Charkivia Hutchinson was born and raised  in Homestead, Florida. She graduated  cum laude from South Dade Senior High and graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelors of Arts  degree in Criminology and a Master’s Degree from Florida International University in Higher Education Administration. Mrs. Hutchinson is currently an English Teacher at Homestead Senior High School. 

 At early age, Charkivia  understood the  meaning of giving back to the community  because various individuals showed her what it really meant to serve others less fortunate. When she was a little girl, Homestead Commissioner Juanita Smith  served her family through  providing meals  through their nonprofit organization “The Homestead Soup Kitchen”   and donated Christmas presents when she was currently in  elementary school. When Charkivia was in middle school  in 2005, she was involved in Miami Youth for Christ KIX afterschool program where she participated in the  World Vision 30 hour famine to help save the lives of hungry kids in surrounding countries. Charkivia sponsored a child name Chang’aa from Kenya who was only 9 months old.  In high school, Charkivia started Becca Closet at South Dade to further Rebecca Kirtman mission to provide formal attire to deserving high school students who otherwise could not afford it. During the first year the organization was able to collect over 30 dresses. Charkiva was very passionate about giving back, she would lose herself in the service of others.

Anyone who know Charkivia can attest  that she is upstanding member of the community, extremely anxious to help those who are in, a young woman who faces adversity with a warm confident personality. She is deliberative, and intentional in in her work, a great team player, and always willing to help others.

During her tenure at the University of Florida, Charkivia was very involved in the Criminology Honor Society aligning herself with professionals in the field that could serve as a guide for the out of the classroom experience. By participating it led to  having the opportunity  to receive an internship with the Office of Community Corrections Probation Program focusing on reintegrating ex-offenders back into the community through the reentry program.  Charkivia realized that through  local politics she could serve as a catalyst for change by being involved in the decision making process. This lead to her  being appointed by the city commision to serve as a  citizen at large on the Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center Advisory Council in the city of Gainesville. Through interning and serving on the advisory council, Charkivia began to engage in research by serving as a  research assistant with distinguished faculty/ graduate members in the criminology department.  After learning, Charkivia applied the skills learned and successfully applied and was successful in becoming a  participant in the SBES Undergraduate Research Achievement Program. Through this program, Charkivia decided to complete a senior thesis project on her own research on the Juvenile Justice System, about the media perception of Juvenile Treatment programs through a content analysis of newspaper articles in Florida and the United States. The research project was  selected and presented at the national conference for undergraduate research at Weber University in Utah in 2012. 

During Charkivia  tenure at  FIU in the LGBTQA Initiatives/MPAS office,she  had furthered her  passion of diversity, inclusion, equity, for all underserved, underrepresented students on campus. Charkivia was involved with campus and community groups including:  Diversity Initiative Committee, Alternative Break, FIU MLK Commemorative Celebration Committee, and various committees working towards making the FIU community a World’s Ahead institution. She was able to  implement the LGBTQA Resource Library in which they were able to provide over 130 resources to all students, faculty, and staff, submitted a grant to the global Initiative student advisory group in order to bring about awareness regarding LGBTQA issues and successfully winning over $500 dollars. Above all that Charkivia was able to accomplish nothing more heartfelt, and genuine as having the privilege to collect and give over 70 cans for the LGBTQA homeless shelter during the 2013 Thanksgiving Celebration.

       During my  internship experience in graduate school, I  had the opportunity to interned at FIU Transfer and Transition Services office and  Miami Dade College (Homestead) Advisement & Career Services office. I was able to gain invaluable experiences of applying academic and career advising support skills needed to guide students in the process of assessing their interests and abilities, examining their educational goals, and making decisions. I was able to utilize the advisement and career services database and become familiar with the Florida SUS Articulation Agreement, University Core Curriculum, and state and university requirements. Overall I was able to further my learning of collaboration with pre- collegiate programs, teaching the first year experience course,  expanding partnerships with others entities in the community,  and become familiar with academic advising assessment tools and resources.

As a Career Transition Specialist for Homestead Job corps I had the opportunity to serve at risk population of students from ages 16- 24. I was able to  assist students with barriers by assessing their risk that would prevent them from having a successful placement such as expungement process, housing needs, food & nutrition and job retention to ulimating a career placement.  

During my tenure at the University of Miami, my task  was to guide our biology majors through their undergraduate career effectively, Whether our biology majors continue on to professional school, graduate school or go straight into the workforce, the broad background offered by our program will provide them with the foundation necessary for success. A large percentage of the students were pre-medical, pre-dental, or pre-veterinary and continued on to fields within the healthcare profession. Many others go on to pursue an advanced degree in research.I ensured students had distinctive 4 year plans for success for their next journey.

While working at FBCH, I assisted foster care students learn about the college process and maximize student aid provided not only by the state but other aid opportunities.

Some of the service trips that Charkivia embarked upon during school vacation breaks included Alternative Break  Trip to Immokalee in 2012, Florida focusing on Migrant Rights, Alternative Break Trip to Kissimmee,Florida   focusing on Children Disabilities  at the Village “Give Kids the World”, and finally Charkivia helped mentor and assist the trip site leaders for the trip in South Carolina  focusing on the  disparities in the Juvenile Justice System.

.

Charkivia strongest passion is  empowering, equipping, and elevating at risk youth to aim to reach their goals in their personal and professional life. As a  past mentor for the Women of Tomorrow Program for Coral Reef Senior High school, MAST of Homestead, and Homestead Senior High, Charkivia continues to further the organizational goals by ensuring that all students have the skills necessary to become successful, increase students self- esteem , and help reduce teenagers from engaging in risky behaviors. Through this opportunity, Charkivia begin to reach out to Foster Care students in other schools(COPE)  in need of positive role models to serve as a guide to  learning how to live and thrive post- graduation transitioning into independent living.

Charkivia has remained involved in all aspects of community, professional and political service.  Charkivia is involved in local community agencies including KIX, Chapman Partnership, and the Agape Women Center. Charkivia is a  trained and certified community emergency responder (CERT) with the Miami Dade County Team to assist in any  potential natural disasters, community emergencies, or personal crisis.    

Through Charkivia academic endeavors, research experience and as a participant in extension programs, it has prepared her to lead the community wherever that may be, to achieve its maximum potential in all aspects of an adequate quality of life. Charkivia has been engaged in her community and has the knowledge to engage citizens to find a viable career pathway.