|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Reconnecting
We’re still encouraging residents to practice social distancing and to mask up when indoors, but it’s been really good to reconnect with residents in person while still adhering to the CDC guidelines.
On the first Thursday in June, I hosted a city-wide town hall meeting at the Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex. We had various departments come in to share City updates and received legislative updates from our State Senator, Shevrin Jones. State Representative Christopher Benjamin provided information on accomplishments for the City of Miami Gardens at the state level.
I ran my campaign on transparency. Making sure that our community is educated on what we’re doing and the challenges our state legislators are facing on the municipal level is part of achieving that.
Senior Matters
Our seniors make up about 13 percent of the overall population here in Miami Gardens and they play a huge role in our community. So I want to make sure they are included in what the future of Miami Gardens looks like, considering areas like transportation, outdoor spaces, social and civic participation, community and health services.
In the last quarter, my office facilitated the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Fair where residents were provided with information on elder abuse prevention resources. That was a fantastic conference, and on August 14 we’re facilitating another one at the newly built City of Miami Gardens Senior Family Center.
I am also sponsored a resolution supporting the World Health Organization Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities. This program would allow us to be a part of the AARP community, exposing our seniors to a lot of funding and programs they can take advantage of. I’m also declaring September 24 as World Alzheimer’s Day here in the City of Miami Gardens, and partnering with the World Alzheimer’s Organization.
Youth Engagement
In August, in partnership with Senator Shevrin Jones, my office will be facilitating a back-to-school book bag giveaway and community barbecue. A lot of children are transitioning back to in-person school, and school supplies are essential for success. Many parents were laid off or furloughed during the pandemic, which resulted in some hardships. We’re providing supplies so parents won’t have to worry about this expense.
In September, we’ll host a “Paint and Vibe” for our millennials and Generation Z. We’ll be painting, having conversations about ways we can improve our community, and addressing various concerns. It’s simply a more creative way to promote civic engagement among younger people.
One of the major accomplishments for my office was the Miami Gardens Higher Education Certificate Program. We awarded stipends to ten (10) Miami Gardens residents who will attend Miami Dade College to study Medical Assisting, Phlebotomy or Massage Therapy. We were able to cover costs related to footwear, background checks and uniforms. We started by awarding scholarships to high school seniors and have expanded to awarding all ages with scholarships to sharpen their skills by going back to school and getting certified.
