Inaugural Chairman’s Health Walk 

Board of County Commissioners’ Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert, III, held his inaugural Chairman’s Health Walk on May 25 to promote his wellness initiative, Xercise Daily. Participants walked from the County Government Center to Bayfront Park and back. Dozens of County employees participated, including staff from the Office of Community Advocacy. Chairman Gilbert launched the initiative in January 2023 to encourage everyone to walk for at least 30 minutes per day and encourage a healthy lifestyle.

Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert, III, holds

Interfaith Roundtable Discussion

On Thursday, May 11, 2023, Board of County Commissioners' Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert, III, held an interfaith roundtable discussion at the United Way Miami building located at 3250 SW 3^rd Ave Miami, FL 33129. Chairman Gilbert was joined by members of the Miami-Dade County Interfaith Advisory Board, as well as other faith-based members from throughout the County. The discussion centered around matters of faith, unity and understanding of each other’s beliefs. The group plans to focus on community events where all common values can be joined under one roof with the goal of networking, educating, and sharing resources to ensure everyone has a seat at the table.

How Domestic Violence Can Affect Mental Health

As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month, we understand that domestic violence is a severe public health matter impacting many individuals in many areas of their lives and functioning. Individuals who have endured or continue to endure physical or mental abuse are at elevated risk for the development of serious and or chronic mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, substance use and abuse, isolation, and suicidal ideations. One in four women and one in nine men are victims of domestic violence. Domestic and family violence encompasses child abuse, intimate partner violence and elder abuse. It has far-reaching consequences for the victims’ children, the immediate and extended family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. 

Victims often experience an array of overwhelming trauma and emotions, even after being freed from the abusive home or relationship. It is critically important that victims obtain emotional support to help them find healthy ways of processing and healing from this trauma. Research suggests that compared to the general population, people with a mental health disorder are at significantly higher risk of becoming victims of domestic violence. Trauma often produces acute and chronic changes in physiology, emotion, cognition, and memory. These changes may or may not result in a psychological diagnosis, but negatively affect mental health and daily functioning. On average, more than half of the women seen in mental health settings are or have been abused by an intimate partner. 

If you are, or if you know a victim of domestic violence, you are not alone. There is help. We encourage you to click on the link below to access the many available local resources to obtain support.  

Goodwill Ambassadors at the

Memorial Day Weekend Deployment in Miami Beach

Military Affairs Board attends the

2023 Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach

MAB and GWAs back with the

Office of Community Advocacy

The Military Affairs Board (MAB) and the Goodwill Ambassadors were recently transferred to the Office of Community Advocacy and the Office is thrilled to welcome them back. MAB’s mission is to make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners in regards to the military and veterans and to advocate for active duty, reserve, retired, disabled, and deceased military personnel in Miami-Dade County. MAB is under the capable leadership of Executive Director Gus Cruz, a former U.S. Marine. The GWAs are volunteer County employees who are trained in crowd control, crisis management, and customer service and are deployed to assist at special events and during high impact weekends. The GWAs have been ably managed by Yvans Morisseau for the past 16 years.  

MAB and the GWAs are a wonderful addition to and a perfect fit for the Office of Community Advocacy. We look forward to working with Gus and Yvans.

Don’t forget to request a Vote-By-Mail ballot

Due to recent changes in Florida law, all requests for vote-by-mail ballots expired at the end of 2022 so any request on file with the Miami-Dade Elections Department has expired. If you wish to continue voting by mail you must make a new request, either online or by calling 305-499-8444.