{"id":24004,"date":"2019-08-07T19:06:48","date_gmt":"2019-08-07T19:06:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/miamifoundation.org\/?p=24004"},"modified":"2019-08-07T19:06:48","modified_gmt":"2019-08-07T19:06:48","slug":"heading-into-2020-my-miami-story-conversations-to-ask-where-are-we-as-a-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/miamifoundation.org\/news\/heading-into-2020-my-miami-story-conversations-to-ask-where-are-we-as-a-community\/","title":{"rendered":"HEADING INTO 2020, MY MIAMI STORY CONVERSATIONS TO ASK, “WHERE ARE WE AS A COMMUNITY?”"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]2020 is around the corner, and changes that will directly affect our region \u2014 including upcoming elections, the Census count, evolving diversity in neighborhoods, and climate impacts \u2014 are top of mind for many Miami-Dade County residents. As the milestone year approaches, My Miami Story <\/em>conversations<\/a> will provide a platform for residents of every zip code and cultural background to discuss community priorities, civic policies, leadership and other pressing issues that will define the county\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

The Miami Foundation<\/a>\u2019s My Miami Story <\/em>conversations will invite Miami-Dade County residents to spend Tuesday, October 15, 2019<\/strong> considering the question: \u201c2020 is here: where are we?\u201d Participants will share personal stories and explore ideas on how residents can work together to improve communities in large and small ways. This is The Miami Foundation\u2019s fourth year hosting the conversations about who Miamians are, where they are going and what each resident can contribute. Each year, participation in these conversations continues to grow; last year<\/a>\u00a0more than 4,000 residents gathered in homes, restaurants, offices, parks, libraries and numerous other locations around the county.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s power in storytelling. When thousands of people come together to share their Miami stories, we create a unified narrative that informs funders, public agencies, nonprofits and elected decision-makers about ways to better guide community-building plans for Greater Miami,\u201d said Matthew Beatty, senior director of communications and engagement at The Miami Foundation. \u201cThere is more that unifies us than separates us, and these gatherings connect residents around their shared experiences of living here and how to improve those experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

My Miami Story<\/em><\/a> conversation hosts bring together small groups of 6-12 residents over breakfast, lunch, dinner and cafecito breaks throughout the day. Any resident can sign up to host a conversation at MyMiamiStory.org<\/a>. Hosts and participants will be invited to complete a post-conversation survey that will be analyzed by the team at Hart Research and Public Opinion Strategies, with funding from Knight Foundation<\/a>. The Miami Foundation will share the survey findings, insights and results with local decision-makers to inform their community-related work in Greater Miami.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”26px”][vc_single_image image=”24034″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” qode_css_animation=””][vc_column_text]A 2018 My Miami Story conversation\u00a0<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”26px”][vc_column_text]The initiative has powerful outcomes. According to 2018 post-conversation surveys, nine out of 10 respondents who participated in conversations in 2017 took a specific action over the next year to get involved and improve their community because of attending a My Miami Story<\/em> conversation. Other key findings include:<\/p>\n