Neighborhood

Downtown News 5th Anniversary

To celebrate the 5th Anniversary of Downtown News, the Downtown Arts + Science Salon (DASS) organized a Salon around how Artificial Intelligence, AI, is changing journalism and life in general.

Mustafa Ocal, Raul Guerrero, Christina Vazquez, Catya Fisher, Eelena Bondarenko, Marc Lavallee and Chuck Walter. Photo, Aurea Veras.

A great panel of experts in various fields, Dr. Mustafa Ocal, AI postdoctoral researcher and professor at FIU and MDC, our Wolfson downtown campus. Emmy Award-winning field journalist, WPLG-Local News Channel 10, Christina Vazquez who came running from City Hall after filing her report for the evening news. Christina is also a professor of journalism at Syracuse University. Katya Fisher, Vice Chairman, Constructor Group, the Switzerland-based conglomerate and board member of Constructor University, which specializes in technology, including AI. Of course, a discussion about disruptive technology can’t omit an attorney, the panel also included the multifaceted Elena Bondarenko. The Salon was moderated by Marc Lavallee, director of journalism and technology at the Knight Foundation. Members of the audience characterized Marc as “witty, smart and knowledgeable.” Chuck Walter co-organized it.

The Salon took place at the wonderful loft-style MANA COMMON. Our thanks to the audience. We had a full house. Smart, diverse and articulate group of old and new friends committed to creating a community.

Humor will always be a fine manifestation of intelligence. Photo Aurea Veras.

Downtown News

A newspaper exclusively focused on Downtown and based on citizen journalists, Downtown News — the little newspaper that could, paraphrasing the children’s book, that symbol of optimism — was born five years ago. Downtown News stood behind residents as they took on giant interests to defend their rights against noise pollution, park closures, to hold government officials accountable.

It couldn’t have happened without DASS and its network, and the dedicated members of the Downtown Neighbors Alliance, DNA, the single most important civic organization connecting Downtown residential towers.

Downtown News Contributors. Top row, from left: Brian Andrews, Claudia Roussel, Joy Prevor, Roly Masferrer, Jorge Sanchez. R 2. Elena Bondarenko, Aurea Veras, Pedro Martinez, Steve Dutton, Niels Johansen. R 3. Jessica Boudreaux, Islara Souto, Terrell Fritz, Cristina Palomo, Matilda Kalaveshi. R 4. Eileen Higgins, Amal Souh Kabbani, Aaron DeMayo, Arlene Ramsingh, Michael Feuling.

The Neighborhood Spirt

“If you want a snapshot of what the Greater Downtown Miami — Downtown and Brickell — looks like, well, take a look,” said Aurea Veras, Managing Director of DASS. “This is what the art of conversation, the exchange of ideas over a glass of wine or two looks like. Students, young professionals in various fields, a professor emeritus, writers, a Nobel Laureate, architects, urban planners, and at least a dozen nationalities and ethnicities. This is what a neighborhood should aspire to be, a community. Happy Birthday Downtown News.”

Miami County Commissioner Eileen Higgins, one of the founders of Downtown News, and Christina Vazquez. An adequate title for this photo: smiling as an art.

Aaron DeMayo, Aurea Veras and Marc Schmidt. Downtown News columnist and urban designer DeMayo after two Malbecs. “Wait,” he protests. “Three.” Aurea Veras, Managing Editor Downtown Arts + Science Salon. 18th century Parisian salons flourished as an alternative to the somewhat stale church-run universities that excluded women. Salons attracted some of the best public intellectuals, Voltaire, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and not only welcomed women, but the best Parisian Salons were run by women. Downtown Miami continues the tradition. DASS has always revolved around smart women — Islara Souto, Elena Bondarenko, Amal Solh Kabbani, Eileen Higgins, and a long etc. Art has also been a foundation of both DASS and Downtown News. Schmidt gave up cardiology for photography, and his photography has illustrated many an article. Speaking of Salons, Voltaire allegedly praised the Salon for the quality of its conversations and for combining the exchange of knowledge with other indispensable human inventions, food, wine and a little flirting, a word derived from the French “fleur,” flower. The original meaning of flirting was throwing flowers at each other.

“Suzanne Hollander and Elena Bondarenko are my two favorite lawyers,” said Raul Guerrero, feeling nostalgic for gardens.

Celebrating over a Glass of Wine: “Yes, but…”

Conversations. Photo, Aurea Veras.

Fringe Benefits

Just because he is the photographer’s husband. Photo Aurea Veras.

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