Press Releases
Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez to Co-Host My Brother’s Keeper Action Summit
Washington, DC,
February 17, 2016
On Friday, February 19, 2016, Miami-Dade County will accept President Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge.” Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez will welcome Acting U.S. Education Secretary John King, Missouri Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, and other national and local leaders at this historic event. The “My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge” is an initiative to encourage community leaders across the nation to develop plans to improve life outcomes and create opportunities for all youths, with a particular focus on at-risk boys and young men of color. The challenge is a call to action for communities to develop strategies to close educational and opportunity gaps so that all students graduate from high school college and career ready. “I am excited to be joining with Mayor Gimenez and all of the mayors representing 6.2 million residents living within 34 municipalities in incorporating Miami-Dade County in the My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge initiative,” said Congresswoman Wilson, a member of the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance. “We will pledge to work together to achieve President Obama’s mission for My Brother’s Keeper to help more of our young people stay on track by providing the support they need to think more broadly about their future.” “Miami-Dade County is happy to accept President Obama’s ‘My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge,’” said Mayor Gimenez. “My Brother’s Keeper directly aligns with the county’s existing initiatives, such as the Youth Safety Roundtable, Employ Miami-Dade and many others, to improve the quality of life for our 2.6 million residents through education and economic development. I look forward to working with Congresswoman Wilson to further bridge opportunity gaps in education and career readiness, especially for Miami-Dade’s at risk-youth.” Caring mentors who provide values and examples that children can emulate is an important component of the challenge. The 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, which Rep. Wilson founded almost a quarter of a century ago, has been cited by President Obama as a teaching example for the nation. “Congresswoman Wilson is helping lead significant change through her 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project. She is leading the charge of the My Brother’s Keeper Challenge, in partnership with key leaders from the community – from elected officials, to teachers, to parents – because she believes we all have a role to play in improving the lives of our youth,” said Acting Secretary King. “We must, as a community, commit to ensuring youth can access quality education, graduate from high school, be ready to enter the workforce and feel safe in their homes and communities. The My Brother’s Keeper Challenge pulls together committed, knowledgeable, and caring leaders from across lines and spheres to work together. This isn’t about one generation, it’s about every generation that will come after us, and our commitment to our nation’s future.” WHO: *Additional participants to be announced WHAT: My Brother’s Keeper Action Summit WHEN: Friday, February 19, 2016, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a third-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Congresswoman Wilson also founded the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida’s harbors and waterways. |