He’s learning a valuable lesson in giving people a second chance

Lucas Korn, 17, believes in helping others get second chances.

A Miami Teen Court volunteer, he guides first-time youth offenders in Miami-Dade County through alternative trial proceedings.

“As a volunteer, I get to have the privilege of serving as a student defense attorney as we try and sanction student peers in front of an active judge or lawyer instead of the traditional juvenile judicial system,” Lucas said.

“I joined for the purpose of ensuring that a juvenile’s singular mistake wouldn’t emblazon them with a scarlet letter for the rest of their life.”

Lucas, a junior at Don Soffer Aventura High School, said Teen Court allows youth to even purge their record of wrongdoings upon the completion of their sanctions.

“From writing an apologetic letter to those they wronged, an open apology to a parent in court, working community service, serving as a Teen Court juror, and/or writing an essay explaining the wrongfulness of their criminal act, the Teen Court process is a chance for a participant to learn and value the progression of righting a mistake,” he said.

Teen Court is now in its 25th year, and Lucas is honored to be part of the program at the North Dade Justice Center.

“It has been a mind-opening and remarkable process to take part in,” he said. “In recognition of the program’s 25th anniversary, it’s my goal to organize a public occasion to celebrate Miami Teen Court.

“My idea would be to heighten the visibility and awareness for the good that Teen Court is able to produce while recognizing administrators from the Miami-Dade Advocacy Trust and its student and adult volunteers. These are the people who have allowed it to become the success that it is over the years.

“Hopefully, other cities around Florida and the nation can look to Miami-Dade as a guide to starting their own Teen Courts after they notice the wealth of justice that it is able to provide for our youth. In almost 25 years, over 7,800 second chances have been delivered to first-time youth offenders, accompanied by a recidivism rate of below 3 percent. Spreading the success of Miami’s Teen Court can be a step toward healing our country.”

Connect with Lucas at lucaskorn@icloud.coma

Sign up for free Audubon program

Become a lifelong champion for birds, other wildlife and South Florida’s natural places by enrolling in the free 2022 Tropical Audubon Ambassador Program Sept. 6 through Nov. 15.

The award-winning education series is designed to activate environmental ambassadors who want to “beat the drum” for South Florida’s endangered ecosystems. The program will feature a new interactive online format and the return of field trips.

Participants will receive comprehensive advocacy training from environmental experts. Learn more and register at www.tropicalaudubon.org

Help restore Camp Mahachee

Everyone who drives Old Cutler Road passes a property that has been taken over by vines. Inside that jungle is the cherished Camp Mahachee, long loved by Girl Scouts.

Thanks to philanthropic groups renovating the property, the newest generation of Scouts will be able to enjoy an enhanced experience. Camp Mahachee will be 75 next year.

The 11-acre camp property was purchased in 1945 with funds from Girl Scout Cookie sales. The cleanup goal is to remove, by hand, all the stinky, invasive sewer vines and replace them with native trees. Groups have been volunteering since July.

The second phase will restore the hardwood hammock with 2,000 native species saplings that promote bird and wildlife habitat. The third final phase will include a new pollinator garden.

The partnership is being led by the PARKnership Fund at the Coral Gables Community Foundation, the Coral Gables Garden Club, the Kerdyk and Withers families, and Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago. To volunteer, or donate, visit https://gablesfoundation.org/impact-work/parknership-fund/

ArtesMiami elects new board chair

Congratulations to María Bechily, a public relations leader and philanthropist, who has been elected chair of the Board of ArtesMiami.

“The programs and artists that ArtesMiami supports are crucial to strengthening Miami’s position as an international arts and cultural center,” Bechily said. “I hope to provide strategic leadership to our board so we can further develop the organization.”

Bechily created one of the first public relations and marketing agencies to identify and reach Hispanic consumers in Chicago. She serves on the board of the Pérez Art Museum Miami, and is a life trustee of the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, where she is founding chair of the board’s education committee.

ArtesMiami began in 1995 to sponsor the Fair of Seville in Miami and later the Fair of Spain in Miami. It is led by publicist and philanthropist Aida Levitan. Its latest program is the ArtesMiami Film Fund, which will donate thousands of dollars to documentary filmmakers. More at www.artesmiami.org

Miami Rotary awards scholarships

Each year, the Thomas Brown McClelland Trust provides scholarships for Miami-Dade students aspiring to be doctors. The Rotary Club of Miami serves as trustee.

The Fund, established in 1980, was created after the passing of club member McClelland, a horticulturist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He provided funding to help medical students with education costs in his will.

Since 1983, over $7.7 million in scholarship funds have been distributed to almost 825 individuals. This year, 75 recipients were selected with the majority attending Florida medical schools including Central Florida (1), Nova (1), University of Florida (2), University of Miami (6), University of South Florida (1) and Florida International University (51). More at www.miamirotary.org

Write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com with news for this column.