Dorrin D. Rolle was first appointed in January 1998 to the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners by the former Florida Governor Lawton Chiles to represent the residents of District 2.  This District is comprised of more than 102,000 residents, encompassing the communities of Liberty City, Opa-Locka, and North Miami Beach.

Commissioner Rolle was born and reared in Miami, Florida.  His interest in serving the disadvantaged began at an early age.  Growing up in the 1960's, his family instilled in him deep pride in his heritage, despite the racial and economical obstacles placed in his path.  They wanted him to make the best of his life, and would not accept anything less than what they thought was his best.

Long before serving as Commissioner of District 2, Commissioner Rolle had already distinguished himself as a proponent of the underserved, motivated in part by a special concentration in serving the socially-challenged. A leader in meeting the needs of the less-fortunate, he helped make a name for JESCA in the community by being acceptant of people that others would have dismissed as hopeless.

Commissioner Rolle began his public service career with the James E. Scott Community Association (JESCA) as a Social Worker in 1972.  For many years, he served as Director of the Ex-Offenders Services Program, overseeing the operations and management of three halfway houses in Miami-Dade County - two for men, and one for women and their children.  His unwavering ascension through the ranks of JESCA ultimately landed him the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of the organization, which has 200 employees and an approximate annual budget of $9 million.

Previously serving as an educator, Commissioner Rolle recognized the need for an educational option for some parents and their children in and around the Liberty City area and was instrumental in the establishment of the Roving Leaders Alternative Educational Center.  The school, which caters to boys and girls who have had problems in mainstream public schools, is equipped with a state-of-the art computer lab and highly trained and qualified personnel.

Often labeled as an Ambassador of Good Will, Commissioner Rolle identified the problems of low self-esteem and unemployment in some areas of his constituency and developed programs geared at motivating young people to stay in school, providing technical and job training and creating employment opportunities for inner-city youth.

He is very active in a wide range of community organizations and has been a significant presence throughout Miami-Dade County.  As a result of his hard work, Commissioner Rolle has been the recipient of numerous honors, among them: the Florida A&M Alumni Outstanding Service Award; the Apostolic Revival Center Usher Board Community Service Recognition; the World Vision Award; and the National Women of Achievement Profiles of Prominence Award.  He also received special recognition from the City of Miami, the Gladeview Homeowners Association, and the Opa-Locka and Arcola Lake Elementary Schools.

Commissioner Rolle continues to be actively involved in community, social and civic organizations, and also serves on the Boards of numerous committees and organizations.  He is a member of Public Health Board of Trustees, the Family Christian Association of America, the NAACP (Life Member), Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Alumni Association, the Work and Gain Economic Self-Sufficiency Coalition (currently known as South Florida Workforce), Greater Bethel Federal Credit Union, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

He received his B.S. in Elementary Education from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University in 1967, his Master's in Education from the University of Northern Colorado in 1973, and has done Doctoral studies in Education at Nova University.  Commissioner Rolle makes an effort to visit and support all the churches in his district and is a faithful member of the New Jerusalem Primitive Baptist Church.

Dorrin Rolle was married 37 years to Judith J. Rolle (deceased).  He is the proud father of Damon, Yvette and Tangilar; the proud grandfather of Shereece, Brian, Jasmine, Danielle, Herman and Jaylor; and also the proud great-grandfather of newborn, Kionny.

He's a hands-on Commissioner, who directs every facet of District 2's stratagem. A seeker of truth in himself and in others, his empathy, honesty, and overall concern of people have made him one of the most recognized Commissioners in Miami-Dade County.  He remains an outspoken champion of human dignity for the people of Miami-Dade County.

Since 1998, Commissioner Rolle has been responsible for bringing in an unprecedented ½ billion dollars (approx.) in capital improvement.  This includes the following: Edison Marketplace - $8.3 million; MLK Market Complex - $28 million; Arcola Lakes Park Senior Citizens Complex - $6 million; Corinthians Apartments - $19 million; Poinciana Industrial Park (Bio-Pharmaceutical Complex) - $150 million; Melrose Sewer Project - $300,000; Beautification and Rehabilitation Program - $1.9 million; JESCA Youth Center - $1.4 million; Hibiscus Point Housing Complex - $19 million; Westview Gardens Elderly Complex - $17 million; Library, Police Substation, CAA Administration Bldg. - $17 million; West Little River Neighborhood Housing Services - $10 million; Alhambra Cove Housing Complex - $19 million; Drainage Projects (District-wide) - $9.7 million; Parks (District-wide) - $2.6 million; Resurfacing Projects (District-wide) - $2.1 million; Sidewalks (District-wide) - $3.3 million; Water and Sewer Improvement Projects (District-wide) - $15.7 million; and Wal-Mart - proposed.

Annually, he supports the following:  Mom and Pop Grants; Family Christian Association of America, Inc.; M.O.V.E.R.S. (A.I.D.S. Awareness); Bethel A.M.E. (A.I.D.S. Awareness); Christi House; Project S.T.O.P.P.; and O.C.E.D. - Funded Programs.

As an economic development initiative, Commissioner Rolle was also instrumental in creating a hauling pool which removed the sludge that was dredged from many canals in Miami-Dade County.  Additionally, this hauling pool was responsible for the removal of debris from the streets left by Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma.

Revised: 01/2008