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You wake up in the morning to the sound of “cling cling cling cling clang clang clang clang clang” of a spoon beating against “la cafetera,” which isn’t just any coffee kettle, it’s a Cuban coffee kettle, somewhat smaller but filled with strong but sweet Cuban culture.
The scent fills your nostrils all the way from the kitchen into your bedroom, an aromatic conjuring which compels you and the rest your family, maybe even some of the neighbors, to come along to start the day with the irresistible taste.
“No puede faltar! (You can’t miss it!),” the day just hasn’t started off right if you haven’t wet your lips with the sugary goodness of “la espumita” the foam which lines the top of a Cuban coffee cup produced from the sugar.
You go to work and hear the sound of Latin jazz playing from a nearby shop or even from another car, you pass through Little Havana and witness the old men wearing “guayaberas” and smoking cigars, trying to best each other at dominos, a game they take very seriously.
You’re hard at work with the hustle and bustle of the day stressing you out, but somehow one of your coworkers manages to brighten the day as she brings in a large cup complete with little plastic shot cups to offer you and all the office some more Cuban coffee to keep you going.
Miami’s Cuban culture is just one of many beautiful cultures that make up the city’s rich history and diversity, but it reflects something special about its people’s character, kindness.
Kindness is what we’re all about at the Endow America Network Foundation, and the whole of South Florida is where we live and work every day.
This is the culture I grew up with, and it reflects the same qualities of all my friends here, no matter our culture or background. We start to realize that our cultures are precisely the things which add to the value and richness of our little corner of the world, a little paradise in its own way.
That’s not to say that Miami and South Florida are not without their share of problems. The issues which have plagued the rest of America and the whole world, are the same problems we have here on our streets. The impact 2020 had on our health and economy was devastating to say the least, not to mention the issues of homelessness and the overall looming threat of the national debt getting worse every day.
Despite all of this, we saw a dramatic decrease in crime, and witnessed a phenomenon that comes naturally to Miamians, people cooperating and helping out each other, the sense of “hey, we’re in this together” feels like a refreshing glass of water, or in Miami’s case, of ice cold “guarapo” (sugarcane juice). Maybe that was one of the blessings in disguise that last year’s events helped us realize, and Miami leads the way in that initiative to help their fellow human beings.
It’s only right that the push towards Social Secharity should begin with this city and all of South Florida, and with enough support it has enough potential to lead the entire country back on course towards freedom from debt and a more prosperous future for your children and mine.
So, whether you’re having a “hurricane party” like my grandmother used to do after hurricanes, cooking food for the whole neighborhood, or just bringing a little “cafecito” for your coworkers, you can be proud if you call this city your home. Miami is a beacon, leading the way towards an era of human kindness, let’s help each other out so we can get there faster.
Learn more at www.socialsecharity.org, or like us on Facebook @SocialSecharity.
Born and raised in the “305,” aka Miami, FL, Ossman J. Darwiche is a creative content writer by day, but by night he’s OZMAN, a talented Latin singer and songwriter with his first album coming out soon in both Spanish and English. Oz is proud to hail from a mixed heritage of Cuban-Jewish and Lebanese cultures, using his influences as the fuel for his music and writing. He also is a proud Panther, graduating from Florida International University in December 2019. Ozman is determined to make it big in the entertainment industry, and like all of us here at Endow America, he is proud to call Sunny South Florida, home.
