NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas keynote speaker at Power Summit

NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas will headline retooled Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy’s (MDEAT) Power Summit on Wednesday, Aug. 10 at 9 a.m. at Florida International University's Kovens Conference Center located at 3000 NE 151st Street in North Miami.

Research from Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights think tank notes Black children are dramatically less likely to rise economically and much more likely to move downward from where their parents started. MDEAT, the premier agency for the economic development of Miami-Dade County’s Black community, retooled and enhanced its youth development summit to give attendees a competitive advantage in the increasingly competitive global marketplace.

While children account for 22 percent of our population, they represent 100 percent of our future. This summit represents MDEAT’s strategic transformation to ensure that Black residents have more resources to participate in Miami-Dade County’s economic growth.

Note: Attendees must register for two of the six breakout sessions before the summit.

• Think About It? A Mental Health Check-In
  • Aims to target the mental well-being of youth in Miami-Dade County. The workshop will be facilitated by licensed professionals that will engage youth's ability to tap into their socio-emotional capabilities in a prosocial environment without the associated stigma of a traditional mental health environment.
• Cryptocurrency – Blockchain Technology
  • This session will expose students to information related to economic prosperity in the digital age including financial literacy, blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. The purpose of this workshop is to unpack ways that advancements in technology can be leveraged for individual and collective prosperity.
• Law Enforcement Encounters
  • This workshop is geared towards improving relationships between students and law enforcement officials by exploring different scenarios where both parties may interact.
• Criminal Justice & Legal Career Paths
  • Criminal justice and legal career professionals will highlight different ways to prepare for success in these fields including preparation for required examinations, making key connections, the law school experience and higher education preparation.
• Tech Careers Pathways
  • Experts on the booming tech sector in South Florida will provide information on different career pathways and how students can best prepare to maximize opportunities in this space.
• Business and Entrepreneurship
  • This workshop aims to introduce youth to economic prosperity through the lens of creating a self-sufficient business or entrepreneurship goal.

For more information or to schedule media interviews, please call Zachary Rinkins, Public Information Officer at 305-622-2592 or email [email protected]