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For 24 years, our close community partner, The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County has focused on children’s development from birth through early adulthood. By the time students graduate high school, are admitted to college, or enter the workforce, they have received a level of support in their earlier years that should be the envy of much of the nation and the world. There is no stage of childhood that The Trust overlooks, from early learning and literacy to youth development and career readiness, to family and parent supports that help stabilize students long before they ever set foot on a college campus or begin their first job.
The results speak for themselves. Since Miami-Dade voters overwhelmingly approved the establishment of The Children’s Trust as an ad-valorem property tax in 2002, graduation rates in Miami-Dade County have steadily increased, culminating in a record-high rate of 93.1 percent in 2025. That figure exceeds the state average, which is also at record levels, according to the Florida Department of Education.
As the proud president of Miami Dade College (MDC), which educates more than 120,000 students annually, I see firsthand how preparation, or the lack of it, shapes a student’s path. Too many communities attempt to fix readiness gaps at the finish line. The Children’s Trust begins at the starting line.
Early investment matters. Research shows that roughly 90 percent of a child’s brain develops by age 5, which is why The Trust prioritizes early learning and literacy. Programs such as The Children’s Trust Book Club and Books for Free, the latter operated by our incredible team at MDC, put books directly into the hands of young children, often in under-resourced neighborhoods. In the last year alone, more than 660,000 books were distributed in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole through these two programs. These initiatives do more than promote reading; they help children develop curiosity, language skills, and confidence that form the foundation for lifelong learning.
But The Trust does not slow down once children enter school; instead, it intensifies its efforts to help them thrive. In fact, more than 47,000 children and teens benefit annually from its substantial investment in youth development through after-school and summer programs and other initiatives that keep students safe, engaged, and learning during the hours when risk is highest and opportunity is often lowest. Trust-funded programs provide homework help, differentiated literacy instruction, enrichment in arts and STEM, physical activity, and social-emotional supports that strengthen academic performance and build confidence for what comes next.
For older students, that support becomes increasingly focused on college and career readiness. Through partnerships with organizations such as Breakthrough Miami, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade, and many others, high school students receive mentoring, academic enrichment, and guidance from peers who have already navigated the college journey. The Trust also funds two MDC summer camps for high school students focused on STEM that provide structured activities, support academic success, and social and emotional learning. These experiences demystify higher education and help students see themselves as college-bound or career-ready long before applications are due.
One of the most powerful bridges between school and the workforce is the Summer Youth Internship Program, a collaborative effort involving The Children’s Trust, Miami Dade College, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami-Dade County, CareerSource South Florida, and other partners. In summer 2025 alone, 3,661 students completed paid internships at 926 employers, logging more than 575,000 hours of real-world work experience. Students apply, interview, earn wages through direct deposit, and receive high school honors credit, with many also earning college credit through a dual-enrollment partnership with MDC. Over the past decade, more than 18,500 students have participated, gaining skills, confidence, and clarity about their futures.
College readiness is not about test scores alone. It is about exposure, stability, enrichment, and belief that success is possible, and support will be there along the way. The Children’s Trust has built a cradle-to-career ecosystem that ensures Miami-Dade students arrive at college, technical school, or the workforce not only qualified, but confident.
At Miami Dade College, we are proud to be a longtime partner with The Children’s Trust in its mission. And as we look to the future of our community, one thing is clear: when we invest early, consistently, and collectively in our children, they show up ready to learn, ready to work, and ready to lead.
Madeline Pumariega is president of MDC and the first woman to lead one of the nation’s largest institutions of higher education in the country. An MDC alumna, she is a nationally recognized leader advancing student success, workforce alignment, and equitable access to education.
