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“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” –Nelson Mandela
Miami Beach is undoubtedly one of the top tourist destinations in the world, attracting millions of visitors every year. But beyond the sun, sand, and nightlife, Miami Beach is also a close-knit community with a strong sense of local identity. And at the heart of that community are the teachers who nurture the future generations of our town.
Teachers play a vital role in any community, and Miami Beach is no exception. They are the ones who prepare our children for the challenges of the future, equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. But they do much more than that. Teachers also serve as mentors, role models, and confidants, providing guidance and support to their students in ways that extend far beyond the classroom.
The recognition of teachers as important community members is reflective of a broader theme that is growing across the country more and more every year. As the role of teachers has become increasingly complex and demanding, communities have recognized the need to support and uplift those who take on this challenging work.
In Miami Beach, one of the ways the importance of teachers is recognized and celebrated is through the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce Elayne Weisburd Excellence in Education Awards Ceremony. This annual event honors teachers who have gone above and beyond to implement impactful curriculums and projects in our schools.
The awards ceremony serves as a reminder of the incredible contributions that teachers make to our community each and every day. These dedicated educators work tirelessly to inspire and motivate their students, and their efforts have a profound impact on the lives of those they teach.
But the Elayne Weisburd Excellence in Education Awards Ceremony is just one way that Miami Beach recognizes its outstanding teachers. Through the Miami Beach Chamber Education Foundation, the Chamber raises money to fund their “Links Project”, which provides as many as three teachers’ grants of up to $1,000 a piece in each of the eight public schools that are part of the Miami Beach public school feeder pattern. It’s called the “Links Project” as it demonstrates the “linkage” between the business community, from whom the funds are raised, and public education. The grants are awarded to teachers whose proposed projects are the most innovative and impactful to the children’s education.
The latest initiative of our Education Foundation is working with Project ProStart, a nationally recognized program that trains high school students in culinary arts and prepares them for jobs in the tourism industry directly out of high school. Supplying our educators with the tools they need to teach students and keep them engaged, is another way we can show support of their work. In conjunction with the Miami-Dade County School Board who provided $750k of funding for major renovations, the Chamber’s Education Foundation was able to match the City of Miami Beach’s $100k donation for equipment. We are happy to announce that purchasing of equipment has started and retro fitting will take place over the summer. We encourage our members and the community to support our mission of developing the most advanced, industrial kitchen for Miami Beach Senior High School students.
Visit https://www.miamibeachchamber.com/education-foundation/ to donate for this and the foundation’s other initiatives.
