Come out and get informed on the Miami-Dade County Public Schools budget for the upcoming 2017-2018 school year. This is all the more important as Florida Governor Rick Scott has called a Special Legislative Session for June 7 - 9. 

Public education can be saved through an informed, engaged and proactive citizenry. Don’t miss your opportunity to ask questions; get informed and network with other concerned citizens.

At the upcoming School Board Meeting on March 15, District 1 School Board Member and Role Model, Dr. Steve Gallon III, will salute 62 Miami-Dade County Public School students who comprise the 2017 graduating class of the 5000 Role Models known as Wilson Scholars. He will also recognize the invaluable contributions of school social workers and March, as National Social Work Month.

The 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, founded in 1993 by then-Miami-Dade County School Board Member, Dr. Frederica S. Wilson, now a member of the United States House of Representatives. A dropout prevention program, the mission of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project is to intervene in the lives of at-risk youth and provide them with alternatives to dropping out of school and self-destructive behaviors. The program pairs male students, ages 9-19, with successful professional adult mentors, who provide them with advice, guidance, and educational assistance.

This year, Wilson Scholars in Miami-Dade County include students from the following senior high schools: Booker T. Washington, Coral Gables, Coral Reef, Felix Varela, Miami Beach, Miami Carol City, Miami Coral Park, Miami Jackson, Miami Lakes Educational Center, Miami Norland, Miami Northwestern, Miami Palmetto, North Miami Beach, South Dade and William H. Turner Technical Arts. Since the inception of the program, over $10 million in scholarships have been awarded to graduating seniors.

The primary mission of the School Social Work profession is to enhance well-being and help meet the basic needs of all students, especially the most vulnerable or at-risk. School Social Workers embody the theme of this year’s National Social Work Month Theme, “Social Workers Stand Up!, and School Social Work Week on March 6-10, 2017, “Be The Change” by working with students, parents, schools, and local entities to improve and maintain a safe learning environment and empowering students to reach their academic and social/emotional potential.

For over 100 years, school social workers have provided services to students who face serious challenges to school success, including poverty, disability, discrimination, abuse, addiction, bullying, loss of a loved one, and other barriers to learning. School Social Workers also advocate ensuring equal rights for all students, including females, African-Americans, Latinos, people who are disabled, people who are LGBTQ and various ethnic, cultural and religious groups.

The next School Board Meeting is Wednesday, March 15, 2017, at 11:00 a.m., in the School Board Administration Building Auditorium at 1450 Northeast Second Avenue, Miami, FL 33132.

Newly elected Miami-Dade County School Board Member, District 1, Dr. Steve Gallon III is sworn in by Dr. Solomon C. Stinson, former School Board Chair, retired educator and administrator as Kastevia Gallon-Martin, daughter of Dr. Gallon looks on.

Veteran educator Dr. Steve Gallon III was sworn-in as Miami-Dade County School Board Member for District 1, on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 before a standing room-only audience in the School Board Administration Building Auditorium. 

After being sworn-in by his mentor, former School Board chair and retired educator and school district administrator Dr. Solomon C. Stinson, Dr. Gallon delivered rousing and heartfelt remarks from the dais. It would not be an exaggeration to describe it as a Barack Obama-like moment as evidenced by the cheers from the audience. 

Video by Alecia Bethel

Congratulations to all of the other newly-elected and re-elected School Board members: Mari Tere Rojas; Lubby Navarro; Dr. Larry Feldman; Dr. Martin Karp and Susie Castillo. The new Board Chair and Vice Chair are Dr. Larry Feldman and Dr. Marta Perez. 

In addition to Dr. Stinson, other retired MDCPS veterans in attendance included Dr. Jim Moye; Dr. Mike Wagner; Tom Cerra; Dr. Shirley Johnson; Nelson Diaz and Delio Diaz. Community leaders present included Atty. H.T. Smith; Atty. Rod Vereen; Pastor Arthur Jackson; Pastor Wayne Lomax; Mayor Enid Weisman; Pierre Rutledge; Ronda Vangates; Treska Rogers; DC Clark; Kat Tynes; Larry Williams; and Darryl Holsendolph. 

Pastor Arthur Jackson of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Miami Gardens and School Board Member Dr. Steve Gallon III

The celebration continued the same evening with a swearing-in ceremony in District 1. During his campaign, Board Member Gallon stressed the importance of community engagement for the students, parents and stakeholders in District 1 which includes Miami Gardens;  North Miami; Opa-Locka; and portions of Miami Lakes and North Miami Beach. 

The staff of the North Region Office, Carol City Middle School and the 5000 Role Models collaborated to present a wonderful event highlighted by student performances and Grammy-nominated spoken word artist Rebecca “Butterfly” Vaughns. 

At the community ceremony, Dr. Stinson stood with Dr. Gallon as the oath of office was administered by Dr. Gallon’s daughter, Kastevia Gallon-Martin. Greetings were given by City of Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert. Remarks were given by Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. City of North Miami Vice Mayor Alix Desulme made a presentation on behalf of his city. 

Additional dignitaries joining in the community celebration included Commissioner Audrey Edmonson; Commissioner Betty T. Ferguson and UPPAC leaders; Atty. Larry Handfield; Pastor Dwayne Richardson; Pastor Johnny Barber; James Wright; Terry Wright; Councilman David Williams, Jr.; Councilwoman Felicia Robinson; Retha Boone-Fye and PTA/PTSA representatives from surrounding schools. 

The young men of the DCS Mentoring Program learned a lesson in giving back. The young men, in collaboration with the 100 Black Men of South Florida, arose early last Saturday morning and gathered at Publix in Aventura to pack boxes of Thanksgiving fixings for families in our community. They each selected a deserving family to receive a Thanksgiving basket.  

If you are the parent of a young man ages 8-17, you should consider enrolling him in the program. They learn valuable life skills including discipline, etiquette, grooming and personal responsibility. Since its inception in August, the program has expanded to two age groups 8-12 and 13-17 with 50 per age group. Enrollment acceptance is on a first come first served basis. If you are not able to pay the fee in full, the program administrators will work with you.

For more information, call DC Clark at 305.342.5864 or email DCClark88@gmail.com. Sponsors are also needed to help deliver this life-changing and empowering program to young men in our community.

#umoja #kujichagulia #ujima #ujamaa #nia #kuumba#imani

 @vanessawbyers

MIAMI, FL – One thousand middle school boys, 300 police officers, and mothers who lost children to gun violence participated in a Police and Youth Conference hosted by The 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project Founder Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson, on Tuesday, October 25, 2016, at Miami-Dade College North Campus.  The conference concluded with a march led by Congresswoman Wilson to unveil a new billboard sponsored by Clear Channel Outdoor located at 27th Avenue and 106thStreet.  The billboard depicts solidarity between police and youth along with a powerful messaged aimed at ending gun violence.

“I see hope for the future,” said Congresswoman Wilson.  “We all know that there is tension between young boys of color and police officers.  The 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project hosts these annual conferences to foster better relations between police and youth which help ease that tension.”  

Students from 34 middle schools participated in interactive workshops with law enforcement personnel.  Top brass and police officers representing several municipalities joined together to facilitate the workshops with the goal of educating youth on how to interact with law enforcement.

From left, chapter member Chris Stevenson, unidentified school faculty member and chapter member Gerson Sanchez with donated supplies for the 2016-17 school year.

Thank you to the men of the Iota Pi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity as they recently adopted Dr. William A. Chapman Elementary School as their 2016 Adopt-A-Classroom grant recipient. The organization showered the school with much needed school supplies for the students. Dr. William A. Chapman was one of Miami's first black physicians. Known for his educational programs on communicable diseases, Chapman's home stands as an iconic landmark and educational resource center in Overtown, the center of Miami's historic African-American community. 

Congratulations to the 81 college bound young men awarded scholarships last night, at Jungle Island’s Treetop Ballroom in Miami during the Academic Signing Day Ceremony for the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project’s Wilson Scholars. 

FAMU Alumni Miami-Dade Chapter President Denetra Collins and FAMU Vice President Dr. William Hudson with Wilson Scholars who will be attending Florida A&M University.

Florida A&M alumni Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert, Thomas Jones, Alonzo Jackson and Kenneth Williams with a future Rattler at the 5000 Role Models Academic Signing Ceremony.

Photos:   Courtesy of Kenneth Williams

Related Links:

5000 Role Models of Excellence Project Scholarships Recipients

History of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project

L.E.A.D. Nation, Inc. celebrates 10 years of service to youth and families with the "Blue Jeans & Blazers" kick-off event for the 4th Annual South Florida Youth Summit, April 21-24. Photo: Gregory F. Reed

MIAMI, FL  –  On Saturday, April 2, 2016, Leaders by Empowerment-Activists by Development (L.E.A.D. Nation) and the South Florida Youth Summit hosted its 2nd Annual “Blue Jeans and Blazers” fundraiser at 1st Klass Café in Pembroke Pines to help raise funds and awareness for the organization's upcoming South Florida Youth Summit. 

Guests showed up in their chic blazers and designer blue jeans as WHQT Hot 105's DJ DP kept the crowd on their feet. The members of Black Greek letter organizations were definitely in the building and made their presence known as the Omegas stepped to "Atomic Dog" and the AKAs "Set It Off." 

"We are really excited about where we are going," said Florida State Rep. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park. "L.E.A.D. Nation is changing the narrative for the next generation. To date, we have over 500 middle and high school students registered for the 4th Annual South Florida Youth Summit."

Notable guests in attendance at the event included Mayor of Miramar Wayne Messam; Pembroke Pines City Commissioner Jay Schwartz; City of West Park Commissioner Brian Johnson; and Miami Gardens Assistant City Manager Vernita Alexander Nelson. For more information and to register for this year’s South Florida Youth Summit, visit www.sfyouthsummit.com.

Rep. Shevrin Jones & Commissioner Jay Schwartz Photo: Gregory F. Reed

Adrian Freeman, Executive Director, L.E.A.D. Nation & Kerline Jules, Chairwoman South Florida Youth Summit Photo: Gregory F. Reed