1 of 3 Stylist Candice Gilmore braids Arianna Williamson—a 5th grader at Caribbean K-8—as her mother, Ivelisse Rivera, looks on. Students look over the wealth of free school supplies as part of a community back-to-school event.Small businesses and non-profits join together for free BTS event The Rodriguez team, Mo, of The Cut Stop Barbershop and Dr. Alecia Rodriguez of the Kiwanis Club of Miami, made the recent back-to-school event a reality for more than 100 in-need students.Small businesses and non-profits join together for free BTS event Thanks to a coalition of 13 small businesses and non-profits, as well as a dynamic husband and wife team, more than 100 in-need students were prepared for the recent opening of school in Miami-Dade County. And all for free. Under the auspicious of Miami Bridge Youth and Family Services and hosted by The Cut Stop Barbershop in Palmetto Bay, the students in kindergarten through 12th grade and their families gathered for everything from haircuts/braiding to school supplies in preparation for the 2026-27 school year. “This is something that was never done for us growing up,” said Mo Rodriguez, The Cut Barbershop owner, who originally is from the United States Virgin Islands. “We’re trying to get the kids ready for school year. The demand is here. Change and improvement in the community has to start somewhere.” In addition to The Cut Stop, the Kiwanis Club of Miami and Sadie’s Daughter Initiative supplied school supplies; Hope Advancement Group and Haus of Jacques provided hair braiding services; Yolanda James of The Glam Vlt provided brow tinting; Lady DJA provided hygiene kits; Unique Therapy provided vouchers for free counseling services, while You’ve Been Baked (gourmet treats), Twizted Salads More, and Sistaz With A Purpose (breakfast and lunch) provided the food for the event. Living in Abundance coordinated the event, bringing these organizations together for a purpose. “This is a special day for these families,” said Dr. Alecia Rodriguez, founder and psychotherapist of Unique Therapy and incoming president of the Kiwanis Club of Miami, one of South Florida’s most active community service organizations. Dr. Rodriguez also is part of the husband and wife team, along with The Cut Shop’s Mo Rodriguez, that made the back-to-school event a reality. “For many of these children, many of whom have experienced trauma and instability, the start of a new school year can carry added financial and emotional weight,” she said. “This event brings together a network of local network of local businesses and nonprofits donating their time, products and services to ensure that these students began the school year with the supplies, confidence and care that they needed.” To be involved in future Kiwanis Club of Miami projects designed to improve the lives of children, contact Dr. Rodriguez at [email protected].     ABOUT US: For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area. This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community. Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com. If you have any questions, feel free to email [email protected] or [email protected] post Small businesses and non-profits join together for free BTS event first appeared on Miami's Community News. ...read more read less