We’re also welcoming a local playwright who created a musical performance that examines the historic account of the sit-ins by four North Carolina college students in Greensboro, North Carolina in February of 1960. The play is called “Bravely We Sat Down, Fearlessly We Marched” and is presented by the Metropolitan Diversity Theatre Company at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale. Joining us to share more about the performance, is playwright, Tony Thompson and actress, Jesskia Timmons.   

“I am only where I am today because I had good mentors, I spent my teens in foster care” Judge Cynamon explained to CBS4’s Nicole Maristany. “I did end up going to college, going to law school, and I’m here today”.

She now volunteers as a mentor at places like The Miami Bridge, a haven for homeless and runaway teens.

“The youth that come here are all from the streets, they’ve been involved in gangs, prostituting” said Alfred Karram, Jr., founder of Miami Bridge’s mentoring program.

As a local business owner, Karram started as a volunteer and now heads the mentoring program at the Bridge.

The mentoring program serves teens that have experienced a difficult past – but the program offers them a promising future for participants like 17 year old Danielle Cabo-Jones.

“Before I ran away I was abused, I was abused in every way I was physically abused, sexually abused, emotionally abused” Cabo-Jones shared, “You feel like you have family because you all understand each other”.

When Danielle first came to The Bridge, she was reluctant to trust anyone, but through counseling and the relationship she developed with her mentor, things changed.

“What made everything different was that I realized that so many people cared – I didn’t even think that was possible” said Cabo-Jones.

Today she’s experienced success in the Job Corps program and plans to attend college next year.

“Danielle is a perfect example of what direct access to a facility like the Miami Bridge can result in” explained Karram.

Cabo-Jones says The Bridge helps her feel less alone, and gives her the courage to face new things, “Whatever comes my way, I’ll take, and I know I’ll always accomplish my goal because I know that there will always be someone”.

To learn more about mentoring programs and The Miami Bridge, give Neighbors 4 Neighbors a call at 305-597-4404 or visit http://www.miamibridge.org/ .

Dozens of children gathered in an outdoor courtyard for some circus fun brought to ‘His House Children’s Home’ by the Universoul Circus.

Universoul is a traditionally black circus committed to the community. The performers made a pact to bring some acts to special schools across South Florida and called Neighbors 4 Neighbors to find the perfect fit.

“It’s exciting and it’s wonderful and I hope to see a lot of happy faces,” exclaimed His House Executive Director and Founder, Jean Caceres-Gonzalez.

And there were many happy faces. Faces, like Darius Davies’, a 10-year old who explained to CBS4’s Nicole Maristany, what he loved best about the show. “All the tricks and all the stuff that he scared us with was awesome”.

‘His House’ began as a home for children in crisis, but just like the children it serves, ‘His House’ is growing.

“It’s developed into a full case management where we advocate for the children in court and we help the families so that they can recover from whatever crisis caused the child to come into the welfare system” said Caceres-Gonzalez.

Today it’s a bustling campus full of thriving children, many who say the school changed their lives.

“They take some of the kids that don’t have families,” said Davies. His schoolmate, 12-year old Megan Steagall added, “It’s special because all of the teachers take time and they work with you and you learn a lot.”

There may be a lot of learning but during the special circus performance, there was a lot of fun, too.

To learn more about His House Children’s Home, become a volunteer or foster care parent, visit http://www.hhch.org/

“I couldn’t think of any other way I’d like to spend my time other than with these students” said Ms. Kim Motta, a 4^th grade teacher at Beckford/Richmond Elementary School in West Perrine.

Motta loves her students, and she loves keeping them on their toes – literally.

“I ran my first full marathon last year. The kids followed me kind of with my training” Motta explained.

She created a running team at the title one school to get the kids involved in a fun, fitness activity. She is leading the district in the National “Let’s Move” initiative sponsored by First Lady, Michelle Obama.

“These kids don’t have opportunities like this, and I hope that in some way it’ll instill in them a sense of confidence” said Motta.

Later this month, the students will join her in the last mile of the ING Miami Marathon – but she noticed during training, some students had trouble on the track.

“I have kids out here running, some of them running in work boots, and some their shoes hurt so much that they take their shoes off when they run” Motta said fighting back tears, adding, “I had requested through N4N if they could help out in any way”.

Neighbors reached out to local running shoe store, Footworks Miami, long time community partners and organizers for the Komen Race for the Cure and upcoming Corporate Run. The store donated 30 pairs of shoes to each of the students.

“It feels great, it’s phenomenal to be able to help. They’ll be comfortable, and these kids will be able to run and you know, have a good time” said store owner, JP Huseby, whose family has owned the business for more than 30 years.

The students were excited for their shoe surprise, but also happy to support the teacher that’s always supported them.

“We put all our effort to pass that finish line and not let Ms. Motta down” said 5^th grader, Denzel Cooper.

To help Neighbors 4 Neighbors make other connections in our community, call 305-597-4404 or visit www.neighbors4neighbors.org .

It was filmed amidst the spacious majesty of America’s most spectacular national parks – Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Glacier – and detailed the history and scenery of some of the country’s most precious natural treasures.

Williams, Murciano and Magill are no strangers to these exotic adventures. Their last excursion, broadcast on CBS4 in 2009, was “Dreams of the Galapagos,” a visit to the famed islands off the coast of Ecuador.

In their latest adventure, Nirvana Sookdeo and her guardian were able to accompany CBS4 to the American West by virtue of the fact that she won a South Florida public middle school Eco Hero contest sponsored by CBS4 and Zoo Miami. The purpose of the contest and the special program is to educate people, young and old, about the need to preserve our natural heritage.

If you missed this truly moving and memorable television experience, which aired Wednesday evening on CBS4, or you just want to watch it again, click the links on the right of the story to watch all 4 parts.

And to see more spectacular images of their journey, click here for the pictures taken by Zoo Miami’s Ron Magill.