At MDC’s Historic Tower Theater with important stakeholders from the community and the federal, state and local governments who will together develop policy priorities, and in the wake of two more youth shootings, one deadly, this week
In the wake of dozens youth gun violence incidents and deaths, including two shooting incidents this week alone, one with deadly results, 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 goal is to develop comprehensive policy priorities to mitigate this deadly epidemic in our community. The closing session will begin at 3 p.m. with special guests, including Miami Dolphins cornerback Bobby McCain and Miami Hurricanes and former NFL standout and federal agent Randal Hill, and a victim of youth gun violence. Important announcements will also be made regarding an upcoming event for victims.
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 event will be livestreamed at www.mdc.edu/livestream and broadcast on Miami Dade College TV Channel 78.
The day’s program will proceed as follows:
*Registration from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Light continental breakfast will be served.
I. Opening Session (8:30 – 9 a.m.)
Comm. Carollo will deliver welcoming remarks, address the disturbing statistics and frame the day.
II. Employment and Economic Development (9 to 10:15 a.m.)
Discussion regarding internships and employment opportunities for young adults, and where improvements can be made in accessing jobs in the affected areas. The discussion will also center on infrastructure and neighborhood improvement issues in affected areas.
• Kathleen Murphy – Executive Director Miami Bayside Foundation
• William Porro – Office of Grant Administration City of Miami (Summer Youth Financial Literacy Program)
• Cheryl Baldwin – Workforce Education/Partnerships Executive Director Miami Dade College Career Center
• Albert Milo – Senior Vice President of Related Urban Group
• Rick Beasley – Executive Director of Career Source
III. 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.
• Dr. Malou Harrison – President of Miami Dade College North Campus
• Dr. Mark Rosenberg – President of Florida International University
• Alberto Carvalho – Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools
• David Lawrence – Children’s Movement of FL/Former Children’s Trust
• Sarah Brazier – President/CEO of Liberty Academy
IV. Lunch Break (11:30 to 12:30 p.m.) (Box lunches will be provided)
V. 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? Due to the interest in this panel and number of speakers, both theaters will be used concurrently.
• Matt Haggman – Program Director of The Knight Foundation
• Lydia Muñiz – President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Willard Fowler – Library Operations Administrator, Miami-Dade County Public Library System
• Pastor Dennis Jackson – Pastor of New Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church & Major at City of Miami Police Department
• Luther Campbell – Co-Founder of Liberty City Optimists
• James Haj – Executive Director of The Children’s Trust
(Concurrent Session II)
• Mari Robles – Deputy Director of PAMM
• Kevin Kirwin – Direct of City of Miami Parks Department
• Cecilia Gutierrez – Abety-President and CEO of Miami Children’s Initiative
• Rosa Marie Placencia – President & CEO Amigos for Kids
• Deborah Spiegelman – CEO of Miami’s Children’s Museum
• Lakatriona Brunson – First Female High School Head Football Coach in the State of FL (Head Coach at Miami Jackson High School)
VI. Juvenile and Criminal Justice (1:50 to 3 p.m.)
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.
• Rudolph Llanes – Chief of Police for City of Miami
• Stephanie Daniels – Assistant Director – Miami-Dade Police Department
• Carlos Martinez – Public Defender for Miami-Dade County
• Dr. Raimundo Socorro -Director, School of Justice at Miami Dade College
• Todd Bass – Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office
• US Attorney’s Office – TBD
VII. Closing Session (3 to 3:30 p.m.)
Commissioner Carollo and others, joined by special guests Bobby McCain, Randal Hill and a youth gun violence victim, will recap the day in an effort to comprehensively 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. An important announcement will also be made regarding an upcoming event for victims.
VIII. Press availability (3:45 to 4 p.m.)