Donates $20 to the Art-Itudes Center, and receive a tea mug as a thank you gift;
Donations of $40 will receive a beautiful unfolding "tea flower" with the tea cup
Donations of $100 to the Art-Itudes Center will receive a Tea Pot with an infuser and an unfolding tea flower. All dontations are tax deductible.
Art-Itudes Center
In a recent contest for youth in the South Dade area we asked them to tell us their plan to bring peace to the community. Overwhelmingly, they described domestic abuse that informed community violence. In response to this cry for help, Elijah Network plans to develop a performing arts center here with a collaboration of preventionists, artists, schools and churches called: Art-Itudes. Our first play will be "Where the Angry Things Are," giving a voice to the domestic abuse that gives rise to destructive behavior. Based on the M. Sendak classic "Where the Wild Things Are," we hope to achieve the same catharsis and self-expression achieved by Max, the book's protagonist, but on a community wide level. Community members and youth would be involved not just as actors in the play, but as writers, directors, costume and set designers, promoters etc.; teaching and learning skills to put on artistic productions of their own. At the same time, mental health professionals and others from the helping professions would guide families and youth. Just like people, communities have anger and frustration, and they need a place to put that energy. "Where the Angry Things Are" will give neighborhoods the chance to move towards healing and prevent violence.
Meet Our Staff
Kate Witte, Founder
Executive Director: Kate Witte, M.S.E., C.A.P.P.: info@elijahnetwork.org
Kate was a co-founder of Christ Center School of Counseling and Addiction Studies where she developed the curriculum for specialized associate degrees for addiction counselors and early childhood educators. She also served as Dean and Clinical Supervisor while at Christ Center.
Kate initiated the Elijah Project in 1998 working with teen parents, many of whom were in foster care, and received funding from a grant from the Department of Children and Families. She has served as Executive Director of the Elijah Network Family and Community Alliance since its incorporation in 2002.
Kate holds undergraduate degrees in Early Childhood Education and Developmental Psychology. She holds a Masters Degree from University of Miami in Infant Intervention with a specialty in substance exposed children 0-8 years old. She is an internationally certified Prevention Specialist through the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium, a Certified Prevention Specialist through the Florida Certification Board and Certified Pastoral Recovery Counselor through Christ Center International.
She lives with her husband Mark in the Redland and is the mother of three and grandmother of two beautiful girls.
Kurtis Schilk
Program Manager
B.A. in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Business Administration
Kurt joined The Elijah Network in March 2004 as a part time prevention facilitator and is now the Youth Violence Prevention Program Manager. Mr. Schilk's previous work experience includes involvement in 11 years of dealing with troubled and at-risk youth. Mr. Schilk has assisted in the training, consultation, and implementation of over 60 prevention programs in public, private, and faith-based organizations.
Mr. Schilk is a certified Prevention and CPR TOT and a Bullying Consultant as well. Mr. Schilk is also a Health Care Specialist in the United States Army Reserves and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Business Administration.
Suzette Rice
Case manager
Bachelor of Arts, Jackson, Mississippi
Associate of Arts, Miami, Florida
Suzette is a Care Coordinator with the Children of Inmates program within the Elijah Network. Her responsibilities include the identification of needs and synchronization of services for the children and caregivers of incarcerated individuals. This is a unique challenge as the populations served often function in the shadows without a safety net for their distinctive needs.
Prior to joining Elijah Network, Suzette established and administered a CountyMayor's Office for two consecutive county mayors while serving a large sector of the county. Subsequent to working in the public sector, Suzette was a non-profit development director for a women's rehabilitation center and active as a business consultant.
Suzette is active as a volunteer with several cultural arts and historical organizations as well serving as chair of the South Dade Children's Resource Network Advisory Board and as vice president of Crime Stoppers of Miami Dade.
Nina Govea
Program Manager
Mrs. Nina Govea joined The Elijah Network in 2009 and brings over 12 years direct services experience working with children, including foster care, at risk youth advocate programs and family services. Prior to joining The Elijah Network, she worked as a Prevention Educator with Family and Children Faith Coalition of South Florida as well as Volunteer and Activities Coordinator for Children Home Society of Florida. She currently serves alongside her husband as Associate Pastors for a local community Christian church.
She holds Degrees in Addictions and Family Counseling as well as Early Childhood Development and is currently pursuing to further master her studies in Christian Counseling. Her passion is to partake in the restoration and strengthening of families through prevention education and intervention.
Laura Klein
M.S.Ed
The Elijah Network is proud to be a provider for Supplemental Educational Services (S.E.S.).This is the free tutoring program provided by Miami-Dade County Public Schools.This service is offered to students K - 8 that are zoned for a Title I school and are receiving free/reduced lunch.The S.E.S. program provides 20-30 hours of hands on tutoring for Math and/or Language Arts.Students will receive two hours, once or twice a week.Deadline for registration is September 17th.Please contact our office for an application or more information.All tutoring classes are at our Cauley Square location.
Laura Klein,M.S.Ed . is our State of Florida Certified Teacher/Tutor for the S.E.S. program offered by M-DCPS.She has over 20 years experience teaching elementary and middle school students.Laura is a qualified, flexible, and dedicated worker; and a nurturing and receptive educator.
