Board of Directors
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
While Virtutem Populo prides itself on being 100% student led, our organization would not be possible without these outstanding individuals who have helped us every step of the way.
Rukayat Adebisi
Ms. Adebisi, a Florida State University alumnus, graduated with her Bachelor's and Master's degrees at the age of 22. Her goal was to attend law school. While studying for the LSAT, she applied to be a substitute teacher for Miami Dade County Public Schools. The next day, MDCPS offered her a teaching position at Lawton Chiles Middle School. Ms. Adebisi was a nervous wreck as a first-time teacher. Lawton Chiles' principal, John Stevens, offered encouragement at that time. He said, "Think about how your favorite teacher made you feel." Hialeah Miami Lakes Senior High School hired her to build its legal studies magnet program in 2015-2016. Ms. Adebisi still teaches at HML where she emphasizes civic engagement and how students can make a difference through their voices. To her students, she shares words of wisdom, "You have a voice. Own your voice and stand proud of who you are.
Josh Dieguez
Councilman Josh Dieguez came to Miami Lakes as an infant when his parents moved into the Lake Sarah area in 1989. He has not only chosen to continue living here but also has spent much of his adult life giving back to the community where he grew up and which he loves. Prior to his election in 2018, he served as a member of the Neighborhood Improvement Committee (NIC) and Elderly Affairs Committee (EAC), even serving as Chairman for three years of the NIC. In that time, Councilman Dieguez was instrumental in establishing the Community Bike Ride and has been a strong advocate for beautification projects, traffic relief, and protecting our senior programs. He is a member and Director of the Miami Lakes Bar Association—an organization co-founded by his father, Anthony Dieguez, who also served as its Founding President. The Councilman has also served on the Charter Revision Commission where he successfully sponsored proposals to enhance good government practices. As a member of the Council, Dieguez seeks to protect and enhance the quality of life Miami Lakers have come to love and expect by focusing on financial responsibility, prioritizing traffic and infrastructure improvements, enhancing beautification, and seeking opportunities within the business community to enhance entertainment and dining options in Miami Lakes. Councilman Dieguez graduated cum laude from Florida International University with a double major in Political Science and History and graduated with his Juris Doctor degree and a Certificate in Environmental Sustainability from St. Thomas University. He practices law at his family’s law firm, which is located in Miami Lakes.
Carlos lopez
Bio Coming Soon...