Each year at our gala, we honor and celebrate an individual, and organization, that we have seen align with the work and mission of Unity on the Bay. At our 2022 Love & Light Gala on November 5, we presented the "Light of Unity Award" to both Karina Pavone (as an individual) and Equality Florida (as an organization).
From left to right: Steve McCoy (Board President), Karina Pavone, and Rev. Juan del Hierro (Senior Minister)
From left to right: Steve McCoy (Board President), Stratton Pollitzer, (Deputy Director at Equality Florida), and Rev. Juan del Hierro (Senior Minister)
MORE ABOUT KARINA PAVONE
Karina Pavone is the President and CEO of Amigos For Kids (Amigos). She joined the organization after 25 years of work as a therapist, consultant, and non-profit and higher education administrator. In the early days of her career, Pavone worked as a therapist where she supported seniors, AIDS patients and individuals affected by 9/11. Prior to joining Amigos, she served as Associate Dean at the Miami Dade College School of Continuing Education and Professional Development, where she helped some of the most at-risk students pursue their educational goals and aspirations.
During the Covid-19 crisis, Karina refocused the work of Amigos For Kids from preventative services to immediate relief. Amigos made over 1,000, door-to- door food donations throughout Miami Dade County. Other immediate relief such as temporary housing, clothing and school supplies were also provided to hundreds of families in need. In December 2021, 20 families from the Unity on the Bay community ( over 65 children) received wish specific toys sponsored by Amigos For Kids during the Angel’s Everywhere holiday drive.
In March 2022, Karina joined the board of directors of Citrus Health Network, Inc. the agency contracted by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to provide child welfare services for children who have been abused, neglected and/or abandoned in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties.
MORE ABOUT EQUALITY FLORIDA
Since the day the don’t say LGBTQ bill was filed, Equality Florida has been leading the fight to stop it or repeal it. They named the bill the "Don’t Say Gay Bill" and were able to generate over $2.6 billion in international media coverage largely condemning the bills harmful impact.
They have filed a lawsuit in an effort to have the bill over turned entirely. They are working with all 67 school districts across Florida to implement life-saving pro LGBTQ policies for their students and speak to districts nearly every day about how best to navigate the new challenges this bill has thrown their way. They are working to empower parents students and teachers to push back against this dangerous new law.