Brenna Kays Application PackageKays Brenna R
Last Name First Name Middle Initial
951 Euclid Ave Apt 1 Miami
Home Address City
FL 33139
State Zip Code
1-305-733-3273
HomeWork
brenna.kays@gmail.com
Email AddressCellular
Business Address City State Zip Code
Occupation:Business Name:
Please list your preferences in order of ranking [1] first choice [2] second choice, and [3] third choice. Please note
that only three (3) choices will be observed by the City Clerk’s Office. (Regular Boards of City)
Choice 1:
Choice 2:
Choice 3:
Sustainability Committee
Ad Hoc Neighborhood Resiliency Projects Advisory Committee
Parks and Recreational Facilities Board
BOARD AND COMMITTEE
APPLICATION FORM
Note:If applying for the At-Large position of the Historic Preservation Board, please answer the below
questions:
Have you ever resided in one of the City's Historic Districts for at least one year?Yes
951 Euclid Ave Apt 1 7/1/2018 7/13/2022
Address
From:
Dates
To:
If you answered "Yes", please indicate:
Professional License
No Professional Licenses Submitted.
Note:If you are seeking appointment to a professional seat (e.g. attorney, architect, etc.), you must attach a copy of
your currently effective corresponding professional license.
Pursuant to City Code section 2-22(4) a, b and c: Members of Agencies, Boards, and Committees shall be
affiliated with the city. This requirement shall be fulfilled in the following ways:
YesResident of the City for a minimum of six (6) months:
Demonstrate an ownership interest in a business established in the City for a minimum of six (6) months:No
AFFILIATION WITH THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
a.
● I am resident of:South Beach
Or
b.
"Ownership Interest" shall mean the ownership of ten percent (10%) or more (including the ownership of 10%
or more of the outstanding capital stock) in a business.
"Business" shall mean any sole proprietorship, sponsorship, corporation, limited liability company, or other
entity or business association.
c.Full-time employee of such a business (for a minimum of six months); and I am based in an office or
other location of the business that is physically located in Miami Beach (for a minimum of six months):No
Notwithstanding the requirements set forth herein, the qualified full-time employee of a business must be
approved by a 4/7th vote of the Mayor and City Commission.
NOTE: Members of Agencies, Boards, and Committees shall be required to demonstrate compliance with the City
affiliation requirements of section 2-22 (4) a and b of the Miami Beach City Code by executing an affidavit,
stipulating that they have met either (or both) of said affiliation requirements. The original affidavit shall be filled
with the Office of the City Clerk prior to being sworn in as a member.
Or
No● Have you ever been convicted of a felony:If yes, please explain in detail:
● Do you currently have a violation(s) of City of Miami Beach codes:No If yes, please explain in detail:
● Do you currently owe the City of Miami Beach any money:No If yes, please explain in detail:
● Are you currently serving on any City Boards or Committees:No If yes, which board?
● Are you presently a registered lobbyist with the City of Miami Beach?No
● I am applying for an appointment because I have special abilities, knowledge and experience. Please list below:
I am a environmental scientist and researcher with specialized knowledge about sustainability, ecological
conservation, and urban planning. My graduate research focuses on leveraging urban green spaces for the good
or urban biodiversity as well as human inhabitants. I have many professional connecti
NOTE: IF APPOINTED, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW CERTAIN LAWS THAT APPLY TO CITY
BOARD/COMMITTEE MEMBERS. THESE LAWS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
o Prohibition from directly or indirectly lobbying city personnel (Miami Beach City Code section 2-459).
o Prohibition from contracting with the city (Miami-Dade County Code section 2-11.1).
o Prohibition from lobbying before board/committee you have served on for period of one year after leaving office
(Miami Beach Code section 2-26)
o Requirement to disclose certain financial interests and gifts (Miami-Dade County Code section 2-11.1).
o Sunshine Law - Florida's Government-in-the-Sunshine Law was enacted in 1967. Today, the Sunshine Law
regarding open government can be found in Chapter 286 of the Florida Statutes. These statutes establish a basic
right of access to most meetings of Boards, Commissions, and other governing bodies of state and local
governmental agencies or authorities.
o Voting conflict - Form 8B is for use by any person serving at the county, city, or other local level of government on
an appointed or elected Board, Council, Commission, Authority, or Committee. It applies equality to members of
advisory and non-advisory bodies who are presented with a voting conflict of interest under Section 112.3143.
Florida Statutes.
● In what organization(s) in the City of Miami Beach do you currently hold membership in?
No Organization Information Submitted.
● List the address of all properties owned or in which you have an interest within the City of Miami Beach:
No Owned Property Information submitted.
If so, which department and title?No● Are you now employed by the City of Miami Beach:
● Pursuant to City Code Section 2-25 (b):
Do you have a parent, spouse, child, brother, or sister who is employed by the City of Miami Beach?No
If "Yes", identify person(s) and department(s):
No relative's information submitted.
BOARD & COMMITTEE FINANCIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT
Acknowledgement of fines/suspension for Board/Committee Members for failure to comply with
Miami-Dade County Financial Disclosure Code Section 2-11.1(i)(2)
I understand that no later than July 1, of each year all members of Boards and Committees of the City of Miami
Beach, including those of a purely advisory nature, are required to comply with Miami-Dade County Financial
Disclosure Requirements.
One of the following forms must be filled with the City Clerk of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive,
Miami Beach, Florida, no later than 12:00 noon of July 1, of each year:
1. A "Source of Income Statement;" or
2. A "Statement of Financial Interests (Form 1)¹ ;" or
3. A Copy of your latest Federal Income Tax Return.
Failure to file one of these forms, pursuant to the Miami-Dade County Code, may subject the person to a fine of no
more than $500, 60 days in jail, or both.
_____________________________
¹ Members of the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment will be notified directly by the State of Florida, pursuant
to F.S. §112.3145(1)(a), to file a Statement of Financial Interests (Form 1) with the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of
Elections by 12:00 noon, July 1. Planning Board and Board of Adjustment members who file their Form 1 with the
County Supervisor of Elections automatically satisfy the County’s financial disclosure requirement as a Miami Beach
City Board/Committee member and need not file an additional form with the Office of the City Clerk. However,
compliance with the County disclosure requirement does not satisfy the State requirement.
DIVERSITY STATISTICS REPORT
The following information is voluntary and has no bearing on your consideration for appointment. It is being asked to
comply with City diversity reporting requirements.
OtherRace/Ethnic Categories
What is your race?
No details providedOther Description:
Gender:Female
Are you Spanish/Hispanic/ Latino? Mark the "No" box if not Spanish / Hispanic / Latino.Yes
Physically Challenged:No
I HEREBY ATTEST TO THE ACCURACY AND TRUTHFULNESS OF THE APPLICATION; AND I HAVE
RECEIVED, READ AND WILL ABIDE BY CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE VII, OF THE MIAMI BEACH CITY CODE,
ENTITLED “STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FOR CITY OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENCY MEMBERS AND
ALL OTHER APPLICABLE COUNTY AND/OR STATE LAWS AND STATUTES ACCORDINGLY.”
I Brenna Kays agreed to the following terms on 7/13/2022 10:39:42 AM
Received in the City Clerk's Office by:
Name of Deputy Clerk Control No. Date
Board and Committee Application Checklist: Please ensure you have provided all information before applying or
reapplying to any Board and Committee.
YES
YES
YES
YES
I have answered all questions fully.
I have uploaded a current resume, photograph, and a copy of any applicable professional license.
I have completed and attached the Board & Committee Financial Acknowledgment Statement.
I have completed and attached the Diversity Statistics Report.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the City Clerk via email: BC@miamibeachfl.gov or
telephone: 305.673.7411
Note: Florida Statutes 119.071: The role of the Office of the City Clerk is to receive and maintain forms filed as
public records. If your home address, telephone numbers, and/or photograph are exempt from disclosure and you
do not wish your home address, telephone numbers, and/or photograph to be made public, please:
1) Use your office or other address for your mailing address;
2) Use your office or other telephone number for your contact number; and
3) Do not attach a photograph.
BRENNA KAYS
Florida International University
bkays001@fiu.edu
(305) 733-3273
EDUCATION
Florida International University, Miami, FL
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Earth System Sciences
• Tropical Rivers Lab
08/2018
- Present
Organization for Tropical Studies, San Jose, CR
• Tropical Biology: An Ecological Approach
06/19- 07/19
Florida International University, Miami, FL
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Sustainability and the Environment
o Certificate in Biodiversity Conservation and Management
o Cum Laude Honors; GPA: 3.52
• Outreach Coordinator for Growth of Leadership Academics
and Diversity in Ecological Sciences (G.L.A.D.E.S.)
05/2015 –
12/2017
RESEARCH
Graduate Research Assistant
Florida International University, Miami, FL
• Incorporating Environmental Justice and Education for
Equitable and Engaging Urban Ecological Restoration in
Miami, FL
• Understanding collaboration networks associated with
research related to hydroelectric development in Latin
America
08/2018 -
Ongoing
Tropical Conservation Intern
Florida International University, Miami, FL
• Developed Miami Canopy, a network for collaborative
conservation in South Florida.
01/2017 -
05/2017
EMPLOYMENT
Tropical Rivers Lab Manager
Florida International University, Miami, FL
• Manage operations of Tropical Rivers Lab team.
• Coordinate lab meetings and maintain deadline
adherence.
• Support lead staff in coordinating operations for Earth and
Environment Graduate Seminar.
• Actively coordinate and participate in research.
05/2017 –
08/2018
Learning Programs Facilitator
Deering Foundation, Miami, FL
• Supervised group management from arrival to departure.
• Cooperated with museum staff to support the
administration of the group tour reservation and
confirmation process as needed and assigned.
01/2017 –
08/2018
Legal Assistant
Hernandez Law Center P.A., Miami, FL
• Established system for case organization by; monitoring
calendars; meeting deadlines; documenting actions; inputting
information into file database and case management software;
confirming case status with attorney.
• Kept clients informed by maintaining contact; communicating
case progress.
02/ 2016 – 01/
2017
Youth Program Manager
Dominican American National Foundation, Miami, FL • Coordinated operations of Early Riser Youth Programs and ensures contract fidelity to The Children’s Trust.
• Trained and led a team of instructors to deliver daily after school and summer services to over 200 children.
• Researched and developed programs for youth. Collected data about program participants and parents to determine needs. interests, and progress of youth participants.
• Facilitated team meetings and organized special events for Early Riser Program.
04/2014 – 12/
2015
PUBLICATIONS
Padolf, A., Sidoti, B., Kays, B., Assael, S., & Tserej, O. (2020). The Fairchild Challenge:
Reflections on our Social Role. Roots, 17(2), 06-09.
Anderson, E.P., M. Varese, G. Leite, N. Piland, S. Heilpern, P. Olivas, B. Kays, F. Brown, and
J. Dutka-Gianelli. Why tropical ecology and conservation need citizen science. Biotropica.
Invited contribution to be submitted in Spring 2019.
PRESENTATIONS
"Understanding local stakeholder perceptions and attitude of
Prescribed Burning for improved support of Urban Pine
Rockland restoration in Miami Dade County (MDC)", 1st
Annual Deering Estate Research Symposium. Miami, FL.
February 2021
“Identifying strategies for increased stakeholder engagement
in restoration science”, FIU Department of Earth and
Environment Graduate Symposium 2020. Miami, FL.
March 2020
“Analyzing Potential Linkages between collaborative networks
and research groups on Amazon Freshwater Conservation"
Congreso Aquatrop. Quito, Ecuador
August 2018
“Rethinking human dimensions of freshwater conservation: a biocultural
approach”, Society for Freshwater Science Annual Meeting 2019. Salt Lake
City. Utah.
May 2019
Course/Curriculum Development Activities
Developed multiple curricula addendum through work with Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens
Fairchild Challenge
- The Fairchild Challenge is an interdisciplinary, environmental science competition
designed to engage students of diverse interests, abilities, talents and backgrounds to
explore the natural world. We create various “Challenges” in which students participate
and contribute their work. For the 2021-2022 school year, I developed a Challenge in
partnership with FIU LACC for students to interview family members and elders about
traditional cultural foods and the flora used to cook them. Students then created
informational videos using these interviews as a means to preserve traditional knowledge
about their cultural food ways. I also developed a Challenge in partnership with the
Fairchild Million Orchid Project, where students were asked to develop proposals for a
Million Orchid Project outplanting in their local community and engage with local
legislators to implement their proposal.
Co-organized student and educator workshops with FC Team
- Part of my role as a Teaching Assistant with the Fairchild Education Team was to
organize and facilitate workshops for Fairchild Challenge students and MDCPS Teacher.
I helped with the planning and facilitation of multiple workshops such as a Night
Blooming Plants Workshop, the annual Fairchild Challenge Environmental Debate, and
our Green Treasures workshops, where students learned skills in ethnobotanical
interviewing.
Grants and fellowship proposals submitted/ grants awarded
August 2021, IMLS Museums Empowered Grant, Co-PI, $250,000, Pending
- Written in collaboration with the Fairchild Education Team and a team from the Institute
of Learning Innovation to create a series of Professional Development workshops for
Fairchild Staff, focusing on the development and implementation of program specific
informal education evaluation methods.
January 2022, Public Gardens Urban Agriculture Resilience grant, $30,000, Pending
- Written in collaboration with Fairchild Garden’s Education Team to create a needs based
vertical garden outreach program, wherein FC staff assist Title 1 schools in Miami Dade
County in creating on-campus vertical food gardens to function as STEM teaching tools.
February 2022, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Graduate Fellowship, $25,000 funded
January 2022, Garden Club of America Urban Forestry Fellowship, $7500, Pending
ATTENDANCE AT SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCES
Society for Freshwater Science Annual Meeting 2019. Salt Lake City, UT.
(Symposium organizer and speaker)
2019
AQUATROP. Quito, Ecuador (Speaker) 2018
SERVICE
Organized symposium on The importance of ecological connectivity in tropical freshwater
research and conservation. Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation 2020. Cartagena,
Colombia. - Postponed due to COVID19 2020
Organized symposium on Biocultural Approaches to Freshwater Conservation. Society for
Freshwater Science Annual Meeting 2019. Salt Lake City, UT
MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS
American Institute of Biology Sciences (AIBS) Communications Training Boot
Camp for Scientists. Miami, FL. (Participant)
2019
ComSciCon Miami. Miami, FL. (Organizer) 2019
Climate Reality Leadership Training Summit. Atlanta, GA. 2019
Intro to Physical Computing with Arduino. Miami, FL. 2019
History of Florida with Dr. Paul George, HistoryMiami Museum. 2018
Citizen Science for the Amazon, Annual Meeting. Iquitos, Peru (Participant) 2018
Amazon Computational Sustainability, Data Identification and Analysis
Meeting. Miami, FL. (Participant)
2018
AFFILIATIONS
• Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) – Student Member
• Ecological Society of America (ESA) – Student Member
• Society for Freshwater Science (SFS) – Student Member
• National Society for Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) – Student Member
• National Science Policy Network (NSPN) - Student Member
TRAINING
• Catalyst Miami’s Community Leadership on the Environment, Advocacy, and Resilience
(2021) - The 10-week CLEAR program provides participants with the groundwork to
become climate resilience educators, leaders, and innovators in their own communities and
beyond.
• CITI Program Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research Course (202 1)
• EVERFI Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Online Training (2020) - Learned about
key concepts related to identity, bias, power, privilege and oppression: Understood the
benefits of being part of a diverse community; and Developed skills related to ally
behavior, self -care, and creating inclusive spaces
• CITI Program Social/Behavioral Human Research Course (2017) – an introduction to
social-behavioral-educational research with a focus on the protection of human subjects. It
offers historic and current information on regulatory and ethical issues important to the
conduct of research involving human subjects.
• ESRI MOOC in Cartography (2017) – coaching from experienced cartographers and
practical, hands-on exercises using ArcGIS Pro, for improved mapmaking.
• Discovering Inclusion, Classroom Management and Differentiated Instruction
(2015) - Workshops facilitated by the Advocacy Network on Disabilities (CCDH) in
compliance with Children's Trust Inclusion Training.
LANGUAGES
• English: Native
• Spanish: Intermediate
• Portuguese: Intermediate
COMPUTER SKILLS
• Windows/Mac OS: Proficient
• Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel): Proficient
• ArcGIS: Intermediate
• ESRI StoryMaps: Proficient
• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator): Intermediate