Michelle Grados

Michelle created a service project called Heat and Heart Outreach in partnership with the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust and Chapman Partnership. Her project began as a small personal effort to protect outdoor workers from Florida’s harsh heat and has evolved into a multifaceted initiative that supports vulnerable individuals through heat relief, education, mentorship, and legislative action to protect outdoor workers. The roots of this project trace back to her family’s story. Her grandfather arrived to this country at a young age to build a better life, often having to sleep in public spaces and work long hours outdoors under the burning sun with no resources or support. This is what motivated Michelle to help people who are sometimes unhoused and have to live outdoors in the heat of Miami. Later Michelle’s own father experienced similar conditions as he worked a job outdoors in the Florida sun. Michelle wanted to do something to protect people like her father and grandfather and that sparked the beginning of Heat and Heart Outreach. Michelle started by creating heat relief kits for outdoor workers, guided by her father’s insights about what they truly needed. Partnering with Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Chapman Partnership, they were able to expand the project and distribute over 250 specialized kits containing sunscreen, electrolytes, cooling towels, and other essentials to outdoor laborers and unhoused individuals. Over time, the project raised more than $3,000 and planned to distribute over 800 kits by the end of the year. The Homeless Trust later recognized Michelle’s program as an integral part of their successful summer outreach and she is currently working with Mayor Levine Cava to pass a local ordinance to protect outdoor workers from the sun and the extreme heat in the summer. Michelle exemplifies leadership, action, and true passion for helping our community’s most vulnerable.