This past Pride weekend, our team showed up across Miami at four different events, each one an opportunity to build belonging and community connection.

At the University of Miami’s L.O.V.E. Symposium, themed “Connecting and Empowering Community Piece by Peace,” we led a workshop on Well-being and Resiliency and explored mental health wellness tools with students. At Code/Art Fest 2026, we spoke with high school-age young women exploring careers in tech, offering tools for navigating imposter syndrome and building confidence in spaces where they are still underrepresented. At a Town Hall with Dr. Elijah Nicholas, Grand Marshal of the 18th Annual Miami Beach Pride Parade, we shared the mission and work of YES Institute with community leaders and advocates. We also tabled at Care Resource’s Project sTrenGth T-Day Clinic, connecting with gender-diverse community members and offering affirming resources.

Community connection is not a single event. It is a practice, and we are grateful to show up wherever we are needed.

To learn more about upcoming YES Institute courses and workshops, visit https://yesinstitute.org/upcoming-courses/