Staff Report

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Just An Accident STOP (JAAS) – a non-profit organization seeking to educate, advocate and bring awareness to hit-and-run fatalities taking place in the South Florida community – presents “Broken Voices: Hit-and-Run Victims Speak!” The community event will be held on Saturday, December 17 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Center, 3000 NW 199 Street in Miami Gardens. It is free and open to public.

JAAS welcomes South Florida residents to share their memories and sentimental stories of loved ones who were killed or have been injured in a hit-and-run accident during the event. Broken Voices is a platform for families and friends to:

• Unite and uplift each other by sharing individual stories

• Participate and engage in an informative panel discussion with state officials and hit- and-run survivors

• Receive ‘Just An Accident STOP Mementos’ in remembrance of their loved ones

• Join in prayer during a unity visual ceremony The event will feature a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Yolanda Green-Samuel featuring City of Miami Gardens Mayor, Oliver Gilbert; District I School Board Member, Dr. Steve Gallon; CEO of Josh Jones Law, P.A., Attorney Josh Jones; Lyricist and hit and run victim, Rebecca “Butterfly” Vaughns and City of Miami Gardens Police Department Captain, Joseph Nargisco.

Green-Samuel, President and CEO of JAAS, is a hit-and-run survivor. GreenSamuel created JAAS after she lost her brother to a hit-and-run tragedy in 2014. The organization aims to make a difference in an individual’s life and put faces to the endless stories of lives that have been taken away by hit-and-run accidents. According to Green-Samuel, these accidents have become an epidemic and silent killer that’s plaguing our communities. She believes the solution to this ongoing problem is to empower the victims and their families to help each other fight for the justice they deserve.

“Our mission as an organization is to be the voice for the victims of hit-and-runs,” said Green-Samuel. “My plan for JAAS is to create an awareness campaign regarding the silent killers, whose reach goes beyond all boundaries of race, age and social status,” she said.

For more information, contact Green-Samuel at 305-203-1689 or visit justanaccidentstop.org.