Meet Tina Brown | Chief Executive Officer/Overtown Youth Center, Inc.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tina Brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tina, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success is my passion for helping others because of my own personal journey and lived experiences growing up in Overtown. Because of those; I lead with an urgent desire to ensure that every child touched by our program has the resources, confidence and support needed to reach their full potential. I am a strong believer in the mission of the Overtown Youth Center and its foundational concept of building strong relationships that can then inspire, empower and enrich the lives of youth and families in urban communities across Miami.

What should our readers know about your business?
The Overtown Youth Center (OYC) is a youth development organization; whose mission is to inspire, empower, and enrich the lives of youth and families in urban communities across Miami Dade County. OYC is committed to strengthening communities; strategically focused on bridging, educational, social, emotional, health and economic gaps. On a daily basis, our team strives to provide children and families with countless opportunities to maximize their potential; thereby giving them a “fighting chance” to succeed in school and in life. What sets me apart from others; I am fiercely independent, analytical, a creative thinker and a serial agent for positive change. I am most proud of God’s Grace…All the mentors/angels who were strategically placed on different paths of my journey who encouraged, pushed, and coached me through fear, doubt, trials and triumph! I’m proud to grow and expand programs of the Overtown Youth Center to serve children and families residing in urban communities across Miami Dade. To this end, I am extremely proud to play a critical role in launching a $20M capital campaign to construct a state of the art community resource hub. The road has not always been easy. I have overcome many challenges by acknowledging my role in every challenging situation and embracing every challenge as an opportunity to learn, grow, and develop as a leader and to help develop those around me learn grow and develop as leaders as well. I’ve learned to trust my instincts; leaning on passion and emotional intelligence to aggressively pursue goals, make decisions and to lead by example with strong moral convictions. I want the world to know me by my works, words, actions and deeds, & that my only purpose for living is to serve as a vessel for inspiration and hope.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If a friend were visiting the area, we would spend a great deal of time in the historic Overtown area; blocks away Wynwood; where it all began for me! Enjoying many local hidden gems, good food, art, good vibes. Dinner would be reserved at Red Rooster, minority-owned & operated in the heart of Overtown, offering a blend of savory culinary dishes and drinks. The décor and varied music is the perfect setting for a memorable date with the bestie. I would also recommend the Urban Miami. The empty lot is turned into a hip outdoor spot with a Miami chic vibe, it is the perfect place to continue to talk, laugh enjoy a good drink, listen to music, and dance the night away. The next day would be spent enjoying the beautiful beaches of Miami; preferably a Key Biscayne Beach out back of the Ritz Carlton where we can also enjoy a massage in the spa and a delightful lunch.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would definitely like to Shoutout my family for their support. My husband and Children; my parents, in-laws, and aunt and uncle. Working in a non-profit organization is a lifestyle which requires engagement and the support of your entire family. The work that we do for the children and families require a sense of urgency, which also means some personal sacrifices are made on a daily basis. It makes my job a little easier, knowing that my family shares a love and admiration for the people and community and they are always onboard, supporting my efforts to affect future generations.

Additionally, I would like to Shout Out the entire team at OYC, who give of themselves & their families to make a difference. Without their support and dedication, the work that we do would not be possible

Website: https://overtownyouth.org

Instagram: OYCMiami, Honey Shine Inc