What if we listened to each other?

What if we stepped up to be the change?

Get your free ticket today for Break the Bias where we join with our neighbors to reflect and learn from each other’s experiences and identities so that we can live in a community, free of bias, where everyone can feel valued.

Local panelists from high school students to adult community leaders, representing different races, ethnicities, faiths ages and genders, sharing personal stories including:

Plus, live music chosen to inspire collaborative commitment for repairing the world

GENERAL INFORMATION

Doors open at 6:00 PM, and the program will begin promptly at 6:30 PM. Registration required, see below.

Located at The Banyan Bowl at Pinecrest Gardens, 11000 Red Road, Pinecrest, FL 33156. At the corner of SW 112th Street (Killian Road) and SW 57th Avenue (Red Road).

Parking is available at the venue for no cost.

Tickets are required to enter the venue! Register here.

Donations and sponsorships are encouraged.

Our Speakers

Samantha Gitlin

Dr. Miriam Lipsky

Shannon del Prado

Johnathon L’Amoreaux

Jordan Bankston

Ava McCabe

Samantha Gitlin (Sami) is a junior at Gulliver Prep in Miami, Florida. She is an active advocate in her community, with her passion being DEI related work. Samantha dedicates much of her efforts to a non-profit, The Miami Advocacy Project, which she co-created while in high school. She also enjoys putting her time into journalism, science and giving back to her community. A fun fact about Samantha is that she is training her puppy, Ralph, to be a service dog for the Miami Cancer Center.

Dr. Miriam Lipsky serves as the Director of Special Projects in the office of the provost, and is an adjunct faculty member in the School of Education and Human Development, and the leader of Intergroup Dialogue programs at the University of Miami. Dr. Lipsky has helped spearhead UM’s Intergroup Dialogue initiative, teaches a course for undergraduates on Intergroup Dialogue, and launched the UDialogue program on Intergroup Dialogue for faculty and graduate students. As part of her work at UM, Dr. Lipsky designs and leads educational programs about diversity and inclusion, and consults with units throughout the university on programs to promote a Culture of Belonging.

Rabbi Jeremy Barras is the Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth Am in Pinecrest, Florida. Rabbi Barras has received awards for teaching and for his role in community relations. Rabbi Barras currently serves as a member of the CCAR Board of Trustees, as Co-Chair of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Synagogue Relations Board, and on the Executive Board of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami. When not working or spending time with his family, Rabbi Barras enjoys playing golf, tennis, reading and playing with his dog, GiGi, and his cats, Miracle Sox and Parrot.

Rev. Dr. Jeremy Upton dedicates his life to serving God by serving people as a husband, father, pastor, chaplain, and as a mentor. Dr. Upton earned his bachelor’s degree at the historic Morehouse College, a Masters in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, a Doctor of Ministry degree from Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology, as well as postgraduate study at Oxford University (Regents Park College) in England. “Pastor J” is the founding pastor of the Refuge Church in Homestead. In order to expand his service to his community, Pastor J also works as a part-time chaplain at Homestead Hospital. Pastor J and his lovely wife Brianna are blessed with three children and make their home in the Homestead area.

Shannon del Prado sits on the Village council of Pinecrest as a Councilmember and is a lawyer and a founding partner at Pita Weber Del Prado. Councilmember del Prado served as the first female President of the Miami-Dade Trial Lawyers Association in over thirty years, as well as the first Hispanic female President in the organization’s history. Councilmember del Prado has a long history of volunteerism in the community, including organizing six South Florida Medical Teams that have performed surgeries for the disadvantaged in Peru.

Johnathon L’Amoreaux is a senior attending the School for Advanced Studies South Campus. Originally born in the capital of Florida, Tallahassee, Johnathon moved to Miami while in third grade. His passion in life lives in the arts, technology, and advocacy for his local community. Johnathon currently focusses on expanding LGBT+ education along with technology accessibility within schools and the greater Miami area. His go-to motto is, “Make the world a better place than you found it.”

Jordan Bankston is not only a star basketball player on the Gulliver Prep Varsity Team, he also is a highly regarded leader around the Gulliver Prep Campus where he has grown and flourished both on and off the court. Jordan is the Raidervision News Director, President of the Black Student Union, a mentor for the Link Mentor Program at Gulliver, a DEI-Council Member and founded the Culture Club at Gulliver. Jordan plans to pursue his passion for broadcasting in
college.

Ava McCabe is a sophomore at Miami Killian Senior High School. She is a first sergeant in the school’s JROTC program. She is an active participant in the drill team, marching band, and fishing club. Ava hopes to attend college abroad. While not at school, Ava enjoys nature, photography, and making a difference.

unBIASed – a Temple Beth Am initiative

Sponsored By

Adrian and Ken Dubow

Lisa and Brian Gitlin

Shelley and Joe Jacoby

Jack and Shirley Kaplan

Susan and Dick Lampen

Pamela and Brett Lear

Edith Osman and Paul Pataky 

Lily and David Serviansky

For additional sponsorship opportunities, contact us at [email protected].