Meet Cristina Miranda Gilson | Chairman and President of the HDS Foundation

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cristina Miranda Gilson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cristina, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?

Over the last decade, the HDS Foundation has provided direct Grant Opportunities to fund candidate Programs that meet the organization’s program criteria. Once a Grant has been awarded, the HDS Foundation Program Managers begin working directly with the high school administration, teachers, ESE facilitators, paraprofessionals, post-secondary institutions, professors, students, and parents participating in the Grant Program. The HDSF team lends their expertise and provides hands-on services and supports by hosting Career Fairs and Community Based Instruction (CBI) experiences, which are fully paid for by our Grant, the students, and families do not incur any expenses.

HDS Foundation programs are designed to develop personal growth and independence further:

• The HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Program supports the development of school-based social and community life skills activities designed to meet the needs of ASD High School Students. Structured in the form of a grant, the Foundation encourages High School ESE Departments to create school-based programs that provide opportunities year-round for Social, Independence, Community, and Personal Development to teens who have Developmental Disabilities within this population. The recipients of the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Grant accomplish this by incorporating various community based-field trips to local businesses that are poised to provide potential future employment, life skills development initiatives such as establishing bank accounts, shopping opportunities, learning about transportation options, and social skills opportunities during the school year that allow for the inclusion of these students to typical high school activities such as Homecoming, Football Games, Prom, and many others. These are conduits to building better communication tools, peer mentoring, fostering friendships, and preparation for life after high school, including post-secondary.
• The Social Activities Program, or S.A.P., is designed to enhance the lives of teens and young adults as they begin to transition to their post-secondary journey. The program is based on social activities leading to transition skills which provide students with disabilities a positive social interaction with their peers.
• The HDS College Mentors Program strives to identify the peripheral needs of students with ASD or related abilities who seek a College Degree and live at a University or College Campus. Although the Program does not focus on academic course requirements mandated by the schools, it does focus on the guidance and supports needed by the students to achieve success in each of their academic fields.
• The ASDY-TECH Employment Training and Mentoring Program focuses on providing prospective employment opportunities to young adults with ASD. ASDY-TECH, coined after Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Young Adults (Tech Staff), is designed as a micro-enterprise entity of the HDS Foundation. The program focuses on technical projects that can be scaled to support the employment needs of the ASD population while meeting the service needs of prospective clients, whether individuals or businesses. (This program is on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic)

HDSF accomplishes its mission through Private, Federal, State, and Community-based programs and partnerships. Although we are privately funded, we have been selected by The Miami Foundation to participate in Give Miami Day for two consecutive years. We currently offer the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Grant Program at Hialeah Miami Lakes, and Cypress Bay Senior High School. The HDSF programs work and have great success stories to demonstrate it.

What should our readers know about your business?
Cristina Miranda Gilson founded the HDS Foundation in 2008, inspired by her experiences raising her daughter Kate, who is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She wanted a means of giving back to the community while focusing on the emerging needs of the Autism population. As a parent and a small business owner, Cristina felt she had the ideal platform to mentor teens, teach job skills, provide real-life experiences with internship opportunities, and ultimately develop a housing model. The organization’s primary focus is to help facilitate the success of students with ASD, to work on social and independent living skills while also preparing for life after high school and a successful transition into post-secondary life and careers. Bridging the gap that can support the diverse abilities of young adults and facilitating college-level and other post-secondary education will strengthen this population’s chances for meaningful, long-term employment and self-sufficiency.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is a tough one, but after living in Miami for decades, I would start with the areas that represent old Miami to me. I’ve personally been to each one of these places, at different times. But they represent perhaps an older Miami that’s truly special.

Sunday – Attend service at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral on North Bayshore and the Venetian Causeway. It’s a beautiful church and is on the National Register of Historic places. After service, coffee and a nice chat with locals, go to Brunch at Perricone’s Marketplace and Café on 3rd, where Brickell meets The Roads. If it’s a nice day walk around Mary Brickell Village and take a drive through The Roads.

Monday – head to South Miami and have breakfast/lunch at Deli Lane Café, sit outside if possible. Walk around / drive to get a feel of this beautiful neighborhood. Drive south through Pinecrest neighborhoods and make your way to Pinecrest Gardens, the former Parrot Jungle park. Head further south on Old Cutler and visit Fairchild Tropical Gardens. Depending on time of the year, there are various events. You can even grab something to eat at the café.

Tuesday – staying in the same area, check out Roasters and Toasters on US1 in Pinecrest for a quick breakfast and head south again on Old Cutler. Drive through that beautiful area and make your destinations the Deering Estate, and Matheson Hammock Park. If the restaurant Red Fish is open, eat there. The food is great and the view is amazing!

Wednesday, staying still more south, make your way south to Cauley Square Historical Village and stop at the Tea Room at Cauley Square. After walking around to see this small but of old Florida, make your way to Schnebly Redlands Winery and Brewery where you can spend the afternoon, sample wines, and have a great meal. If you are adventurous, the Everglades Alligator farm and Everglades excursions are nearby, but perhaps after the afternoon at Schneby’s, you might want to rethink that. If you had lunch and are heading back north, look for Rio Cristal on Brid Road and 98th avenue for the best Palomilla and mountain of fries you’ll ever have. When you check out, grab yourself a pack of the Chowards Violet square candies – something really strange (but throwback) about them.

Thursday, is a great day to spend in Coral Gables. If you can swing it go to the Biltmore and stay there one day. The property is amazing, the poolside restaurant Cascade is a beautiful place to have breakfast/lunch. Relax and treat yourself to the Spa, and personally I would not leave the premise. Eat in the Courtyard at Fontana. If you cannot, go to Venetian Pool and spend the afternoon enjoying the beautiful scenery. You can still book the restaurants even if you’re not staying there.

Friday, stay in Coral Gables, go to Miracle Mile to walk around and do some shopping. John Martin’s just reopened and even though its not the original spot, I hear they have kept some of the Irish History and artefacts. Hit Little Havana and go to La Carreta or Versailles for dinner– either one, they are both cut from the same cloth, so get a glimpse of a staple in little Havana, Drive through 8th street and make your way to Brickell and head towards Key Biscayne.

Saturday, go to El Farito (Bill Baggs National Park) which has a great historical lighthouse and beach. For a late lunch go to Boater’s Grill in No Name Harbor in the park. If you can’t find it, ask a local. It’s chill and food is great. Take a ride and spend the day at Jungle Island because its really a beautiful place, right on the bay, walk around and enjoy nature and animals. At night, go to the Rusty Pelican to have Dinner or at least drinks and small plates. The view is beautiful and this place has been around forever.

There are too many places to see in Miami, many that are always in the spotlight. I chose these old Miami gems because they are definitely worth it, if you want to see more of what Miami is all about!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The most personal and inspirational gift of all can be paying tribute to the legacy of our loved ones. Cristina Miranda Gilson, Chairman and President of the HDS Foundation, established The Mercy Gift in honor of her mother Mercy Diaz Miranda, and in loving memory of her sister Maria Mercedes Miranda-Diaz. Both of these women dedicated their lives to serving as philanthropists, civic leaders, and role models in business for many people in our communities.

The HDS Foundation has endowed The Mercy Gift to honor charities with goals similar to those of the foundation. These organizations primarily impact people with Autism Spectrum Disorders or related abilities and are focused on community outreach.

Website: www.hdsfoundation.org

Instagram: @hdsfoundation

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/61216838

Twitter: @hdsfoundation

Facebook: @hdsfoundation

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPwRChVgTaVPcN7FcSdBxag

Other: https://www.givemiamiday.org/hdsfoundation

Image Credits
HDS Foundation