Today we’d like to introduce you to Owen Acosta.
Hi Owen, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story began as ambition without an outlet. I was a junior at Ransom Everglades High School with a passion for business and a desire to grow. My club proposal for a Career Development Club had just been rejected, I didn’t win any positions in the clubs I was already in, and I lacked a way to work toward my future. I knew there was something I wanted to do, not just to begin building my future, but to put my time into something productive, but I didn’t know what. So, I took things into my own hands and began brainstorming possible solutions.
With inspiration from the “Supporting by Skateboarding Club” I had tried starting my freshman year of high school, and from my experience as a skater in Miami, I finally settled on Push Forward Project (originally “The Push Forward Project”), a nonprofit based on separating substance abuse from skate culture. Once I settled on a name and idea, I began writing a mission statement, creating a logo, making business cards, and finding peers who were willing to help out (March 2025). By April 4th, I had created a website and set up social media for the organization to begin acquiring a following and support for the cause.
On April 12th, we held our first fundraising event at Lot 11 Skatepark, where we sold water and Powerade to skaters at the park. This event was less focused on raising money and more focused on spreading awareness for our cause while providing beverages for skaters. Thanks to this initial event, we now had photos, taken by a member of the organization, to post on social media and our website, slowly building our credibility and image.
Our next events were cost-effective yet helpful initiatives like clothing drives and car wash fundraisers to begin raising money for larger and more impactful events, as well as to pay for initial organization filing such as our Articles of Incorporation and the application for 501(c)(3) status. Completing these tasks was extremely fulfilling, it was exactly the type of outlet for my ambition that I had been looking for. I began feeling accomplished at the end of each day and craved more progress. I was also fulfilled knowing that I was gaining valuable business experience and learning how to do things I had never done before, like creating a bank account for my nonprofit, filing legal documents, and working on outreach and marketing. One of my main goals at the time was to increase our social media following, and to accomplish this, I documented everything we were working on, including events and projects.
Throughout the summer, I worked on many different events, including a skatepark cleanup, supplying meals, water, and hygiene products to the homeless community on different occasions, and bringing free pizza to the skatepark. I was proud of the work we were doing and saw that we were making an impact. From people recognizing me at the park or asking to help out with our organization, it felt amazing to receive recognition for my work, but I knew there was more to accomplish. I was aware that, as a smaller organization, our resources were limited, so I began reaching out to other organizations and businesses to work together. I sent many emails out, and as organizations and businesses responded, I scheduled virtual meetings with them whenever I had free time during school.
As a result of those efforts, I was able to work on events like Save A Life Day at the University of Miami with Shatterproof, URecovery, Substance Awareness, and F Fentanyl to give out Narcan to UM students. Through our connections, Push Forward Project was also able to bring herbal inhalers from Whyff and free ice cream from Chill-N to give out. Being part of that event and being able to contribute to the cause felt amazing, and seeing Push Forward Project work with larger organizations and businesses was incredibly rewarding.
During that time, when I was taking virtual meetings in school, I also met with a marketing representative from Raising Cane’s and another organization, Amigos for Kids. We were able to work with Amigos for Kids on their Pillar Painting Project in Downtown Miami, and we gave out Raising Cane’s branded items to the homeless community at our “Raising Cane’s and Awareness” event. I was particularly excited for this event because it was Push Forward Project’s first sponsored event where we worked with a business, and it was a testament to the work we had put in.
Another project I had been working on during this time was the Push Forward Project shirts. The process of creating the shirts included designing, learning how to screen print, finding a shirt supplier, comparing suppliers, and lots of trial and error. Pushing through all the difficulty, we managed to raise $1,000 in sales as funds for our nonprofit to use for our events. We captured images of the shirts through multiple photoshoots and designed a store on our website to sell them. Getting content was an important part of the process, including short-form videos and eye-catching images photoshopped to grab attention. My favorite part of this process was watching my vision come to life. Seeing a design I created on Adobe Illustrator on a physical shirt that people wanted to wear made me feel recognized, and I was appreciative of those supporting the cause.
Push Forward Project filled the gap in my life that I needed. It gave me an outlet to put my creativity, energy, and ambition toward, and it continues to do so. I am grateful for everything I have learned and for how far I’ve come in such a short amount of time. It has given me purpose and the opportunity to prove to myself that I can achieve my goals, no matter what they may be.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As someone unfamiliar with typical business operations, creating a legal organization was uncharted territory for me to explore. Thankfully, I had guidance from online tools and research, which made nothing too difficult to learn or figure out. Using AI and reaching out to Ransom Everglades alumni gave me important information on the legal responsibilities of a nonprofit, as well as the next steps I needed to take to ensure I was following the proper legal procedures.
However, there were more challenges that couldn’t be solved as easily, one of the most difficult being times when I was at a loss. After completing all the projects I was working on, I would occasionally feel stumped. I had no idea what to work on next, even though my ambition was still there. I wished that someone could tell me exactly what I needed to do in that moment to make progress, but I couldn’t figure it out. All my ideas were long-term projects, not anything I could work on immediately, and it made me feel stuck.
Overcoming that feeling is difficult, but the more you look for things to do or opportunities to improve, the more they will come to you. Putting yourself in the right mindset is crucial for improvement and success. Although many people would argue that free time is preferred, I’ve felt the best during times when I am constantly busy with work. This feeling isn’t just because I know what I need to accomplish next to improve, but because of the sense of direction and accomplishment I feel after completing those tasks.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Push Forward Project’s purpose is to combat substance abuse by redefining skate culture as a force for support and resilience. In a community where drug use is often glorified, we offer an alternative that promotes a healthier lifestyle through skateboarding and education. By spreading awareness and providing support, we empower individuals to break free from harmful norms and build a stronger future.
As part of the skateboarding community in Miami, we have seen the issues and problems that are present, but we also have the power to change them. We deeply care about this community, and we aren’t willing to give up on skateboarding culture as a form of prevention and support. We want to become a skate brand and organization dedicated to giving skaters a better background.
Some skateboarding brands, even local shops, sell marijuana products and even things like branded pill bottles. They contribute to the cycle that skateboarders have been put in for decades, all for the outcome of profit. We want to become an organization that draws the line when it comes to substance abuse and health. We care about our community and want to see it thrive.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I think I covered it all!
Pricing:
- Downtown Miami Tee – White: $30
- Downtown Miami Tee – Black: $30
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thepushforwardproject.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepushforwardproject/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePushForwardProject
Image Credits
Photographers include: Owen Acosta, Sebastian Ames, Lucas Cartagena
