Michaele Clinch

January 2003

I was born in Miami, Florida, where I currently reside. It is our festive environment that keeps me from venturing out into new territory. It is truly a beautiful place, if people take the time to immerse themselves in our tropical atmosphere. Moving right along, I am thirty-five years old and the second of three children - it is not as traumatizing as everyone has been lead to believe. I don't have any children, but I do have a cute and well-mannered niece and an active and sometimes rude nephew. manhattan hotel

For the past five years, I have been employed with Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Florida. My title is Provider Liaison Support Representative. I must admit that my job is never boring - the providers make sure of that. My current position played a significant role in my decision to enroll at Miami-Dade Community College to obtain an Associate of Science degree in Health Information Management. Upon completion, I plan to continue my education at Florida International University to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Health Information Management. Storage Step-Up Angels by Guidecraft

I was surfing the web one day and happened upon the Sisterfriends site. It was extremely informative and the key element that peaked my interest was the emphasis on the importance of unity among women of color. It was at that moment (December 1998), that I decided to join the email discussion group. I am happy to be a part of this sistahood. It is wonderful to see black sistahs coming together from all realms of the world. During those three years as a member I have learned, Sisterfriends is a mainstay in the online community. When the opportunity was given to form a chapter, I jump at the chance. I am currently the President of the South Florida Chapter of Sisterfriends. It has been a difficult task, but the end will justify the means. Our ultimate goal is to promote unity, strengthening Sistah-hood by supporting one another as black women, doing work that is both beneficial and relevant to the lives of African American women such as Breast Cancer walks, HIV/AIDS awareness/walks, and Domestic Violence. At the present time we are preparing Thanksgiving baskets for families. We have participated in to walkathons. Our first was the AIDS Walk of Miami on April 21, 2002 (raised over $900.00) and the second was the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on October 19, 2002 (over $300 raised). We are also making arrangements for our 1st Annual Christmas Toy Drive and South Florida Sisterfriends Christmas Party/Gift Exchange. I have a wonderful group of ladies that believe in the spirit of sisterhood and community. With their help, I'm sure the chapter will succeed in reaching goals for the upcoming year.