Grameen America, the fastest growing microfinance organization in the United States, opened its first branch in Miami. The branch, located at 1101 SW 8th Street in Little Havana, will enable women living below the poverty level in the area to access small loans to start or expand their businesses. More than 20 percent of women in Miami-Dade county are living … Read More
August News – Seven Local Nonprofit Leaders to Watch
As director of development, major gifts, for Zoo Miami Foundation, Sara Greene ramps up support for their conservation and climate change efforts. She’s one of seven local nonprofit directors receiving $25,000 in Miami Leaders grants to attend top U.S. nonprofit executive education programs. Meet the 2017-2018 class. Also in this newsletter: CAP, Inc. invests $226,000 in Miami’s college-bound students Social … Read More
Social Innovator, Policy Maker, Changemaker: Rebecca Fishman Lipsey’s Story
Rebecca Fishman Lipsey is founder of Radical Partners. She is a Miami Fellows Class VI alum and the 2017 Ruth Shack Leadership Award honoree, and serves on the Florida State Board of Education. She shared how her Fellows experience shaped her Miami story, and the opportunities she seeks to help create in the city we all love. When I moved … Read More
June News – How Can We Build a More Inclusive Miami?
Xavier de Souza Briggs’ personal experience growing up in Miami led him to take on social justice with the Ford Foundation. At our 50th anniversary Opportunity breakfast, 200 local changemakers listened as he shared how philanthropy and nonprofits can create a more just and inclusive Greater Miami. Read more>> Also in this newsletter: It’s time to make education access a … Read More
We Should Make Education Access a Priority for Greater Miami
Miami is at an inflection point.
With more than 5.8 million residents and an economic output of more than $300 billion, our regional economy is one of the largest in the world. We now number among the world’s 25 most important cities. We have diversified our economy and become more creative and idea-based. But our region is also suffering from the same divides that are vexing other big cities around the world.
The gap between rich and poor has widened and the ability of residents to achieve the American Dream has declined. As highlighted in the Our Miami Report, access to quality education is critical for preparing our children and young adults to be successful contributors to society and, in turn, is integral for our region’s prosperity and growth.
How Can We Build a More Inclusive Miami? Ford Foundation Offers Solutions
Xavier de Souza Briggs grew up the child of a single mom, with Brazilian, European and Bahamian heritage. He moved to Miami at a young age and landed among the Cuban-American community at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School. Xavier and his mother lived in a modest apartment, just a few blocks from a public library – a place that opened the world to him. The academically rigorous, values-based education he received at Belen, where a commitment to service was implicit, led him ultimately to faculty positions at MIT and to serve in the Obama administration, before joining Ford Foundation as vice president of economic opportunity and markets. Briggs would go on to become part of a momentous change at the foundation, which, two years ago, announced it would devote all of its grantmaking to combating inequality and recently pledged to divert $1 billion of its endowment to mission-related investments.
MAY NEWS – TARELL ALVIN MCCRANEY SHARES HIS MIAMI STORY
Tarell is a native son of the city we all love. The award-winning playwright shared his Miami story with us: the journey from stage to screen, the “spirit of generosity” that got him there and coming home to make sure students today have the same opportunities he had. Read more Also in this newsletter: Meet the 50 individuals leading our … Read More
TARELL ALVIN MCCRANEY: HOW HE GOT FROM MIAMI TO “MOONLIGHT”
Tarell Alvin McCraney is a native son of Miami. He’s an artist, a creator and an advocate for the city we all love. The award-winning playwright shared his Miami story with us: the journey from stage to screen, the “spirit of generosity” that got him there and coming home to make sure students today have the same opportunities he did.