arts
Global Empowerment Mission president back in South Florida after weeks helping 115,000 people in Venezuela
By Abby Dodge at CBS4 Miami
· July 17, 2026
· 1 min read
The president of Global Empowerment Mission is back in South Florida after spending two and a half weeks in Venezuela and he says the crisis there is far from over.Michael Capponi returned to the nonprofit's Doral headquarters, where he described the scale of the devastation firsthand. He estimates
Key takeaway GEM says it has helped 115,000 people so far.
Why this matters in The Miami
The crisis in Venezuela has a significant impact on Miami 's large Venezuelan community, with many residents having family and friends affected by the devastation. As a major hub for Latin American communities, Miami is likely to continue playing a crucial role in relief efforts, with organizations like Global Empowerment Mission leading the way. The fact that GEM has established a permanent warehouse in La Guiria and is coordinating large-scale aid shipments from its Doral headquarters underscores the city's importance in addressing the crisis. With Amazon's recent $100,000 donation, it is likely that other local companies and organizations will be called upon to provide similar support, highlighting the potential for Miami's business community to make a meaningful difference in the relief efforts. As the situation in Venezuela continues to unfold, Miami's residents and businesses will be watching closely, with many likely to be involved in ongoing aid efforts.
About this story
Original reporting by CBS4 Miami . The Miami surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit CBS4 Miami . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: arts ·
Published: July 17, 2026 ·
Source: CBS4 Miami ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The president of Global Empowerment Mission is back in South Florida after spending two and a half weeks in Venezuela and he says the crisis there is far from over.Michael Capponi returned to the nonprofit's Doral headquarters, where he described the scale of the devastation firsthand. He estimates
When was this published? This article was first published on July 17, 2026 by CBS4 Miami and curated for The Miami readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Abby Dodge at CBS4 Miami. To learn more about how The Miami selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more arts coverage from The Miami, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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