Eric Fliss, managing director of the Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center, remembers working with Commissioner Moss when the middle was being constructed.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had regular meetings with myself and Michael Spring, director of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, just to stay informed about the process and how we were moving forward with the construction of our buildings,\u201d Fliss says.<\/p>\n
Commissioner Moss wished to listen to instantly from Fliss and Spring about any hiccups skilled in the course of the constructing course of.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was important for him to stay current with the two of us and be able to answer questions from constituents about the center. He was a great ally for me and the department as we built the center, ensuring the center got its fair share of public funding,\u201d Fliss says.<\/p>\n
Moss\u2019 imaginative and prescient and humanities advocacy impressed county commissioners to formally rename the middle at a Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners assembly this summer time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe at the center had no opposition to the name change; it happened at a commission meeting where they voted on it. Moss was an iconic civic servant, and everything he did in that role was for the greater good of his community. That is what you want from a leader,\u201d Fliss says.<\/p>\n
From a branding standpoint, the previous title South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, Fliss says, was a bit tough to recollect, so having the Moss Center title was good and far simpler to recollect.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/media1.miaminewtimes.com\/mia\/imager\/u\/original\/15710483\/moss_center_photo_by_robin_hill_c_4_.jpg\")
<\/a> <\/div>\nWith the brand new title got here a revised brand, one that may be a variation of what they\u2019ve at all times leaned into and evokes the form of the constructing. \u201cWe\u2019ve altered it just to make the Moss name more prominent but not make it something completely different,\u201d Fliss says. \u201dWe had been very particular about this and joyful the brand new title can be simpler to work round.\u201d<\/p>\n
Visitors can even discover a brand new inclusivity image being included across the arts venue simply in time for its current presentation of the sensory-inclusive present It\u2019s OK to Be Different<\/i>, based mostly on the kids\u2019s e-book by bestselling writer Todd Parr. The e-book is a well-liked useful resource for educating range and tolerance.<\/p>\n
\u201cTypically, our inclusive events happen during All Kids Included Festival, but we presented this accessible children\u2019s show as part of our family series,\u201d says Annie Hoffman, training and outreach supervisor on the Moss Center.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a manner for them to achieve each kids and members of the family to attend performances as a household and entice youthful audiences.<\/p>\n
Sensory-inclusive shows characteristic a quiet room, modifications to sound and lighting, open captions, American Sign Language interpreters, and audio descriptions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve also been working with Miami Lighthouse for the Blind on a touch tour before the performances,\u201d Hoffman says.<\/p>\n
Fliss says they wish to lead by instance when assets can be found, and they’re working to commit themselves to presenting inclusive programming when most applicable. \u201cThis is just another step in the right direction,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
The inclusivity effort additionally helps to appreciate Commissioner Moss\u2019 imaginative and prescient of dedication to training, having programming inclusion and accessibility to Black and brown audiences.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve done a great job of becoming something for everybody,\u201d Fliss says.<\/p>\n
\u2013\u00a0Josie Gulliksen, ArtburstMiami.com<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n The Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center.<\/b> 10950 SW 211 St., Cutler Bay; mosscenter.org<\/a>.<\/i>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n