From Miami to Harvard: How a local nonprofit helped one student break through

As the lights of Coral Gables’ Art Cinema movie theater dimmed, the packed room looked up at the silver screen not to watch a fictional story, but the true tale of a scholar whose future was shaped by her community.

Hosted by local academic nonprofit Breakthrough Miami, the inaugural “Breakthrough Stories” event Sunday showcased a mini-documentary featuring alumna Heavyn Lee, showing how the program helped her reach the doors of Harvard University.

“I think it's really important that we learn about ourselves, that we see where the road takes us,” said Lee. “I don't think there's anything that appreciates more than the investment that we put into our students and our scholars.”

Attendees walk into the Coral Gables Art Cinema theater. (Rafael Hernandez for The Miami Times)

Breakthroug