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I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since I got elected to the Miami Gardens City Council.
I did a “Councilwoman Julien’s Year in Review” video going over the accomplishments of my office and thanking some of my constituents for choosing me to represent their aspirations for our City.
In August, I hosted an Off to College Trunk Giveaway where my office provided a laptop, microwave, and refrigerator to 100 high school students, each heading off to board on-campus.
In September, Jessie Trice Community Healthy System opened a bigger Miami Gardens health facility. For me, it was a full-circle moment because I grew up at Jessie Trice after losing my father at around 12 years old. He was killed in a home invasion, and my mom didn’t have the means, so we would go to Jessie Trice on 54th and 22nd Avenue for healthcare. You would pay $10 to see the dentist, the physician—all the doctors—and you would get your medication at a really low price. So now, as an elected official, to see some of the doctors and staff at the new community center still remembering me from middle school was sweet.
The elementary school science fair took place on December 6th and 7th at St. Thomas University, judged by Ph.D. science students. My predecessor, Councilman David Williams Jr., led this initiative for ten years, and when I approached him about running for his seat, I promised him that, should I win, I would carry it on. The Councilwoman Julien Award was presented to the principal of the school that had the best project.
Another initiative I’ve been spearheading is an essay contest called Earn as you Learn. Kids can win a monetary prize for great submissions, so they stay creative and gain a sense of social responsibility. I want kids to think, do research, and use credible sources. One of my essay award recipients, a 10th grader at Monsignor Edward Pace High School, is now my Contest Liaison.
I have quite a few goals for 2022. Increasing public safety in our City may be my most significant—we’ve been working to curtail speeding and drag racing. Building economic development, we’ll bring in public-private partnerships with companies that will create jobs.
I’m very big on healthy eating, so What’s Cooking with Councilwoman Julien is going to start up again. Additionally, I’ve taken over the produce garden, and as part of the cooking series, we’ll use some of those fruits and vegetables in our recipes.
No Small Business Left Behind will continue as well. I’ve been getting tons of great feedback from the business owners who participated this year. For next year, I’m putting together a robust curriculum for my small businesses, and we’re going to continue the conversation. My mission is to remove the barriers to access, plain and simple.
My message this holiday season is to be vigilant, love one another, and don’t take a day for granted. We’re in this together. Let’s continue to take our City to the next level of prosperity together.
I want to wish my people a safe and happy holiday.
