Miami, Feb. 25, 2022 – Miami Dade College (MDC) and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Miami (BBBSM) have partnered to provide Miami-Dade County high school students the opportunity to pair up with MDC employees in an impactful school-to-work mentoring program that will allow students to learn basic job skills. An MOU signing ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2, with MDC President Madeline Pumariega; MDC Provost Malou C. Harrison and Gale Nelson, President and CEO, BBBSM, at MDC Wolfson Campus, Room 8106.
“MDC has a history of creating innovative programs that encourage personal and professional growth,” said President Pumariega. “This partnership with BBBS builds on our commitment of supporting and strengthening the community, as well as growing a talented, skilled workforce.”
Once a month during the academic school year, BBBSM will bring students to one of MDC’s eight campuses, where students will engage in changemaking education activities for the first hour followed by one-on-one sessions with mentors. Mentors will provide job-shadowing and students will have exposure to workplace practices and be mentored for career readiness in alignment with the Florida Governor’s Workforce Education initiative. MDC will continue to recruit mentors to increase the number of participants by fall.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters Miami, at its core, builds mutual trust and respect through mentoring relationships. We are excited to formalize this partnership with Miami Dade College to expose our students (“Littles”) to opportunities in the global workplace. When legacy organizations partner with such intentionality on career pathways, the future looks very bright!” Nelson said.
BBBSM
Serving the community since 1958, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami (BBBSM) is the premier nonprofit mentoring organization in South Florida. They champion hope, transformation, and social good, defending the potential of children who most need it. BBBSM develops future leaders, strengthens families, and builds community. For more information visit https://bbbsmiami.org/.
About Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College is the most diverse institution in the nation. There are 167 nations and 63 languages represented in its student body. The college’s eight campuses and outreach centers offer more than 300 distinct degree pathways including associate and baccalaureate degrees, career certificates and apprenticeships. Baccalaureate degree offerings include biological sciences, engineering, data analytics, information systems technology, education, public safety, supervision and management, nursing, physician assistant studies, film and others. MDC is the recipient of many top national awards including the Aspen Prize. As Democracy’s College, MDC changes lives through accessible, high quality-teaching and learning experiences. It is the home of the Miami Culinary Institute, the Miami Animation & Gaming International Complex, the Miami Fashion Institute, the Eig-Watson School of Aviation, The Idea Center, the Cybersecurity Center of the Americas, the Cloud Computing Center, the Center for Learning, Innovation and Simulation, the School for Advanced Studies, and the New World School of the Arts, to name a few of its most innovative programs. MDC has been named among the nation’s “Great Colleges to Work For” since the program’s inception. The College embraces its responsibility to serve as an economic, cultural, and civic leader for the advancement of our diverse global community. Its alumni and employees contribute more than $3 billion annually to the local economy, and MDC graduates occupy top leadership positions in every major industry. MDC is renowned for its rich cultural programming. It is the home of the Miami Book Fair, Miami Film Festival, the National Historic Landmark Miami Freedom Tower, the Tower Theater, Dyer Building, Koubek Center Mansion and Gardens, Live Arts Miami at MDC, the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives, the Museum of Art and Design, a sculpture park and a large campus art gallery and theater system. MDC has admitted more than 2.5 million students and counting, since it opened its doors in 1960. Approximately 120,000 students are currently enrolled. For more information, visit www.mdc.edu.
WHAT: MDC and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Miami Launch Work-to-School Program
WHEN: Wednesday, March 2, 1 p.m.
WHERE: Wolfson Campus, 300 N.E. 2nd Ave., Room 8106