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RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DESIGNATE THE LIBERTY CITY AREA A PROMISE NEIGHBORHOOD AND AWARD FEDERAL FUNDS TO THE MIAMI CHILDREN�S INITIATIVE, INC., ON BEHALF OF A COALITION OF YOUTH, PARENTS, RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS REPRESENTING THE NONPROFIT, PUBLIC, AND PRIVATE SECTORS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENABLING CERTAIN ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN TO HELP IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOMES OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD

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WHEREAS, the President of the United States has announced plans for the release of planning and implementation grants for transforming lives and neighborhoods in areas across the nation known as �Promise Neighborhoods;� and
WHEREAS, in accordance with authority granted by the Florida Legislature, the Board of County Commissioners (the �Board�) adopted Resolution No. R-1277-08 on November 20, 2008, which authorized the Mayor to establish a Community Planning Team for purposes to work on the Magic City Zone Pilot project which was to operate within statutorily defined areas to focus on issues of the education of children and youth and other matters critical to their success; and
WHEREAS, the Board subsequently adopted Resolution No. R-933-09 to respond to changes in Florida law, change the name of the pilot project from the Magic City Zone to the Miami Children�s Initiative, Inc. and acknowledge the creation of the project within the Liberty City Neighborhood, among other matters; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Florida law, this Board adopted Resolution No. R-579-10 which approved the strategic plan for the Miami Children�s Initiative and offered support to the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida, Inc. in carrying out its statutory mandate to create a not-for-profit corporation tasked with providing operational leadership for implementation of the Miami Children�s Initiative Strategic Plan; and
WHEREAS, Resolution R-579-10 defined the Liberty City Neighborhood as lying within the boundaries of northwest 79th Street to the north, northwest 27th Avenue (Unity Boulevard) to the west, northwest 41st Street to the south and Interstate I-95 to the east, encompassing portions of both Miami-Dade County Commission Districts 2 and 3 and City of Miami Commission District 5; and
WHEREAS, the Miami Children�s Initiative, Inc. was incorporated in July, 2010 and is leading a collaborative effort to implement a comprehensive revitalization strategy in this area, now referred to for purposes of this resolution as the Liberty City Promise Neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, much like the Harlem Children�s Zone anti-poverty program begun in the 1990s, a primary goal of the Miami Children�s Initiative, Inc. is to end generational poverty and provide young people and their families with new comprehensive education, social and economic reforms that will achieve impressive results for disadvantaged children and youth who live within the Liberty City Promise Neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, the Miami Children�s Initiative, Inc. is working with a coalition of youth, parents, residents and community leaders representing the nonprofit, public, and private sectors who have formed a steering committee which has been working tirelessly to make sure that the concept of the Liberty City Promise Neighborhood is realized; and
WHEREAS, the steering committee is comprised of leaders from many community organizations, including, but not limited to African Heritage Cultural Arts Center; Arts for Learning, Art Studio Miami, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Catalyst Miami, City of Miami, City Year, College Summit, Communities in Schools, Department of Children and Families, Department of Juvenile Justice Services, Liberty City Early Learning Centers, Early Learning Coalition, Early Childhood Initiative, Florida Department of Children and Families, Florida International University, Florida Memorial University, Girl Power, Health Choice Network, Himan Brown Charitable Trust, Jessie Trice Community Health Center, Miami Art Studio, Miami Dade College, Miami Dade County, Miami Dade County Juvenile Services Department, Miami Dade County Public Schools, Miami Dade County Parks and Recreations, Miami Music Project, Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Meyga Girls, National PTA-Urban Family Engagement, New Horizon Community Mental Health Center, Our Kids, Planned Parenthood, TACOLCY, Teach for America, The Children�s Movement, The Children�s Trust, The Miami Children�s Initiative, United Way of Miami Dade, the University of Miami, and Urban Strategies, all as provided in any grant application (the �Steering Committee�); and
WHEREAS, the Steering Committee is tasked with and is developing strategies which are designed to address goals of the federal program, including but not limited to: (1) implementing a comprehensive continuum for all youth creating a pipeline of high-quality services for children and youth that include parenting education, advocacy and family-oriented solutions, early childhood programs, effective schools, summer and after-school programs, and support before and during college that addresses neighborhood challenges and that will improve results for children and youth in the neighborhood; (2) continuing building and strengthening of partnerships that will provide solutions, along the continuum of solutions, and that will commit resources to sustain and scale-up what works; (3) collecting data on indicators at least annually, and evaluating program outcomes and using the data for improving a longitudinal data system for learning, continuous improvement, and accountability; (4) demonstrating progress on goals for improving organizations� internal systems, such as by making changes in policies, practices and organizations, and by leveraging resources to sustain and scale up what works; and (5) participating in a community of social change which builds community among residents, institutions, and stakeholders, who help to create the environment necessary for children�s healthy development; and (6) cultivating a culture of success rooted in passion, accountability, leadership, and teamwork; and
WHEREAS, the core belief behind the Liberty City Promise Neighborhood concept is that providing both effective, achievement-oriented schools and strong systems of support will offer children the best hope for a better life; and
WHEREAS, it is anticipated that the Miami Children�s Initiative, Inc., on behalf of and in partnership with the Steering Committee, will apply to the United States Department of Education - Promise Neighborhood Program for approximately $60 million dollars over a period of five years, $12 million annually, in implementation grant funds on or before July 27, 2012 and that funding award announcements should by no later than December 2012; and
WHEREAS, the Steering Committee has pledged to work cooperatively on the Liberty City Promise Neighborhood initiative, whether or not it is selected to receive a federal grant for implementation,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
Section 1. The above recitals are incorporated herein by reference.
Section 2. The Board hereby urges the United States Department of Education to designate the Liberty City Promise Neighborhood as a federally recognized Promise Neighborhood and to award the Miami Children�s Initiative, Inc., on behalf of the Liberty City Promise Neighborhood Steering Committee, a federal promise grant pursuant to its grant application.
Section 3. The Board hereby urges the Florida Congressional Delegation to advocate for and support the purposes of this resolution and to communicate such support to the Secretary of the United States Department of Education.
Section 4. The Board hereby directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the members of the Florida Congressional Delegation and the Secretary of the Department of Education.
Section 5. The Board hereby directs the County�s federal and state lobbyists to advocate for the action set forth in this resolution and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to amend the 2012 Federal Legislative Package to include this item, and to include this item in the 2013 federal legislative package when it is presented to the Board.