Community Disparities Subcommittee holds its first meeting to begin addressing equity gaps in Miami-Dade County

MIAMI-DADE – Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins, Chairwoman of the Community Disparities Subcommittee, along with Subcommittee members held their first meeting today, March 12, 2019, to begin the work of addressing disparities in our communities. The Subcommittee was recently created by Board of County Commissioners Chairwoman Audrey M. Edmonson and is tasked with developing strategies to address economic, housing, transportation, justice and other disparities.

Chairwoman Edmonson said: “As Chairwoman of the Board of County Commissioners, I have tasked Commissioner Higgins with studying and developing strategies to address critical disparities in our communities, disparities that hold families back and prevent us as a County from reaching our full potential. I know that solutions to these problems exist: We must be brave in confronting them.”

The Subcommittee, which reports to the Chairwoman’s Policy Council, will meet every other month and also includes the following members: Vice-Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa, Commissioner Esteban L. Bovo Jr., Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava, Commissioner Barbara J. Jordan, and Commissioner Dennis C. Moss.

Commissioner Higgins said: “There is much work to be done in Miami-Dade. While we celebrate the incredible economic growth we see all around us, there are still an alarming number of families one financial emergency away from ruin. The Subcommittee will look at policies to lift the quality of life of residents and to ensure the strength of the whole County – investments that will pay for themselves many times over.”

In order to provide the Chairwoman’s Policy Council with strategies to address equality gaps, the Community Disparities Subcommittee will focus on an area of study at each meeting, providing for background information, relevant data, and best practices. In addition, experts and knowledgeable members of the community will be invited to present, followed by a robust discussion of potential strategies and solutions. The goal is to achieve consensus and present strategies to the Chairwoman’s Policy Council for consideration of proposed legislation.