In Girl, Come Sit With Me, Dominique Dorsett sits down with Athalie Edwards, Executive Director of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust, for a conversation about the history, legacy, resilience, and future of one of Miami’s most important historic spaces.

Athalie shares why preserving this story matters, the plans for a permanent museum, and the work being done to collect artifacts and oral histories from elders who remember Historic Virginia Key Beach Park before it closed. We also talk about the generations of Black Miamians who learned to swim here, found love here, worshipped and were baptized here, and even traveled to the beach by boat before there was a causeway.

But this conversation isn’t only about where we’ve been. It’s about where we’re going.

We talk about the future of the park, ways the community can help preserve its history, activities families can enjoy today, and why younger generations need to experience this space for themselves.

Plus, we’re talking about The Poetry Potluck, returning Sunday, August 30, from 2:00 PM–7:00 PM for an afternoon of poetry, food, culture, community, and connection.

📍 Historic Virginia Key Beach Park
4020 Virginia Beach Drive
Miami, Florida 33149

🌐 Official Park Website:
www.VirginiaKeyBeachPark.net

📱 Follow Historic Virginia Key Beach Park:
Instagram: @VirginiaKeyBeachPark
Facebook: Historic Virginia Key Beach Park
TikTok: @historicvirginiakeybeach
Twitter/X: @virginiakeybeac

This episode is a reminder that sometimes the places we pass every day are holding stories we were never taught.

Our history deserves to be remembered.
Our elders deserve to be heard.
And our children deserve to know what came before them.

Come sit with us. 💛

Thank you for tuning in to Girl, Come Sit With Me! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could benefit from this conversation.

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💡 Join the conversation and stay updated on future episodes by visiting https://girlcomesitwithme.com

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Thank you for tuning in to Girl, Come Sit With Me. If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use this conversation.

Follow @GirlComeSitWithMe on Instagram for episode clips, behind-the-scenes moments, healing conversations, event updates, and community support.

Have a story, topic idea, or collaboration request? Email Info@GirlComeSitWithMe.com.

Listen to more episodes and stay connected at GirlComeSitWithMe.com/podcast.

I’m rooting for you. Make sure you root for me too.

This week, I sat down with renowned poet, community leader, and Poetry Potluck founder Calvin Early. We talked about the power of words, the importance of community, and what it means to create spaces where people feel safe enough to be seen and heard.

As someone being honored for his impact at Charles Hadley Park, Calvin reflects on the journey that brought him here, the people who poured into him along the way, and why legacy is really about service. From poetry and storytelling to mentorship and community building, this conversation is full of wisdom, heart, and reminders that your gifts were never meant to be kept to yourself.

Whether you're a poet, creative, community advocate, or someone trying to find your voice, this episode will remind you that the things we create can outlive us and continue to bring people together long after we're gone.

Pull up a chair. You're going to want to hear this one

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Thank you for tuning in to Girl, Come Sit With Me. If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use this conversation.

Follow @GirlComeSitWithMe on Instagram for episode clips, behind-the-scenes moments, healing conversations, event updates, and community support.

Have a story, topic idea, or collaboration request? Email Info@GirlComeSitWithMe.com.

Listen to more episodes and stay connected at GirlComeSitWithMe.com/podcast.

I’m rooting for you. Make sure you root for me too.

I’m back… and yes, I’m a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. But this episode is not solely focused on letters. Let's talk about when you finally step into the version of yourself you used to pray for.

I’m so grateful to be her.

This does not mean every day is violets and roses. It just means I recognize the woman standing in the mirror a little more now. I trust her more. I honor her more. I give her permission to take up space without shrinking or apologizing.

In this Season 3 reintroduction, I’m talking about growth, sisterhood, confidence, community, and the beauty of being supported while becoming. Sometimes transformation comes from alignment and finally realizing you were never becoming someone new, you were becoming more honest about who you already were.

So yes, I’m back.

And I’m not new to this.

I’m true to this... today.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Thank you for tuning in to Girl, Come Sit With Me. If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use this conversation.

Follow @GirlComeSitWithMe on Instagram for episode clips, behind-the-scenes moments, healing conversations, event updates, and community support.

Have a story, topic idea, or collaboration request? Email Info@GirlComeSitWithMe.com.

Listen to more episodes and stay connected at GirlComeSitWithMe.com/podcast.

I’m rooting for you. Make sure you root for me too.