Stories from the Bay

Each story from Shake-A-Leg Miami echoes a deeper narrative of the bay: access, inclusion, and transformation. It isn’t just about getting out on the water; it’s about claiming space, rewriting expectations, and building community.

There’s something magical about the gentle rhythms of Biscayne Bay. We wanted to share stories from the folks at Shake-A-Leg Miami, and how both Shake-A-Leg and the Bay has transformed their lives.  

1) Kevin’s Full Circle Journey

Each summer, Shake-A-Leg opens its doors in Coconut Grove to kids who have never been on the water. In one year, more than 300 children took to kayaks, sailboats and paddle boards for the first time.  

Kevin first got involved with Shake-A-Leg as a summer camper. His first time on the water was that first summer. His camper experience transformed into mentoring, then into volunteering, and eventually into serving on Shake-A-Leg's Board of Directors.  

“It was where I first got on the water … it gave me all the experience and the skills to do the next thing.” Kevin has said, referring to his time and experience with Shake-A-Leg building a platform for learning and growing on the Bay.  

His story is powerful because it shows how inclusion can scale. When someone is supported early, they can go on to support others. Shake-A-Leg’s programs don’t just offer a day on the bay, they offer pathways. Kevin‘s story from camper, to mentor, to leader is just one example of the opportunities and doors that are opened when you become connected with Shake-A-Leg Miami. True impact begins when a program helps someone grow into their next step.  

2) Andrew’s Story of Healing

Andrew experienced a traumatic brain injury and the recovery process left him navigating not only physical limits, but also a changed sense of who he was. Through Shake-A-Leg Miami's adaptive sailing and watersports programs, he discovered the healing power of being on the water.

He describes that moment when he first took the tiller of an adaptive sailboat and felt the wind on his face, the movement of the water, and the click of sails. It wasn’t just fun, it was a reclamation of agency.

From being cautious and uncertain, Andrew took those limits and transformed it into  confidence in his own movements, trusted by others and trusting himself. Shake-A-leg's accessible dock, adaptive boats, and inclusive community made that shift possible.  

Freedom sometimes doesn’t mean doing something new. It can also mean reclaiming what you thought you’d lost.

This Give Miami Day, you can help write the next story from the bay. Every donation to Shake-A-Leg Miami fuels movements of transformation. A child’s first sail, a veteran’s return to confidence, or a person with disabilities discovering new strength on the water. Your gift keeps the wind in our sails, the programs accessible, and the bay open to everyone. Together, we can make waves of inclusion and possibility ripple across Biscayne Bay.  

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