Passion for improving the community's quality of life

Sarah Riggs began her service to the residents of Miami-Dade County in 1997 and has held various positions that allowed her to deliver continual critical services. Throughout her 26-year career with Miami-Dade County, Ms. Riggs has taken on various roles, from Commissioners' Aide to Legislative Director. In 2003, she moved to the Department of Public Works' Strategic Planning and Performance Division and remained a part of the department through 2021. These roles have allowed her to serve the public in different ways, such as overseeing the performance of the aesthetics and maintenance services of the over 2,600 square miles of Miami Dade County right-of-way. In her current position as Development Project Manager for the Housing and Community Development (HCD) Department, she manages the projects that are undergoing the conversion of Miami-Dade County Public Housing to HUD RAD, the Rental Assistance Demonstration Program, which allows the opportunity to increase affordable housing in Miami-Dade County. 

Improving the community's quality of life has always been a passion for Riggs. This passion led her to start The Heart of Gold Autism Charitable Foundation, a cause near and dear to her, along with her husband Scott, also a county employee. The goal of the Foundation is to strongly advocate for parents and families of kids with autism to assist families facing the challenges of daily life with a loved one with autism. "Autism affects one in every thirty-nine children, and the diagnosis can often be devastating for families," Riggs explains. "When a diagnosis is made, the challenges associated with it can be overwhelming. Families' time, focus and resources are consumed ensuring their loved one is safe and cared for, leaving little time to research the resources available to them for effective development."

Through the Foundation, Riggs along with other county employees, are committed to providing the necessary resources to families, as well as alleviating some of the financial burdens associated with the diagnosis. One of the key events is the annual FashionAde for Autism Fashion Event fundraiser, which debuted in 2015 in the lobby of the Stephen P. Clark Center. An important goal is to continue to include other county employees to build an active support structure for each other and the community.

Parents of children on the spectrum often suffer in silence, worrying about how their children will react to unique sensory environments like restaurants or social gatherings. Riggs shares this bit of advice: "You are not alone. Be inclusive, show kindness and compassion, and share a smile. It goes a long way."

Luis Espinoza, Special Projects Administrator with the Department of Transit and Public Works who is part of the Foundation's team, sums it up best: "Sarah's outstanding career in the County and her life's mission to help children with autism is significant and demonstrates her spirit of giving back to others. That's how we thrive together!"

Keep THRIVING, Sarah!