At MDC’s Historic Tower Theater with stakeholders from the community and the federal, state and local governments who will together develop policy priorities
Miami, March 23, 2016- In the wake of dozens youth gun violence incidents and deaths, Miami Commissioner Frank Carollo is convening a daylong forum, Goals not Guns, on Thursday, April 7, 2016, at Miami Dade College’s (MDC) historic Tower Theater, in partnership with MDC’s nationally renowned School of Justice, and with key stakeholders from the community, academia, clergy, social service agencies and the federal, state and local government. The objective is to develop comprehensive policy priorities to mitigate this deadly epidemic in our community.
A former police officer, certified public accountant, father and elected official, Commissioner Carollo will lead the discussion and help advance the resulting agenda. He is also an MDC alumnus.
“I am going into this endeavor much like our business community and government work with the Greater Miami Chamber on the Goals Conference each year. However, this has become an even greater priority,” said Commissioner Carollo. “And this is not a onetime deal. It is my hope that we reconvene a year later to measure our progress.”
The main objective of Goals not Guns is to create a Greater Miami where violent crime is the exception not the norm, where all residents apply constructive methods to addressing disagreements, while cooperating on potential trouble. By convening a working group that focuses on the delivery of resources to targeted communities through advocacy, education and service enhancements, progress can be made. It is also paramount to remove the silos and barriers in which many stakeholders operate, for increased collaboration.
The day’s program is as follows:
*Registration from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Light continental breakfast to be served.
- Opening Session (8:30 – 9 a.m.)
Comm. Carollo will deliver welcoming remarks, address the disturbing statistics and frame the day. - Employment and Economic Development (9 to 10:15 a.m.)
Discussion of internships and employment opportunities for young adults, where improvements can be made in accessing jobs in the affected areas, and supporting existing local business owners. The discussion will also center on infrastructure and neighborhood improvement issues in affected areas. - Education – K-12, Higher Education and Vocational Training (10:20 – 11:30 a.m.)
The conversation will focus on how to more effectively deliver quality educational services from Pre-K through college and technical training that lead to productive lives, economic stability and engaged citizens in the areas affected by gun violence. Early intervention will also take center stage as well as creating a college-going culture in young children and families. This panel will also address achievement gaps and student support across the educational continuum, in the hopes of reducing high school dropout rates and truancy and achieving greater educational attainment at the post-secondary level for young people in the affected areas. - Lunch Break (11:30 to 12:30 p.m.)
- Building Strong Communities (12:30 to 1:45 p.m.)
This session will assess what has fostered the incidence of violence, and the social and economic growth of the affected areas. How can affected communities be made safe and healthy environments, while restoring community pride? How can government and community services be enhanced? How can residents seize current opportunities and those yet to be created? There will be two tracks, A and B, in Theater I and II, respectively.
– Youth athletics, parks and recreational activities, libraries, cultural enrichment, the role of clergy and church programs.
– Social and government services agencies – Housing, mental health, career counseling, job placement, and mentoring. - Juvenile and Criminal Justice (1:50 to 3 p.m.)
a. A panel on the analysis of data to determine if young people in target areas have had prior contact with the criminal justice system in order to prioritize support and intervention for those youth. The discussion will examine appropriate intervention options and the successful reintegration of individuals returning to the community from the correctional and justice systems. This panel will explore the collaboration between communities and law enforcement and the involvement of police officers in mentoring within the communities they patrol, which is paramount. - Closing Session (3 to 3:30 p.m.)
a. Commissioner Carollo and others, including a celebrity guest, will recap the day in an effort to holistically address all the issues related to youth gun violence, while also setting goals for policy priorities, budget allocations, and a community blueprint that can be followed for years to come, with annual assessment and reports to the community. All those present will be encouraged to sign a pledge to support Goals not Guns. - Press briefing (3:45 to 4 p.m.)