| Personal & Career
Legislative Service
-Elected to the Senate in 2016, reelected subsequently
◦Minority (Democratic) Leader Pro Tempore, 2016-2018
Other Public Service
-Statewide Council on Human Trafficking Direct-Support Organization Board of Directors, Appointee
-Florida Children and Youth Cabinet, Appointee
-Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission, Appointee
-Child Advocate
-Florida Network of Children's Advocacy Centers, Board Member and Past Vice President
-Broward County Crime Stoppers, Past Board Member
Honors and Awards
-Audubon Florida Special Places Award, 2018
-Glamour Woman of the Year "Hero Among Us" 2018
-Broward County Women's Hall of Fame, 2018
-Four-time Emmy winning producer and storyteller, "Out of Darkness, Into Light" "What If I told you..." "Child Sexual Abuse- Prevention through Education" "Lauren's Kingdom- It's OK to Tell"
-L'Oreal Paris, National Woman of Worth, 2013
-PEOPLE Magazine and Major League Baseball, "All Star Among Us" 2011
-National Child Labor Committee, Lewis Hine Award
-Congressional Medal of Merit, Senator Bill Nelson
-Two-time Publishers Weekly best selling author, "It's OK to Tell" memoir, "Lauren's Kingdom" children's book
-Gracie Award winning producer, "Intimate Crimes"
-Internationally Recognized Child Advocate- Newsweek Magazine, FOX News, Cosmopolitan Magazine, the Huffington Post, Glamour Magazine, NPR, USA Today, CNN/HLN, ABC's Katie Couric Show, Our America with Lisa Ling, Al Jazeera
Biographical Information
Occupation- Founder/CEO Lauren's Kids (501(c)(3))
Spouse- Blair Jacob Byrnes of West Bloomfield, MI
Children- Kennedy Grace Byrnes, Hudson Lee Byrnes
Education- University of Miami, B.A., Elementary Education, Creative Writing, 2008
University of Miami, M.S., Education, 2012
Born- October 12 in Hollywood, Florida
Religious Affiliation- Jewish
Recreation- Spending time with family, reading, watching documentaries, cooking, enjoying the sun and the sand at South Florida's beautiful beaches |