Why We Started Open Mind: A Letter from the Founder

People ask me all the time how Open Mind Learning & Fine Arts got started. They want to know why I opened a tutoring center, why I chose this work, and what keeps me going when the days are long and the challenges are real.

The truth is, Open Mind was not part of some grand business plan. It was born out of necessity, out of compassion, and out of a deep belief that every child deserves to feel capable.

Let me take you back to where it all began.

The Families I Could Not Stop Thinking About

Before I started Open Mind, I worked as a teacher in Miami Dade County Public Schools. I loved teaching. I loved seeing the lightbulb moments when a child finally understood a concept they had been struggling with. I loved building relationships with students and watching them grow.

But there was a part of the job that broke my heart.

I had students who were brilliant, curious, and full of potential. But they were falling behind because they did not have the support they needed at home. Not because their parents did not care. But because their parents were working multiple jobs, navigating a new country, learning a new language, and trying to survive.

I had students whose parents wanted desperately to help with homework but could not read the assignment instructions because they were in English. I had students who were being raised by grandparents who did not understand the U.S. school system. I had students who were living in crowded apartments with no quiet space to study.

These children were not failing because they were not smart. They were failing because the system was not designed to support them.

I would stay after school to tutor students for free. I would call parents and try to explain what their child needed. I would send home extra resources and worksheets. But it was never enough. I was one teacher with 30 students, and I could not do it all.

I remember lying awake at night thinking about these families. I thought about the mother who cried in my classroom because she did not know how to help her son with his reading. I thought about the father who worked two jobs and could not be home when his daughter needed help with math. I thought about the grandmother who wanted to support her grandson but did not speak English.

And I thought, someone needs to help these families. Someone needs to create a place where children can get the academic support they need, and where parents do not have to carry the weight of it all alone.

So I decided to be that someone.

Starting Small

Open Mind started in a small room with a handful of students. I was not sure if it would work. I was not sure if families would come. But I knew I had to try.

I focused on the families who needed support the most. Immigrant families. Families who were new to Miami. Families who were navigating the school system for the first time and did not know where to turn.

I offered bilingual tutoring so parents could understand what was happening with their child's education. I created a structured after-school program so children had a safe, supportive place to complete their homework. I made myself available to answer questions, provide guidance, and just be there for families who felt lost.

The response was overwhelming. Parents were so grateful. They told me they had been looking for something like this but did not know where to find it. They told me they felt relieved, supported, and hopeful.

And the students. Watching them grow was everything. I saw children who were failing start to pass. I saw children who hated school start to enjoy learning. I saw children who thought they were not smart realize they were capable of so much more than they believed.

That is when I knew this was more than just a tutoring center. This was a community. This was a place where families could feel seen, supported, and empowered.

Why the Name "Open Mind"

People ask me about the name all the time. Why Open Mind?

The name has two meanings.

First, it is about the students. I wanted to create a space where children could open their minds to new ideas, new ways of thinking, and new possibilities. I wanted them to see learning as something exciting, not something scary.

Second, it is about the approach. I wanted to teach with an open mind. To meet each child where they are. To recognize that every child learns differently. To understand that academic success is not just about grades. It is about confidence, curiosity, and resilience.

The name reminded me, and continues to remind me, to stay flexible, compassionate, and focused on what each child truly needs.

Growing Beyond Tutoring

As Open Mind grew, I realized that academic support was not enough. Children needed more than just help with homework. They needed opportunities to explore, create, and express themselves.

That is when we added arts, dance, and STEAM programs. I wanted Open Mind to be a place where children could develop the whole range of their abilities, not just their academic skills.

I saw students who struggled with reading come alive during art class. I saw students who could not sit still during tutoring find focus and confidence through dance. I saw students who felt defeated in math excel in STEAM projects where they could build, experiment, and problem-solve with their hands.

This holistic approach became the foundation of who we are. We are not just a tutoring center. We are a place where children grow academically, creatively, and emotionally.

The Moments That Keep Me Going

Running Open Mind is not easy. There are days when I am tired, overwhelmed, and wondering if I am doing enough. But then something happens that reminds me why I started.

A parent tells me their child went from hating school to asking to come to Open Mind every day.

A student who was failing third grade is now thriving in fifth grade.

A mother who was overwhelmed and exhausted tells me she finally has peace of mind.

These moments are why I do this work. These moments are everything.

What I Have Learned Along the Way

Starting and running Open Mind has taught me so much about education, community, and what families truly need.

Parents Are Doing the Best They Can

No parent wakes up wanting their child to struggle. Every parent I have met wants their child to succeed. But wanting is not always enough. Parents need support, resources, and someone who believes in their child as much as they do.

Children Are More Capable Than We Give Them Credit For

I have seen children overcome learning differences, language barriers, and difficult home situations to achieve things no one thought they could. When children are given the right support, they rise to the occasion.

Community Matters

Families do not just need tutoring. They need connection. They need to know they are not alone. They need to be part of a community that understands their struggles and celebrates their victories.

Small Moments Make a Big Difference

It is not the big speeches or the grand gestures that change a child's life. It is the small moments. The tutor who notices when a child is struggling and takes extra time to explain. The teacher who celebrates a child's effort, not just their grade. The parent who feels heard and supported.

These small moments add up to transformation.

What Open Mind Is Today

Today, Open Mind Learning & Fine Arts serves students across Miami Dade County. We work with families from public schools, charter schools, private schools, and homeschool programs. We provide tutoring, after-school care, and enrichment programs in arts, dance, and STEAM.

We have two locations, a team of passionate educators, and a growing community of families who trust us with their children's education.

But the heart of Open Mind has not changed. We are still focused on the same mission we started with. To empower students and families through personalized support, creative enrichment, and meaningful guidance.

A Final Thought

I did not start Open Mind to build a business. I started it because I could not stop thinking about the families who needed help.

I started it because I believe every child deserves to feel capable, confident, and supported.

I started it because I know what it is like to watch a child struggle and wish there was more you could do.

And I keep going because every day, I see the difference this work makes.

If you are reading this and you are a parent who feels overwhelmed, uncertain, or worried about your child's education, please know that you are not alone. There are people who care. There are resources that can help. And there are communities like ours that exist to support you.

At Open Mind Learning & Fine Arts, we are more than a tutoring center. We are a place where families belong. Where children thrive. And where no one has to navigate the challenges of education alone.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us.