Councilman Stephens

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The past quarter has been very eventful for me.

In August, I sponsored the Back to School Bash & Book Bag Giveaway. We also had an Elder Abuse Awareness Fair where over 150 seniors came out, and more than ten vendors provided advice to our elders about protecting their income and information.

In September, we hosted a Sickle Cell Awareness Workshop. And, as we approached the end of the fiscal year, I was able to contribute to four not-for-profit organizations located here in Miami Gardens to support their ongoing services to our residents. We sponsored a resolution urging our local businesses to open an hour earlier so our seniors, or “age-friendly,” and disabled communities can shop before the general public has access. Our Live Healthy Miami Gardens team, along with my office, is working diligently to get businesses to sign on.

We also facilitated a walk at the new Senior Family Center to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s, and many residents came out to participate. Because it was such a huge success, I sponsored a Resolution to do quarterly walks to increase awareness about other health issues affecting our community.

We also hosted a Miami Gardens Paint and Vibe with about 50 young adults at Bunche Park, facilitating a conversation about civic engagement and how millennials can get involved in the community. Being a millennial myself, I want to see young professionals playing a role in the progression of the City. When they leave and go off to college, I’d like them to return and contribute to the thriving economy.

We also had Team Thursdays through September and October – which was an outreach initiative that I did in conjunction with Councilwoman Katrina Wilson. Each week, we provided refreshments after practice for the local football teams and cheerleading squads at our parks.

International Coffee Day occurred in October. We partnered with Starbucks and provided free coffee to our residents. We also hosted a National Authors Day Read-In & Book Fair with more than 20 local authors. We facilitated an in-depth discussion about the writing and publishing process with local aspiring authors. On a personal note, I left there feeling determined to write a book.

For 2022, I’m looking forward to some of our health initiatives. The Juicy Thursdays initiative is coming online, where we’ll encourage residents to juice fruits and vegetables. This would tag along with the existing Meatless Monday Challenge. Our 2022 Miami Gardens Fitness Challenge will occur from January through March at The Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex. Residents can join free group exercise classes such as yoga, boot camp, and other activities to jump-start their new year fitness goals.

I sponsored a Higher Education Initiative resolution that unanimously passed, increasing the program from two scholarships of $1000 each to five scholarships for graduates in the upcoming year. Property values in Miami Gardens continue to increase. We’ll be working to execute a plan around workforce housing, providing needed assistance, and encouraging young professionals to come back and live in Miami Gardens. I’m working to create a broadband program to assist residents with internet and phone bills— which is so important in the era of COVID-19. Our Safe Communities Program will provide intensive mentoring and entrepreneurship skills to our elementary, middle, and high school students over the course of a year.
The pilot programs we did last year were all successful, and now we’re bringing them back, increasing and improving them. 2021 was an amazing year. When I got into office, I had no idea how this was going to work, but we have an amazing staff, residents, and business owners who have made this transition, for me, a smooth one. We found ways to maneuver through COVID-19 safely, and I’m just excited about what 2022 has to offer. The best is yet to come.

I want to encourage our residents to spend this holiday season with the people that they love and care for the most because the next day is not promised. Get vaccinated, get the booster shot, and get advice from the medical experts. But most importantly, practice loving each other. I’m going to spend time with my family—my niece, nephew, mom, and dad, and I encourage our residents to do the same.


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