Attorney Benjamin E. Wilson was named Executive Committee Chairman of PetNet, the Young Professional division of the Humane Society of Greater Miami. PetNet is a diverse membership group of young professionals united by a love for animals who “party with a purpose” to create awareness about responsible pet ownership and raise funds for homeless pets at the Humane Society. PetNet meets each month at different Miami hot spots for yappy hours, mixers and themed get-togethers. Prior to this Wilson was the events coordinator of PetNet. His duty as chairman is to lead the group to meet their goals and oversee all activities. Wilson is an attorney in the Real Estate division of Shutts & Bowen’s Miami Office. Originally from Paducah, Kentucky, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from Murray State University in 1999. In 2003, he received his law degree with honors from the University of Louisville School Of Law. Since relocating to Miami, he has been a very active member of the community, presently serving as Director of the Dade County Bar Young Lawyers Association’s eMentoring Program.

The American Association of Museums (AAM) has again given accreditation to the 0Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum at Florida International University, being initially accredited in 1999. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. Of the nation’s estimated 17,500 museums, 775 are currently accredited. The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum is one of only 50 museums accredited in Florida. “Accreditation is emblematic of an institution’s commitment to public service and to overall excellence,” said Ford W. Bell, AAM president. “Attaining accreditation involves taking a hard look at yourself, allowing your peers in the field to do the same, and being judged to be superior in all areas.” AAM Accreditation brings national recognition to a museum for its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement.

The 4th Annual Autumn Moonlight fundraising event at Specialty Automotive Treatments (SAT) in Fort Lauderdale raised over $100,000 for the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (UM-NSU CARD). Generously hosted by Rafael Jorge, owner of Specialty Automotive Treatments, Autumn Moonlight honored Miami Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland, his wife Rachel and Senator Nan Rich, for all of their hard work, commitment, and support they have contributed to the autism community in South Florida. Autumn Moonlight, an annual festive fundraising celebration, is designed to raise awareness of autism and support the programs, services and research initiatives of UM-NSU CARD.

New Theatre (THE NEW) continued it’s “family” theme season with the National New Play Network’s Rolling World Premiere of Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them. This timely and controversial work examined the lives of two all but abandoned teens having to create a makeshift family and its values while getting through the pangs of growing up. New Theatre joins the prestigious Humana Festival of New Plays at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, where it had its first production and the Actor’s Express in Atlanta, GA to present the National New Play Network’s Rolling World Premiere of Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them.

A team of fifty volunteers from Starbucks, City Year Miami, and the local community joined Rebuilding Together Miami Dade to participate in Operation Rebuild for Heroes at Home, a nationwide program developed by the Sears Holding Corporation and Rebuilding Together to renovate the homes of military veterans and their families. 74-year old veteran Amos Jordan has spent most of his life serving his country, both overseas in Vietnam as well as in his local community but this Veterans’ Day weekend, it was the community’s turn to serve him.

Lauren Cornell was the featured speaker for an interactive discussion in the Museum Of Contemporary Art (MOCA) by MOONLIGHT Spotlight series. She is the Adjunct Curator at the New Museum and executive director of Rhizome , the New Museum’s online platform. Rhizome, promotes and contextualizes emerging artistic practices that engage technology. Through open platforms for exchange and collaboration, the website serves to encourage and expand communities around these practices and draws attention to the complex interrelationships between technology, art and culture. Ms. Cornell curated the current exhibition Free, which explores the role of the internet as a cultural catalyst, and co-curated The Generational: Younger Than Jesus, the New Museum’s inaugural 2007 exhibition Unmonumental and a solo show of works by the web art group Young-Hae Change Heavy Industries.

Greater Miami Youth Symphony receives a donation from Josh Groban's Find Your Light Foundation, which is dedicated to enriching the lives of young people through arts, education, and cultural awareness. GMYS is one of the arts education nonprofit organizations selected by Groban to receive funds from The Find Your Light Foundation during his "Straight to You" tour. "Ensuring every child has the opportunity to experience an arts education is very important to me," said Groban. "GMYS shares this goal with me, and it gives me great pleasure to highlight the work they do." Taking the foundation's mission one step further, Groban is partnering with Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, to launch a joint text-to-give campaign, which will run for the duration of his "Straight to You" tour in 2011.

Jones Lang LaSalle Florida partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Southern Florida to grant wishes to four children with life threatening illnesses. The firm’s fundraising efforts culminated in a $20,000 check presented to Norm Wedderburn, President and CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Southern Florida, during a celebratory event. At an average cost of $5,000 per wish, the funds go to making the child’s dream of being something, meeting someone, travelling somewhere or having something come true. “Jones Lang LaSalle has made it possible for us to bring hope, strength and joy to four local children,” said Wedderburn. “Their support has made a significant difference in the lives of the courageous children we serve.”

Developer and founder of Dezer Properties, Michael Dezer, has partnered with Connecting Our Cultures, a non-profit organization committed to creating a more unified community through hands-on interaction and the education of many cultures, to deliver his most recent one-of-a-kind project -- the world’s largest Sukkah built out of children’s building blocks. South Florida’s melting pot of cultures, all existing ostensibly under one roof, is the inspiration behind the Dezer Sukkah. A Sukkah is a temporary shelter with a roof of branches built in Jewish homes, yards, or temples in celebration of the festival of Sukkot.

Tower Theater is one of Miami's most historic cultural landmarks, showcasing the finest in international cinema. It is located in the heart of the Little Havana neighborhood, this 1926 theater is run by Miami-Dade College and features Spanish-language and English-language films with Spanish subtitles. It also hosts lectures and exhibitions.