Children have a special place in my heart, so I have made it a personal objective to create programs that will enhance the lives of the children. Children are impressionable and vulnerable and it is at a very young age that their personalities are formed which will dictate the type of adult they will eventually become. Children are the future; therefore, it’s important that we begin at a very early age to assist in their development.
As your commissioner, I along with my staff have created the following programs which will improve and assist children in their developmental growth.
Joe A. Martinez Turn Around Award
Children are under many pressures which at times can cause them to loose focus and in effect spiral downward in various areas concerning school matters. As such, in order to encourage students to better themselves, I started the Joe A. Martinez Turn Around Award. This award is given on an annual basis to a fifth grade student from each elementary school in District 11 that has made the biggest turnaround from the fourth to fifth grade in the following areas: academics, behavior, or civic service.
> View the photo gallery Turn-Around Event - May 12, 2006
Creative Visions
Creative Visions began in 2004 in partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami-Dade Cultural Affairs and Florida International University’s Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum. This program has further developed elementary, middle and high school students’ interest in the arts by giving them a venue in which they can exhibit their artwork. This year’s opening and award ceremony will be taking place on May 17, 2007 at the Florida International University’s Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum at 6 pm.
> View the photo galleries:
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Swimming Lessons
Miami-Dade County is surrounded by beaches, lakes, canals and pools. The safety of our children is of utmost importance to me. As such, for the past two years, I have had the pleasure to allocate $10,000 annually for free swimming lessons to the children of District 11 at the Tamiami Park Pool. I will once again be allocating these funds to promote this cause.
Tamiami Park is located at 11201 S.W 24 Street. If you would like more information on swimming lessons, call (305) 223-7077.
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South Florida After-School All-Stars
After-School All-Stars (ASAS) is a nonprofit organization focused on bringing comprehensive after-school programs to at-risk middle-school students that keep children safe, and help them succeed in school and in life. I am proud to be the honorary Chairman of the South Florida ASAS program in Miami-Dade County. In partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Miami-Dade County Parks and Recreation, the ASAS has enriched the lives of middle-school aged youth through comprehensive before and after-school programs, summer camp and recreation programs. Currently there are 25 Middle Schools throughout the County offering this program.
For more information on the South Florida After School All Stars, call (305) 576-4026.
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Roxy Theatre Group
I have been a proud sponsor of the Roxy Theatre Group summer camp. This camp offers students a creative outlet to express themselves through acting, singing and dancing.
Roxy Theatre Group is located at 1645 S.W 107 Avenue. For more information on the Roxy Theatre Group, call (305) 226-0030.
To learn more about other youth services and programs offered by the County, please visit Chlidren's Advocate website.
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