ABOUT MIAMI MIND
Miami Mind started as a family initiative to learn, support and educate our community about the truth relating to mental health struggles. Our family has been battling and living with mental health issues for a few years now. Through this journey we have witnessed the terror mental health can cause, but we have also had the opportunity to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel with the right team and support system. We believe having a strong and healthy social, medical, and family connection is key to winning the mental health battle. Our goal is to help other families that are going through this epidemic. You are not alone and the stigma around mental health has to be lifted. We all suffer from mental health one way or another and it’s time to open up and help each other to realize there is hope. Let’s work together to smash the stigma around mental health and help instill hope in the struggling individuals and families in our communities.
ABOUT THE FOUNDERS
ALBERTO FRANCO
Born in the land of the llamas, married to the most beautiful woman in the world, 4 incredible kids, played Davis Cup for Peru, was captain of the tennis team at Yale (Go Bulldogs!, beat Harvard), worked on Wall Street and became a partner at Bankers Trust (lucky !). Currently devoting my time to #smashthestigma around mental health
ROSSANA FRANCO
Grew up in Peru, her zest for life took her to NYC soon after marrying her love, graduated Cum Laude from NYU Stern School of Finance and worked as a foreign currency trader at Merril Lynch. Quit her job to become a full-time mom and raised 4 beautiful kids.
Moved the family to Miami in 1999 where she volunteered and served on the boards of Scheck Hillel school, Federation and the local JCC. Now is a realtor, develops homes, plays pickleball and spends most of her time helping people out. But her most important job is grandmother to her two adored grand daughters!
AARON FRANCO
Son of Alberto and Rossana Franco, Miami Mind’s founders. Aaron is an avid sports fan and a former collegiate and semi-professional athlete. He played soccer as a toddler, in middle school, high school, college, and semi-professionally for 20 years. He played at the University of Maryland, Boston University, Detroit City FC, and had some international experiences and exposure as well. Unfortunately, his career came to an end abruptly in 2017 after suffering his 8th and 9th concussions in Israel during the World Maccabiah Games. He is passionate about mental health foundations and concussion research because of his own journey with mental health struggles. He has also witnessed athletes in the collegiate and professional levels suffer silently (and some openly) with mental health struggles. He is very passionate about #smashingthestigma around mental health!
RAQUEL BEREZDIVIN FRANCO
Born and raised in Miami alongside three wild brothers, kept up with tennis, soccer, wrestling and everything in between. Pursued her passion for medicine and now practices in Puerto Rico as a Physician Assistant in a Primary Care Clinic focused on wellness and preventative medicine. Today she has two daughters and can finally play dolls and dress up like she always wanted! Passionate about her family, music, dance and #smashingthestigma around mental health
MICHAEL BEREZDIVIN
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, land of Bad Bunny and Daddy Yankee. Married the most beautiful girl in the world (lucky!) Graduated from the school of Business at Northeastern University. Has a passion for Real Estate, Tennis, Golf and his family. One of his goals is to teach his daughters to play tennis like their mother. Married into the Franco family in 2017 and is devoted to #smashingthestigma around mental health
DANIEL FRANCO
Daniel studied Economics at the University of Michigan. He currently works at Fuse Group, a boutique RE firm. Loves to play soccer, tennis, golf, and basketball.
ISABELLA KATZ
Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is currently a junior at the University of Miami majoring in strategic communication. Mental health has always been an important part of her everyday life, something she carries close to her heart.
DANI KUBILIUN
Grew up in Miami, Fl and later moved to New York City to Attend NYU where she earned her BA with a concentration in Marketing and Psychology.
Upon graduation, Dani continued her passion for marketing and has been working at Outsmart Labs, a digital marketing agency and proud supporter of Miami Mind.
Dani is very passionate about religion, family and fundraising, which has led her to fully commit to #smashthestigma around mental health
JORGE SALKELD
Tennis became part of Jorge’s life at 12 yrs old, represented Peru in various junior competitions, and had the opportunity to play Davis Cup at 17 yrs old. After playing college tennis he toured the world playing competitive before obtaining his Masters degree. For the past 30 years he has worked at Octagon representing tennis players and managing it’s tennis division. When his Davis Cup teammate Alberto Franco mentioned his idea around Miami Mind, Jorge immediately offered to give a hand for this noble cause.
OUR MISSION
Our Mission at Miami Mind is to shine light on mental health and allow those individuals who are currently suffering from mental health struggles to feel comfortable to speak freely about their state of MIND. Miami Mind has partnered with foundations whose goal is to connect individuals with medical organizations who can support and train their MIND. Miami Mind founders and supporters want all individuals and families to know that they are not alone and that there is hope for a beautiful life with mental health struggles!
