Advisory Board

Debbie Jasmine Blas

MSW, Director of Special Projects to Miami Mayor Francis Suarez

Kenny McCraney

Senior Director of Player Programs, Miami Heat

About Debbie

Formerly a leader in the education sector through previous roles at Miami Dade College and KIPP Public Schools, Debbie has supported educational growth and development with her social work background and advocacy efforts that secured legislation and funding towards charter school expansion efforts in South Florida. Prior to her time in Florida, Debbie led the implementation of a wraparound service model for 20 public schools in New York City.

Debbie originally began her journey in the criminal justice sector, earning her B.S. in criminology from University of Tampa, then later her MSW from University of Central Florida to eventually join the workforce in education.

Debbie currently works alongside the City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez as his Director of Special Projects. In this role Debbie takes on specific projects that include the Functional Zero initiative to end homelessness in the City of Miami while bringing additional resources to those community partners that serve the homeless. Debbie also leads projects that include educational expansion efforts to support more school choice and high quality learning options and opportunities for children and families by assisting education partners and developers to build more schools within the City's urban core areas. Her most recent project included coordinating efforts that helped launch a city wide fitness initiative that brokered fitness and wellness partners along with mental health advocates to shed light on what building communities around health and wellness can do to combat major adversity individuals may be going through.

Debbie is dedicated to continue this important work by supporting the larger mission of building stronger, resilient, and thriving communities.Debbie is a proud aunt to two nieces and enjoys traveling, fitness, building new connections, and making lasting, impactful differences in communities.

About Kenny

Kenny McCraney is a 25+ year veteran with the HEAT. He serves as the team’s initial ambassador, helping new players adjust to the South Florida community and Miami HEAT culture. He also provides programs and services that assist in the social, personal and professional development of players.

Kenny initially joined the organization in the summer of 1999 as the SOL’s Video Coordinator and the HEAT’s Assistant Video Coordinator, pulling double-duty for three seasons. Prior to the 2002-03 season, he was appointed by Pat Riley as Director of Team Services, a position he held until his current promotion in 2017-18. Kenny joined the HEAT after nearly two decades coaching on the collegiate or high school level.

A native of Miami, Kenny grew up in Liberty City where his mom, an educator and his dad, a contractor, instilled the importance of education and hard work. He earned his bachelor’s in Speech Communication from the University of Florida in 1982. He would later add a Certificate of Business Communications from Michigan State University in 2004.

Kenny resides in Miami Shores with his wife, Marva. Together they have two grown children, Kenda and Kenneth Christian.