Students at Carver Middle School celebrate their completion of the ELEVATE MIAMI Rites of Passage program during the graduation ceremony. City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho congratulate an ELEVATE MIAMI Rites of Passage graduate. Photos: Jorge R. Perez/City of Miami.

MIAMI, FL— City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) Superintendent Alberto Carvalho recognized today more than 65 sixth-grade students at George Washington Carver Middle School that have completed the ELEVATE MIAMI Rites of Passage  program during a ceremony at Carver Middle School.  These students are among 300 throughout the City that earned a computer through the program.

“I am proud of all of the students who completed the Rites of Passage curriculum and were able to win a computer for themselves and their families,” said Mayor Manny Diaz. “Elevate Miami gives our students the ability to develop the skills necessary to compete globally. We need to ensure that we continue investing in our children and that we provide them with all of the tools they need to succeed.”

During the event, students got a sneak peek of the model of computer they will be receiving in the next few days, free of charge, for their accomplishments. Superintendent Carvalho and Mayor Diaz also presented each student with a certificate for their accomplishments.

“It is through committed partnerships that we can maximize opportunities for our students. Elevate Miami demonstrates to students in a very tangible way that hard work pays off,” said Superintendent Carvalho.

The unique partnership between M-DCPS and the City of Miami has resulted in the creation of a life skills course that is being taught to sixth grade students that attend schools within the city. The students being honored at this ceremony have completed the required coursework and also met important benchmarks in their school year, enabling them to receive the free computers to take home. More than 300 students in middle schools within the City of Miami limits have met the benchmarks and earned a computer

About Elevate Miami
ELEVATE MIAMI is part of Mayor Manny Diaz’s anti-poverty initiative which aims to develop a comprehensive program designed to prepare all citizens and businesses of Miami for a leadership position in the global economy.  The program establishes public and private partnerships that facilitate affordable technology, including mobile and low-cost Internet access, employability skills, and expanded economic opportunities for all participants.

ELEVATE MIAMI targets schools, parks, and senior centers as entry ways into the daily lives of city residents. The initiative encompasses: eSenior Centers, ePark Computer labs, and the Rites of Passage Curriculum with Miami-Dade Public Schools. 

For more information about ELEVATE MIAMI Programs, visit www.elevatemiami.com.