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This year has been busy, and I feel good about what we have accomplished thus far. Our goals have advanced, and I look forward to continuing to work and serve the community. I recently attended a violence prevention conference in Los Angeles. Immediately following, I returned for the City’s anniversary celebration on May 13th and have not rested since!
Community Focus
We have expanded our Higher Education Initiative, creating a City-University partnership that will allow Miami-Dade College, Florida Memorial University, and St. Thomas University an opportunity to run college classes out of the Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex. We have secured scholarship dollars to provide little or no-cost tuition to Miami Gardens residents for their first two years in the program. There are no age restrictions; only proof of residency in Miami Gardens zip codes is required.
I am also proud to share that scholarships were awarded to seniors for the third year as part of the Higher Education Initiative. Our collaboration with the Dibia DREAM Foundation continues, with elementary and middle school students throughout Miami Gardens participating in STEM Saturdays.
Our annual Fitness Challenge went off without a hitch. It was so well attended that a Summer Meltdown edition was added at the community center. If you go to many of the City’s healthy eateries, you’ll see more residents there because a concerted effort is being made to encourage healthy behaviors, better eating, and lifestyle changes, and it’s been working. People are taking their health more seriously.
We continue to invest in infrastructure. With the American Rescue dollars from the federal government and through match funding secured by Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Oliver Gilbert, we are working on converting septic tanks to sewers throughout the City. We have also allocated funds to help improve the sea walls behind the homes of residents who live near canals. Repavement of roads occurred on the 441 corridor and over in the Buccaneer Park and North County areas. Additionally, a consultant was contracted to grade the City’s lighting districts, and based on the firm’s recommendations, the City has been working with FPL on several items, from replacing light bulbs to adding new street lamps. It’s a worthwhile investment because better lighting means lower crime. All these projects have improved the quality of life for our residents.
In partnership with Home Depot, we held our annual hurricane preparedness event on June 3rd to give hurricane supplies to Miami Gardens residents.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, my office will continue the monthly Table Talk Tuesdays at Starbucks. The first cohort of the City-University partnership will start in August for the fall semester of classes, and I’ll continue to work on these initiatives to strengthen them for the future.
It is mind-blowing to see how Miami Gardens has developed over the years. Twenty years is a significant milestone. I was nine when the City was incorporated. It will be amazing to see what this City offers 20 years from now.
