GIVING BACK | COMMUNITY OUTREACH | INTERVIEWInterview With Karen Fryd, An Outstanding Community Activist For 23 Years, She Sits On Many Vibrant Community Boards, And Is A Proud Wife, Mom, Grandmother, And So Much More
By Contemporary Approaches June 20, 2022
Community Activist Karen Fryd: The New Gym was donated to the Booker T. Washington High School
“In the 23 years that I have been working in Miami's inner–city, I funded many programs to do with music. I bought choir outfits, many musical instruments, dance supplies, and one of my favorites – the new uniforms for the Booker T Washington's Marching Band”-Karen Fryd
Q+A
1. CA: Tell us a bit about where you grew up?
Karen Fryd: I was born in Barranquilla, Colombia. My parents both came from Europe, so we spoke Spanish and German at home and went to a school that taught us English. It was a wonderful upbringing, and I loved the music and culture. In the ninth grade, my father dropped me off at a Boarding school in Westchester, New York. It was a girls' school, and the weather was freezing. I enjoyed my time there and still have great friends from there to this day.
That's where I met my good friend Ilyasah Shabazz- Malcolm X's daughter. I had no idea who her father was; she was just my friend as others were. Later I went to a Swiss College in Lugano. I was very lucky to have traveled and adapted well wherever I went.
Karen Fryd showing police officers her organization’s facility “The Shop,” so they will be aware of the resources it has to offer
“I got very involved with the City of Miami Police Department and with the Community Relations office, and with them, I was able to learn about Liberty City. I chaired the PAL Program and had the privilege to work with wonderful Chief Timoney, who himself was a PAL kid in New York. I worked at "Pork 'N Beans" for many years and always tried to get what was needed. My husband surprised me with some cards that said: "South Florida Youth Foundation," which is my non-profit" which helped me raise more money. Over the years, I have been involved in so many projects such as helping kids go to College, sponsoring disability programs, building a new Gym at BTW HS, anti- gang programs, arts, and gardens, to name a few.”-Karen Fryd
2. CA: What is your role as one of the Board of Directors at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts?
Karen Fryd: Being on the Board of the Arsht Center has just been wonderful. I am now "The Chair of Education," which is a big honor. In the 23 years that I have been working in Miami's inner –city, I funded many programs to do with music. I bought choir outfits, many musical instruments, dance supplies, and one of my favorites – the new uniforms for Booker T Washington's Marching Band.
Years back, they were just needs that I took care of. I wasn't aware of the power and significance of the Arts. Being on the Board made me realize the true importance and all the good that it brings. How it unites us all and gives us the strength to inspire so much that is needed.
I also learned much about the 'Arts' organizations, which helped me look at others we collaborate with through a different lens. The Arsht prides itself on existing for "ALL" in the Miami Community. They educate, collaborate, and include everyone they can.
Karen Fryd: “The Prom Shop' is where students come to get outfitted for all their Prom needs. We also pay for their Prom tickets and Senior breakfast tickets.”
3. CA: It was great to visit your organization's facility that provides prom outfits, accessories, and other resources for young people and their families. Can you tell us more about this organization and how we can contribute?
Karen Fryd: "The Shop" started with my colleague Diana Venturini, who is the Director of Fund and Resource Development at MDCPS. Most of the needs in the school system all end up in her office, whatever they may be. We kept getting the same request over the years for basic hygiene items, school supplies, food, and clothing. So we started a "store" in an old closet filled with old computers.
We raised funds and bought wholesale and whatever we could afford. Donations started coming from word of mouth. Someone donated a gown, so we put a nail on the wall and hung an evening dress. That started the "Prom Shop." We grew out of our space, and former Superintendent Alberto Carvalho gave us two wonderful spaces at Lindsey Hopkins Technical School. We now have "The Shop" that we call our 'mini Target,' where families come to get all their needs for free (as well as food from our pantry).
'The Prom Shop' is where students come to get outfitted for all their Prom needs. We also pay for their Prom tickets and Senior breakfast tickets. We value our neediest population as well as homeless unaccompanied youth and families. It's a joyful place where we sometimes have "happy tears." We get to see students transform in their new clothes. In addition, Diana started giving our homeless youth that are college bound, a new piece of luggage with everything in the standard college list included. Students arrive with pride, and as I mentioned, all we want for them is to feel "normal," like everyone else. Contributions of all kinds are always welcome, but the best is monetary since we now have vendors and try to buy in bulk to maximize our donations.
Karen Fryd:”We now have "The Shop" that we call our 'mini Target,' where families come to get all their needs for free (as well as food from our pantry).”
4. CA: Can you highlight some of your community work and activism?
Karen Fryd: My Community work started as just being a "mom." My home was just miles away from Frederick Douglass Elementary, where I heard that children had no school supplies. My husband and I visited the school and bought everything after the Principal mentioned their needs.
I met their School Resource Officer (now retired Major Esther Farmer"), who said there are more schools and showed me all the schools in Overtown, Miami. I called each one and asked what they needed, and it was all the same basics. I started asking friends in MB to help raise big money, like $50. I started with toy drives, book drives, clothing, and uniforms.
I met wonderful principals and teachers who welcomed me with such love and appreciation that I just wanted to do more. The fact that we were just miles apart and had so much we took for granted made me work harder. I didn't know words like "inequality of food insecurity." I just wanted to provide the same as my kids had.
One of my earliest projects was creating a “Midnight Basketball Game" at the Miami Rescue Mission- the kids loved it, and we had two wonderful coaches. It also gave kids a good choice to do nights which was very important. It ended up being too big for me, and I was very inexperienced about how to go about it.We had great times in the Gym and always had pizza at midnight. The only favor I asked was that a coach please walk me to my car. Now when I'm by the Miami Rescue Mission, I see the "Arts Charter School" at the end of the block, 'times have changed.'
I got very involved with the City of Miami Police Department and with the Community Relations office, and with them, I was able to learn about Liberty City. I chaired the PAL Program and had the privilege to work with wonderful Chief Timoney, who himself was a PAL kid in New York. I worked at "Pork 'N Beans" for many years and always tried to get what was needed. My husband surprised me with some cards that said: "South Florida Youth Foundation," which is my non-profit" which helped me raise more money. Over the years, I have been involved in so many projects such as helping kids go to College, sponsoring disability programs, building a new Gym at BTW HS, anti- gang programs, arts, and gardens, to name a few.
Sadly I also helped bury children when needed. I truly got to know Miami's inner –city, and I can only say that my love has grown deeper for the families, the heroic grandparents, and the teachers and staff that work so hard to succeed.
5. CA: What advice would you give to someone trying to get into the non-profit and community workspace?
Karen Fryd: I think it important to work with who you are and what you have to offer. If you're a musician, I recommend the Arts and give the kids some lessons yourself. That way, you really get the essence of the importance of what you pick. I came from Art school, so I had no training, so really worked through the lens of a mom.
What do the kids need? Even if you have a business background and are an administrator, I recommend a bit of 'boots on the ground,' so you truly have a taste of what's needed. Presently I am very aware of being a "connector" and all the value that it has. I love connecting people, agencies, and causes whose worlds would have never collided had it not been for a phone call or introduction. I love to see the success it brings to both sides equally. It's not about the person who funds and the one that receives. It's about the mutual good that they do for each other.
6. CA: Is there any book(s) or person who significantly impacted you?
Karen Fryd: I was very impacted by the strength of the challenged families I met. Mothers, grandparents, and siblings whose children had been shot, who had no food or resources, and yet they persevered.
They all want what's best for their families like any other person would want. I saw much firsthand and have nothing but respect and admiration for everyone I have met. I visit almost everything I have funded (except funerals). I believe in meeting everybody and seeing things myself. I can think of no greater impact. One of my favorite books is "The Color of Water."
Karen Fryd is currently on the boards of:
FCC – Soccer For Peace Board Member
Chair of Education at Arsht Center and general Board Member
City Miami PAL Program – City Miami Police Department
Rotary Club member in Liberty City
Frost School of Music Advisory Board
And former member board of:
Police Athletic League” City Miami Police Department was Chair
Urban League
Breakthrough Miami
Council Educational Change
CDAC (Miami Beach) Community Redevelopment Board and Affordable Housing
Miami Beach PAL
Women’s Commission Miami Beach
For more information or to donate to any of these causes, click their website link www.giveourstudentstheworld.org. Or for those who wish to donate directly to 'The Shop,' prom, the homeless, and students in need, leave a memo on their donations website, to ensure the donations are distributed accordingly.