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Mayor Diaz serves as the Vice President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), the official bipartisan organization of cities with populations in excess of 30,000. Each of these 1,139 cities is represented by their respective mayor. As Vice President, Mayor Diaz actively assists the USCM in furthering its goals of promoting effective urban/suburban policies, strengthening federal-city relations, ensuring federal policy meets city needs, and providing U.S. mayors with valuable leadership and management tools. Most of all, the USCM creates a forum through which mayors from around the country can meet and share effective ideas and leadership strategies.
Mayor Diaz has worked in close partnership with the USCM on many issues, including a new federal crime initiative and a comprehensive Climate Protection Agreement. In order to combat crime within U.S. cities, Mayor Diaz has joined the rest of the country’s mayors in calling for a new crime initiative to reestablish the federal-local partnership on hometown security. Mayor Diaz was also one of the first mayors to attach his signature to the USCM Climate Protection Agreement in order to keep the City of Miami on the path toward a more sustainable future. These are just a few highlights of Mayor Diaz’s involvement within the USCM. To learn more about the U.S. Conference of Mayors, please visit their website, at http://usmayors.org .
The Mayor's Mentoring Initiative, in partnership with Miami Dade County Public Schools, local colleges and other agencies, aims to improve the grades and quality of life for children who attend schools in the City of Miami through counseling, mentoring and tutoring services. This comprehensive approach addresses the school’s academic opportunities, improve parental involvement and enhance the children’s learning environment. Holmes Elementary School was chosen as the first school for the initiative.
At Holmes, a $20,000 grant from the Florida Marlins helped each teacher get $500 for classroom supplies as part of the Adopt-a-Classroom program. The Mentoring Initiative has not been limited to the school and the students – the parents of children are offered legal advice through a partnership with South Florida Legal Services. In addition, the newly viable Holmes Elementary School PTA hosted a community fair to address community concerns such as home ownership, financial skills, health issues, student achievement, and parental involvement. Thirteen community-based organizations work in collaboration with the City of Miami Office of the Mayor. The Mayor's team has expanded its commitment to Holmes Elementary School after being awarded a 21st Century Learning Center Grant that will provide free quality after school care programming to 250 students on the school grounds. Its collaborators include FIU, YMCA, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, South Florida Legal Providers, and Arts for Learning.
Mayor Diaz continues to tackle new and innovative ways to support the development of confident, capable, socially conscience, and civic engaged youth. This effort is evident through the Mayor's leadership and involvement in the following projects:
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Development and implementation of the Mayor's Youth Council
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Expansion of support of the City of Miami Big Brothers, Big Sisters Mentoring Initiative in 11 of our City's elementary schools.
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Development and Implementation of Educational Programming in City of Miami Parks in summer camps and after school programs in collaboration with Miami Dade County Public Schools.
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Support and collaboration with the City of Miami Parks and Recreation Department in the implementation of technology in City parks.
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Development of a pilot City of Miami Mentoring program at Virrick Park
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Implementation of the Save A Life Foundation Program in 8 City of Miami schools.
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Expansion of support efforts to include all D and F elementary schools within the City of Miami.
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Supporting of higher education opportunities and scholarship opportunities to the City's high school graduates through the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.
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Support of teacher recruitment and professional development in collaboration with Teach for America.
To find out more about Mayor Diaz' Youth Initiatives, please contact Lisa Martinez via phone, 305-445-0123 ext. 223, or email, lmartinez@ci.miami.fl.us
Mayor Diaz’s Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and Community Outreach strives to enhance the quality of life for Miami’s residents through active involvement in the community and, in particular, close work with Miami’s faith-based community. Throughout history, churches and faith-based organizations have been the chief institutions concerned with helping the poor and needy. Mayor Diaz believes that by working closely with faith-based organizations, local government can involve itself effectively with the direct involvement that religious institutions enjoy in communities.
The Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based Initiatives is determined to continue building and establishing strong relationships between the government and local faith-based entities. The first of many initiatives is the City of Miami’s Pastoral Roundtable. At quarterly meetings, Mayor Diaz and City Commissioners meet with clergy from throughout the City of Miami in a forum where pastors and other representatives can voice the concerns of their community, begin to implement new initiatives and receive and distribute important information from government. The Mayor’s Office supports organizations with technical and educational assistance, working with them to identify their needs and assist them in developing strategies to meet their goals.
Other efforts lend support through local workshops and conferences, establishing pilot programs, and aiding in the pursuit of grants. A strong network has been built between city government, the corporate sector and faith-based organizations. As Governing Magazine noted: “Miami is among the cities moving most aggressively to energize and understand its faith communities, thanks largely to the effort of Mayor Manuel Diaz.”
The Office of Community Outreach strives to touch the lives of the citizens of the City of Miami by creating events that raise community awareness, civic involvement, and social consciousness for the general good. Family unity, community involvement, and healthy/conscious living are values stressed in every involvement. In particular, Community Outreach aids in the development of life skills, job training, AIDS/HIV education and prevention, and outreach efforts for at-risk youth.
Community outreach works hand in hand to support existing organizations that provide services for our multi-ethnic, multi-cultural citizens. Projects held throughout the year include: Youth March for Life, Family Night Out Giveaway, Youth Summer Jamz, Salute to Older Americans Month and a variety of health fairs and other community events.
The Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and Community Outreach can be reached via telephone, (305) 250-5300.
This year’s film festival, in its 24th year, screened over 250 films, which attracted more than 70,000 attendees. The City is proud that our Olympia Theater is home to this international film festival. Miami’s geographical and cultural place in the world makes it a perfect location for introducing world-renowned cinema. For 10 days, the City of Miami played host to almost 300 local, national and international media and over 350 filmmakers, producers and industry representatives from around the world. During the last four years, the Festival has presented films from more than 50 countries, including 250 East Coast, US, and world premieres, many Oscar winners and nominees, and countless international prizewinners.
In addition to showcasing films from all over the world, panel and roundtable discussions, as well as seminars examine the craft of filmmaking, as well as the business of creating, financing, and distributing a film.
The Mayor’s International Council was created in 2003 by Mayor Manny Díaz to consolidate the City of Miami’s international programs, including the International Trade Board and the Sister Cities Board. The Council works to effectively plan and implement the City’s international promotion policies and programs, coordinate its Sister Cities activities and protocol requirements to provide appropriate support to business and commercial developments. Commissioner Joe Sanchez is the Council’s current Chairman.
For more information regarding the Mayor’s International Council please go to www.miamigov.com/mic
City of Miami Telephone Directory
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