Civic Leadership Fellows Program (CLF): Current Fellows

Maria Depierro

Host Site: Urban Paradise Guild

Home Campus: Hialeah

Major: Drama

My name is Maria, I’m 19 years old, and I was born in Italy. I come from a multicultural family, my dad is Argentinian, and my mom is Ecuadorian. Growing up, I spent much of my childhood and adolescence between Italy and Argentina, which gave me a deep connection to both cultures.

I’m still in the process of discovering what my path in life will be, and I’m really excited to start this journey at Miami Dade College. This is a new chapter for me, and I can’t wait to see where it leads!

Jacques Dorcean

Host Site: Fab Lab

Home Campus: Wolfson 

Major: Artificial Intelligence

My name is Jacques A Dorcean, and I am from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I moved to the United States in 2020 and have been living here for the past few years. Adjusting to life here has been an exciting journey, especially as I pursue my passion for technology and innovation. Growing up in Haiti, I was always inspired by the potential of technology to solve real-world problems and improve lives. This inspired me to choose Applied Artificial Intelligence as my major, as I believe AI holds the key to addressing many global challenges. During my studies, I have been fascinated by the intersection of AI and social impact. My goal is to not only use my education to contribute to advancements in technology but also to bring the knowledge I gain back to Haiti to create meaningful change in my home country.

Aurora Escolastico

Host Site: Affirming Youth

Home Campus: North

Major: Psychology

Hello! My name is Aurora Escolastico, and I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. I am currently pursuing an Associate of Arts degree at Miami Dade College, majoring in Psychology. My ultimate goal is to become a neuropsychologist. After completing my Associate degree, I plan to transfer to a four-year university to complete my bachelor’s degree. I am deeply passionate about mental health and the intricacies of the human brain. I am excited to work as a CLF at Affirming YOUth. I believe that this opportunity will allow me to contribute innovative and creative ideas while simultaneously fostering my professional growth and assisting those in need.

Stephanie Gonzalez-Gamez

Host site: Laura C. Saunders Elementary School 

Home Campus: Homestead

Major: Social Work 

My name is Stephanie Gonzalez Gamez; I am 18 years old. I was born in Miami, Florida, and raised in Hidalgo, Mexico. I am a first-generation student. I am majoring in social work at Miami Dade College Homestead Campus. I am passionate about being able to assist people in any manner that I can. I am pursuing social work because I believe I can make a positive impact on people’s lives and be able to advocate for them. lastly, I am working as an America reads tutor at Laura C Saunders Elementary School, where I am tutoring young students from kindergarten through fifth grade.

Cheyane Joachim

Host Site: Laura C. Saunders Elementary School 

Home Campus: Homestead

Major: Psychology

Hi! My name is Cheyane Joachim and I was born and raised in Miami, Florida. I’m currently studying at Miami Dade College, majoring in Psychology. My goal after finishing school is to be a clinical psychologist. I’m very passionate about mental health and I strongly believe that everyone should be entitled to get the help when they need it most. Some of my hobbies include writing, wrestling (watching it, not doing it), reading, and baking! Lastly, I am working as an America Reads Tutor at Laura C. Saunders Elementary School, where I will tutor little ones from kindergarten to third grade!

Adri Matias

Host Site: Propelling into Triumph and Saints House

Home Campus: Kendall

Major: Business Administration

My name is Adri Matias. I am of Cuban and Jamaican descent. I was born in Miami Florida, but I have lived all over the state. I am a former foster child and adoptee looking to make a difference in the world for everyone. I would love to work with others seeking to bring change into their local communities and who want to help others around them. I am a business administration student looking to open my own non-profit organization in the future. My goal in life is to bring locally grown, sustainable food to resource-limited areas. In my free time, I like to learn about agriculture, farming/homesteading techniques, and gardening.

Alexandra Reyes-Ordonez

Host Site: This is the Dog!

Home Campus: Homestead

Major: Marketing/Business

Hi! My name is Alexandra Reyes, I am 19 years old. My family is from Cuba and Honduras, and I am first generation. I participated in the Visual Arts program at South Dade Senior High, where I contributed to designing murals for my school. I love swimming, playing tennis, and painting portraits in my free time. I am currently majoring in marketing, and my goal in the future is to help promote small businesses in Florida. At MDC homestead I am part of FBLA, Up To US, Pages for All Ages, and the Civic Leadership Program. I consider myself to be an open-minded person and I love to try new things.

Tiffany Rodriguez

Host Site: Pridelines

Home Campus: Padron

Major: Business Administration

My name is Tiffany Rodriguez, and I am a proud Nicaraguan American currently pursuing my Associate’s Degree in Business Administration and Marketing at Miami-Dade College. As a driven student with a passion for personal growth and professional development, I am excited to build a strong foundation for a future in the business and marketing industries.

Beyond my academic pursuits, I have a lifelong passion for music and the performing arts. I have been involved in choir, theatre, and marching band, experiences that have shaped my creativity, discipline, and teamwork abilities. These activities have instilled in me a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for collaboration.

My goal is to continue growing both personally and professionally while using my education and experiences to make a positive impact on my community and beyond.

Oscar Ronquillo

Host Site: Fruit and Spice Park

Home Campus: Homestead

Major: Photography

Hello there! I’m Oscar Ronquillo, a Mexican American photography student at Miami Dade College based in Homestead. I want to use my photography and marketing skills to show people new and interesting ways of seeing the world. 

I have volunteered for multiple non-profit organizations which include Cybrarium, Pridelines, Guitar Not Guns, and more by using my marketing, photography and managing skills to set up, coordinate, and promote events and the organization. I also am the current president of the MDC Photo Club at Miami Dade Kendall campus. 

Through this CLF Fellowship, I hope to build a community around Miami-Dade County that can lift each other up when we are being brought down and get support when we are being lifted up into the sky.

Malcolm Sims

Host Site: Fab Lab

Home Campus: Wolfson

Major: Artificial Intelligence

Malcolm Sims is a Certified Salesforce Administrator and strategic operations leader whose decade of experience bridges military precision with nonprofit innovation. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran (2004–2012), he oversaw safety protocols and compliance programs for 900+ personnel, reducing critical incident rates by 32% through predictive analytics—an early testament to his data-driven approach to systemic challenges.

Post-service, Malcolm channeled this expertise into ADP’s Small Business Services corporate payroll division, where he focused on small businesses during high-stakes mergers. Now a Miami-based consultant, he deploys Salesforce solutions to help nonprofits optimize donor engagement, automate workflows, and align operations with strategic goals. His redesign of A local Food Bank’s volunteer coordination system increased community partner participation by 28% in 2022.

Beyond technical mastery, Malcolm embodies servant leadership. He volunteers as a certified drone operator for regional disaster relief efforts, mentors Veterans transitioning into tech careers and is a member of The American Legion. Malcolm pairs operational rigor with creative problem-solving—evident in his AI-powered urban orchard project that repurposes military logistics models for sustainable agriculture.

Married. and with two children, Malcolm thrives in collaborative environments where analytical precision meets compassionate execution. His career—rooted in Marine Corps values of honor, courage, and commitment—positions him uniquely to help mission-driven organizations achieve measurable, ethical impact.

Ka'Niya Smith

Host Site: Educate Tomorrow 

Home Campus: North

Major: English 

Hello, I am African American, and I grew up in Miami, Florida. I graduated from Turner Tech under the Veternarian Science Academy in 2023. I love reading, writing, playing video games, and spending time with my loved ones. I'm currently working with Educate tomorrow to aid in their garden care, as well as educating children about the importance of the environment around them.

Josh Solina

Host Site: Urban Paradise Guild

Home Campus: Hialeah

Major: History

My name is Joshua Solina and I am 20 years old, born and raised in Miami, Florida but being of Colombian descent. I am fascinated by culture and hopefully one day get to experience other cultures and the thrill of visiting other continents. I am determined to continue my journey at Miami Dade College.

Melanie Young

Host Site: The Motivational Edge

Home Campus: North

Major: Early Childhood Education

My name is Melanie Young, I am a mix of Native American half Cherokee and Half Quechuan and Partly Colombia I was raised in my god family after my mother’s passing from cancer. I am studying at Miami Dade College North Campus. I graduated and achieved my Associate's Degree in Arts in Special Education K-12 on May 4 th, 2019 being a First-Generation Student. Currently, I am studying for a Bachelor of Arts pursuing in Early Childhood Education. However, I have also been approved to minor in Administration of Education. I have a passion and strong pursuit to help motivate and encourage the path of education for the next generation's goals and love to help others in any impact needed. I will be working alongside The Motivational Edge as a CLF employee. My Goal is to help bring a positive encouragement impact to those around me and make a difference to those in need. I will take high dedication and methods to be diligent yet passionate to help the children and adults in my environment. Here I will work hard to build a strong purpose and success in my field.