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I\u2019ve actually been called a serial acronymist (somebody who creates and uses way too many acronyms) and I can\u2019t think of a better title to start sharing a bit \u201cabout me\u201d. \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#767676″ custom_margin=”35px|||-70px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”35px|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_phone=”35px|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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When I was 10 years old, I had the great fortune of learning that kindness is my superpower and I discovered my talent for speaking and creating events in high school. My college years were eventful and formed me into the leader I am today with a clear vision and mission on this earth as a “Kindness Influencer”.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#767676″ custom_margin=”50px|||-70px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_phone=”|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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My vision is a W<\/span>orld where E<\/span>veryone P<\/span>erforms A<\/span>cts of R<\/span>andom K<\/span>indness #wePARK<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”88%” custom_padding=”13px||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#767676″ width=”97%” custom_margin=”25px|||30px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”25px|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_phone=”25px|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
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After earning my Masters in Higher Education and working for the corporate, non-profit and public sectors, I decided to pursue my vision full-time and started my own company in January 2010. I had no business plan, no employees, no email list or social media following. All I had was my vision and my self-confidence in planning successful large and small scale events. Nine months later, I founded <\/span><\/span>PARK Project<\/span><\/span>, a 501c3 non profit movement to inspire people to P<\/span>erform A<\/span>cts of R<\/span>andom K<\/span>indness worldwide.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#767676″ width=”97%” custom_margin=”25px|||30px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”25px|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_phone=”25px|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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My early years as a social entrepreneur were stressful, to say the least! I was a “one woman show” producing prestigious events such as the Women’s Success Summit, FIU Torch Awards Gala, the City of Doral’s Earth Day and All Kids Included Family Arts Festival, to name a few! At the same time, I was recruiting and mobilizing a team of volunteers to create my first signature event, which later became the 5K PARK Fest, inspiring thousands of people to PARKticipate and fundraise $50,000+ for dozens of local non-profits and schools! \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#767676″ custom_margin_tablet=”||||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_orientation_tablet=”left” text_orientation_phone=”left” text_orientation_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Allow me to\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>BRAG<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> (<\/span><\/span>B<\/span><\/span><\/span>e <\/span><\/span>R<\/span><\/span><\/span>eal <\/span><\/span>A<\/span>nd<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>G<\/span>rateful<\/span><\/span>)<\/span><\/span> about the Awards & Honors I’ve received:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#767676″ text_font_size=”15px” custom_margin=”-9px|||100px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”|||30px|false|false” custom_margin_phone=”|||30px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
\n- BizBash,<\/span> Fund-Raising Event Planner of the Year, Winner<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
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AXA Advisors, Philanthropic Business Women of the Year, Finalist<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
SFL Minority Supplier Dev. Council, Doing Well While Doing Good Award, Winner<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
BizBash, Event Producer of the Year, Finalist<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Miami Herald Business Plan Challenge, 3rd Place, Winner<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
South Florida Business Journal\u2019s 40 under 40, Nominee<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Dorothy Shula Award for Outstanding Volunteerism, Finalist<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
White House Champion of Change, Nominee<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\u201cChanging Face of Miami\u201d feature in Latino Leaders Magazine<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\u201cSpirit of Giving\u201d feature in Key Biscayne Magazine<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
“Miami’s Most Inspiring Stories” feature in Voyage MIA<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Master Storyteller Academy, “Master Storyteller” designation<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#767676″ width=”97%” custom_margin=”25px|||30px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_phone=”|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
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While I, and others, celebrated all my outward success, the truth is I was incredibly overwhelmed and suffering from chronic stress, anxiety and debilitating migraines. I wasn’t sleeping, barely eating, rarely socializing, never exercising and always working around the clock. Eventually… you guessed it. I BURNED OUT!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#767676″ width=”97%” custom_margin=”25px|||30px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”25px|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_phone=”25px|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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That’s when life forced me to start my “Self-Care Quest” and I began to realize that the only way to stop burning out consistently is to be the <\/span><\/span>SPARK<\/span><\/span> (S<\/span>omeone who P<\/span>erforms A<\/span>nd\u00a0R<\/span>eceives K<\/span>indness), starting with my own.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#767676″ width=”97%” custom_margin=”25px|||30px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”25px|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_phone=”25px|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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I’ll be forever grateful<\/span><\/span>\u00a0for the practice of yoga helping me befriend who I <\/span><\/span>WAS<\/span><\/span> (W<\/span>orried. A<\/span>nxious. S<\/span>tressed) and connect with who I <\/span><\/span>AM<\/span><\/span>