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We’ve accomplished a lot this year! Jazz in the Gardens in March was absolutely incredible, and we hosted another grand Juneteenth celebration soon after.
My office has also been busy undertaking several initiatives to support the community’s needs. We took several seniors to Walmart to learn about healthy shopping and provided them with $25 gift cards. We activated a grocery store at the Senior Family Center and had a nutritionist teach us how to cook hearty meals. Partners like Feeding South Florida and Sunshine Meat Market made some of these activities possible.
We awarded five scholarships this year through the Miami Gardens Higher Education Initiative, a program I launched almost two years ago. We did a gas giveaway for more than 250 residents in July, partnering with Calder Casino and the Hard Rock Stadium. For back-to-school, we did a book bag giveaway and community fair in partnership with Calvary Chapel North Miami, where we gave out more than 500 book bags full of supplies.
In September, the residents gave me their vote of confidence to continue to serve for another four years. I was very grateful. In October, we had our monthly Table Talk Tuesday with May Reign of Moonflower Essentials, a small local boutique in Miami Gardens. We meet every first Tuesday at Starbucks, and I encourage everyone to come and be a part of it.
Residents will hold you accountable, so when you say you’re going to do something that is what they expect. My colleagues and I all won re-election, which, to me, seems like the residents are satisfied with the work we’re doing here in the City of Miami Gardens.
Turning 20 in 2023
I was nine years old when the City was incorporated. When the City Hall building was opened up, that’s when it became a big deal for me. We were no longer just Carol City, the Bajas, Norland, Crestview, and Rolling Oaks. We were actually Miami Gardens now.
We’re still standing stronger than ever 20 years later. Miami Gardens is the third largest municipality in Miami-Dade County, the predominant Black City in the State of Florida, and among the largest in the nation. We’re constantly expanding our boundaries, and we’re welcoming world-class events. As a young man who grew up here, to see all of the development does my heart well.
Looking Ahead
In 2023, we’ll do the Miami Gardens Fitness Challenge at the beginning of the year again. I look forward to growing the Higher Education Initiative through partnerships with our local educational institutions. I’ll also spend time with the City Manager and his team addressing the infrastructure needs throughout the City. Those initiatives are going to be my primary focus in the next year.
