It’s been 9 years since we, Radical Partners and hundreds of local organizations, committed to building bridges, weaving diverse communities, and fostering trust across lines of difference in Miami, Florida and beyond.
In 2025, the 10 Days of Connection doubled down on its commitment by going back to basics. We focused on boosting collaboration, collective action, and deep understanding to strengthen the power of commUNITY.
In an era of fast and ongoing change - whether economic change, mainstream adoption of artificial intelligence, or polarization - thousands of locals, hundreds of changemakers, and dozens of visionary leaders showed up to remind the world that there’s power in bursting opinion bubbles, fostering trust, and seeking to understand. They all dispel divisive beliefs that often lead to conflict and lay the foundation for the inclusive and thriving world we all deserve to live in.
Through the 10 Days of Connection in 2025, we all Connected Communities by encouraging all locals to learn about a topic that might be taboo within their bubbles (whether that was race, gender, politics, or religion). We United Communities by fostering collaboration across cultures, generations, and sectors. And we built Safer Communities by celebrating our unique differences and embracing the fact that everyone belongs to the South Florida community.
We want to tell you all about it because good news is worth spreading! Venture through this Impact Report to discover how we made it happen and how you can continue powering this movement of connection.
Earlier in May 2025, we:
181
Collaborated with
changemakers that hosted, promoted and/or powered the movement in South Florida (they made it all happen!).
59
Hosted
Connection Experiences (free events for anyone to attend).
109,660+
Reached
locals via our social media channels.
3300+
Activated
locals who attended in person and/or virtual Connection Experiences.
All with the goal of building more connected, united, and safer communities!
Caroline Wilhelms (Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida)
“We were honored to host ‘Rooted in Service’ at Camp Mahachee in partnership with the Junior League of Miami as part of 10 Days of Connection. Despite the overcast skies, the energy on Saturday morning was nothing short of radiant. More than 50 incredible volunteers showed up—smiling, eager, and ready to roll up their sleeves in service of our environment and community. It was inspiring to witness new friendships forming as participants planted native trees, learned about endangered species, and worked side by side to protect the unique habitat we’re so fortunate to call home. The care and intention each person brought with them reminded us of the power of connection, not only to each other but to the land we share. We are grateful to everyone who helped make this day so meaningful!”
The 2025 Approach. Back to basics: Bridging diverse communities
Every year, we ask our community:
“Why connect again this year? What is connection this year? How does connection look like this year?”
In this 9th year of the 10 Days of Connection, we focused on three main outcomes to bring locals together:
1. FOSTER CONNECTED COMMUNITIES by witnessing more and better-informed citizens, accessing inclusive and participatory spaces.
Multiple Connection Experiences aimed to connect communities by creating intentional spaces where individuals from all walks of life could engage meaningfully with one another and tackle the worldly known epidemic of loneliness. From AMOR INFINITO – Edición Mamás - celebrating the power of motherhood through shared stories and portraits, to May’s Monthly Men's Dinner offering a safe space for men to connect over vulnerability and growth, each gathering was rooted in building bonds beyond social divides.
Events like Community & Cocktails, Unspoken Realities, and What We’re Owed invited attendees to share personal narratives that illuminated lived experiences often left in the shadows, deepening empathy and understanding. Youth-centered events such as A Connection Space™: FOCUS, and Turning Pages Together brought generations into dialogue, while gatherings like World Collage Day and Free Friday Drum Jam used art and music as universal languages of connection.
These Connection Experiences explored topics and sparked conversations around mental health, storytelling, policy, and play. These events created opportunities to break down barriers, surface shared values, and remind us that our strength as a community lies in our willingness to show up, listen, and connect.
96% of participants and 94% of host organizations agreed that they will share their community engagement story to encourage others to also connect across lines of difference.
2. UNITE COMMUNITIES by celebrating diversity, fostering collaboration, breaking down barriers between sectors, and promoting collective action to address community challenges.
Connection Experiences like Community Care: A Civic Health Check-Up for Miami and Crime, Consequences & Compassion: A 360° Conversation created space for honest and often difficult conversations that united participants around a common desire for justice, civic engagement, wellness, and community transformation. Rooted in Service and Divine Feminine Painting the Sky Healing Circle invited people to bond through acts of service and shared healing, reinforcing unity through action. Teach the Truth Garden and Private Lunch with The Children’s Movement of Florida grounded conversations in place and purpose, nurturing collective responsibility across generations and sectors.
Meanwhile, creative and joyful gatherings like Let's Connect! Happy Hour, Story Circle: Stories of Spirituality, and Bared & Beautiful wove together diverse identities and perspectives through storytelling, art, and intentional celebration.
100% of participants and host organizations agreed that they will seek to understand more about someone before they draw conclusions and will step up as active bystanders and intervene when witnessing discrimination to let the targeted person know that they are not alone.
Additionally,
100% of hosts agreed that they will accelerate their impact by working with other partners in the community.
10 Days of Connection 2025 Participant
“[What I liked about this Connection Experience was] the very personal shares of experiences and inspiring artistic expressions with deep and powerfully motivational messages and the beauty and love in the individuals that were present.”
3. BUILD SAFER COMMUNITIES by offering safer and free public spaces, and fostering trust between and within communities by modeling place-making and peace-building initiatives.
Connection Experiences like GIVE IT TO YOU "STRAIGHT" invited raw, unfiltered dialogue about relationships between women and men, offering a space for mutual understanding, conflict resolution, and healing across gender dynamics. Movement & Meaning Making encouraged participants to reconnect with their bodies and each other in a way that centered emotional safety, expression, and shared humanity. Disability Sensitivity & Safety in Extreme Heat addressed urgent issues of climate justice and accessibility, equipping communities with the knowledge and tools to protect their most vulnerable members. Finally, Thou Art Woman – RE/IMAGINE: Liberating Queer Futures celebrated queer identities while reimagining what a liberated, inclusive future could look like, grounded in visibility, belonging, and joy.
100% of participants and hosts agreed that they were able to be their full selves during the experience.
98% of participants and 88% of host organizations felt more valued by their community after participating in a Connection Experience.
Upon completion of the 10 Days of Connection…
100% of participants agreed that they felt more connected to their communities.
The ultimate goal of the 10 Days of Connection is not to change anyone’s point of view, but to welcome the diversity of thought and shape thriving, connected communities.
This movement often serves as the first step for many locals to get involved with their community and contribute towards a more welcoming place for everyone who plays, lives, and works “here”.
Evan Snow (Zero Empty Spaces)
“We’re still reflecting on the meaningful morning we shared during our CreativeZen 7-Year Anniversary Panel—held inside the #CotillaGallery where the Mirrored Realities fundraising exhibit is taking place @nsuflorida @shermanlibrary during @10daysofconnection and Mental Health Awareness Month. We’re incredibly grateful to our panelists—Sergio Gomez, Dr. Yanina Gomez, and Christian Feneck—for the powerful insights they shared on the role of art as a mirror to our inner and outer worlds. Their perspectives gave all of us new ways to view and engage with artwork and the artists behind it, reminding us that reflection isn’t just visual—it’s emotional, mental, and deeply human. The timing of this conversation couldn’t have been more serendipitous. During a month dedicated to mental health and a week dedicated to bridging connections across differences, we came together in a creative space that allowed for real empathy, presence, and growth.”
Additionally,
96% of participants and 94% of host organizations agreed to be mindful of accessibility and inclusion at all events and gatherings they attend or host in the future.
Hearts & Minds behind the 10 Days of Connection
Building safe spaces for thousands of local participants to show up requires the power and intentionality of many! The 10 Days of Connection is only possible, year after year, thanks to the power and support of the hundreds of leaders who curate dozens of Connection Experiences for everyone to attend. They are changemakers representing organizations, businesses, schools, community centers, or even their neighborhood blocks. We call them all hosts.
In 2025, 181 hosts were part of the movement in five different ways:
They Hosted Signature Events. They designed events and programming that directly built towards: Connected Communities, United Communities, or Safer Communities, and worked collaboratively with at least 4 other co-hosts.
They Co-Hosted Topic-Specific Experiences, addressing at least one of these 10 topics:
Race, Ethnicity, and National Origin
Politics
Religion
Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
Mental Health, Wellness, and Well-being
Age & Generations
Diverse Abilities
Money + Income
Beliefs & Values
Togetherness, Connection & Community
They were Resource Facilitators. They provided in-kind support (a venue or food), donated to the movement ($ or supplies), or connected the producing team to sponsors or donors.
They were Connection Ambassadors, identifying events or “big happenings” in Miami, offering and activating connecting moments.
They were Connection Promoters, supporting the movement by helping us to spread the word, committing to share about the 10 Days of Connection within their networks, and helping us tell the story (after the 10 Days)!
A Better Me
Achieve Miami
ACL Miami Chapter (Awareness Courage and Love, Miami Chapter)
ACLU of FL
Alma Operations
American Jewish Committee
Americans For Immigrants Justice
Amy Bloom Inc
an insight group
Avatar Buddy
Ayiti Community
Be Strong International Inc.
Black Men Build
BLINC (Black LGBTQ+ Liberation, Inc.)
BreastfeedMIAMI, Inc.
Brevo Theatre Inc.
Catalyst miami
CBT Technology Institute
Center for Independent Living of South Florida
Children's Bereavement Center | Lift From Loss for Adults
Circle of brotherhood
City of Miami Black Police Precinct & Courthouse Museum
City of Sunrise
City Year Miami
collaboARTive
Collectively
Comb Cutters and The Atala Dispatch
Creative Media Group
Disability Independence Group
Dream in Green
Dido Balla
Eat Breathe Love Magic
eMed
Empatthy
Esquina De Abuela
Exchange for Change
Explr / Weekly Men's Circle.
Fanm Saj Inc
FCC USA (Futbol con Corazon)
Florida Community Innovation
Florida Foster Care Review
To them, we are grateful. The dozens of hosts below are the ones who powered this year's movement:
Florida International University
GEM CULTURE INC
GI 305
Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida
Global Ties Miami
Greater Miami Jewish Federation
H3: Health. Hope. Healing.
Haitian Neighborhood Center,Sant La Inc.
HistoryMiami Museum
Hope Murals
Impact.Edition
KatGirl and Friends Inc
Konscious Kontractors
Leap for Ladies
Level Up Impact Group
Lou Foundation Inc
Maydee Martinez
Margaret Miranda Corp
MDT
Mén Beni Gardening
Miami Dade County
Miami Herald & el Nuevo Herald
Miami Homes For all
Mindful Kids Miami
Mino Learning Collaborative
More Perfect Union
NAACP Miami-Dade
NAMI Miami-Dade
Naomi Ross
NICU Alumni
NPC Financial
NWD Projects and United Survivors
One Billion Rising
Overtown Youth Center
Paisley's Place
Pana MIA Club
Parkland Library
Paola Jaen
Partnerships for Health and Education Inc.
Patch of Heaven Sanctuary
Positive People Network, Inc.
Power for Good Consulting Inc.
Project SIWA
Project Transforming Hope
Radical Partners
Rooted In Love and Truth
SantLa
SGG
Share Our America
SMASH Miami
Souls from the Earth
South Dade Kia
South Dade Women Veterans Alliance, Inc
South Florida Center for Percussive Arts
South Florida Chamber Ensemble
St. Alban's Child Enrichment Center
Successfully Her Inc
Temple Beth Am
The Children's Movement
The Children's Trust of Miami-Dade
The Collaborative Collective
The Elevate Prize Foundation
The Joy of Impact
The Lucy Project
The Miami Foundation
The Salvation Army
The Spoken Word Exchange
The Win Woman
The Women' s Fund Miami Dade
ThinkBeyond Public Relations
TransSOCIAL, Inc.
UnBiased
United Way Miami
Uplift Literacy
Urgent Inc.
Venprendedoras Foundation
Voices - One Billion Rising
WAG
We Met in Miami
Wellnecessity Co
World Happiness Foundation
YAYA POR VIDA
Yoga Session
Your Gray Matters
Your Helpful Wendy
YWCA South Florida
Zero Empty Spaces
Alongside hosts, we are grateful to the amazing leaders, supporters, and funders who believe in the power of connection and activated this year’s movement through their sponsorship:
10 Days of Connection Champions
Connection Catalysts
Outreach Partners
Connection Experience Sponsors
What a year!
We are gearing up to YEAR 10 of the 10 Days of Connection!
We want to celebrate a decade of connection in Miami, Florida, in 2026 by elevating the connection power of local organizations and activating locals to leverage all that their community has to give.
If you made it all the way here, know that we’re calling on our community to help power the work we do best: building bridges across lines of difference and creating safe spaces for all.
More Connection Up Next!
SAVE THE DATE:
MAY 1 - MAY 10, 2026
We plan to:
1. Level up the production of the 10 Days of Connection.
To bring the 10 Days of Connection to life in 2026, we will mobilize an energized host committee to lead the way, developing comprehensive host toolkits and resources like these ones to ensure that every space is welcoming no matter the size or format. As we grow the size and strengthen the skills of the host committee, technology plays a big role; we plan to sustain and improve the Connection Platform that centralizes experiences for all locals to participate.
2. Boost and highlight the work of leaders and organizations that host safe spaces all year long.
We’re committed to activating and equipping local leaders and organizations that create welcoming, brave, and meaningful spaces across the region and all year long. We aim to center and highlight local initiatives like the East West Foundation Interfaith lunch, Gallery Walks with We Met in Miami, or Family Days at The Underline for the connection movement to live past May.
We’re planning to equip main hosts with toolkits, microgrants, and visibility to ensure high-quality and high-quantity engagement.
3. Get Loud and Challenge thousands of locals to show up for their city and get involved!
We’re turning up the volume on civic connection! Through a regionwide communications campaign, we’ll invite thousands of South Floridians to show up for their city, challenge disconnection, and be a part of something bigger.
Donna Terrano (LEAP for Ladies)
“During our experience, attendees stepped into vulnerability and left with a new skill to share with friends, family, and neighbors alike. The most dangerous threat to our progression forward is the lack of connection, and this week felt like a great step to get closer to our collective end goal.”
Let’s do it!
We are grateful for your commitment and support to make South Florida a more engaged and welcoming region for all (and spreading the news worldwide). We are excited and eager to collaborate with you, and we have some ideas on how you can power next year’s connection movement:
HOST a Connection Experience in 2026.
Sign up to join the 10 Days of Connection Host Committee
INVEST in Radical Partners to power the production of the 10 Days of Connection.
Reach out to Alia Mahmoud at
alia@radicalpartners.net
GET LOUD by following on social media and spreading the love:
As always, thank you to new and returning participants, to all host organizations, to our generous sponsors, and all connection ambassadors. We are grateful and in awe of your unwavering commitment to an inclusive and thriving world. Our communities are better because you’re part of them, and we love to have you as our partner in impact.
Thank you for showing up and for change-making with us!
Miami, Florida
August 2025.
