Board Of Directors

The Children's Trust Board of Directors

The Children’s Trust is led by a 33-member volunteer board of directors designed to include a broad representation of leadership from across Miami-Dade with varied levels of expertise. Its makeup is officially codified by Florida statute and many seats are term limited.

Appointed by the Florida governor
Board Member Affiliation
Constance Collins, Esq. Gubernatorial Appointee
Pastor Richard P. Dunn II Gubernatorial Appointee
Lourdes P. Gimenez Gubernatorial Appointee
Nicole Gomez Gubernatorial Appointee
Marissa Joy Leichter, Esq. Gubernatorial Appointee
Tiombe Bisa Kendrick-Dunn Gubernatorial Appointee
Annie R. Neasman Gubernatorial Appointee
Appointed according to the office they hold
Board Member Affiliation
Magaly Abrahante, Ed.D. Designee from the Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Morris Copeland Mayor of Miami-Dade County or non-voting designee
Gilda Ferradaz Circuit Community Development Administrator
Nelson Hincapie Designee appointed by the Mayor of Miami-Dade County
Hon. Orlando A. Prescott Chief Judge of the Unified Children's Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, or designee
Sandra West President of the Miami-Dade County PTA-PTSA
Appointed to represent an institution
Board Member Affiliation
Laura Adams Designee from Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office
Daniel Bagner, Ph.D. Designee of Florida International University, appointed by the President
Hon. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, Ph.D. Member appointed by the School Board of Miami-Dade County
Hon. Danielle Cohen Higgins Member appointed by the chair of the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners
Mary Donworth Designee of the United Way of Miami-Dade County
Hon. Juan Fernandez-Barquin Member of the State of Florida Legislature appointed by the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation Chair
Valrose Graham Circuit Manager of the Department of Juvenile Justice
Mindy Grimes-Festge Representative of the United Teachers of Dade
Kenneth C. Hoffman Member appointed by the MCCJ
Pamela Hollingsworth Designee from the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe
Susan Neimand, EdD Designee from Miami-Dade College, appointed by College President
Emily Rosendo Representative from the Student Government Association
Hon. Isaac Salver Elected official appointed by the League of Cities representing the residents of a municipality located within Miami-Dade County
Mark A. Trowbridge Member selected by a coalition of the local chambers of commerce
Karen Weller, RN Designee of Miami-Dade County Public Health Department
Appointed at-large by the board of directors
Board Member Affiliation
Edward Abraham Member At-Large
Matthew Arsenault Member At-Large
Javier Reyes Member At-Large
Vacant Member At-Large
Board Member Affiliation
Magaly Abrahante, Ed.D. Designee from the Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Laura Adams Designee from Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office
Edward Abraham Member At-Large
Matthew Arsenault Member At-Large
Daniel Bagner, Ph.D. Designee of Florida International University, appointed by the President
Hon. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, Ph.D. Member appointed by the School Board of Miami-Dade County
Hon. Danielle Cohen Higgins Member appointed by the chair of the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners
Morris Copeland Mayor of Miami-Dade County or non-voting designee
Constance Collins, Esq. Gubernatorial Appointee
Mary Donworth Designee of the United Way of Miami-Dade County
Pastor Richard P. Dunn II Gubernatorial Appointee
Hon. Juan Fernandez-Barquin Member of the State of Florida Legislature appointed by the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation Chair
Valrose Graham Circuit Manager of the Department of Juvenile Justice
Gilda Ferradaz Circuit Community Development Administrator
Lourdes P. Gimenez Gubernatorial Appointee
Mindy Grimes-Festge Representative of the United Teachers of Dade
Nicole Gomez Gubernatorial Appointee
Nelson Hincapie Designee appointed by the Mayor of Miami-Dade County
Kenneth C. Hoffman Member appointed by the MCCJ
Pamela Hollingsworth Designee from the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe
Marissa Joy Leichter, Esq. Gubernatorial Appointee
Tiombe Bisa Kendrick-Dunn Gubernatorial Appointee
Annie R. Neasman Gubernatorial Appointee
Susan Neimand, EdD Designee from Miami-Dade College, appointed by College President
Hon. Orlando A. Prescott Chief Judge of the Unified Children's Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, or designee
Javier Reyes Member At-Large
Emily Rosendo Representative from the Student Government Association
Hon. Isaac Salver Elected official appointed by the League of Cities representing the residents of a municipality located within Miami-Dade County
Mark A. Trowbridge Member selected by a coalition of the local chambers of commerce
Karen Weller, RN Designee of Miami-Dade County Public Health Department
Sandra West President of the Miami-Dade County PTA-PTSA
Vacant Member At-Large