We started in October 2015 with four families, all of whom were long time CISVers. The families had participated in CISV programs while living in Mexico, Italy, Costa Rica and Brazil. We were very happy to finally launch the Miami, Florida chapter.
CISV Miami Chapter Board
President: Alessia Zoso chairmiami-florida@cisvusa.org
Secretary: Juliana Laranjeira secretarymiami-florida@cisvusa.org
Risk Manager: Christel Velhagen riskmiami-florida@cisvusa.org
Treasurer: Eduardo Hernandez treasurermiami-florida@cisvusa.org
JB Advisor / LLT: Leticia Keremian leticia@cisvusa.org
Program Chair: Gisele Widmer pchairmiami-florida@cisvusa.org
Fundraising Chair, Alejandra Garza fundraising-miami-florida@cisvusa.org
Trustee: Josie Stevens miami-florida@cisvusa.org
Trustee: Mario Hidalgo mhidalgo00@hotmail.com
Members at Large
Local Interchange LIC: Gabriela Heisel gabrielaheisel@gmail.com
Communications Chair: Daniela Sagradi communication-miami-florida@cisvusa.org
Website Coordinator: Amy Berardi amyberardi123@gmail.com
Planner: Josie Stevens miami-florida@cisvusa.org
Mosaic Co-Chair: Andrea Bernal mosaicmiami-florida@cisvusa.org
Mosaic Co-Chair: Marine Fonteyne mosaicmiami-florida@cisvusa.org
MyCISV Coordinator & Venue Sourcing Coordinator: Geraldine Pryor gspryor@gmail.com
LLT Co-Chair: Diana Garcia dgarc262@fiu.edu
Junior Branch
Co-President: Giorgia Serafini
Co-President: Oscar Moral
JLJR, Co-Vice President: Anna Alves
JLJR, Co-Vice President: Rafaela Kamimura
Philanthropy Director: Ana Luiza Andrade
Activities Chair: Julia Guimaraes
Treasurer: Nicolas Gertzenstein
Historian: Leonardo Heisel
Secretary: Valentina Sumner
Board Members
Alessia Zoso – President
“Hi! I am the Miami Chapter chair for 2021-2024. I am from a small town in the North of Italy, and I moved to the USA to continue my studies and my career as an immunologist.
I’ve been involved with CISV because I think it is a great growth opportunity for my kids, but CISV gave me so much more back: lifelong friends, renewed confidence, and life skills and talents that I didn’t know I had.”
Juliana Laranjeira – Secretary
“I’ve been a CISVer since 1986 when my family co-founded the CISV chapter in my hometown of Salvador-BA, Brazil. I was part of the first JB in Salvador and participated in many local activities and programs. CISV had a great, positive impact in my life. I’m grateful that now my kids get to experience CISV while I also continue my journey as the Miami Chapter Secretary. Once a CISVer, always a CISVer!”
Christel Velhagen, Risk Manager
“I was born in Costa Rica and moved to Miami 17 years ago. I am a founding member of the Miami chapter.
We’ve got involved in CISV as a family when my kids wanted to be part of this great organization.
It’s been fun and fulfilling to see the chapter grow and see families enjoy it as much as we do. Peace out!”
Eduardo Hernandez- Treasurer
“Hello! I’ve been in CISV since I was 11 years old when I participated in a Village. Since then, I have been very active in CISV, as a camper in Seminar Camps, leader in Villages, staff in Christmas meetings and as a board member of CISV Mexico City and CISV Miami, where I am a cofounder. My 3 sons and my wife have been also very active, as campers, leaders and staff. I love CISV!”
Leticia Keremian – JB Advisor/LLT
“CISV has been a part of my life for over 30 years.
Thanks to CISV I made great friends, met amazing people and had unforgettable experiences.
It makes me happy to now be able to share CISV with my family, and contribute to the Miami Chapter”
Gisele Widmer – Program Chair
“Hi! I grew up in a multi-cultural household, with my mom being Honduran and my dad Swiss. As a child I lived in many countries such as Switzerland, England, and Mexico and later in the USA. The exposure to all these different cultures and languages, opened my mind early in life and helped me develop curiosity towards everything that was different and new. It also taught me to be sensitive towards people of different backgrounds. Although I didn’t learn about CISV until my adulthood, I am lucky to see my daughters grow up around this amazing organization that promotes values, like the ones I grew up with. Today I can say, I am happy to experience CISV through their eyes, and my own as a volunteer”
Alejandra Garza- Fundraising Chair
“I am originally from Mexico City, but have lived in NYC for the past decade until my recent move to Miami. At 11 years old I was lucky to find CISV. Going to a village in England changed my life forever, and shaped my need to experience the world, different cultures and meet different people. Maybe that is why I am drawn to big cities that act as cultural “melting pots”. Now, as a mom of two, my hopes are to have them experience the unique growth that CISV offers. I am therefore committed and excited to join the CISV Miami chapter, to help it grow and get even stronger for our children to benefit from.”
Josie Stevens, Trustee
“Hello! I’ve been in CISV since I was 21 years old, and I went to a Village as a leader. Since then, I have been leader in different camps, staff and participant in Christmas’ meeting.
I am a founder of CISV Miami and National Interchange Coordinator for CISV USA.”
Mario Hidalgo, Trustee
“I am part of the group that co-founded CISV Miami Chapter.
Members at Large
