Meet the ReServists!

One of the great things about working at Catalyst Miami is that people from a myriad of backgrounds and at all different places in their life are here working together for the same cause. From student interns to retired professionals giving back, we're not short on diversity! Today we want to highlight some of our newest family members who are part of ReServe Miami, a program that matches professional who are 55+ with service opportunities. These ReServists have a wealth of experience and talents and are using them in their work with Catalyst Miami's Prosperity Campaign, which matches low- to moderate-income people with public benefits and financial literacy training to help them thrive.

Miltoria Fordham recently retired after serving nine years as the President & CEO of Partners for Self Employment, Inc. a local nonprofit. She has served on various nonprofit boards and has tremendous experience in nonprofit strategic planning, management, development and organization. She is the former Executive Director of the Martin Luther King Development Corporation. Currently, she is President of the Board of the Community Action Agency Foundation which provides financial support and in-kind contribution to various programs operated by Miami-Dade County Community Action and Human Services Department. Miltoria is also a member of Booker T. Washington Alumni Association which provides support for low-income and homeless students and the school with financial and in-kind support and in-kind contributions.

Catalyst Contributors: Luke Soto

Hi everyone! My name is Luke Soto. I was born and raised here in Miami in Coconut Grove and I must admit that I love this city. I spent four years in New York City for my undergraduate studies at Columbia University. My major was Hispanic Studies with a minor in Anthropology so you could say that people are my passion I guess. Some issues in Miami that I find I really care about are homelessness (especially now that many of the kitchens that would feed these people are being shut down or limited in their capacity) and education (need I say more?). This is why I thoroughly enjoy the placement I have been given in Catalyst Miami.  I am working with ReServe Miami, a program that helps 55+ year old retirees continue to use the skills they have built up throughout their careers with part-time job opportunities that serve people in Miami. Some of these retirees (we call them ReServists) are placed at public schools as College Counselors for students, while others help with adult literacy programs in public libraries all over Miami. I hope to be able to learn a lot about what it takes to get a young program like ReServe up and running, and to continue to use those skills later in life to help those who need it. Maybe one day I’ll be a ReServist.

            However, before then I plan to attend a graduate school for social work and will be doing all the applications and tests that are, as a result, unfortunately required during this year. Either way I hope to give you all a good glimpse of what goes on here at Catalyst on the daily.

-Luke