Miami on the Move: One-day program hosts closing scholarship ceremony for more than 150 Miami at-risk high school students

Miami on the Move, a team of Leadership Miami®, will end its seven-month at-risk student outreach program with a Closing and Scholarship Award Ceremony to recognize the achievements of its participants. Through itsOne-Day Project initiative, Miami on the Move paired more than 150underprivileged high school students, from three Miami Title 1 or ETO schools, with corporate and non-profit organizations to experience a day in a professional setting.

“Our goal was to offer an experience that would help impact their professional futures. As active professionals, it is easy to lose sight of the specific moments that gave us the impetus, vision, and courage to pursue our goals. This initiative offered a hands-on experience in order to spark their interest in a career path,” said Christina Flores, one of the 18 professionals that comprise Miami on the Move. “Many students graduate from high school without any occupational knowledge or experience. Whether they are college bound or not, students benefit from a greater understanding of the career options available to them in their community.”

One-Day Project engaged the participating high school students through one-day sessions that offered first-hand, “on-the-job” career experiences. By visiting the organizations and attending workshops, students developed their knowledge of what it means to be a professional. Meetings with One-DayProject leaders provided an opportunity for students to learn basic professional skills such as resume writing, skill analysis, interview techniques, and professional dress and conduct.

Participating Miami-Dade high schools and partnering corporate organizations included:

1.     Booker T. Washington Senior High School: Miami Dolphins, TD Bank, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

2.     Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial High School: Florida International University Hurricane Research Center, Miami Children’s Hospital, Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLC

3.     Miami Northwestern Senior High School: Burger King Corporation, Express Travel, Wells Fargo

One-Day Project is part of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Miami® program. It was designed to create opportunities for Miami professionals to develop and implement a project to address vital community issues.

Leadership Miami® is an annual program sponsored by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and several of Miami-Dade County’s premier companies, local agencies and corporations. The program targets men and women interested in making Miami a better place to live. Leadership Miami® offers its members the opportunity to meet Miami’s leaders and to share an intensive learning experience that focuses on community issues and leadership skills. This program aims to prepare the next generation of Miamians to meet future challenges by providing members with lectures, seminars and small group discussions, as well as by offering leadership skills exercises to address vital issues affecting Miami-Dade County.

Title 1 – Provides additional resources to schools with economically disadvantaged students.

ETO – Miami-Dade County Education Transformation Office’s list of the lowest-performing schools in most need of assistance.