Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Bravo.
Hi Leslie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Leslie is an entrepreneur, Founder and CEO at For A Better Day Foundation a 501c3 non-profit organization in support of mental health; Co-Founder and CEO at Medical essentials LLC and PR/Strategic Partnerships Manager at Pharma America Funding – Intiem Inc.
She recognizes the healthcare industry’s immense potential to offer new and exciting opportunities in the mental health space.
Leslie has several years of experience in corporate leadership and development in the roles of CEO, Founder, and senior executive for large companies across industries; pharmaceuticals, healthcare & wellness, CBD/hemp health & beauty, casino, hospitality, and PR/branding. She possesses a natural ability to advance projects cohesively with process and procedures, corporate program architecture, culture change, and employee training.
Her passion for providing tools and resources to those afflicted by stigma and mental health problems inspired her to form ‘For A Better Day Foundation’. A community-driven non-profit organization raising awareness for mental health conditions, breaking the stigma, and supporting the prevention of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Toxic Stress. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood and have been linked to: *Risky health behaviors *Chronic health conditions *Low life potential *Early death. Preventing early Trauma to improve adult health.
FABDF received the status of 501c3 organization in 2018.
#breakthestigma #talkaboutmentalhealth
As board member at the The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (2013 -2016) for over 3 years, and Co-Chair of the CFF South Florida Finest Chapter for 2 years (2016 -2018), Leslie was essential to many community campaigns to raise funds and awareness about CFF.
“The CoVID19 pandemic showed us that medical essentials, nurses, medical technicians, doctors, supplies, including tests can at any time be a matter of saving lives. We created Medical Essentials LLC, to assist all we can. We Specialize In Testing & Treating Infectious Diseases, our focus; prevention, testing, treatment, counseling and follow up. Every week we have events sponsored in support of those in need”.
Currently Leslie is heavily involved in:
Medical Essentials LLC community initiatives, non-profit/charitable projects providing support to mental health programs, homeless population, and individuals suffering from HIV / AIDS and other infections.
COVID19 testing campaigns on a local, regional and national level focusing on the underprivileged segments of our community: elderly, impaired, homeless and individuals who are going through substance abuse recovery. “I recognize that these populations are very vulnerable, it was very hard to service some of the Miami areas. We encountered road blocks, some organizations in the healthcare area couldn’t support our efforts with manpower due to safety concerns. My business partner, myself, and members of my family (obtained their Phlebotomist certification to aid this project) worked from 7am until 8pm, no days off for several months to make sure we provide PCR COVID testing and education about the pandemic to as many individuals as we could”
The For A Better Day Foundation is working on ongoing community efforts, fundraisers and awareness campaigns in support of the FABDF following chapter/divisions:
- PTSD Chapter/Division: Provides education, training programs; coping skills targeting the essentials workers (clinicians and armed forces),
- Substance Recovery Chapter: Support those who are in recovery by facilitating shelter, tools and other resources so they can regain strength and return to society.
- ACEs Can Be Prevented: Creating awareness campaigns; social media marketing and networking/mixers events in support of the prevention of ACEs and Toxic stress. Preventing ACEs could reduce the number of adults with depression by as much as 44% based on the CDC Kaiser study results.
- Wish List: COVID19 isolation linked to an increase in domestic violence cases due to financial stressors caused by income loss, researches suggest, and continue in the rise. We created the Wish List Drive, an ongoing initiative to provide essentials packages that consist of toothbrushes, toothpaste, underwear, wipes, utensils and other basic need items. These items are donated to women in distress. Thank you to our partners/supporters. We were able to put together essential bags and donate them to those victims.
#metoo I am a survivor of a toxic and abusive relationship. I know how hard it is to open up and speak about it, but once you do I know your story can inspire and help others. I feel blessed for the amazing emotional support group I have, my family and friends that were and still are always there for me.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
No, it has not been easy. Since 2017, our team at the For A Better Day Foundation (FABDF) have been supporting other nonprofits and charities with community events as well as our own.
We fed over 250 homeless residents of the city of Delray Beach on Thanksgiving two years ago.
We created a fundraiser event to raise funds in support of the EJS Project scholarship program (focusing on building and empowering future leaders in the Delray Beach area).
So far all FABDF initiatives have been executed by volunteers, items donated from local businesses, support from family and friends and out of pocket expenses. The lack of financial resources makes things a little more difficult to speed up the projects we have in the pipeline.
On July 7, 2021 My fellow rotarians at The Pompano Beach Rotary Club kindly donated $1,000, this money was used to improve our collateral material: print brochures and signage, marketing purposes to continue our mission, we are very grateful for this donation.
On the other hand, Mental health is still a big stigma. I am hispanic, and I have recognized that mental health is a big stigma within our hispanic population and many other cultures. Therefore, it is super important to speak about mental health as much as we speak about physical health. Without mental health there is no physical health! It is time to break the stigma about mental illness and emotional episodes. Share your story. It might shed light into someone.
When COVID pandemic started, we put effort into helping to slow down the spread of covid. Fighting COVID pandemic is one of FABDF’s main causes, because it is creating another pandemic within itself (mental health crisis)
Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but they can make us feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety
The FABDF through a partnership with the Florida Public Housing Authority (elderly, multifamily units and homeless), Broward County Farm Bureau, Fellowship Living (recovery home), Jubilee of Broward , Curley’s Food Bank Miami (homeless food banks), Rotary Club of Pompano Beach and Medical Essentials launched a screening campaign to help stop the spread of COVID-19 among the population of South Florida.
It is part of the ongoing effort to counter the pandemic. Create awareness about the importance of maintaining social distancing protocols, testing/screening monitoring especially in vulnerable segments and residents of congregate care settings.
Medical essential workers apply PCR tests to consenting Public Housing residents and homeless individuals on the streets of Miami Florida, USA. To help stop the spread of COVID-19 among the homeless, public housing residents/families, elderly, impaired individuals and those who help them (essential workers).
For several months, the FABDF and partners have served screening over thousands of needy members from our community located in the areas of Miami-Dade, Broward, West palm Beach County, Tampa, and Oregon. Project it is ongoing.
This experience gave us a lot of knowledge about our community’s top needs. We saw first hand the lack of support and resources, not enough manpower and supplies to perform the tests/collections, weather conditions did not help because we had small tents and sometimes we got heavy rain, we needed a mobile unit, very disadvantage areas, working long hours sometimes 7am -8pm /seven days a week for a period of several months, etc. Regardless of the odds against us, we did it and we did it as a team, providing free testing and information about COVID19 to hundreds of residents in these areas of need.
We’ve been impressed with Medical Essentials LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Medical Essentials (ME)
We are committed to provide high quality, affordable healthcare to support the prevention and eradication of HIV and other Infectious diseases including COVID.
We believe in breaking the stigma, regardless of race, gender, religion or any other barriers, individuals deserve a reliable, effective and caring healthcare service.
Our main objective is to facilitate collaboration and care coordination across the variety of care – from outpatient and inpatient to community, clinic and home.
We promote wellness in all aspects.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
With COVID19 pandemic we had experienced something unprecedented, there are not one but a few priceless life lessons;
To use what you are good at to be of service to others. Your gift is tied to your purpose.
To stay humbled, practice kindness, never take life for granted, appreciate loved ones and be grateful to God.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@
forabetterdayfoundation.org - Website: www.
forabetterdayfoundation.org and www.medicalessentials.co - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/for_a_better_ day_foundation/ and medical_ essentials_ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/ForABetterDayFDN and https://www.facebook.com/ MEmedicalessentials - Other: https://www.
medicalessentials.co/
Image Credits
Leslie Bravo Iphone Tracey Mason Photography
