ABOUT THE MBNA The Mid-Beach Neighborhood Association (MBNA) was founded in 2017 as a not-for-profit organization organized under Chapter 617 of the Florida Statutes. The MBNA was approved as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation on April 14, 2026.
The MBNA represents condominium and hotel registered members within the MidBeach area of Miami Beach, Florida, bordered on the South by 23rd street and extending north to 63rd street, including all residential buildings and hotels abutting Collins Avenue and Indian Creek Drive ("Defined Area").
For the greater good of the City of Miami Beach, the MBNA encourages participation and seeks collaboration with Condominiums, Hotels, Businesses, and Neighborhood Associations who are outside the MBNA's Defined Area. The MBNA is also involved in promoting improvements within the 41st street corridor, the main entrance artery of MidBeach.
As of January, 2025, the MBNA has a total of 65 Members, representing over 12,000 condo and hotel units; (45 Condominiums and 19 Hotels)
OUR PURPOSE This MBNA is organized and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Its purposes include promoting neighborhood improvement, public safety awareness, beautification, historic preservation education, environmental stewardship, and community educational programs benefiting residents and the general public within the Defined Area.
The Association shall carry out these purposes through educational activities, public information programs, and other charitable initiatives designed to enhance the quality of life and common good within the Defined Area. The Association may study and educate the public on matters of community interest, including development, zoning and land use, beach erosion, flooding, beautification, traffic safety, public spaces, transportation, crime prevention, and other issues affecting the community.
No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall consist of carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Association shall not participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. The Association may foster constructive communication and cooperation with the City of Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, the State of Florida, and their respective agencies in order to promote informed community engagement and public awareness, consistent with Section 501(c)(3) requirements. Actions include: 1. Information Gathering & Community Input Within its Working Groups, the Association gathers and shares information and serves as a forum for community input from MidBeach residents. 2. Organization & Communication
Keep residents informed through meetings, emails, digital communication platforms, and other forums.
Provide a central structure for sharing information and increasing community awareness.
Bring neighbors together around common concerns or goals through educational outreach.
3. Quality of Life Education
Educate the public about issues that impact MidBeach, including loud noise, traffic congestion, public safety, homelessness, and environmental impacts.
Promote awareness of neighborhood character, preservation, and beautification.
Provide information to members on issues such as new development, proposed construction projects (including parks and roadway projects), concession contracts, sargassum concerns, public spaces, maintenance, waterways, derelict buildings, micro-mobility issues, homelessness, and other community matters.
4. Engagement with Public Agencies
Facilitate communication with city departments and other public agencies on issues affecting the neighborhood.
Provide general educational information to residents about government processes, hearings, and permitting.
Promote public awareness of governmental processes and encourage informed civic participation.
5. Community Building
Promote a sense of neighborhood identity.
Organize events, initiatives, and volunteer efforts, including charitable and educational activities.
Encourage resident participation and community engagement.
A neighborhood association serves as a forum for residents to share information, learn about issues affecting their community, and support the overall well-being and quality of life of the neighborhood.
No Private Inurement No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its directors, officers, members, or other private persons, except that the Association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services actually rendered and to make payments in furtherance of the purposes set forth herein. Dissolution Clause Upon the dissolution of the Association, assets shall be distributed exclusively for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a court of competent jurisdiction in the county in which the principal office of the Association is then located, exclusively for such purposes.
MBNA'S HISTORY The original "MidBeach Neighborhood Alliance" was founded in May, 2012, with the valuable assistance of Attorney Michael Gongora and FirstService Residential Management. Membership did not grow as expected so in September, 2015, the Alliance was inactivated.
In early 2017, Attorney Michael Gongora reached out to Alicia A. Casanova and Deborah Lake. They all decided that MidBeach representation was necessary so they re-organized as the "MidBeach Neighborhood Association" (MBNA), a non-profit community grassroots organization, and selected Anamarie Ferreira de Melo, as their President, with Michael Gongora as the Corporation's Registered Agent. On March 14, 2017, the organization was registered with the Florida Department of State with a newly elected Executive Board of Directors and established By-Laws.
MBNA MEMBERSHIP
Only Condominium Associations and Hotels located within the Defined Area are eligible for membership.
Each Member may have up to two (2) designated representatives in attendance at every MBNA meeting with one vote per member.
Representatives must be authorized in writing by the Board of their Condominium Associations or Hotels to be their designated representatives.
MBNA Members are expected to pay annual dues in a timely manner.
MBNA representatives are expected to attend meetings and devote their time and energy to improve and enhance the defined geographic area where they live and do business.
