Today we’d like to introduce you to Lara Carter.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m somewhat of an accidental, but very committed Miamian. I first moved to Miami, from Maryland, when I was 17 to dance with the Miami City Ballet, after attending a Summer Intensive then being invited to stay. Within two weeks, I had gone from a regular, upcoming high school senior, to moving to Miami to pursue my dream. I had the most amazing year focusing on my passion full-time, surrounded by international talent and beautiful beaches. When it came time to go to college, I had beyond fallen in love with Miami, and after the University of Miami offered a scholarship, I was excited for 4 more years! I graduated with a degree in biomedical engineering, and then worked in the software industry. As great of a job it was, I found myself searching for more. Since I was also pre-med, I considered medical school, while working part-time at a child advocacy center, Kristi House, where I had volunteered as an undergrad. During this time, I also worked for a neuroscience start-up, and as a fitness model, all extremely different but very enjoyable experiences. Throughout it all, working at Kristi House has been far more than a job, and I’m dedicated to and energized by the amazing work this team does to heal our children’s hearts. Ballet was the first passion that brought me to Miami, but in my work with Kristi House, I have developed another one in the nonprofit and social services sector.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As you can probably imagine, my resume looks a bit like a patchwork quilt with incredible experiences from a wide variety of fields. And there was a period where this was certainly concerning, I wasn’t sure I would find a proper career fit. My parents had very traditional career paths, with my dad working as an engineer, for only two companies, since graduation. For many of my friends and me, this wasn’t turning out to be the case. My parents would often repeat the lesson of “if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in my life,” and I really took that to heart. Training as professional ballet dancer taught me nothing comes easy, even if it is your passion, but if you love what you do, even the hardest of days are meaningful.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Kristi House is dedicated to eradicating child abuse and child sex trafficking – working nationally on solutions and locally to heal child-victims. Since 1995, Kristi House has operated the only Child Advocacy Center (CAC) in Miami-Dade County, responsible for coordinating child-victims’ legal, medical, and social services needs. Founded as a not-for-profit 501c3 organization, we provide an integrated solution for families navigating the complex services involved in the healing process. Kristi House is one of the first CACs in the country to address the issue of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), otherwise known as child sex trafficking. We established Project GOLD (Girls Owning their Lives and Dreams), the first drop-in center for CSEC girls in Florida, with specialized services for sex trafficked youth. All services are provided at no charge.
Kristi House has been doing this work in the Miami community for the past 23 years, and several members of our staff have been there for over a decade, sometimes two. They really are the experts in this epidemic and are some of the most selfless and dedicated people I know. It’s been five years since I began as a volunteer, and I am now the Community Relations and Special Projects Manager. I am so grateful to be a part of and learn from this amazing team.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
10 years ago, Miami wasn’t even on my radar, but Kristi House had already been healing the hearts of our children for over a decade. Unfortunately, child sexual abuse is prevalent across all locations, cultures, and classes. Florida is ranked third in the nation for human trafficking cases, and this is a tremendous problem on our streets including South Beach and Homestead. Kristi House has clients in every zip-code of Miami-Dade County. These are alarming statistics. Awareness and education are a huge part of prevention, and we encourage all members of Miami to learn the facts and be a part of the solution.
What’s your favorite memory from childhood?
My mom would make magic in the kitchen, whether it was for our regular sit-down meals, feasts for the holidays or pies for Thanksgiving. This one time, food prep was left to my dad and me while my mom ran to the store. All we had to do was toss a salad. Apparently, our salad spinner wasn’t getting the job done up-to-par, so my dad decided it was time to bring out the power tools. Logically, he brought out the power drill and 8-year-me thought it was a brilliant idea. Wearing my sous-chef apron and goggles, I began to drill (spin the salad). The salad proceeded to spin all over the kitchen, raspberry dressing splattering every available surface moments before guests began to arrive. I learned a few lessons that day: nothing’s ever broken, it just needs the right tool, and my mom is in charge of the kitchen for a reason.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1265 NW 12th Ave.
Miami FL, 33136 - Website: www.kristihouse.org
- Phone: 305-547-6800
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/KristiHouseCAC
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/KristiHouseCAC
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/KristiHouseCAC
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
