to, like, make this raccoon influencer, but it kind of happened.”

Although Louie is a lot of fun, his story actually started with tragedy.

Jaime Arslan: “It began in 2021. My dad was in a car accident, and he passed away.”

Jaime Arslan, a former vet tech, started volunteering with a wildlife rescue to deal with her loss.

Jaime Arslan: “I took Louie under my wing, and I channeled all this grief that I had for my dad, and I put it all into taking care of him.”

Louie needed a home, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Jaime has since taken in three other raccoons: Lucy, Leo and Lea.

None of them could have been safely released back into the wild.

Heather Walker: “You’re a mom to four raccoons.”

Jaime Arslan: “Yes, I am a raccoon mom. Full-time.”

The foursome live and play inside and outside the family’s Southwest Miami-Dade home.

Jaime Arslan: “This is their playroom, so they spend every night in here.”

Their playground even has swimming pools.

Heather Walker: “They have a great life.”

Jaime Arslan: “They do. They’re living the raccoon dream.”

Online, Louie is famous for his hats and hilarious antics.

While it all looks fun, owning a raccoon is serious business.

It is legal in Florida, but it requires a permit. You cannot simply take one from the wild.

Jaime Arslan: “At the end of the day, a raccoon is a wild animal.”

Part of Louie’s Instagram page is used to educate people and change the perception of raccoons.

Jaime Arslan: “They have this reputation for loving trash. They actually love eating fruits and vegetables, and not a lot of people know that.”

Another myth is that all raccoons have rabies. They don’t. In fact, they can get rabies from other animals.

Not only does Louie enlighten people about raccoons, he also encourages followers around the world.

Jaime Arslan: “A lot of people say that Louie inspires them to feel good about themselves because Louie is kind of curvy, so he’s very body positive.”

Even social media influencers need their down time. Louie’s peaceful place is up in this tree in the family’s backyard. Jaime says he spends hours up there almost every day.

Given his large and loyal following, Jaime says some companies have wanted to pay Louie to endorse their products.

Heather Walker: “You’ve had bedding companies, toy companies, cat litter companies all trying to pay a raccoon.”

Jaime Arslan: “Yes.”

But Jaime prefers to pay it forward. All of the proceeds from the sale of Louie and Lucy’s paintings — yes, they paint — go to a Florida-based organization that rehabilitates injured wildlife. Giving back, just like Jaime’s dad did.

Jaime Arslan: “He would have loved to see all of this. He would have been so impressed. I feel like just as much as I saved Louie, he kind of saved me.”

Heather Walker, 7News.

Louie is also in the final round of a competition to be this year’s Cadbury Easter Bunny. He’s the first raccoon to ever enter the contest. The winner will be announced on Monday.

Watch more of Louie, Lucy, Leo and Lea 
instagram.com/louietheraccoon

Loki vs. Louie: Vote for the 2024 Cadbury Bunny
instagram.com/p/C40o6mtsUyP

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com

Batter up. The boys at Dade Christian School are making room for Chelsea and Chloe, the first females to ever play on the school’s junior varsity baseball team.

And they’re sisters.

Chelsea Bacallao, baseball player: “She motivates me to be better and stuff because I usually like making things as a competition.”

The two have been carrying a bat since they were young. They started playing softball at 6 and 7 years old and grew into star players.

So when Dade Christian didn’t have enough girls to form a softball team, the boys’ head coach saw an opportunity.

Jorge Molleda, head coach: “I saw them practicing, and I got on top of the dad to bring them to me to play. They play very well, so the boys are on their tippy toes the whole entire time. They’re ready to rock.”

The girls were eager to play, but they had to change up their game.

Chloe Bacallao: “I’m starting to get the hang of it. It’s different. The hitting is like way harder than you would see in softball. You’re gonna be running a lot ’cause the bases are, like, big.”

Dad was nervous about putting his daughters on a field full of boys, but the jitters quickly went away.

Jesse Bacallao, father: “My key was safety on their part. Having them go out for a practice and just seeing them, you know, with the boys. I was good. They’re able to hang, and they can take care of themselves out there. It’s definitely a proud moment for me in the family, watching them out there on the field.”

Chloe covers first and second base, while Chelsea plays shortstop, one of the toughest positions.

Jorge Molleda: “They’re fearless. Every time they step out there, they have something new to add to their game. They’re fast. They’re very aware. Their hand-eye coordination is great.”

When Chelsea and Chloe played their first game, the opposing team was shocked to see girls on the field.

But coaches at Dade Christian want to see more girls play.

Jorge Molleda: “We love the gender equality. Whoever wants to play baseball is more than welcome to play.”

The sisters are happy to show that girls can shine in softball and baseball.

Chelsea Bacallao: “That’s pretty cool. Like, that just proves that girls can do anything a boy can do.”

Chloe Bacallao: “You could do anything that you put your mind into.”

And the fact that they get to do it side by side is a home run.

Heather Walker, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

Griselda Blanco was known as “The Black Widow” and “The Godmother.” She was responsible for creating one of the most profitable drug empires ever. Right here in Miami.

7News covered her court hearings back in the ’90s.

Judge, Sept. 1994: “Would you tell the lady, please, that she’s charged with first-degree murder?”

But until now, very few had heard of the woman who helped bring Griselda down: Metro-Dade Police Detective June Hawkins.

Actress Juliana Aidén Martinez is playing Hawkins in the Netflix series, “Griselda.”

Juliana Aidén Martinez: “I had never heard about someone from our community, a woman, protecting our community.”

Juliana now lives in Los Angeles but grew up in South Florida, and she got a chance to meet the now-retired sergeant as she prepared for her role.

Juliana Aidén Martinez: “She said, ‘A-ha, like Hialeah girl, you’re a Hialeah girl,’ and I was like, ‘You understand what that means,’ and she was like, ‘We’re going to get along great.'”

Juliana worked closely with Hawkins throughout the filming. She says it really helped because there were very few mentions of Hawkins in the news at that time.

Hawkins has stayed out of the spotlight even to this day, despite her major role in taking down Blanco.

Paul George, historian, HistoryMiami Museum: “Well, it’s amazing, because she brought down one of the biggest drug lords, you know, not only in the city, but in the area, in the whole hemisphere at that point.”

Paul George is a local historian. He says that at the time, many cops were paid off with cash and cocaine, but June stayed on the right side of the law.

Paul George: “It’s phenomenal. It’s like a cross between Saint Joan of Arc and Mother Teresa, somebody so noble as this, what was the most unlikely person to break up, to some degree, the most precocious of all the ranks.”

And it’s ironic that a single mom ended up taking down Miami’s biggest drug lord, who was also a woman.

Juliana Aidén Martinez: “It centers on this rise of these two women, saying like, ‘You’re going to respect me,’ and they rise in power, and it’s two sides of the same coin. June is an example of using your power and using your abilities to make a positive impact.”

An impact that is now being documented.

Heather Walker, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

Art is everywhere in South Florida, but some of it has a deeper meaning.

When she’s not working, or taking care of her family, you’ll find Sophia at home painting.

Her art tells a personal story.

Sophia Lacroix: “Haiti has enough sadness being shared all over the place in the media and otherwise. So, for me, I focus on the positive, because that’s the way I always coped growing up in Haiti.”

Sophia immigrated from Haiti to South Florida as a teenager.

While she never had any formal art training, she had plenty of natural talent.

Sophia Lacroix: “First year after college, I got my heart broken and threw all that energy into painting. And I realized that I had something: I had a style, and I had a voice.”

She uses that voice to remember life in Haiti, before it was devastated by natural disasters and economic and political crises

Sophia Lacroix: “I have not gone to Haiti in 40 years, and that makes me sad because it’s a beautiful place, but I’m a mom. What if something happens?”

Many of Sophia’s oil paintings are detailed, bright recreations of the local markets in her hometown and the people she would meet.

Sophia Lacroix: “Oh, my God, the straw baskets, the fresh fruits and vegetables. You see beauty. These ladies, for example. Yes, they are in the marketplace in Haiti. They don’t have much. They’re gossiping and relaxing. You can see the friendship.”

One of Sophia’s largest pieces is hanging outside of the Little Haiti Cultural Center in Miami, but you can also spot her work along one of South Florida’s busiest roads.

Sophia Lacroix: “I’m one of five artists for the City of North Miami’s ‘You Wrap Nomi.'”

A utility box on Biscayne Boulevard and 123rd Street is wrapped with Sophia’s work. Two others are a few minutes away on 125th and 135th streets.

It’s part of the city’s campaign to bring art to the public.

Sophia Lacroix: “You’ll see a utility box with a little girl with a purple dress, and then there’s another one of a Haitian tap-tap, which is a colorful taxi pickup truck, and there’s another one.”

Sophia is now working on a new way to share her love of Haiti by combining art and food.

Sophia Lacroix: “This is a piece — the onions, the Scotch bonnets, the green peppers, the parsley.”

She was awarded a grant by the Broward County Cultural Division to create a series of paintings based on traditional Haitian recipes. The series will go on display at the Hollywood branch library on May 18, which is also Haitian Flag Day.

Sophia Lacroix: “That’s a wonderful feeling. Oh, it’s so much fun.”

And it’s a new way for her to shine a light on Haitian culture in South Florida.

Heather Walker, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

Oseas De Leon has worked at Miami Lighthouse for the Blind for 17 years.

Oseas teaches technology to his blind and visually impaired students, who may struggle to navigate a complex world.

Oseas De Leon: “So when they come here to the center, they are in shock because their life changed drastically, and I love giving them hope.”

Oseas lost his eyesight at 3 years old from a viral infection.

Oseas De Leon: “I don’t remember anything; to me, it’s as if I was born blind. I don’t remember any visuals, not even in my dreams.”

But what Oseas does remember from his childhood is his love for what the world calls “the beautiful game.”

Oseas De Leon: “My friends who were blind, they played soccer, and I learned to play soccer with them.”

Now, at age 45, Oseas is working to kick-start his childhood passion into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Oseas De Leon: “I love the competition. I love the experience.”

He is among a group of athletes from across the country who all share one goal. They’re competing for a chance to make the USA Blind Soccer Men’s National Team.

Oseas De Leon: “My goal right now is to make it to the team.”

If you’re wondering how Oseas and the other blind athletes are able to play soccer without seeing the ball or the goal, Oseas has answered that question a lot.

Oseas De Leon: “My students, a lot of them are newly blind, and they’re like, ‘How are you going to run? How are you going to score a goal accurately? How are you going to do it?'”

They “do it” based on what they hear.

The ball itself has rattles inside, and verbal communication between players on the field is a key to this game.

Oseas De Leon: “If I want to go around you, and you’re my opponent, you have to say the word ‘voy’, which means ‘coming’ in Spanish. If you don’t say ‘voy,’ your team gets penalized, because if you don’t say ‘voy,’ I don’t have a way to tell where you are and there’s easily a collision.”

To make sure nobody has an unfair advantage, they must wear eye shades, because some players can perceive light.

The goalkeepers are not blind, and they, along with the coaches, help with verbal commands.

Unlike traditional soccer, fans must remain quiet, expect when a goal is scored.

Molly Quinn, CEO of the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes, says the Blind Soccer National Team just started a year ago.

Molly Quinn: “This is a great opportunity for [Major League Soccer] teams, Inter Miami especially, to be able to look at how can they bring some resources in order to provide some more activities for folks who have maybe never had a chance to play the sport of soccer.”

2028 will mark the first time the USA Blind Soccer Men’s National Team competes in the Paralympic Games, and Oseas is working hard to make that team.

Oseas De Leon: “That would be amazing. That would be great.”

But no matter what happens, his passion for helping others means he’s already won.

Heather Walker, 7 News.

This year’s national team is set to be announced in the spring, and we’ll let you know if Oseas makes it.

For more information about the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes, click here.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

James Lindsay decided to combine his love for snacks and rap to create Rap Snacks.

From food fanatics to rappers, the snacks are a big hit, and James is thrilled his passion turned to profit.

Heather Walker: “It’s a very popular snack.”

James Lindsay: “Absolutely.”

Heather Walker: “And it didn’t start that way, though.”

James Lindsay: “Not at all. Not at all.”

James started Rap Snacks nearly 30 years ago.

James Lindsay: “I was, you know, really a young kid in the city of Philadelphia. I love snacking.”

Like most kid, he had his favorites, but for him, something was missing.

James Lindsay: “A lot of these brands were this regular potato chips. They were just brands that was kind of boring. And I had a love for snacking, but also love for the hip-hop music.”

He knew he could make a better chip that would appeal to young people like himself.

James Lindsay: “I found a company called Nibble with Gibble’s, and I called up, you know, asked to get in touch with the president at the time, and he was like a 65-year-old white man that knew nothing about rap music. He just told me, ‘Hey, Jim, I don’t know anything about rap music, but I love the idea.'”

Together, they created uniquely flavored chips.

James Lindsay: “I came up with Rap Snacks, and the rest is history.”

James had to raise $40,000 to make his first batch of 800 cases. He sold out in two hours.

James Lindsay: “I was thinking that, ‘I got something.'”

He started with two flavors and a cartoon on the bag.

Today, pictures of rap stars like Rick Ross, Lil Baby and Snoop Dogg, have replaced the cartoon, and the snacks are even featured in a rap song by the group Migos.

The company has gone global, with Rap Snacks being sold in Canada and Europe.

Here in the U.S., you can find them in grocery stores, convenience stores, even gas stations. And they now come in 45 flavors.

James Lindsay: “We put everything that gumbo has in a potato chip.”

Rap legend Master P is now involved in the business, which employees more than 100 people.

Master P: “People don’t realize that how tough it is as African Americans to be able to be in this businesses and in this lane.”

More than 90% of their workforce is Black.

Master P: “It’s all about being able to help so many different other people, but what’s going on with Rap Snacks now, from trucking, to opportunities, to salespeople, to marketing people, so it’s a blessing.”

A blessing that began with one man following his passion.

James Lindsay: “Find your passion. It may become something that becomes your occupation.”

And if you’re lucky, your occupation helps to change people’s lives.

Heather Walker, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

It takes a lot of work to keep a garden growing in South Florida.

Lisa Torres, volunteer: “Today was mostly weeding and getting a great bountiful harvest of arugula, of mixed greens, and some rosemary and parsley.”

Most mornings, you can spot a group at work watering, pulling weeds and tending to hundreds of plants.

And it’s all for a good cause.

Will Sidwell, garden manager: “With the space like this, one acre, there’s so much food that you can produce, just in a small space for a local community.”

Will Sidwell is the manager of the Patricia Davis Community Garden in Pompano Beach.

The land was transformed back in 2018 when the city and the community redevelopment agency turned three vacant lots in the Blanche Ely neighborhood into an urban garden.

Will Sidwell: “So it’s for this neighborhood to come and enjoy and see, get education of what we’re growing.”

Neighbors can even rent their own plot in the garden for a small fee and grow whatever they choose.

Lisa Torres: “Peppers. They are coming out nicely. They look really cute.”

Lisa Torres jumped at the chance to get her hands dirty.

Lisa Torres: “So we did things that were quickly — once you put them in the ground, the seeds in the ground — they would come out quickly, so you have a sense of accomplishment.”

Instead of buying vegetables at the store, she grows her own. She’s also getting to meet her neighbors.

Lisa Torres: “This has been a great way to reach out to my neighbors where I live. I just come by and say, ‘Here, mixed greens,’ or, ‘Here, some herbs.'”

And garden volunteers produce some 2,000 pounds of produce right here in Pompano Beach. The majority of it is donated; the rest is sold to families here in South Florida.

Will Sidwell: “Some mustard greens for ya, and over here, we’ve got some tomatoes and green beans for ya.”

People can sign up to buy a weekly bag, full of whatever is in season, for just $20.

The money is used to help with the garden’s upkeep.

Will Sidwell: “I believe 130 people signed up for that program. We’re really passionate about giving out fresh produce to the local community.”

While the garden is geared toward helping provide food for lower income families, everyone is welcome.

Will Sidwell: “You can just show up, walk right through the gate, and we’ll just start gardening. I’ll teach you how to farm!”

With the farming comes sweat and hard work. But to all of these gardeners, it’s a labor of love.

Alex Browning, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
pompanobeachfl.gov

A celebration after a selfless act saves a life. Months earlier, no one was sure this day would come.

Bruno Ferretti, received kidney donation: “‘OK, you need to go to the hospital immediately. Something’s very wrong with you.’ I was at that point, I was already at Stage 4 chronic kidney disease.”

Bruno first shared his story with us back in November. At 35, he was in the late stages of kidney disease, afraid he would not get to watch his son grow up.

But then his neighbor, Miami-Dade Firefighter Chris Staton, came to the rescue and offered to donate his kidney.

Chris Staton, donated kidney: “I love the guy. I love his wife. I love his kid. I could never live with myself if he had to do three years of dialysis and may never get a kidney. That’s just not a question.”

Chris and Bruno walked into the Cleveland Clinic side by side, and walked out after successful surgery.

Now, two months later, Bruno feels like a new man.

Bruno Ferretti: “I feel lighter. It’s almost like my blood was made of molasses before, and now it’s just normal. I was at the point where it was difficult, because I barely had the energy to stand up and hold up my son, whereas now, you know, I pick him up, I play with him.”

Which is exactly what Chris wanted.

Chris Staton: “He’s been in a very positive mood. He’s extremely happy.”

Bruno says he owes everything to his neighbor.

Bruno Ferretti: “Chris is our hero. He’s absolutely our hero. We could never thank him enough. We’re blood brothers now, literally.”

The one downside for Chris is that in order to save his neighbor, he had to use up all of his paid time off, not just for the surgery, but to recover.

Now, his mission is to change that.

Chris Staton: “So what we’re trying to do, anybody that is a employee of Dade County and they donate an organ, they’re not going to have to burn through all that time that they saved up. If that is no longer in the back of your mind, that you’re going to lose all the time that you’ve worked for, it makes that decision to donate and save somebody’s life a lot easier.”

His proposal is on Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s desk.

Meanwhile, Bruno wants everyone to be aware how dangerous kidney disease can be.

Bruno Ferretti: “They say that high blood pressure causes kidney failure, and kidney failure causes high blood pressure. So, if by some chance, you know, anyone out there who might have hypertension or might have kidney issues, make sure that you speak to a nephrologist and not, you know, just your general normal doctor or anything like that.”

Thankfully, Bruno had the right doctor and the very best neighbor.

Heather Walker, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com

Home sweet home!

Matthew Pigatt: “It’s great. I’m so happy to be home. It is awesome. We’re able to have space to play, to eat. It’s in a welcoming community.”

It’s all smiles in Matthew Pigatt’s house. He was able to afford a house in Miami Gardens that’s big enough for his family of four without leaving South Florida.

Matthew Pigatt: “We were looking for further north in Central Florida and also in Georgia. Not only do you have the housing prices going up, you have interest rates going up and also the insurance costs.”

Their story is like many others here. Surging home prices have people thinking about leaving the Sunshine State, but Matthew found help in Miami-Dade that’s made his dream of a bigger home possible.

Zachary Rinkins, Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust: “The Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust Homeownership Assistance Program has a simple message for the residents out here in Miami-Dade County: your home ownership dreams are possible.”

The Homeownership Assistance Program is helping low-to-moderate income residents buy a home in Miami-Dade County, giving people a zero-interest loan of up to $28,500 that can be used toward a down payment and closing costs, making it easier to qualify for a mortgage.

Zachary Rinkins: “This program makes the dream of home ownership possible for a lot of people. You can use this resource and stack it with other grants to make your home purchase cheaper. You can also leverage it to make your financing cheaper, so it makes you have smaller payments for your mortgage.”

More than 8,000 people have purchased a home through this program in Miami-Dade County. In addition to help with the loan, there’s also a support system to help you through the process.

Zachary Rinkins: “Once you come to our program, you have to be connected to a Housing and Urban Development certified counseling agency. The people that were connected to the support systems were more likely to be aware of that funding and apply for that funding and keep their homes.”

That support system helped Matthew navigate through his home-buying process.

Matthew Pigatt: “It was a very welcoming process. The staff there is amazing, and I encourage anyone to take full advantage of the program, because the resources are there for you.”

Resources that can make the American dream of home ownership become a reality for you.

Heather Walker, 7News.

To find out if you qualify for the homeownership assistance program, click here.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

Who wouldn’t love to wake up to this view every morning? But sometimes, that view isn’t as beautiful as it could be.

Kevin O’Neill: “Lots of Styrofoam, some bits of plastic, a bottle cap, a food wrapper.”

Kevin O’Neill may be retired, but he’s keeping busy, cleaning up the canals in his Fort Lauderdale neighborhood.

Kevin O’Neill: “I kept coming out and looking at all the trash that kept showing up in the canal. I figured, ‘OK, let me see if I can do something.'”

His research led him to an Australian company that makes a machine called a Seabin. It’s designed to pull trash and other debris out of waterways.

Kevin O’Neill: “So it kind of acts like a pool skimmer, and it’s got a pump inside it. It will actually go below the water surface, pull in the trash, which gets captured by the net, and pop out.”

Getting a Seabin from Australia to South Florida was harder than expected. The machines are primarily built for use at marinas, not docks along canals.

Kevin eventually tracked down three of them at the University of Florida, sitting in storage after being used in a study on marine conservation.

Maia McGuire, University of Florida: “They were actually designed to be used at marinas. In Kevin’s case, he’s had to kind of retrofit his dock to add a floating dock to it so that he could house the Seabin there.”

So in the end, Kevin forked out about $5,000 to build this floating dock and installed the Seabin back in November. So far, he’s collected more than 200 pounds of trash.

Kevin O’Neill: “Lots of cigar tips, that’s a pretty common bit that I see a lot. Lots of various sizes of Styrofoam. The amount of plastics, that surprised me a bit, particularly on the days when the water is clean.”

The trash scooped out is logged, and the data is sent to UF.

The info is used by researchers there to spread the word about how that trash could have eventually ended up in the ocean.

Maia McGuire: “And, hopefully, motivating people to look for ways that they personally can reduce their contributions to the problem.”

Kevin O’Neill: “There’s a lid, candy wrapper, bit of a Styrofoam plate, that looks like there, some more wrappers.”

Kevin hopes his hard work will inspire his neighbors to get involved in keeping their canal clean, even without the help of a Seabin.

Kevin O’Neill: “I think everyone expects someone else to clean it up, it’s someone else’s problem. It’s all of us that are contributing to what’s in there. I’m trying to like, you know, leave the world a better place than what you found it.”

A man on a mission, with hopes his retirement project will create a wake across Fort Lauderdale.

Alex Browning, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

The teen’s musical journey shines in today’s 7Spotlight. Here’s Heather Walker.

Thirteen-year-old Chris Rocha has been playing piano for about two-thirds of his life.

Chris Rocha: “My mom introduced me to the piano when I was 4 years old. So she would put stickers on the key notes that I would remember.”

Chris started taking formal lessons when he was 7, and with more practice, came more confidence.

Chris Rocha: “As time went along, and I participated in more competitions and concerts, it would become more easier for me to handle the stage fright.”

Now, he has plenty of performances under his belt — showcasing his merry musical chops at the Christmas tree lighting in Coral Gables and drawing onlookers with his impromptu international performance inside Rome’s airport.

Chris Rocha: “All of those are good experiences. But my favorite one is the one at Carnegie Hall because Carnegie Hall is a beautiful place that not everybody gets a chance to play there.”

Yes, the Carnegie Hall, in New York City. One of the most famous concert venues in the world.

In November, Chris found out he was a first prize winner of the “Golden Classical Music Awards” international competition.

Chris Rocha: “I was just jumping up and down, up and down. I was so excited.”

“Excited,” because that meant a trip to the Big Apple with his parents in December, and a chance to play in the winners’ concert along with other talented young musicians from across the country and around the world.

It was time for Chris, dressed in a tuxedo, to take center stage.

Chris Rocha: “It’s a song that requires preparation, but it was a song that I knew from the top of my head.”

Chris Rocha: “There were some parts that were powerful like, ‘bah, bah, bah, bah, bah, bah, bah,’ but then some would be romantic.”

His two-minute performance struck just the right chord.

Chris Rocha: “Hopefully, I inspired the right feelings to other people, but I think I did, because a lot of people congratulated me and said, ‘Good job, random kid.'”

Chris usually practices six days a week, but only after the seventh grader finishes his homework and plays basketball. As for the future, whether his piano playing passion turns into a profession, remains to be seen.

Heather Walker, 7News.

To watch more of Chris Rocha’s performances, click here.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

Fitness and friendship. They are top of mind for these women who are leaving tracks throughout Fort Lauderdale.

Runsi Patro, co-founder, Pretty Girls Who Walk: “A lot of the girls are also new to Fort Lauderdale. A lot of the girls work from home, so they’ve also looked at the walk as a way to get outside and make friends.”

Almost every Saturday, members of Pretty Girls Who Walk lace up to get in their miles.

Jenna Rappaport and Runsi Patro started the group in 2022.

Jenna Rappaport, co-founder, Pretty Girls Who Walk: “I live here in downtown Fort Lauderdale. I work from home as well. The only thing I could do during the COVID time was go on walks.”

Runsi Patro: “When I first moved down here, which was a year ago, it was a new city. I didn’t know anyone here.”

At the time, they didn’t know each other, but they had the same idea.

Jenna Rappaport: “I was like, ‘How fun! If I had a group of girls that had like-minded interests as going on walks.'”

They both reached out to a walking group in Miami, hoping the organizer would start one in Fort Lauderdale.

Instead, the organizer put them in contact with each other, and they decided to start the group themselves.

Runsi Patro: “Our first walk was about five to 10 girls. We kept going every week, you know, we were like, ‘You know, eventually it’s going to grow,’ and it consistently started growing.”

As more and more people discovered their Instagram page, the number of walkers grew.

At one point, 150 women showed up to participate.

Runsi Patro: “I didn’t know Jenna before this, and she’s one of my best friends now because of this walk. Like, I met her through this walk, just like a lot of other women that I’ve met through the walk.”

In addition to providing exercise and companionship, the walk has also been a great way to discover new businesses in Fort Lauderdale.

Jenna Rappaport: “We’re growing, and we’re also showing different girls different opportunities to try new restaurants, try new bars, try new coffee shops that, you know, a lot of these girls have no idea about, even me.”

Some of the women say the walk has pulled them off their couch and into a supportive community.

Jamielet Reynoso, participant: “For myself, it’s about being active and trying to get, you know, my body moving. Also meeting new friends and networking.”

Andrea Linhares, participant: “We’ll go to the walk together, and then we’ll maybe stay later on at that same place that we’re collaborating at, the same business, or we’ll go get some food after. We’ll make plans, like, it’s really a great place to meet friends.”

A group of women making strides toward good health and good friendships, all at the same time.

Pretty Girls Who Walk will host their next event Saturday morning.

If you want to know more of when the next girl’s walk is, check out their Instagram page.

Lynn Martinez, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
prettygirlswhowalk

At this ice cream party in Delray Beach, every scoop served is helping these young adults learn valuable life skills.

Evan Land, Delicious Spoonfuls: “We’re going to be serving ice cream. Kosher ice cream!”

Evan Land and his friends Adir and Sam are serving ice cream — and learning at the same time.

They are working with a nonprofit called Delicious Spoonfuls, a group dedicated to teaching work skills to young adults with developmental disabilities.

And they do it by running an ice cream business.

Robert Gottesman, founder, Delicious Spoonfuls: “So we wanted to create functional ability in people with disabilities. So what we did is we decided to create a mobile ice cream cart business.”

Robert Gottesman and his wife Helen had a very special reason for creating Delicious Spoonfuls two years ago.

Robert Gottesman: “We were inspired by our son with Down’s syndrome. We’re employing people with disabilities, we’re employing people with autism, Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, Tourette’s syndrome, a variety of disabilities.”

Each worker receives special training in food safety, which they are able to put into action at different events across South Florida.

Barbara Stark, CEO, Milagro Center: “Groups love to come in here, because they’re greeted so warmly, and our kids are so enthusiastic.”

The team was excited to serve kids at the Milagro Center. The center provides children from underserved neighborhoods with after-school and extracurricular programs. Today they are learning about the people behind the buckets of ice cream.

Barbara Stark: “Whenever we bring a new group in here, the kids are excited because they know it’s something new, and it’s something different, and they’re open.”

It’s also a learning experience for Evan and his fellow workers.

Helen Gottesman, Delicious Spoonfuls: “I know Adir and Evan have done this for us before, but to Sam, it’s totally new.”

Each event is a new opportunity to learn how to work together as a team and interact with customers.

Helen Gottesman: “And that actually gets people ready for working in other kitchen areas, in their own home or in another job if they choose to.”

Robert Gottesman: “This is a fun business. It’s not just about making money; it’s having a good time.”

After all the kids are served, Evan and his team scoop up a few bowls for themselves.

Evan Land: “It’s good!”

And they’re happy their hard work creates a sweet treat everyone can enjoy.

Karen Hensel, 7 News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
deliciousspoonfuls.org

On a Sunday afternoon, inside a senior living community in Parkland, a few residents played Rummikub and poker.

Elderly man: “Ooh. Somebody’s going to have a full house.”

But the tables soon turned to a more tech-minded mission centered around teaching and learning.

Noah Smith, CLEO: “You go to Library, then you go to Albums again.”

And although here together, those in this room are generations apart.

Noah Smith: “I think it’s just great to build relationships with these residents.”

High school sophomores Noah Smith and Jack Rostock recently started the first Southeast Florida chapter of CLEO, which stands for Computer Literacy Education Outreach.

Saint Andrew’s School student: “You can go to the top and you hit File. You save it.”

The students, from Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, are volunteering their time here to answer questions about computers and cellphones.

Jack Rostock, CLEO: “‘How do I delete this photo? How do I delete this email?’ And it’s stuff we do every day. So, you know, we can teach them like shortcuts to really help them.”

Josette Zinglo, resident: “Today we we discussed my albums, how to make albums, and separate all my pictures that I’ve been accumulating for about 15 years.”

Four years ago, Lisa Green was hit by a car and suffered a brain injury.

Lisa Green, resident: “I need to know how to make columns for things.”

The 64-year-old said she used to be great with technology but now has difficulty with her memory.

Delaney, a high school junior, worked with Lisa one-on-one.

Lisa Green: “It’s wonderful, wonderful thing to have. We were always scared to come and say, ‘How do you do this, how you do that?’ And she had an answer for everything.”

Delaney Beighley, student: “My grandparents struggle with technology, so I just thought it’d be nice to help them like how I help my grandparents.”

Emma Smith, student: “OK, so look, you’re going to have to enter your password again.”

Sixteen-year-old Emma helped 93-year-old Mel with his Apple Watch.

Mel Niser, resident: “So if I want the weather, I can just press this?”

Emma Smith: “Yes, you can just press the weather, and it’ll tell you.”

Mel Niser: “It’s wonderful, because most seniors don’t ask for help.”

Mel even had time to ask Emma about TikTok but says he’s not interested in being a social media influencer.

Mel Niser: “I don’t have the time.”

Emma Smith: “I didn’t think he was going to have TikTok.”

At its core, this is not simply teen tech support. It’s about making human connections.

Emma Smith: “He told me all about his two grandsons and his daughter-in-law that he loves as a daughter. And it’s nice. It was nice to see his face light up like that.”

Noah Smith: “Last time, this resident was able to FaceTime her daughter that she actually hasn’t seen in person for years. So this interaction with her daughter, she started crying. It was a really emotional moment for her.”

Marjorie Kestenbaum, resident: “Absolutely fabulous, wonderful. I love young people.”

Both seniors and students hope to see this initiative grow.

Josette Zinglo: “It would be great, because there’s more of us, a lot of us out there.”

The student-led organization, which was started in Fort Myers in 2021, has about a dozen chapters across the country. And they are looking to grow, so if you’re in high school and interested in getting involved, click here.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

The hallways of most hospitals are usually pretty quiet, but at HCA Aventura, that silence is occasionally interrupted by a song.

Ryan Leo is a musician who uses his free time to serenade patients.

He’s a volunteer for Musicians On Call. It’s a nonprofit organization that visits hospitals across the country and performs for patients in their rooms.

Ryan Leo: “I’ve played for patients of all ages, all states of consciousness. These performances are really meaningful because it’s one on one. It’s important to them.”

Musicians On Call was formed 20 years ago by a group of musicians in New York, and they are now performing here at HCA Aventura.

Michelle Klinger: “We’re going to be starting weekly programs here, going room to room performing for patients right at their bedsides.”

The musicians are professional-level performers. They submit an audition online. If selected, they have to pass a background check and are trained to interact with patients and their families.

Ryan Leo: “You want to make sure they’re getting the benefit out of it, and you’re just fully dedicated to them when you’re playing in that moment.”

Michelle Klinger also volunteers with Musicians On Call. She guides Ryan through the hospital.

Michelle Klinger: “Which are the ones that take the musicians room to room and to make sure that everything runs smoothly in the patients’ rooms.”

Both Michelle and Ryan work together to create an unforgettable moment for patients at HCA Aventura’s Rehabilitation Center.

Ryan Leo: “Sometimes you see an instant reaction and dancing and movement from the people, so it just really changes their sense of emotion and feeling in that moment. So it’s usually all like just, ‘This is the greatest thing.'”

And Ryan hits just the right note for each of the patients he visits.

Patient: “I don’t know what that song was, but it keeps soothing and soothing, it just healed my heart, man.”

Knowing that warms Ryan’s heart.

Ryan Leo: “I think, just, yeah, it’s been a great experience, and really, that healing power of music and the impact that you can see is just indescribable.”

And the opportunity to create beautiful music will have Ryan and other volunteers coming back every week.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
musiciansoncall.org

Love, prayers and support. That is what has surrounded 15-year-old Frederick Clemson since Sept. 13. The day his life changed forever.

Camille Harrison, Frederick’s mother: “It’s been hard, but my faith has kept me together.”

It was Frederick’s first game on the junior varsity football team, and in the third quarter, he took a hit that paralyzed him.

Camille Harrison: “I’ve been by his side from the beginning. I haven’t left this side. I’ve tried to stay strong for him.”

Teammates and loved ones have all shown overwhelming support.

But an unexpected visitor might have been one of the people who helped Frederick the most.

Felton Brown knows Frederick’s pain.

Felton Brown, helping Frederick: “So back in October of 1998, I was an outstanding athlete, and I took a hit, and I hit the ground, and instantly I lost sensation throughout my entire body.”

Doctors told Felton he would never be able to move from the neck down, but with the help of therapy, he now has movement in parts of his upper body.

Felton Brown: “It’s a mirror story, right? It’s a reflection of my own self. He’s 15, I was 15. He was a star athlete, I was a star athlete.”

Frederick has gone through two successful surgeries. As he now starts physical therapy, his mom says Felton’s inspiration has been a turning point.

Camille Harrison: “Frederick was, like, a little down, but when [Felton] came, his mood started to change, and he started to do a little better in rehab.”

Felton Brown: “I wanted to show him and give him something to look forward to, because I knew in that moment that he had lost it all.”

Frederick has a long and difficult road ahead of him, but with his mom, Felton and the community beside him, he says he is never giving up.

Frederick Climpson: “I want to let them know I’m alright. My family, everything’s been straight. No problems, no nothing like that. You see I’m getting better, I’m smiling. I didn’t think i was going to smile, but I’m smiling.”

And that smile has a lot to do with those who continue to cheer him on.

He was visited by his favorite football players, Miami Dolphins’ players Xavien Howard and Jaylen Waddle.

They both gave him a signed helmet, and Xavien has kept in touch.

The widespread show of solidarity has meant everything to this family.

Camille Harrison: “I just want to say thank you to everybody who’s been there, who supported us.”

Felton says the support of South Florida was also what helped him overcome his injury. Now it is his turn to pay it forward.

Felton Brown: “I would love to see our community come together like none other for Frederick, to cheer him on the same way they cheered me on.”

Frederick Climpson: “Yeah, I’m gonna keep fighting.”

Family and friends will be right there fighting with him.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

Frederick’s family has created a GoFundMe to help cover medical bills.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

On Jan. 31, 1957, First Lt. Richard McCombs was on a training mission when his plane’s engine failed.

The newspaper headline at the time: “Marine pilot safe in ocean ditching.”

Jimmy Gadomski, found plane: “He was able to put it down safely, but it was still a crash.”

The Marine managed to get out of his Douglas Skyraider, an attack bomber, just before it sank about a mile off of Key Biscayne.

Jimmy Gadomski: “We were able to learn that the pilot did survive.”

Florida divers Jimmy Gadomski and Mike Barnette were the ones who found his plane this past July, more than 66 years after the plane went down.

Mike Barnette: “We immediately knew this was something unique and that it had been undocumented.”

And they discovered it by accident, while testing a specialized underwater camera.

Jimmy Gadomski: “We’re looking at, and we’re like, ‘That’s an airplane, like, we’re looking at an airplane.'”

Then it was time for a closer look.

Jimmy Gadomski: “We jumped in the water right then and there, and then we went back again to document the rest of it.”

“The rest of it,” because the old plane was actually split in two, the cockpit and wings detached from the tail.

Jimmy Gadomski: “We could still see the guns on the wings of the plane.”

After the 1957 crash, the military removed the engine and dumped the fuselage in deeper water. It would remain hidden until Mike and Jimmy’s discovery.

Jimmy Gadomski: “I was able to do a photogrammetry model of it, which involves us taking a lot of pictures all around the aircraft, and it stitches together a 3D model of what we’re looking at.”

The technology reveals what the plane would look like back in one piece, but they wanted to learn more about its history.

Mike Barnette: “Trying to look for lost aircraft that were most likely, you know, operating out of the Miami area.”

Mike pieced together enough to learn the pilot’s name and then tracked down his family.

Mike Barnette: “I think we caught them by surprise.”

That’s an understatement.

Amy McCombs, pilot’s daughter: “I was in shock when Mike messaged me on Facebook and said that he had found my dad’s plane.”

Amy and her brother Mark spoke with us from Ohio.

Mark McCombs, pilot’s son: “We knew of the story, we kind of grew up with the story.”

They still have the life jacket and helmet their dad was wearing the day the 24-year-old crashed off our coast.

Richard died in 2022 at age 90, just a year before his plane was found.

Mark McCombs: “My dad was a very dedicated Marine, he was very proud of being Marine and took his aviation extremely seriously.”

Amy McCombs: “I just think the plane was found for our sense of peace. Two strangers that have really come into our lives and mean so much to us.”

Jimmy Gadomski: “We’re always looking for the next unidentified wreck or the next story to tell.”

One of those stories came last year when Jimmy and Mike’s discovery made international headlines: a large section of the space shuttle Challenger, which exploded shortly after liftoff in 1986.

As for the family of the pilot who crashed into the ocean here, they say they would one day like to meet the men who found a part of their dad’s military history.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

For Bruno Ferretti, family is the light of his life, but a few months ago, he feared his time with them was running out.

Bruno Ferretti, diagnosed with chronic kidney disease: “I was actually speaking to a dermatologist. He recommended, ‘Hey, let’s just get some quick blood work.’ Two weeks later, he calls me, and he leaves me a voice message, and he’s like, ‘Hey, you need to go to the hospital immediately. Something’s very wrong with you.'”

At 35 years old, Bruno was diagnosed with Stage 4 chronic kidney disease.

Bruno Ferretti: “Mine were so far gone that by the time that I found out, my only two options were going to be dialysis for the rest of my life or a transplant.”

Bruno has hypertension, which is one of the most common causes of chronic kidney failure. His kidneys went from functioning at 36% to just 7%.

When he was diagnosed, his wife was six months pregnant with their first child.

Bruno Ferretti: “Am I going to be OK, and is my wife going to raise a child without a father?”

But their neighbor, Chris Staton, refused to let that fear become their future.

Chris Staton, donating kidney: “He put it out there that, Hey, if anybody wants to donate,’ and by the time he said that, I was already on the website registering.”

Chris has saved lives on the front lines as a Miami-Dade County firefighter. He did not think twice about donating his kidney to save Bruno.

Chris Staton: “I love the guy. I love his wife, I love his kid, and I could never live with myself if he had to do three years of dialysis and may never get a kidney. That’s just not a question.”

After some grueling tests, screenings and evaluations, Bruno got the news he needed.

Bruno Ferretti: “One in a 100,000 chance. He was a perfect match.”

Arlette Cartaya: “Every time that I think about it, there’s no words to say how grateful I am for what he’s done and how he stepped up. There’s no way to repay him.”

Bruno could have spent the next three to five years waiting for a kidney. But in just a matter of weeks, Chris will give him a lifeline, here at Cleveland Clinic.

Chris Staton: “I never thought twice about it. I was proud to be the one that’s giving it to him.”

And Bruno will be forever grateful to Chris for saving his life.

Bruno Ferretti: “One of the things that he told me is, the most important thing to him was seeing his children grow up, and he told me, ‘I want you to share these things that I’ve been able to see with my children.'”

He hopes to use this experience to spread awareness about chronic kidney disease.

Bruno Ferretti: “Get your blood work done every six months. There were not a lot of signs. I did have a cardiologist. I would see him regularly. They never caught it.”

Now, Chris is not just a firefighter, or Bruno’s neighbor. He’s the man who’s giving Bruno’s family a brighter future.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

Since Chris Staton is the sole provider for his family, a GoFundMe page was created ahead of his surgery that is expected to keep him away from work for two months. Click here if you would like to donate.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com

Imagine going weeks without clean clothes or a clean blanket. It’s a reality for many South Florida families.

Rich Markiewicz, coordinator, Laundry Love South Florida: “They don’t make enough money, especially with the cost of rents and food and everything else.”

Rich Markiewicz is the coordinator of Laundry Love South Florida. It’s an organization that provides free laundry services for low-income and homeless families.

The idea came to him four years ago after a meeting with a church leader.

Rich Markiewicz: “She told us about the things that they did to help the homeless and poor in their neighborhood. I asked her, ‘If there was one thing you could do that you don’t currently do, what would that be?’ And she said, ‘Cleaning clothes for our clients.'”

He did some research, and came across an organization called the National Laundry Love Association.

Rich Markiewicz: “I was convinced that I wanted to kind of recreate what they were doing.”

Rich and members of his church formed Laundry Love South Florida.

With the help of donations, the group provides the detergent, and dollars, to help families wash their clothes once a month at a laundromat in Hollywood.

Rich Markiewicz: “We do closer to 300, 400 loads of laundry a month, so it’s grown a lot.”

Rich recently expanded Laundry Love South Florida to two other cities: Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

Billy Salter helped launch the Fort Lauderdale location last month.

Billy Salter: “To be able to be a part of providing some level of support for the folks in the community means a tremendous deal to me.”

For three hours, the laundromat was packed as guests were able to wash their clothes, shoes, even bedding, all for free.

Ashley Kendrick, Laundry Love guest: “It took a load off for me this week, and I’m really thankful.”

In the first hour alone, more than a dozen people got their clothes washed and dried.

Kerry Herndon, Laundry Love guest: “I have been homeless for 14 years. This is a blessing, really, you know what I mean? To help keep us looking decent.”

Billy says seeing so many people who needed help was a humbling experience.

Billy Salter: “We’re not doing anything massive, but for someone to come in and visit us and allow us to help them get clean clothes and leave feeling like they have a little more dignity when they leave than when they came, that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Along with a basket of clean clothes and a free meal, Rich says many of the guests also leave the laundromat with a renewed sense of hope.

Rich Markiewicz: And just the fact, sleeping on clean sheets, having clean clothes to put on in the morning, is terrific.”

And for so many, a little love goes a long way.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Laundry Love South Florida
allsaintsfl.org

Diana Thar has congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. She needed oxygen and the help of a scooter.

Today she met us inside her Fort Lauderdale apartment building. But not long ago, she was sleeping outside.

Diana Thar, helped by Community Court: “Well, we lived literally on the street, on the concrete, for many, many months.”

Diana and her sister Carol were evicted last year and ended up homeless.

Diana Thar: “The most scariest moment a woman could ever have in her life.”

Last October, Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputy Michael Carabine found Diana sleeping on private property.

Diana Thar: “I could have been arrested by being on the property and charged with trespassing.”

But instead of handcuffing her, the deputy diverted Diana into a program that would change her life.

Diana Thar: “When they told me about it, I said, ‘I’ll do it.'”

“It” is Community Court. The specialized program launched in Fort Lauderdale in 2019, expanded to Pompano Beach last year, and is now set to start in Hollywood in January.

Despite the name, Community Court isn’t held in a courtroom, although it “does” have a judge.

Broward County Judge Florence Taylor Barner: “You know, there’s no fear, because there’s no judgment here.”

No judgment may seem like a surprising thing for Broward County Judge Florence Taylor Barner to say about her hearings.

Judge Florence Taylor Barner: “I know, but I am not here to judge anyone, what’s going on in their life. I just want to see what whatever I can do to help.”

And those in this room, care.

Judge Barner leads the proceedings.

Judge Florence Taylor Barner: “We do have a dentist that we can send you to as well.”

Nonprofits are there to help find people what they need, like housing, health care and jobs.

Judge Florence Taylor Barner: “The beauty of this court is putting all these folks in one room.”

Those eligible include nonviolent offenders charged with things like trespassing, disorderly conduct and public intoxication. The court also accepts walk-ins, meaning people not charged with anything, just needing something.

Judge Florence Taylor Barner: “I see children. I see full families come into community court.”

Those who follow the rules, and complete 10 hours of community service, get a graduation ceremony and their charges dismissed.

Diana had her trespassing charge dismissed.

Diana Thar: “They renewed my faith in people.”

People like Pompano Beach Social Services manager Cassandra Rhett.

Cassandra Rhett: “Diana has a degree in survival, a doctorate degree in survival.”

Diana Thar: “I probably wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for her. She was our guardian angel.”

Diana and Carol moved into their new apartment in May. She pays a portion of the rent from her Social Security. The rest is paid by a nonprofit.

Diana Thar: “I mean, that’s the first thing we did, was cried and said, ‘We made it.'”

Sadly, just weeks later, her sister passed away. Diana is grateful it was not on the street.

Diana Thar: “Yeah, we considered it our forever home.”

A reminder of the power of community — both in court and in life.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach Community Court
17th.flcourts.org/community-court
fortlauderdale.gov/government/departments-a-h/city-manager-s-office/office-of-neighbor-support/homeless-initiatives/community-court

7’s Karen Hensel has today’s 7 Spotlight.

These mats were made to foster fierce martial artists. But more than that, they’re fostering hope.

Michael Fernandez/owner of First Order of Jiu-Jitsu: “The reason we opened up is to be different, and for a group that society doesn’t really touch much on. We have the Just Us Two program, a program that’s designed for kids on the spectrum.”

Friday nights at First Order of Jiu-Jitsu in Miami are filled with hands-on training specifically for children and teens with special needs.

Michael Fernandez: “So some of them don’t have motor skills, fine motor skills, and just holding a gi, holding somebody, holding somebody down, carrying somebody, it’s working the total body.”

But parents aren’t allowed to just drop-off and go. They’re required to hit the mat with their children.

Michael Fernandez: “This gives the parents one hour to really work with their child, get to know their child from all angles. It’s an hour for you and your child with no interruptions.”

Michael and his wife Christine opened First Order of Jiu-Jitsu in 2016. Together, they have years of experience in martial arts and working with special needs children.

Michael Fernandez: “It’s not just me that runs this. My wife helps, all the parents help. We integrate ourselves with all the students and that is what makes this place. I’m just one person.”

Between hours of school and therapy, parents say that one class with their children is priceless and they’ve found a family like no other.

Angely Angel: “We’re constantly looking at our kids behind a screen on an iPad, but we’re not engaging with our kids. And a lot of the time we feel like we’re losing time with our children because we want them to have these therapies.”

Through the program, parents have seen their children open up in ways they never imagined possible.

Charlie Weiss: “I’ve seen his confidence, I mean, skyrocket. He’s now involved in whitewater rafting, soccer, swimming, he does it all. And I really do attribute this program for giving him the confidence to do those type of things.”

For these families, it’s more than a dojo.

Angely Angel: “He’s given us a place for us to be able to have a home, and so, it’s been spectacular.”

This is a community where children can build confidence, strength and bright future.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

More Information:
First Order of Jiu-Jitsu

Fort Lauderdale’s Sistrunk neighborhood has a rich history.

Yana Danzig, founder, Brushstrokes for History: “This area was kind of the heart of the Black community in Fort Lauderdale for many years.”

Seventeen-year-old aspiring artist Yana Danzig has spent the past several months learning all she could about the area. She became interested after volunteering in a service project to help revitalize Sistrunk.

Yana Danzig: “They were already painting colorful and beautiful designs on pieces of plywood to put up on buildings like these.”

Yana says she learned so much about the history here, she wanted to share it with others. So she decided to do it in the way she knows best: through painting.

Yana Danzig: “I just really feel motivated and driven to help communicate with people through art.”

Yana has created her own nonprofit, called Brushstrokes for History.

Yana Danzig: “It’s really about empowering community members and students to really create art that represents how they want their own stories and community to be viewed.”

During the summer, she held art classes at local community centers.

Her students created paintings of the neighborhood’s early leaders, including its namesake, Dr. James Sistrunk, Broward County’s first Black doctor.

Yana Danzig: “So this portrait is kind of an anime version of the main famous portrait of Dr. Sistrunk.”

And now, the art is finding a home. This past weekend, Yana teamed up with Bbroward College for its BC Cares service project. They gave an old vacant building a new coat of paint, and used the children’s paintings to cover up the broken windows and doors.

Yana Danzig: “The building itself has so much history.”

The paintings were installed at the former Cone Plaza on Sistrunk Boulevard. The building opened in the 1950s as a hat shop that attracted both Black and white customers.

Yana Danzig: “Here we have a painting depicting Kathleen C. Wright, who was an influential Black school board member.

Yana knows the paintings won’t last forever, so she’s creating an online gallery where the paintings, and the stories they tell, can be shared with everyone.

Yana Danzig: “It would be really cool for people who don’t necessarily walk by here every day to still be able to learn about the history and understand why this area is so important to so many people.”

Karen Hensel, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Brushstrokes for History

Karen Hensel has today’s 7 Spotlight.

These kids are not here to create viral videos or post on Instagram.

Carlos Aleman/teaches anime workshops: “This is their chance to disconnect from technology and social media and all that.”

What these artists are here for requires just a pad, pencil and a passion for anime.

Carlos Aleman: “Anime is just the Japanese term for animation. So they are very inspired by western comics. The way we love Japanese anime, they love Marvel and DC and all that.”

Carlos Aleman is an artist in his own right, creating these Asian-inspired paintings that burst with color.

Carlos Aleman: “Well, it’s not good enough Art Basel, so they say. There’s highbrow and there’s lowbrow and I’m just the regular guy. I’m not very sophisticated.”

A humble artist, who teaches the next generation twice a week inside the Sunrise Civic Center.

This is where kids and teens have an opportunity to share a unique South Florida experience.

Carlos Aleman: “I’m not aware of anyone else doing anything like this. There could be, but I’m not aware of it.”

We had a chance to watch as Carlos started drawing circles and lines on a white board. His work ultimately becoming quite the “character.”

The young, budding artists are clearly “drawn” to anime.

Ella/10-years old: “I like the language of Japanese and the storyline. Most of the storylines in anime, they’re pretty epic.”

Leia/11 years old: “I really like anime because of the story and the character designs. I watch a lot of anime and it like inspires me.”

Kayden/10 years old: “Art makes me feel so good sometimes. Like when I feel like really, really, really, really sad, I just draw something. I forgot all about it.”

Thirteen-year-old Dylainey has been coming to classes here for about six months.

Dylainey: “The Japanese style is more free. You’re allowed to do more of what you want it to look like.”

And that was clear as they held up their work , each looking different even though they were drawing the same character.

Sabrina/10 years old: “When I started, like I hated my drawings and now it’s like, really good. I like it.”

Carlos Aleman: “So if you’re a geek like me and many others, in Japan they’re called the Otakus, you don’t care what people think. You just go where your passion leads you.”

A passion that is now instilling confidence in these young artists.

Carlos Aleman: “It’s just amazing how good they get over time.”

Carlos Aleman’s anime workshops cost $12 per class.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

More Information:
Japanese anime workshops 
Carlos Aleman’s art

They are soldiers clad in camouflage, serving their country with discipline, determination, and … rap?

Kervens Jackson, Piper High School band director: “A rapper in the Army? Is that real?”

It is now. Meet Staff Sgt. Lamar Riddick, an artist who rhymed his way into the ranks of the Army and hails from South Florida.

Lamar Riddick, U.S. Army Field Band rapper: “It’s so amazing to do this full time and to serve the country.”

Since 1946, the Army Field Band has allowed soldiers to serve their country through song.

Now, for the first time ever, they’re bringing hip-hop to the center stage.

Lamar Riddick: “It didn’t dawn on us until, I think, after we got the job that we were the first in military history.”

Riddick was a Christian rapper before joining the Army.

Lamar Riddick: “I’m definitely a believer. At the end of the day, my goal is to revive the culture and encourage people to be all they can be.”

He saw an opportunity to do that on a bigger scale, in the U.S. Army, auditioning for the field band in 2021.

He has performed on national TV and worldwide.

Lamar Riddick: “I think the world heard us when we went over there. The impact of bringing rap music in a place that hasn’t had rap music in that particular event, around all NATO alliances, that still feels like a fairy tale.”

Now a staff sergeant, Lamar Riddick got his start and made his mark at Piper High School in Sunrise. This is where his musical talents took off.

Kervens Jackson: “He’s right here.”

And his picture still hangs in the band room where he first met school band director Kervens Jackson.

Kervens Jackson: “I was really in shock because someone just – when you meet someone, you don’t just kind of give them a hug, but he just gave me a hug, and from there, I knew he was someone that’s very special. I think that’s one thing about him, his determination to be great in everything that he does.”

Lamar played the Scarecrow in his school performance of “The Wiz.”

His former choir director, Traci Fuller, still works as his vocal coach.

Traci Fuller: “When I speak with him, and when we talk about some of the things he’s working on now, he has that spirit of excellence in everything that he does.”

Lamar says Jackson and Fuller were more than just his teachers.

Lamar Riddick: “Because I was living in a kind of a split household, you know, back and forth between my mom and dad, sometimes during the school days, they were really like my school parents.”

Now, Lamar is impacting lives here in South Florida. His name is used as inspiration for students at Piper High.

Kervens Jackson: “If you’re in my class, you know about Lamar Riddick. I share this with the students to show them that they can strive to do excellence in every level in their lives.”

Because it was that kind of determination that landed Lamar literally center stage.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

“If you can see it, you can be it.”

Members of the Miami Marlins are sharing that message with some of baseball’s youngest fans, especially the girls.

Miami Marlins President Caroline O’Connor and general manager Kim Ng are the only all-female executive team in professional sports.

Kim Ng, Miami Marlins general manager: “Very humbling. Very humbling when I sit back and think about it.”

Kim was hired as the Marlins’ general manager in 2020, making her the first woman to ever serve as a GM in Major League Baseball. The team made history again when Caroline was promoted to president of business operations. She is only the second woman in the league’s history to reach that position.

Caroline O’Connor, Miami Marlins president: “It’s a privilege to have this role and have the platform that comes with it.”

Reaching the top ranks didn’t come easy for the two women. They both grew up with a love of baseball, but knew pursuing careers in the sport would be tough.

Kim Ng: “I never really had women to look to. Watching the young women and young girls and, you know, knowing that this is now a possibility for them.”

Women hold less than a third of the front office positions in Major League Baseball.

Kim and Caroline see their time with the Marlins as a way to help change those numbers.

Caroline O’Connor: “We’re one of the first teams to step up to participate in the league’s initiatives around diversity.”

The team has been holding special events geared toward women.

Kim Ng: “For those of you who this is your first time to loanDepot Park, welcome!”

The Women’s Empowerment Night at a recent game was all about networking. Everyone had a chance to meet with some of South Florida’s female CEOs and business leaders, and hear their stories of overcoming adversity.

Kim Ng: “That was a lot of fun and a lot of energy and a lot of great ideas, and really, you know, incredible, you know, empowered women with great resumes. And I think it really shows the power of what we’re trying to do here.”

And it’s that power that’s really scoring a home run.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

Bella Duarte-Crespo was born with spina bifida. Over the years, the 16-year-old has had four surgeries.

Bella Duarte-Crespo, lost wheelchair on international trip: “My left leg is a little more smaller and a little weaker than my right side, because I’ve had to overcompensate my whole life when it comes to walking, or even just standing for long periods of time, I have pain.”

It’s why Bella needs this wheelchair, which also turns into a walker. But what happened in June, left her without a crucial piece of her life.

Bella Duarte-Crespo: “I’m low-key freaking out a little bit.”

Bella and her family left from Miami on an American Airlines flight to London to catch a connecting British Airways flight to Rome.

Bella Duarte-Crespo: “We’re like, ‘OK, my luggage goes straight to Rome, my wheelchair, we also want to go straight to Rome.'”

But Bella’s wheelchair didn’t make it to Rome.

Bella Duarte-Crespo: “We had to wait in line to file a claim. It was a whole fiasco.”

An Apple AirTag showed her wheelchair was still at London’s Heathrow Airport. They called the airport and both airlines.

Bella Duarte-Crespo: “The more we called and called and called, we kept being reassured that, OK, it would be on the next flight over, or the next flight over or, ‘Sorry about that. It’ll be on the next flight over.'”

It wasn’t, and frustration grew.

Bella Duarte-Crespo: “They’re like, ‘At this point, you should just buy a new one,’ and I was like, ‘You’re kidding, right? Buy a new wheelchair, when I’m in a foreign country?'”

The family was able to secure a rental wheelchair for Bella just in time for their cruise.

Bella Duarte-Crespo: “Without that safety net, I definitely would have been hindered and limited. Overall, I was still able to do a good chunk of the things, which I’m really glad for.”

It took 15 days, but…

Bella Duarte-Crespo: “Finally it arrived. Ironically enough, it arrived the day before we were coming back to Miami.”

Bella has long advocated for those with disabilities, and this time is no exception. But she didn’t want to make this just about airing her complaints to the airlines.”

Bella Duarte-Crespo: “It’s more about what can we do to improve rather than pointing fingers at people.”

In 2022, major U.S airlines mishandled more than 11,000 wheelchairs and scooters.

Bella Duarte-Crespo: “I am willing to be the voice for disabled travelers.”

Bella wrote an open letter to the CEOs of British Airways and American Airlines.

She proposed ideas, including an “innovative tagging system” and “dedicated case managers” to handle lost or damaged mobility aids.

Bella Duarte-Crespo: “I’m here to provide a solution, to collaborate and kind of make whatever airline decides to reach out, [make them] the pioneers for accessibility in air transportation, because this can be a huge movement.”

In a statement to 7News, British Airways said: “We’re investigating the matter and are in direct contact with our customer to apologize and address their complaint.”

American Airlines told us: “A member of our team has been in touch to apologize for her experience and thank Bella for her efforts to improve air travel for those with disabilities.”

Teresa Crespo, Bella’s mom: “Coming from a 16-year-old, that perspective, and the fact that she’s open to listen and include any other people with disability, that’s definitely a no-brainer in my eyes, of course. Then again, I’m the mother.”

A mother, proud of her teenager’s tenacity and passion to help drive change in the skies.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

Disability advocate Bella Duarte-Crespo’s open letter to British Airways and American Airlines.

U.S. Department of Transportation information on flying with wheelchairs and other assistive devices.

Whether Americano, espresso, or cafecito, South Floridians love their coffee.

That includes our first responders.

Jason Patton, Fire Department Coffee: “We just need that caffeine motivation to make sure we’re getting through the day appropriately.”

Jason Patton is a South Florida firefighter. He’s also the vice-president of Fire Department Coffee. The company, started in 2016, developed a large selection of specialty roasts and blends.

Jason Patton: “So we came up with, obviously, all the different types of espressos and blends, but we also have our full spirit-infused line — Irish whiskey, vanilla bean, bourbon, all the fun stuff.”

But this coffee is more than just a delicious brew. A portion of each purchase helps support a special cause.

Jason Patton: “The main mission of it was to create premium, high quality coffee, but also have a foundation of giving back to sick and injured first responders.”

Jason says firefighters are not only at risk of physical injury. They can also develop mental health issues.

Jason Patton: “So many firefighters and first responders deal with it, just because of the the things that we see and hear every day.”

The company wanted to help firefighters across the country, so each month, they create a new coffee for a local department with proceeds going to help those firefighters.

Jason Patton: “We’re going to make that roast specific to the area.”

It’s called the “Fire Department Coffee Club. This month, Fire Department Coffee is honoring Miami-Dade firefighters with a brew called Salty Flamingo.

Jason Patton: “This being Miami, we wanted a high-caffeine espresso roast. I mean, it’s Miami; it’s highly caffeinated all the time.”

People can buy the coffee and a matching T-shirt online or at select stores. A portion of the proceeds goes to the local union, which created a foundation to help Dade firefighters receive counseling.

John Lancaster, First Responders Resiliency Foundation: “The image that people see is, we can handle everything, but in the end — you know, 18 years, I can tell you — everything sits in the back of your head, and when you’re able to talk to someone and kind of let it out, it helps ease it.”

For Jason, knowing he’s helping ease the pain for his fellow firefighters is like a dream come true.

Jason Patton: “It’s humbling because I believe a lot of us want to make a difference, but sometimes we either don’t know how or just don’t have the means to be able to do it.”

If you want to help, click here to buy Salty Flamingo.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

From the classroom to the kitchen, these students are learning what it takes to work in the restaurant industry. And one chef is making sure they cook up the best they have to offer.

Chef Christian Velez: “So we’re definitely not just making peanut butter and jelly.”

Chef Christian Velez spent years in the kitchen at one of South Florida’s most well-known hotels.

Chef Christian Velez: “I was executive pastry chef at The Ritz-Carlton.”

He knows how to work under pressure.

Chef Christian Velez: “Oh, yes. Yes, I was previously on the Spring Baking Championship of Food Network.”

Now, he’s going behind the scenes to help create the next generation of great chefs.

He is the instructor for the Arc Culinary program, which is part of Arc Broward. It’s a 16-week course for young adults with developmental disabilities.

Chef Christian Velez: “We talk a little bit about nutrition, education, definitely food safety, pretty much getting them ready for the work field.”

He started volunteering for Arc Broward two years ago and was recently hired as a culinary instructor. Even with his experience working for major hotels, and competing on TV, he says this is the most rewarding job he’s ever had.

Chef Christian Velez: “It’s about equality, it’s about empowerment, and so, who doesn’t want to be in an environment like that?”

His students feel the same way. Julian Coker says Christian’s course hasn’t been easy, but he’s enjoyed the challenge.

Julian Coker: “I think it’ll just help get me more experience, because my experience was a little down.”

All of the students’ hard work is put to the test at the end of the term, and it happens in the center’s Emeril Lagasse Foundation Innovation Kitchen.

Chef Christian Velez: At the student luncheon, it’s the culmination of everything that they learn throughout the program.”

Christian and Arc Broward help students find jobs after the course ends.

Patrick Jones didn’t have to go far. He now works at Arc Broward, in the same kitchen where he first learned how to cook.

Patrick Jones, program graduate: “It makes me busy a lot, instead of staying home and doing nothing and then bossing my parents around whenever.”

Christian hopes all of his students come out of the program with not only some cooking experience, but also the confidence to know they can handle whatever life throws at them.

Chef Christian Velez: “And that’s a big part of the program, too, is letting them realize that, and so they know that they’re more than capable.”

And thanks to Chef Christian, they will be ready for the challenge.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

For more information about Arc Culinary, click here.

And if you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

We headed out on the water off the coast of Boynton Beach, but this fishing expedition wasn’t for mahi-mahi, wahoo or even spiny lobster.

Our eyes were set on lionfish.

Nate Sorensen, Lionfish Extermination Corp: “The biggest problem with this fish is, it has zero predators in this area.”

Make that marine predators, because divers Nate Sorensen and Alex Borsutzky of Lionfish Extermination Corporation are a two-man creature catching machine.

Nate Sorensen: “The fact that we only target lionfish and our brains are triggered, focused on lionfish, that’s all we want.”

And it is the only fish allowed on this boat.

Alex Borsutzky, Lionfish Extermination Corp: “I tell you, it’s a passion for the reef.”

Reefs that have been harmed by a lionfish invasion.

Experts say they were first found along the Florida coast in the mid-1980s, likely released from aquariums.

And, as these red dots show, their numbers have exploded over the decades.

Alex Borsutzky: “Just eating as much as they can. It’s a free buffet for them. All they do is eat and sleep, eat and sleep and reproduce.”

That’s why Nate and Alex are out here at least once a week.

Alex Browning: “You feel like you guys are making a difference?”

Alex Borsutzky: “I think so. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.”

In late July, the pair caught something else: fire on social media.

Their TikTok videos have gone viral. A few racked up millions of views each.

Nate Sorensen: “Within 16 days, I had 100,000 followers.”

It’s now more than 170,000 and counting.

Nate Sorensen: “It blows my mind that people, everyone’s seeing this. I’ve had friends call me from across the country and say, ‘Hey, I’ve seen you on TikTok.'”

Alex Borsutzky: “Then you have the other comments where they say, ‘Oh, my God, you’re killing such a beautiful fish,’ and then you have to explain why we’re doing it.”

Nate Sorensen on TikTok: “It brings me no joy killing these beautiful fish, none at all. But they’ve got to go, unfortunately.”

From Goliath groupers to sea turtles, sharks to shipwrecks, the videos open a window into the underwater world.

One I got to experience diving with Nate. Propelled by a scooter, he used a pole spear to snag lionfish after lionfish after lionfish.

Even picking up a piece of trash along the way.

Alex Borsutzky: “Since we’re here, we might as well clean the reef.”

Nate Sorensen: “Sometimes, we get two to three times this in one dive, in a single time. We do five dives; add that up, and we’ve got 100 pounds in a day sometimes.”

With millions of views online, many are wondering, what happens to the lionfish once they’re on ice.

Alex Borsutzky: “Whatever we catch, we sell it to a restaurant.”

Nate Sorensen: “With the lionfish, are all these venomous spines. You want to make sure not to get poked. So the smartest thing to do is to just take a trimmer and clip them all off. This is just like any other fish when you’re filleting. And this is completely edible.”

Alex Browning (after tasting lionfish): “Mild fish. Bite with Belkys?”

And with every bite of a captured lionfish, more of our native marine life will get to survive and thrive.

Alex Browning, 7News.

Learn more about lionfish: 

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/lionfish

NOAA Fisheries
fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/ecosystems/impacts-invasive-lionfish

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

Whether on the ground, or in the air, emergency medical technicians are trained to help save lives. Now, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue has a new tool they say will save even more.

Broward Sheriff EMT’s are the first in Florida to carry and administer blood to trauma victims at accident scenes.

Chief Medical Officer James Roach came up with the idea after a family member was involved in a bus accident and didn’t survive.

James Roach, Chief Medical Officer, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue: “What tools do we provide for our rescues? Because currently, what we do is, we think about stopping the bleed, but we don’t really have a way to resuscitate.”

Now they do, and the blood can help keep patients stable enough to make it the hospital.

James Roach: “We replace exactly what the human lost, and that reverses the effects of traumatic shock.”

Division Chief Heath Clarks says EMT’s usually give IV fluids to a patient, but they don’t really help when someone is losing blood.

Heath Clark: “It turns out, when you’re bleeding out red stuff, the best thing to replace it with is red stuff.”

BSO started testing the program in 2021.

Heath Clark: “We’ve given blood 116 times since January of ’21. Of those 116 times, 73% of those patients have made it past the 24-hour mark, which is a remarkable thing.”

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue uses O-positive, Rh negative blood. It’s kept just above freezing at two locations in Broward; one of them here at the BSO Air Rescue Unit.

James Roach: “Putting this kind of therapy in the hands of fire rescue is a game changer in terms of helping our community.”

EMT’s pack the bags of blood into an insulated box and head to the scene either by vehicle or helicopter.

Dionny Baez, whole blood recipient: “It saves lives. I’m not the only story; there are many other stories of lives that have been saved by it.”

Dionny Baez was one of the first recipients of the blood. While spearfishing off the coast of Broward County in 2021, he was run over by a boat.

Dionny Baez: “So I had a collapsed lung, open head, lacerated liver, broken leg. I was dying.”

EMT Capt. Dean Meadows came to Dionny’s rescue, and says blood was exactly what he needed.

Capt. Dean Meadows, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue: “Within three to five minutes, his blood pressure came up. He was able to lift his head at that point and speak; he whispered to me, whatever I’m doing to keep doing it.”

Dionny spent two weeks in the hospital. He is now one of BSO’s biggest advocates for the blood program.

Dionny Baez: “I believe this really can save lives as it saved my life.”

The program is not limited to patients in Broward County. If blood is needed, BSO says it will respond to accidents all across South Florida.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue officials say you can help keep the program going by donating blood. If you would like to donate, click here for more information.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

From the moment he picked up a camera, John Bouma knew he wanted to photograph pets. So he decided to get some practice at a local animal shelter.

John Bouma, pet photographer: “I was looking for ways to volunteer that would allow me to practice, and I found out that animal shelters love having volunteer photographers come.”

Little did he know, his practice would become a passion.

For the last 10 years, John has volunteered to spend a morning a week with the dogs at Miami-Dade Animal Services.

John Bouma: “The shelter brings in a lot of dogs, so they’re only able to take a quick photo of the dog when it first comes to the shelter. Obviously, the dogs are confused and a little sometimes scared, so it doesn’t come across really well in their photos.”

He takes pictures of dogs that have been at the shelter a long time. The hope is to find them a home.

John Bouma: “Providing my photos to the shelter, as well as sharing them on my own social media channels, I believe it’s helped a lot of dogs and cats get adopted quicker or just adopted in general.”

But all of us who have tried to photograph own pets know it’s not easy. So how does John manage to get great photos of dogs he just met?

John Bouma: “We use a number of techniques. We always have yummy treats, sometimes a squeaker toy to get their attention when looking at the camera.”

And even on a day when there is a raging thunderstorm, John is able to put the dogs at ease and get a great shot.

John Bouma: “Ideally, the goal is, when photographing a dog, you want it to look its best. With a dog, that typically means ears forward. If we’re lucky, we might get a head tilt and smiling.”

Seeing the dogs relaxed and playful is part of the fun for John.

He hopes his photos will show people that these shelter dogs are loving animals in need of a happy home.

John Bouma: “People that don’t know think that there’s something wrong with the dogs at the shelter, that the whole reason they got here was because they’re broken in some way, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

And the truth for this photographer is, being here, in a raging thunderstorm, with these dogs is exactly where he wants to be.

John Bouma: “I find doing this a little more satisfying, because I know I’m helping these dogs, and it’s really rewarding.”

And he believes the biggest reward is for the family who finds the picture perfect dog.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

If you like fashion, but hate the high price, there’s a way to look great without busting your budget.

Rossanna Ceccato, founder of ReDress: “It’s fun, because this is the first time that some somebody has created a startup of exchanging garments in this way.”

Rossanna Ceccato has created a way for women to swap clothes once they get tired of wearing them. It’s a website called ReDress, and you never have to leave your house to go shopping.

Rossanna came up with the idea while working in retail.

Rossanna Ceccato: “I was surprised at how every weekend my clients came to any of my retail stores to buy clothes as if they were naked.”

Her clients were businesswomen who felt they couldn’t wear a dress more than a few times. But buying new outfits comes with a hefty price tag and a closet full of barely-worn clothes.

Rossanna takes those clothes and then helps you find almost-new pieces.

Rossanna Ceccato: “You just have to go to myredress.com. You are going to have the opportunity to upload a picture of the garments you want to swap with us.”

Once the dress is approved, you pay a fee to pick another one.

Rossanna Ceccato: “Right now we have almost 1,000 in our warehouse. You are going to recoup the value of your barely-used garments, in another garment.”

Redress has grown so quickly that its Miami warehouse was turned into a store for local shoppers.

So even if you don’t have a dress to swap, you can still buy one of these off the rack at a big bargain.

Matias Hercovich, co-founder of Redress: It’s for people that want to go and party, it’s for people who have a job interview. We have something for everybody.”

But what you see for sale or swap today, may be gone tomorrow.

Rossanna Ceccato: “We have done almost 8,000 transactions.”

Matias Hercovich is the co-founder of ReDress. He says it’s a smart way to keep people from throwing away good clothes just because they don’t want or need them anymore.

Matias Hercovich: “So I think people after the pandemic got really conscious about their actions and how those actions affect the planet as a whole. Now, here is a budget-friendly but also an eco-friendly way in order to dress with what you want.”

ReDress is planning a second location in New York to help even more people dress for success.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

Plenty of people are scared of snakes. Elle Barbeito is not one of them.

Elle Barbeito, fashion designer: “Burmese pythons, they are from Southeast Asia, and they’re a really beautiful snake, they really are. They grow really, really big.”

Big snakes that cause big problems ravaging native wildlife in the Everglades.

Elle Barbeito: “It’s a really intense environment.”

And it’s where Elle discovered her artistic passion back in 2018.

Elle Barbeito: “Because now my dad was hunting, so I was just going with him all the time, and just like, sitting in the back of the truck. I loved it. I just was like really obsessed with it.”

Elle, a South Florida native who went to fashion school in New York, says she became disillusioned with waste in the fashion industry.

Elle Barbeito: “I don’t want the things I make to end up in like trash or end up in a landfill or like have a short lifespan. I want it to be able to last a really long time.”

Which is why she chose to use python skin from her dad’s hunts as the material for her handcrafted creations.

Elle Barbeito: “I think just the whole process in itself, of just having to kill something and kind of bringing, like, a new life to its skin.”

Elle does her leatherwork in this warehouse, where she explained the process to us.

Elle Barbeito: “To preserve the skins, we start off by skinning it, and then you have to remove all of the fat and muscle. And then, after that, you put it into a solution. The most traditional method is with alcohol and glycerin, and once you have it in that solution for some time, you go ahead and stretch it out on a wooden plywood board.”

Once it dries, Elle begins her detailed designs.

Elle Barbeito: “There is a lot of work that goes into this. It is a lot of work. Especially with the stitching, I have people ask me that all the time, they’re like, ‘Oh, what machines do you use?’ I’m like, ‘This, this, every snake is different,’ so I think that’s kind of like the cool part.

From belts…

Elle Barbeito: “All the buckles are – I make them with snaps so that they’re interchangeable.”

To wallets and handbags, Elle even crafted a python skin bike and lawn and rocking chairs.

Elle Barbeito: “There’s a story to it, you know, and I think people really appreciate the fact that there’s a story to it.”

A story that begins in the Everglades, and one that sometimes prompts misunderstanding.

Elle Barbeito: “I’ve had people where they’re like, ‘Oh, my God, why are you doing this?’ And then they think I’m just doing it to all snakes, and once I explain what it is and they’re invasive, they’re like, ‘Oh.’ I think it’s more so people that are not from Florida that have a kind of a hard time understanding it.”

In May, Elle received an award from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for her work.

Elle Barbeito: “There’s only one Florida, there’s only one Everglades, and we need to preserve it, because once we lose it, we cannot get it back. I love this state, and I’m very thankful to be here and thankful for this award.”

Elle Barbeito’s inspiration for her designs actually comes from Western wear, but always combined with that only-in-Florida feel of the Everglades.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

To view Elle’s work, click here.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

It may look like this is the work of an interior designer.

Tehila Hecht, CEO of Safe Sensory Room: “We’ve made nice recessed lighting that, they can change colors and make it red, blue.”

But Tehila Hecht is actually a physical therapist.. She creates safe spaces for special needs children.

The idea came to her after treating a child with autism who was having a tantrum.

Tehila Hecht: “So I sat him on my lap, tried to calm him down, and he flung into me, and I blacked out for a moment. And I kept thinking, ‘Oh, I wish the therapy room would be padded.'”

Tehila also thought many parents would like the same thing, so she came up with the Safe Sensory Room Foundation.

It’s an organization that provides free sensory rooms for families of children with severe autism.

Tehila Hecht: “I want safety first and then sensory, in just the aspect of making this room sweet and that the child should love it.”

The parents of 7-year-old Justin Arida say it was important his bedroom have padded floors and walls and a swing to keep him occupied.

Tony Arida, Justin’s father: “He’s nonverbal, very hyper, very active kid. So it’s always a challenge with a kid that hyper and that active to keep him in a spot where he’s not dangerous.”

Not only has the Safe Sensory Room changed his son’s life, it has made a difference for the entire family.

Tony Arida: “We can sleep easy, and I’ll tell you, the greatest sleep I ever had was the first night that we had that room.”

Word about the foundation has spread so fast, that Tehila had to create a wait list.

Tom Jacobs recently got the news that his son Spence is next on the list.

Tom Jacobs: “Oh, it’s elation. You know, it’s like we could see a much easier and and safer period on the horizon. I’m so grateful for for this opportunity.”

And that feeling is what inspires Tehila to create as many rooms for as many families as she can.

Tehila Hecht: “To just give some sweetness to their home and to know that we’re here to just make their life a little bit more manageable.”

Safe Sensory Room is raising money to create rooms for two more families this year.

If you would like to donate, or get more information on signing up your family, click here.

And if you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

Hiking the tallest mountain in Africa isn’t for the faint of heart.

Jessica Raffo: “I think, I always crave adventure.”

And adventure is just what 18-year-old Jessica Raffo got.

For years, she dreamed of hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Last month, her dad, Jaime Raffo, helped make that dream come true.

Jessica Raffo: “One day he called me when he was at work, and he was like, ‘I got the tickets,’ and I called all my friends, and I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, like, this is real.'”

They bought new hiking boots and cold weather gear, and off they went.

Jaime Raffo: “I was very excited, more so to be able to do it with my daughter.”

With the help of guides, their group began at the base of the mountain where the temperature is warm.

Climbing to the top would take seven days and six nights through five different climate zones.

Jessica Raffo: “The terrain changes by the day every few days, so you never really know what you’re getting yourself into for.”

The higher they climbed, the colder it got. When it was time to stop for the day, they would make camp and sleep in tents.

Jessica Raffo: “We were so tired every night that those tents felt like a luxury suite.”

Eating carbs at every meal gave them energy to face challenges like the Barranco Wall on Kilimanjaro’s south side.

Jessica Raffo: “It is just this thin, like, rock wall, and all the porters are walking, like, single file line because there’s not enough space, like, on the rocks for multiple people.”

As they climbed higher, they faced another challenge: altitude sickness.

Jessica Raffo: “I just got immediately extremely nauseous, my head sort of pounding, and you kind of lose your, like, stability and also your strength.”

Some 30,000 people climb Mt. Kilimanjaro every year, but only about half make it to the summit.

The guides sing special songs to encourage climbers to stick it out.

On the day they pushed to the summit, they started at midnight and reached the top at sunrise, more than 19,000 feet high.

Jessica Raffo: “Just being above the clouds and all that adrenaline, you feel the happiness.”

Jaime says it was an experience he’ll never forget.

Jaime Raffo: “I was so proud of her. It was just such a special feeling.”

Now they’re home, and mom Kerri Raffo is breathing a sigh of relief.

Kerri Raffo: “It makes me very proud that my daughter has these ideas, has these ambitions, but I’m glad that they’re home safe, and I’m glad that they were able to complete the mission.”

Both Jessica and Jaime find meaning in difficult challenges, and the best part of their mountain adventure was to be able to share that challenge together.

Jessica’s next mountain adventure? She’d like to try to climb Denali in Alaska.

If there’s someone or something you think we should feature, send us an email at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

Yoli Alvarez has spent her entire life in Miami.

Yoli Alvarez: “I was raised in Wynwood, and single mom and two sisters.”

Her mom always told her if she applied herself, she could become anything she wanted.

So in high school, Yoli told her mom she wanted to be a soldier in the Army.

Yoli Alvarez: “I said, ‘Hey, Ma, I joined the military.’ She was like, “No,’ she didn’t believe me until, actually, the sergeant came to pick me up.”

Yoli says there is something special about serving her country.

Yoli Alvarez: “I started as a Morse code interceptor. I was assigned to the National Security Agency, NSA.”

But by her late 20s, she wanted to come home to serve her community. Yoli joined the fire academy.

Yoli Alvarez: “Back then, I weighed like 112 pounds; everything weighed more than I did. And it was hard, I’m not going to sit here and lie to you and say it was easy. No, it was brutally hard.”

But her hard work paid off.

Yoli Alvarez: “This right here was when I actually graduated as a firefighter. This is a proud moment.”

Yoli remembers the heartbreak of her very first emergency call after graduation.

Yoli Alvarez: “My first call was actually a pregnant female that was overdosed, and sadly, you know, she didn’t – she nor the baby made it.”

During the course of her 33-year career, Yoli served on the elite search-and-rescue team. Her hard work and dedication got her noticed.

Yoli Alvarez: “This is when I got promoted to lieutenant, proud moment.”

And then district chief, where she oversees five fire stations, the Technical Rescue Team and the dive team.

Even though the journey was tough, she says it was all worth it.

Yoli Alvarez: “I wanted to help people, I just want to help people in the time of need.”

The challenge she leaves behind: who will fill her shoes?

Capt. Ignatius Carroll, City of Miami Fire: “You see a woman who not only devoted herself in the military but came here to the fire department, determined, moved up the ranks to becoming the first Hispanic district chief fire officer in our department’s history.”

Chief Alvarez hopes to inspire the next generation to dream big.

Yoli Alvarez: “It doesn’t have to be firefighting; it has to be whatever your dreams are. As long as you believe in yourself, you work hard, it can happen.”

Chief Alvarez is planning to spend more time with her family during her retirement.

If there’s someone or something you think we should feature, send us an email at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

If you’re a tennis player in Plantation, chances are you know Norma Fink.

Norma Fink: “Pardon me while I answer. Norma speaking, may I help you?”

You can find her manning the registration desk at the Frank Veltri Tennis Center at the city’s Central Park.

When she’s not taking court reservations…

Norma Fink: “What time do you want? Three o’clock, hmm.”

She’s entertaining her coworkers.

Norma Fink: “So they gave me something that looked like a torch and they said, ‘And let the games begin!'”

At 101 years old, she has plenty of stories to tell.

Norma Fink: “One-oh-one and seven months. Seven months were important. The first hundred were easy.”

Norma has spent more than half her life working as a tennis court attendant for the city.

Employee: “Norma in the ’70s. This is her city ID card.”

She started working at the tennis courts at Plantation Community Center in 1972, after she and her husband moved to South Florida.

Norma Fink: “The next thing I know, I’m playing almost every day, because I can’t do the house all day.”

Her time playing on the courts led to her eventually volunteering to help maintain them

Norma Fink: “And I’m working, two or three days a week. I’ve enjoyed every thing.”

Norma was transferred to the Frank Veltri Tennis Center after it was built in 1981. With currently more than two dozen courts, Norma has plenty of work.

Norma Fink: “After 9:30, forget about it. Forget about it!”

Staff members and players threw Norma a party in 2021 to celebrate her 100th birthday. She’s getting another big honor this year, serving as the Grand Marshal for the city’s Independence Day parade.

She got a sneak peek at the classic car that will take her along the parade route.

Driver: “Norma, we have a date on the Fourth of July.”

But she didn’t stay for long. She says she needed to get back to work.

Norma Fink: “Only three that aren’t taken, the other ones are for the tournament.”

Norma says the key to living to 101 years is to simply enjoy life.

Norma Fink: “Celebrate it. I celebrate every night.”

And in her case, it doesn’t hurt to have a job you love.

Norma Fink: “Thank you for calling, bye now.”

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

If there’s someone or something you think we should feature, send us an email at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

This smiling face belongs to Tashi. He’s an 11-year-old bottlenose dolphin at Island Dolphin Care in Key Largo.

Kids and adults come here for the unique dolphin-assisted therapy programs designed for people with all kinds of disabilities.

Luke Bullen, executive director, Island Dolphin Care: “We call them our co-therapists, actually.”

Tashi is one of eight dolphins at the facility, and they always jump at the chance to get to work with those in need of help.

Luke Bullen: “We have a team of human therapists, and then we have the dolphins, so they really are the heart of Island Dolphin Care. They are motivational and they’re inspirational.”

Island Dolphin Care is kept afloat by donations, so funding is always a challenge.

That’s where collaborations come in handy, and the facility now has a brand-new one on tap.

This tangerine wheat is a popular new creation at Oil Well Craft Beer in Ave Maria, Florida.

Head brewer Ross Wright just happens to be related to Tashi’s trainer, who is his cousin’s wife.

That’s how Tashi Tangerine Wheat was born.

Ross Wright, brewer: “We had been thinking about doing tangerine wheat, and I just thought that Tashi tangerine fit well together, so I just went with it.”

Then, Ross and brewery owner Matt Williams decided to take it a step further with a collaboration.

Ross Wright: “I like what the Island Dolphin Care’s mission is. They help children and families with special needs and veterans with [post-traumatic stress disorder]. So both of those things I’m happy to help out with.”

Now, Tashi Tangerine Wheat fans can donate directly to Island Dolphin Care by clicking on a QR code.

Matt Williams, Oil Well Craft Beer: “It feels incredible. You know, it is a great facility, it’s a great mission they have, and to know that we’re doing any small part to help them, I’m glad we can contribute to it.”

And Tashi likes it, too.

Brittany Cosgrove, Tashi’s trainer: “Tashi, how’s it feel to have a beer named after you? It’s pretty exciting that he is kind of the star of the show. He is one of our youngest, so for him to be the little star for a little bit is kind of cool.”

Oil Well Craft Beer says Tashi Tangerine Wheat is so popular, they hope to keep the unusual collaboration brewing for a long time to come.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Island Dolphin Care
150 Lorelane Place
Key Largo, FL 33037
islanddolphincare.org

If there’s someone or something you think we should feature, send us an email at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

These South Florida artists are making their voices heard.

But many have found it difficult to be seen and recognized for their talent.

J’von Brown, singer: “I actually was considering, I’m like, ‘Why am I doing this?’ I’m like, ‘I don’t see anyone that looks like me.'”

J’von Brown is a classically-trained singer, born and raised in Broward County. He says he hasn’t met too many Black opera singers, which has made it difficult for him to find the right people for inspiration and guidance.

Kunya Rowley is also from South Florida. As a former opera singer himself, he had the same problem.

Kunya Rowle, founder, Hued Songs: “I would look around, and there weren’t a lot of people that looked like me, and a lot of stories like mine.”

In 2017, he started Hued Songs, a charitable organization that supports singers, musicians, dancers and composers.

Kunya Rowley: “And so, a big part of our mission has been to be a vehicle and a platform where Black artists, artists of color can be seen, heard, and most importantly, paid for their work.”

Throughout the year, Hued Songs hosts concerts and performances across South Florida.

Walk down a street like Calle Ocho in Little Havana, and you may find yourself in the middle of a performance.

That’s the group’s goal: bring that art to the people, no matter where they live.

Kunya Rowley: “We perform in classrooms. We’ve performed under the Metrorail.”

Some of the performances are free, including their biggest production yet: a full-scale concert called “The Juneteenth Experience.”

Kunya Rowley: “Juneteenth is our national holiday, now federally recognized holiday, that commemorates when the last enslaved folks were freed in Galveston, Texas.”

We visited the group as it prepared for the June 19 event.

“The Juneteenth Experience” not only lets J’von and the other artists showcase their talents to a wider audience; it’s also a chance to get kids across South Florida interested in music, dance and poetry.

J’von Brown: “I’m for, like, being a Black artist who impacts our youth, our communities to say, even if it’s not something that you want to do, it is available to us.”

Kunya feels the same way.

Kunya Rowley: “Our work is rooted in a sense of belonging, showing people who we are and finding ways to build connection.”

And that connection starts with creating beautiful music.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

“The Juneteenth Experience” takes place June 19 at the Miami Beach Bandshell. Admission is free, but registration is required.

For more information, click here.

If there’s someone or something you think we should feature, send us an email at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

When parts of Broward County ended up underwater during that massive rainstorm in April, some of the first emergency response work came from citizen volunteers who lived in the flooded neighborhoods.

Mark Miller, CERT Deputy Operations Chief: “So we have our people that are already in the field, and they’re calling in to the Emergency Operations Center saying, ‘Here’s what it’s like in Edgewater. Here’s what it’s like here. Here’s what’s going on there,’ so they’re tremendously important.”

Mark Miller helps run the Fort Lauderdale Community Emergency Response Team, also called CERT.

He is one of the hundreds of people who have volunteered to be on the front lines if a disaster strikes in South Florida.

Mark Miller: “We’re an adjunct to police and fire, basically, with additional manpower and medical training.”

CERT is a program that teaches local residents basic rescue skills.

Carol Sjursen, CERT manager: “CERT volunteers are taught and trained how to safely take care of themselves, their family, their neighbors, and then their community.”

Carol Sjursen has been a CERT member in Deerfield Beach for 20 years. She volunteered during the Surfside building collapse and helped Hurricane Ian survivors on Florida’s west coast.

Carol Sjursen: “We spent an entire week out there, sleeping on cots, sorting supplies that came in from the community and then getting those supplies out into the field.”

The reward for her hard work is the joy Carol gets from helping others, like the time she gave food and water to a desperate young mother.

Carol Sjursen: “She had tears in her eyes, and we were just like, ‘Oh, my gosh, this is such a good feeling for us.’ You just can’t imagine how rewarding it is.”

It’s the same feeling for Mark. He traveled to North Florida after Hurricane Michael hit. He ended up in a small rural town called Mossy Pond.

Mark Miller: “And the only thing left in the community was the library, and that’s where everybody was living. This woman comes up and gives me a big hug and then says, ‘We are so glad to see you.'”

Both Carol and Mark say, if you have the time, you will never regret stepping in to help when people need it the most.

Mark Miller: “People say thank you, and you never get tired of that, but you never get tired of doing what it takes to earn that respect.”

Cities across Broward County are looking for new CERT members right now.

If there’s someone or something you think we should feature, send us an email at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

And don’t forget, Sunday at 7 p.m., 7News will have everything you need to know about being storm ready. Be sure to tune in for 7News’ hurricane special “Surviving a Storm.”

It was the perfect day for a sky dive.

What started as a way to let off steam after losing his job turned into a creative moment that changed Chris Serrano’s life.

Chris works in advertising and loves thinking outside the box.

So instead of sending out résumés, he made an “Open 4 Work” sign and took the ultimate plunge.

His free fall was just one of his great ideas. So was posting the video and his availability on LinkedIn, the professional networking site.

Chris Serrano: “I really didn’t know what to expect. I knew that people would be shocked by it, but I didn’t know people would be super shocked.”

His idea took off and gained altitude in a way he never expected.

Chris Serrano: “I woke up the next morning to 2 million impressions and a bunch of feedback. Job offers around the world.”

One of those job offers came from a startup company in Manchester, England.

Jack Peagam, CEO of Linkup: “I thought it was amazing.”

Jack Peagam is the CEO of Linkup, a new social networking app.

Jack Peagam: “I was just, you know, normal day, scrolling through LinkedIn as you do, and I stumbled upon Chris’ post, and I saw it, and I was like, ‘Wow. OK, that’s cool,’ and I need to jump on that ’cause I’m also looking for a creative director, so the stars were aligned.”

Jack flew to the Canary Islands. It’s the closest place to Manchester with weather good enough for skydiving.

Jack Peagam: “I can’t just message him and say, ‘Hey, let’s have a chat.’ I’ve got to respond in an equally as epic way as him, so that’s exactly what I did.”

Jack took his job offer to new heights. The banner he is seen holding reads, “Hey, Chris, sorry 2 see you got laid off. We’ve got work 4 u. Let’s link up.”

Chris says he couldn’t believe it.

Chris Serrano: “I was like, ‘Oh, my God.’ I thought that what I did was crazy and far out, and somebody matched my energy. And it was pretty impressive.”

While Chris plans his jump into a brand-new career with Linkup, he says getting laid off has taught him something new about life and about looking for a new job.

Chris Serrano: “Be different. We’re living in a time right now where people are getting laid off every day, but sometimes you don’t know the doors that are open for you. You really just have to do what you love and put yourself out there, and somebody will notice if you’re doing what you love.”

And getting noticed makes all the difference in having a soft landing in today’s job market.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

Chris and Jack are meeting in person next week in Los Angeles.

If there’s someone or something you think we should feature, send us an email at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

When we put our belongings in storage, they will probably stay out of sight, out of mind.

But Patricia Andrade knows exactly what she has stored away.

Patricia Andrade/founder of Raíces Venezolanas: “Clothes, toys, things for the kitchen.”

She rents 17 units at this storage facility in Doral.

Each is filled with donated items that will be given to newly-arrived immigrants from Venezuela.

Patricia Andrade: “We provide things that could help these families to start a new life in the United States.”

The units are part of Patricia’s non-profit, Raíces Venezolanas.

Patricia Andrade: “Raíces Venezolanas is in, in English, Venezuelan roots, because we are Venezuelan American citizens, our roots are Venezuelan.”

Patricia started her non-profit in 2016 from her home with a room full of donated items.

The donations grew, and eventually she needed a storage facility to house them all.

The Venezuelans in need can sort through each unit and take whatever they need.

Lorena Garcia, volunteer: “So they need shoes or clothes or toothbrush.They need everything.”

Gabriela arrived in South Florida last year.

Her story is similar to many other Venezuelans who come to the United States.

Gabriela, asylum seeker (translated): “I came here to protect my son from the government. He started getting threats because of his involvement with the opposition, and I was afraid. I needed to protect my son, so that’s why I came here– for protection.”

She says Raíces Venezolanas helped her get on her feet.

Now, it’s also preparing her for a new job.

Gabriela: “This is the second time I’ve visited. I started a new job, and I need clothes. I came because I knew they could help me.”

Some of the volunteers say the first time they visited this storage facility wasn’t to work. Instead, they were looking for the essentials to start new lives in South Florida.

Delia Rodriguez, volunteer (translated): “When I came to the country, I needed help, and Raíces provided for my family. Ever since then, I wanted to give back, so I became a volunteer.”

As new asylum seekers continue to arrive, Patricia and the volunteers are reminded of the ongoing crisis in their former home.

They say it only strengthens their determination to give back.

Lorena Garcia, volunteer: “Helping my people for me is the best way to feel like I’m alive.”

And they will continue to help as long as there is a need.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

For more information on Raíces Venezolanas, click here.

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The Florida Panthers are giving South Florida a serious case of playoff hockey fever.

Karen Ota-O’Brien, Florida Women’s Hockey League co-founder: “I think we could be a good mojo for the Florida Panthers.”

Good mojo, or at least good luck.

Which makes sense, since the Lucky Pucks Hockey Club has some recent championship experience of its own.

Karen Ota-O’Brien: “Well, we swept for Florida, for novice, rec, all three divisions, and we went to U.S. Nationals in Tampa. And we won for Nationals.”

Karen Ota-O’Brien is credited with putting women’s hockey on the map here, co-founding the Florida Women’s Hockey League back in 2002.

Emily Latham, Lucky Pucks: “She’s everything. If you know hockey in Florida, you know Karen. If you know women’s hockey, you know Karen.”

And now, even more hockey fans nationwide are getting to know Karen.

She is one of three finalists for the NHL’s Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award.

Karen Ota-O’Brien: “I was touched that they nominated me for this award.”

Karen grew up in Canada, but ironically, didn’t start playing hockey regularly until she moved to Florida.

Karen Ota-O’Brien: “I grew up on a cattle ranch, but I never played any hockey till I moved here.”

We got a front-row seat to a Lucky Pucks scrimmage in Coral Springs.

Emily Latham: “I started playing hockey when I was 6 because all my friends were doing it in New Jersey. It’s incredible. I have found this family outside of work.”

Elaine Luzano, Lucky Pucks: “Honestly, it’s the camaraderie of this team and the support that we’re able to get. Whether it’s weddings, divorces, bad relationships, surgeries, we’re all there to help each other out. Without Karen, this would probably all fall apart. She holds us all together.”

Emily Latham: “I think more than sisterhood, it’s family, you know, it’s our chosen family, and it’s incredible that we all get to experience that.”

Karen Ota-O’Brien: “These women, they’re from all ages, they’re from all different backgrounds. They’re from the military, Coast Guard, to stay-at-home moms, to lawyers, to district attorneys. I’m proud of them all.”

A proud hockey trailblazer who has no plans to stop expanding the game she loves in South Florida.

Karen Ota-O’Brien: “I’d like to work with the underprivileged kids, get them into these rinks. Provide a safe place for them like I have for women, but for maybe for kids.”

And for these players, there always remains one common goal:

Karen Ota-O’Brien: “It’s chase around that one little black puck for an hour.”

Twice a week, Lucky Pucks hosts what they call Girls Night Out for women of all skill levels ages 18 and up.

As for the Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award, the NHL will announce the winner on June 26.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

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Maxine Poupko’s breast cancer diagnosis came during an already isolating time.

Maxine Poupko: “I got diagnosed during the pandemic. I had treatment with surgery, and chemotherapy and radiation.”

Maxine survived, but says she still struggles with fatigue.

Maxine Poupko: “I knew that movement was the way out, because when I did move, when I did go out, I did feel better. But it was always difficult motivating myself.”

Enter Dr. Niraj Mehta.

Dr. Niraj Mehta, GenesisCare: “My whole life, I’ve always been very much into movement.”

The radiation oncologist practices in Southwest Miami-Dade.

Dr. Niraj Mehta: “You got to look at radiation oncology, right? That’s kind of the bread and butter of what I do, what you train for. A friend of mine was like, ‘You dance all the time, just go dance with your patients?’ and that’s what it started with. And I was like, ‘I’m not really a dance instructor per se.'”

Now, with almost 100 classes under his belt, Dr. Mehta balances his experience in medicine with his passion for movement.

Dr. Niraj Mehta: “Can we bring joy and passion into the health care space with movement being the medium?'”

Maxine Poupko: “I thought, ‘I’m going to go to this thing because it kind of looked interesting,’ plus I needed to get out of my apartment.”

Maxine, who is not one of Dr. Mehta’s patients, heard about his march class on social media.

Maxine Poupko:”I pushed myself to go. At first I didn’t want to participate, not feeling good. This was hurting, that was hurting.”

The class included other cancer patients, survivors and caregivers.

Maxine Poupko: “As the music went on, I just started to participate, and then I just started noticing, really, that my mood started changing. Just the energy in the room. And I remember Dr. Mehta was such a great dancer. I was just like, ‘Whoa.'”

While Dr. Mehta is not making any claims about his classes in particular, studies have shown the benefits of physical activity.

Dr. Niraj Mehta: “We know that after cancer, in terms of recurrence in breast and colorectal, and perhaps even in prostate, exercise has shown to actually decrease recurrence in and of itself.”

After the music, there was meditation, even tea.

Dr. Niraj Mehta: “We don’t want people to just survive. We want people to thrive.”

That’s something Maxine wants as well.

Maxine Poupko: “There was something, some level of comfort being with other people who had gone through similar experiences. It’s taxing the mind and the brain after cancer treatment.”

Maxine says she’d like to go again, and Dr. Mehta says his goal is to have these free classes held on a more consistent basis.

If you would like to learn more about Dr. Mehta’s movement classes, click here.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

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School is in session, but this isn’t a typical class.

These students are creating world-class robots.

Dale Adamson, teacher: “They’re practicing their strategy. They’re practicing their driving skills, and they’re working on their codes now.”

This is the STEM Squad at Howard D. McMillan Middle School in Kendale Lakes.

Math and robotics teacher Dale Adamson is their coach.

Dale Adamson: “You do need speed.”

He says at the beginning of the school year, students are divided into teams and told to build a robot as part of a game-based engineering challenge.

It’s called the VEX IQ Competition.

Dale Adamson: “Most of these students didn’t have the experience at all with VEX and with building robots, so it starts very early in the year with us just building up basic skills.”

But the students don’t just build the robots, they have to make them work.

Dale Adamson: “So, in this year’s game, they’re shooting these little orange pucks. They have to be able to gather them out of different dispensers, and they have to be able to shoot them across the field to earn points.”

Throughout the process, they run into problems they have to solve.

Katherine Perez, student: “Our first robot couldn’t shoot so well on the field, and then we had to see what can we do to make this function, what can we do to make this better?”

Dale Adamson, teacher: “But I think we got eight disks shot out, last time we had five.”

The STEM Squad’s hard work has already paid off.

The students recently put their robots to the test by competing in the VEX IQ State Competition in Doral. They left with top honors.

Arthur Saer, student: “The excellence, the teamwork awards and the skills champion awards. We basically got every award we could.”

Five of the nine teams from the STEM Squad did so well at the state competition, they earned a chance to compete against other middle school students from around the world.

Fabian Ordonez, student: “We’re pretty excited because it’s an experience that we never had.”

Later this month, the STEM Squad will compete at the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas.

Dale Adamson, teacher: “There will probably be over 80 countries represented, so it really allows students around Miami-Dade County, around Florida and around the world, to really dive into those problem solving skills that they’re going to need no matter what career they pursue down the road.”

Students will be judged not only on their robot’s performance, but also on how well they built it together as a team.

Fabian Ordonez, student: “We didn’t work as hard as we’re working now because we just saw this like a little thing. But now we’re trying to improve every day on how we can become better in the field and off.”

The students and their teacher hope to sweep the competition at the world championship.

But no matter what happens, they know they have a community and a school cheering them on.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

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Meet Aurimas Valujavičius. He has been at sea by himself since he left Spain the day after Christmas.  

His goal is to break a rowing world record for speed and distance from the coast of Spain to Miami in 110 days or less.

Aurimas Valujavičius: “It will be world record as the fastest row unsupported and solo row from Europe mainland to North America.”

When the journey is done, Valujavičiūs will have rowed his single-seat boat, the Lituanica, 5,000 miles.

Aurimas Valujavičius: “This is a lifetime experience when you can be with yourself like more than three months. No people, no physical contact, nothing.”

Valujavičiūs prepared for the trip for two years.

He rows a brutal 12 to 14 hours every day. He only stops to sleep in his cabin.

Aurimas Valujavičius: “So, yeah, that’s my home. Cozy.”

He also shoots photos and videos for social media and his YouTube channel, where fans all over the world are watching his progress.

Aurimas Valujavičius: “Keep following my journey and don’t forget to say hi to my little friends underwater.”

Students at Sauletas Krantas, a Lithuanian school in Lantana, love watching his close encounters with sea life and learning about the trip.

They recently got to ask him questions from class.

Student: “Have you ever fell out of your boat?”

Aurimas Valujavičius: “Yes! Huge wave shocked me and hit me from the side, and I fell out from the boat.”

Student: “Are you scared of the ocean alone?”

Aurimas Valujavičius: “In the first weeks, it was a little bit strange. After one month of rowing, I felt really comfortable.”

Valujavičius answered their questions and ours.

We wanted to know, just what is he eating out there!?

Aurimas Valujavičius: “Tactical food pack. It’s like dry food. I’m eating four of these per day. For the water, I have water making machine, so it’s inside here.”

He also snacks all day.

Aurimas Valujavičius: “Peanut butter every day, but nothing is better than fresh fish!”

Aurimas Valujavičius: “One week ago, I had lucky fishing and nice dinner.”

Valujavičius lives for adventure. He holds a record for long-distance kayaking, has cycled all over Europe and Indonesia, and has climbed active volcanoes.

Now, he’s making his way through the Caribbean in all kinds of weather.

He’s focused on getting here safely and breaking that world record.

Aurimas Valujavičius: “I keep moving and rowing to Miami.”

So far, Valujavičius is making great time.  

If all goes well, he hopes to land on Miami Beach by mid-April.

Aurimas Valujavičius: “Thank you for the chat, and I hope to see you soon in Miami. See ya, guys.”

And Valujavičius, we can’t wait to welcome you.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

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Ansel Davis: “He’s like a part of my family. He’s my son. I call him my son because I don’t have kids.”

Everett is not a coffee drinker, but the 7-year-old black lab still sits by his dad each morning at this Dunkin Donuts in Plantation.

Ansel Davis: “I’ve known the manager here for a long time. She’s very good to me. The staff is very good to me.”

Davis was born with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare eye diseases that causes vision loss.

Ansel Davis: “I see like maybe shadows, lights. I see shapes, I see colors. I don’t let my blindness take nothing away from me. I go like everybody each day. As long as I have my service dog.”

Everett is Davis’ eyes, guide and companion. They travel everywhere together.

Ansel Davis: “He’s the biggest part of my life, and having this dog for me is the biggest thing ever. I couldn’t do without everett.”

But for a brief and terrifying time in February, Davis was on his own.

Ansel Davis: “Oh, my God, the dog is gone. What am I going to do?”

Davis had left the door open after a walk, and Everett, uncharacteristically, took off.

Ansel Davis: “At that time I was destroyed. I was crying, I was nervous.”

He called 911.

Sgt. Dale Graziose, Lauderhill Police: “I heard a call come over my police radio that somebody’s service dog had escaped their house.”

Graziose was just starting his shift.

Sgt. Dale Graziose: “Maybe a couple of minutes later, I saw my Ring app that a neighbor in the general vicinity of where the service dog had escaped, the house posted that they found a dog.”

They posted a picture and included a phone number, so Graziose was able to make contact with the family.

Sgt. Dale Graziose: “Told me they had this black lab at their house. He was hanging in the backyard with a couple other dogs.”

Turns out, Everett had became an unexpected guest at a surprise birthday party.

Ansel Davis: “Oh, my God, it was just like somebody gave me $20 million. I was so happy.”

Lauderhill officer Bryan Pugh and Davis’ longtime friend, retired officer Debbie Banner, picked Everett up and brought him back to Davis.

Ansel Davis: “When they brought him to my house I was released. It was like a pressure off my brain. Those officers need to be thanked and given an award or something because, I tell you, they saved my life that day.”

Sgt. Dale Graziose: “It just makes you feel good.”

Everett was only gone about an hour, but for Davis, it felt like an eternity.

Sgt. Graziose said things could have turned out much differently if not for the quick thinking neighbors.

Sgt. Dale Graziose: “If they would have never posted it, we would have never been able to tie two and two together, and I have no idea how long it would have taken if we would have been able to reunite Mr. Davis with his service dog.”

A Lauderhill Police major described tools like the Ring neighbor’s app as a kind of crime watch for the digital age. And in this case, it was technology, police and neighbors working together to quickly bring Everett back home.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

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