a message from our president...
As a long standing community partner of the Miami Coalition for the Homeless, I am writing to let you know that I have been elected the 2010 President of the Coalition.
I'd like to tell you a little about myself. First, I have experienced homelessness. Professionally, for the past 11 years I've held the position of Director of Permanent Housing at Better Way of Miami. I have had the pleasure and honor to serve as a volunteer leader for such key agencies as the Homeless Trust, the Homeless/Formerly Homeless Forum, the Community Action Agency, and, of course, the Coalition.
I feel that my unique personal and professional background provide me with a distinctive perspective regarding poverty and homelessness as they relate to policy, advocacy and social services issues.
On behalf of my fellow Board members and our professional staff, I want you to know that we look forward to continuing to working with you to eradicate poverty and end homelessness in our community.
Sincerely,
Pauline Clarke-Trotman
President, Pauline Clarke-Trotman:
Pauline relocated her business and family from New York City to Miami Florida in 1990. Due to several issues affecting residents of our great nation she found herself homeless and living on the streets of Miami-Dade County. Upon entering Miami Dade County Homeless Trust Continuum of Care, Ms. Clarke-Trotman was able to address her issues and return to school. She obtained her first degree with a 4.0 GPA (Summa Cum Laude) and her second with 3.8 GPA (Magna Cum Laude).
To show her gratitude, while attending school and working part-time, Ms. Clarke-Trotman began to volunteer for one of the Continuum of Care service providers. Eventually, she was hired and continues to be a valuable asset to the Agency as an advocate to the company mission as well as the homelessness issue in Miami Dade County.
As the Director of Permanent Housing, Ms. Clarke Trotman has spear-headed the current housing solutions for the clients the Agency serves to include Better Way West (celebrating 8 years of providing housing), Better Way Apartments (celebrating 13 years of providing housing), Better Way North (celebrating 5 years of providing housing), and Better Way to Live (celebrating 1 year of providing housing).
Ms. Clarke Trotman continues to be actively involved in a number of Boards and committees. Her passion for finding solutions to community needs stems from her commitment to see all people, regardless of background and experience, to be productive members of society. Some of her commitments include: Board member on the Miami Dade County Homeless Trust Board, serving on the Continuum of Care and Housing committees; member of the Dade County Housing Committee; Board member for the Miami Coalition for the Homeless Board, serving on the Strategic Planning and Marketing/Awareness committees; current Vice President of the Allapattah Community Advisory Committee; current Chairperson for the Homeless/Formally Homeless Forum; past Vice Chair of the Homeless Formerly Homeless Forum, Member of the Providers’ Forum and the current Director of Permanent Housing for Better Way of Miami, Inc.
Her constant dedication to the community is fostered by her understanding of community needs which holds a variety of avenues including housing solutions, mental health services, substance abuse services, crime, and homelessness to the current population of the elderly, the disenfranchised, youth, and other vulnerable populations. In order to serve as a role model as well as grow on both a professional and personal level, Ms. Clarke Trotman holds a Certified Behavioral Health Technician (CBHT) certification from the State of Florida Certification Board.
The Homeless Formerly Homeless Forum, Inc. a non-for profit 501 © (3) consumer-based organization, established in 1993. to promote and preserve the dignity and quality of life for men, women, and children who have experienced homeless by pursuing comprehensive and cooperative solutions to the problems facing families and individuals living on the streets of Miami-Dade County. Under Ms. Clarke-Trotman’s directions as the Chair of has taken the lead for the Miami Dade County Homeless Memorial Candlelight Vigil in conjunction with National Homeless Persons Memorial Day; contributed every year in the City of Miami’s outreach effort through their “Miami Cares Day” event; continues to be a member of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC) organizing and conducting monthly Rights Restoration Workshops and Voter’s Registration events in collaboration with the ACLU of Florida; participates with the Office of the State Attorney and the Public Defenders’ Office on Seal & Expungement events; played a part in coordinating homeless and formerly homeless individuals to be interviewed for the Homeless Information/Awareness videos; acted ad a judge each year for the Annual Student Short Film Competition . Ms. Clarke-Trotman has been a distinguished panelist for the East Coast Conference on Hunger and Homelessness as well as the Alliance for Human Services Housing Summit. Pauline has attended many conferences, including for the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Camillus House Institute of Homeless Studies, Barry University, and the Florida Coalition for the Homeless. Ms Clarke-Trotman is a strong advocate, who has visited both our State and National legislators several times to give her personal testimony on behalf of housing, services and homeless issues. While in Tallahassee, Florida, Pauline was asked by the chair to speak at the committee meeting during the session to approve The” Jack Davis Florida Restaurant Lending a Helping Hand Act.”
Vice-President, Monica Vigues-Pitan:
Monica Vigues-Pitan is a Senior Attorney of the Employment and Economic Security (EES) Unit at Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. The EES Unit handles public benefits, access to healthcare, special education, tax, limited family law matters and other civil law areas affecting the low-income community of Miami-Dade County. Monica practices mostly in the area of public benefits law, concentrating on Medicaid issues. She has represented clients in the appellate level in both state and federal courts. For several years, Monica directed the Homeless Legal Advocacy Project and coordinated with community agencies to holistically address the legal needs of the homeless community. Monica is a graduate from the University of Miami School Of Law.
Secretary, Cleveland Bell III:
Cleveland Bell III, a Miami resident for over 40 years, serves as Executive Director for Riverside House, a non-profit faith based organization. Once a jailed criminal himself, the story of Cleve’s turnaround is an inspiration to many prisoners and community organizations today. He is an admired figure known for his community activism as a program development assistant and is nationally recognized as a leader and expert on ex-offender community reentry programs.
Cleve’s career with community organizations and program development assistance began in 1977 when he was released from jail and began to work with Denver Smoot at Turning Point, a substance abuse program in Miami, Florida. During Cleve’s time as the program director he organized and facilitated the Liberty City Coffee House, led a drug/alcohol recovery group, partnered with Baptist Ministerial Association, and conducted a weekly bible study at Range Funeral Home.
Cleve received an Associate of Arts degree from Miami Dade Community College in 1975 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in fine arts and music from Florida International University in 1977. During college and thereafter, Cleve was determined to make an impact in the church community, which included his involvement in the charismatic movement of the 1970’s at Good Shepard Lutheran Church. He worked with such prominent figures as Bill Meadows, Charles Babcock, and Ray Goode, to guide the committee that organized and coordinated the signature annual Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast.
As a community program organizer, Cleve has worked with such notable community influencers such as former Miami-Dade County Mayor, Alex Penelas, former Homeless Trust Executive Director, Sergio Gonzalez, and former Homeless Trust Board Member, Alvah Chapman. Additionally, Cleve was one of nine founding members of Kairos, International Prison Ministry and is a former board member and current member of the International Community Corrections Association (ICCA). He was also elected to former Florida Governor Lawton Chiles’ Homeless Strategic Planning Committee.
A leader in state, federal and county initiatives, Cleve has also been instrumental in the success of Riverside House leading the organization to raise over $20 million over the last 25 years. More over, Cleve has traveled around the world to speak at conventions for such organizations as the ICCA and Kairos Ministry.
In the Miami community Cleve is well known for his role as the former chaplain of the Miami Heat, the Miami Dolphins, the Marlins and the LPGA. In addition, Cleve composed the opening music for Miami Dolphins games at the Orange Bowl. Cleve has been featured in numerous newspaper and national publications such as the Miami Herald and the ICCA special publication on “Religion and the Soul of Corrections.” He has also appeared on Montage, The 700 Club, the Trinity Broadcasting Network, The Protestant Worship Hour, local Miami Christian radio stations, WEDR 99 Jams, and the television affiliates of ABC, CBS and NBC.
Treasurer, Ileana Salort:
Immediate Past President, Arthur J. Rosenberg:
Arthur Rosenberg is an attorney with Florida Legal Services, a statewide non-profit that provides legal services to the poor. He previously directed the Homeless Unit at Legal Services of Greater Miami, providing legal assistance to homeless persons throughout Miami-Dade County.
His work at Florida Legal Services (FLS) primarily involves legislative and policy advocacy, focused on homeless, housing, consumer, public benefits and employment issues. His work has included: securing passage of living wage ordinances by Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, the City of Miami Beach, the City of Miami and seeking passage of similar ordinances in other Florida municipalities; co-counsel in Pottinger v. City of Miami, a federal lawsuit protecting the civil rights of homeless persons; assuring compliance with the Florida Labor Pool Act, a state law FLS helped pass to eliminate the exploitation of workers by day labor pools; helping securing the passage in the Florida Legislature of the Florida Title Loan Act, Payday Loan Act, and a law classifying certain crimes against homeless persons a hate crime; and expanding unemployment insurance eligibility and access for low wage workers. Mr. Rosenberg is the immediate past president of MCH and is presently a member of the Governor's Statewide Council on Homelessness.
Director, Agustin "Gus" J. Barrera:
Director, Maria Cristina Barros:
Maria Cristina Barros has been the Director of Marketing and Community Relations for WSCV Telemundo 51 since October of 2008.
Maria Cristina joined WSCV in January 1985 as part of the team that put the station on the air in June of that year. Her responsibilities throughout the years have always included management of the station’s Community and Public Relations and Programming. In 1992 she took on additional responsibilities, becoming Creative Services Director to oversee all aspects of on-air and off-air promotions and advertising. From April 2005 until October 2008 Maria Cristina also managed Community and Public Relations for WTVJ NBC6.
In her current role, Maria Cristina’s primary responsibilities include providing the creative and strategic direction for marketing the station, as well as managing the stations’ partnerships, special events, public service campaigns, and media relations. She also oversees the NBC Universal Foundation’s grants in South Florida, which currently funds four programs for at-risk high school students in Miami Dade and Broward Counties and which to date has distributed $550,000 in foundation grants to local organizations. She also produces the station’s annual Liga Contra el Cancer telethon which during the last thirteen years has helped to raise a total of over $40 million dollars for this local organization which provides free cancer screenings and all types of treatments to uninsured victims of the disease.
Prior to starting her career in broadcasting in 1985, Maria Cristina’s professional development had been in the public sector, having worked first as a Court Counselor in the Juvenile Court system, and subsequently serving as Director of Latin Affairs for Miami Dade County government for four years before joining WSCV.
Maria Cristina is the recipient of two Suncoast Emmy Awards.
She has held various leadership positions in community, arts, and business organizations throughout the years. She has a degree in Political Science and Urban Affairs from Jacksonville University.
Maria Cristina is married and has one son.
Director, Luther Brewster: 
Dr. Brewster is an Assistant Professor of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at Florida International University’s Robert Stempel School of Public Health. His focus is the identification and remediation of inadvertent health risks created by non-health related programs, policies and projects. Prior to joining the faculty at FIU he consulted on numerous community development projects including but not limited to the expansion of the 125th Street business district in Harlem, New York, and the Arsenal, F.C. Emirates Stadium & housing regeneration project in London, England. He has a consistent track record of implementing grassroots strategies to combating community ails, stressing community participation and equitable solutions. Recognizing the irrefutable connection between basic human needs and health risks, Dr. Brewster views his service to MCH as an opportunity to work with like-minded individuals towards a goal that will pay dividends to several sectors of society – but most importantly to the individuals and families that are homeless in South Florida.
Director, Yvonne G. Grassie:
Yvonne Grassie served as President of the Board of Directors of the Miami Coalition for the Homeless from 1994-1997 and from 2002-2005.
Yvonne Grassie is a Shareholder at Greenburg Traurig. She practices corporate and transactional health care law, and provides compliance and regulatory counsel to heath care providers. Her health care clients include physician groups, durable medical equipment companies, home health agencies, independent diagnostic testing facilities, pharmacies, home infusion providers, medical billing companies, staffing companies, and individual health care providers, among others.
In representing her clients, Yvonne takes into consideration both the client's obligation to comply with applicable rules and regulations and the client's business needs. She engages in short- and long-term business and structural planning with her clients, and functions as part of the client's outside workforce. Yvonne has experience in HIPAA, federal and state physician self-referral prohibitions, including Stark, anti-kickback legislation, provider conditions of participation and state licensure requirements.
Yvonne is certified by The Florida Bar as a legal specialist in Health Law.
Her Corporate practice includes corporate and partnership documentation, asset and stock acquisitions, all types of transactional arrangements, and employment and consulting agreements for a wide range of public and private corporations and entrepreneurs.
Director, Wayne Jones:
Lieutenant Wayne Jones is a veteran officer with the Miami Beach Police Department where he previously managed the Community Affairs Unit and served as the intra-departmental liaison to the other city departments including its Homeless Outreach Office. Wayne recently co-authored a revision to the police department’s homeless policy which now more closely takes into account the rights of homeless individuals to engage in life sustaining misdemeanors. It also requires officers to offer shelter and services through referral to the Homeless Outreach Office when coming into contact with homeless individuals.
Recognizing that our community’s homeless population is rapidly increasing, Wayne believes that the only way to effect positive, meaningful and sustainable change to the trend is through the committed and combined efforts of all stakeholders.
Wayne, a licensed pilot, earned his Associate of Science Degree in Aviation from Miami Dade College and dual Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Public Administration and Political Science from Florida Memorial University. He attended graduate school at Florida International University where he majored in Integrated Communications.
Director, Barbara Junge:
Barbara A. Junge currently clerks for the Honorable William M. Hoeveler, Senior United States District Judge, Southern District of Florida, for whom she has clerked for fifteen years. Ms. Junge also was an Assistant United States Attorney, and she litigated as a partner in a small law firm. In 1993, she received her law degree from New York University and her Master’s Degree in Public and International Affairs from Princeton University. Ms. Junge is a former Chair of The Florida Bar's Federal Court Practice Committee, and currently serves on the Standing Committee on Professionalism. She also has chaired a Grievance Committee for The Florida Bar, and served on the Judicial Nominating Procedures Committee and Judicial Evaluation Committee. Ms. Junge has served for many years as a Trustee for Bay Shore Lutheran Church, and is active on the Board of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of South Florida. In 1994, Ms. Junge created a “Homelessness Prevention Project” for the Sarasota office of Gulfcoast Legal Services, and was instrumental in establishing the Sarasota County Coalition for the Homeless; she also served for many years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Florida Coalition for the Homeless.
Director, Jason Pittman:
Jason Pittman earned a BA in psychology and sociology from Baylor University , Masters in Social Work from Baylor University, and a Master in Divinity from George W. Truett Seminary. He is presently working with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship as the Executive Director of an inner-city nonprofit ministry, Touching Miami with Love, www.touchingmiamiwithlove.org. He has worked in a variety of areas related to urban ministry and community development since 1994.
Director, Hon. Jeffrey Rosinek: 
Judge Jeffrey Rosinek was born in Brooklyn, New York and received his higher education in Miami, Florida with an A.B. degree in History and then a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law while teaching history and government at Coral Gables High School in Coral Gables, Florida. He was a partner of the Law Firm, Rosinek and Blake, and served as a County Court Judge (1986-1989) and was a Circuit Court Judge of the 11th Judicial Circuit Court, State of Florida (1999-2008) in charge of the Miami-Dade Drug Court and the Associate Administrator of the Appellate Division of the 11th Judicial Circuit.
Judge Rosinek has served on a variety of boards and commissions including: The City of Miami Environmental Committee (Chairman), 19th Congressional District Civilian Review Board (Chairman), and Dade County Advisory Council for Close Up Foundation (chairman), the Dade County Youth Relations Board and the South Florida Super Bowl XXXIII Host Committee. Judge Rosinek participated in many civic organizations, including: Organizing and initiating the Peer Review Panel with the Dade County Juvenile Court, President of the Biscayne Bay Kiwanis Club, Lt. Governor of the Florida District of Kiwanis, State Chairman of the Florida WALK FOR MANKIND, Chairman of the Beck Museum of Judaica, Board of Directors of the Miami-Dade Task Force for the Homeless, Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, Treasurer, Miami Coalition for the Homeless, President Carrfour Corporation (permanent housing for the Homeless), U of Miami Law School Alumni Board, Chabad of the Grove, Board of Advisors, Co- Chair Florida District of Key Club and its Counselor, President of the South Miami Kendall Bar Assoc. and Founder of the South Miami-Kendall Bar Pro Bono Program. He Organized the Friends of Drug Court, a 501© (3) not-for-profit Florida Corporation for the benefit of the Miami-Dade County Drug Court and presently serves as its Chairperson. He initiated an “Art in the Courtroom” program to bring student art, as well as local artists, into a public setting for the benefit of both the artist and the courts. He is a board member of the Coconut Grove Arts and Historical Association, Board Member of Addiction Studies, Miami Dade College, Co-Chair of the 20th Anniversary Celebration of Drug Courts in the United States and is President of Lafayette Reunion committee.
He has received many awards, most recently: Miami Police Department “H.E.R.O.S.” Award (2002), The Dade County Association of Chiefs of Police – “Outstanding Service Award” (2002), State of Florida Special Needs Association “Outstanding Business Partner of the Year” (2004), “The Justice Gerald Kogan Judicial Distinction Award,” (2005-6), presented by the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Miami Chapter, the 2006 Mellon “Community Service Award,” the 2007 South Miami Hospital “Jack Collins” Award and The Dade County Bar Association’s “Mario Goderich 2008 Legal Ethics Awar,.” Award from the Florida Association of Drug Court Professionals, Board Emeritus Award, August 2008.
Within the judiciary, Judge Rosinek has been, President of the American Judges Association (AJA) and Chaired two Annual AJA Education Conferences (Miami and Orlando) and established its Juvenile Justice Task Force. He served on the National Court Reporters Association Strategic Alliance Committee; The A.B.A’s Task Force on Reduction of Litigation, Cost and Delay; The Third National Symposium on Court Management: Symposium 2000: Meeting the Justice Needs of a Multi-cultural Society in the 21st Century; the faculty of the National Judicial College, Reno, Nevada and the faculty of the Florida College of Advanced Judicial Studies, the State Justice Institute’s, Substance Abuse Project, Advisory Committee, Consultant for John D. And Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Adolescent Development and Juvenile Justice. Judge Rosinek served as Charter Chairperson of the legislatively created Florida Association of Drug Court Professionals (2002 -2004) member of its executive committee and board of directors, 2004 to present, Honorary Chairman of the Friends of Drug Court and was appointed a member of the Florida Supreme Court’s Task Force on Treatment Based Drug-Courts, (2006 -2009 ) and Chair of the education sub-committee.
Judge Rosinek has been published in a variety of Journals and Newspapers including: Washington Times, op-ed, “Risks Come With Bench Bashing.” Chicago Tribune, op-ed, “Crime and Punishment: Are We Getting Tougher Or Are We Just Sweeping Children Under The Rug.” The Miami Herald, op-ed, “Find Better Way To Stem Youth Crime.” School Safety, Spring 1998, National School Safety Center News Journal, “Citizens Urged to Collaborate, Act Against Violence.” Florida Criminal Law Journal, Vol. XXI, No. 2, Summer 1998, “In Search of Juvenile Justice.” Journal of Court Reporting, Vol. 59, No. 9, July 1998, “The Guardian of the Record as an Integral Part of the Judicial System.” Court Review, Vol. 41, Issue 2, summer 2004, “Some Thoughts on the Problems of Judicial Elections.”
Judge Rosinek has lectured across the United States, Canada, Mexico and Japan on a variety of topics including: American Judges Association, “Drug Courts and the Drug Wars,” Cleveland, Ohio, October 1999, National Council for the Social Studies, “The Fourth Amendment and the Drug Wars,” Orlando, Florida, November, 1999, National Judicial College, “Children in Adult Courts,” Reno, Nevada, May, 2000 and September, 2000 and Orlando, Florida, January, 2001, American Judges Association, “Mental Health Issues In Our State Courts,” Reno, Nevada, October, 2001, Lecturer: National Judicial College, “Children as Adults in Courts,” Austin, Texas, August, 2002, , “The Independence of the Judiciary,” San Francisco, California, October, 2004 , American Judges Association, “Therapeutic Justice-the Drug Court Concept, September 2005, Anchorage, Alaska, “Educating Our Young About Drugs,” Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, February 2006, “Drug Court Experiment,” The 6th Annual Drug Court Conference, Scottsdale, Arizona, August 2006, “The Influence of Drug Courts,” The Florida Bar Association, Florida Lawyers Legal Insurance Seminar Lawyers, Miami, Florida, January 17, 2008 , “The Drug Court Explosion,” Ryukoku University, Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan, March 8 - 10, 2008, “Judicial Up-date,” South Miami-Kendall Bar Association, January, 2009, “ Drug Courts in all Courts,” Washington District Court Judges, Blaine, Washington, June 7-10, 2009, “Drug Treatment, Drug Courts,” American Judges Association, Las Vegas, Nevada, September 2009, “Drugs and Courts” teleconference, São Paulo Brazil State Prosecutor’s & Consulate in Rio de Janeiro, January 2010 and “ Prescription Drug Abuse: Multiple Perspectives on a Fatal Epidemic,” FAADA, Orlando, Florida, August 2010.
Co Chaired the 20th Anniversary celebration of the founding of Drug Court, May 2009, and a speaker at the National Association of Drug Court Professionals Congressional Leadership program, Washington D.C.
He is married to Sandra Rosen Rosinek and has a son Ian David and resides in Coral Gables, Florida.
Director, Linda Whitehead:
Linda Whitehead has been a dedicated member of the Coalition since 1980 and has served as secretary and vice president.
She is the Director of Administration for the University of Miami where she has worked for over 30 years.
She is a strong advocate for the homeless and works to identify problems and solve them with a combination of services and love.
