You don’t have to work as an urban planner to know about designing parks and public spaces. The best ideas often come from the residents who use these community spaces every day. They are community organizers, students and artists like Ileana Collazo, who wanted to bring art outdoors to her Little Havana neighborhood. She applied to The Miami Foundation’s Public Space Challenge to make it happen.
SKINCARE LEGEND’S WORK LIVES ON AT UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
Dr. Fredric Brandt was a pioneering dermatologist who battled depression later in life. After his tragic death, Dr. Brandt’s colleagues established the Dr. Brandt Foundation with us to raise awareness for suicide prevention and mental health. The foundation recently announced the first Fredric Brandt, M.D. Endowed Professorship at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Stephane Colleu, president and CEO of Dr. Brandt Skincare, caught us up on the foundation’s efforts, plans for the future and ways to support their work.
OUR CHALLENGE: PARKS EVERY MIAMIAN CAN WALK TO
As I was biking home from work last week along The Underline, one of Greater Miami’s game-changing public space projects, cars stopped at a crosswalk to let me and some people walking cross a busy street in Brickell. Cars slowed to patiently wait, but one driver sped up, cut through the other cars and…
EVERY MIAMIAN HAS A STORY — WE WANT TO HEAR THEM
Editor’s note: This op-ed by former Foundation President and CEO Javier Alberto Soto originally ran in the Miami Herald on Feb. 2, announcing the Foundation’s 50th anniversary year. On Jan. 26, 1967, a group of forward-thinking Greater Miami residents connected people, ideas and philanthropic resources to improve life in this community forever. They wanted to reshape how fellow Miamians cared … Read More
THE MIAMI FOUNDATION AT 50: ESTABLISHING THE LEGACIES OF GREAT MIAMIANS
Miami has been built by people who are filled with courage and a sense of optimism. Most of us came here from somewhere else. Some from other parts of the country; others who emigrated here from other parts of the world. And I submit to you that there are few things more courageous than leaving the place you call home to start anew somewhere else, particularly when there are cultural and language barriers to overcome in doing so…
DONORS TACKLE BIG ISSUES FOREVER WITH COMMUNITY GRANTS
After graduating from the University of Miami with a degree in business, Lila Dickerson launched a career in real estate investment while also cultivating a deep respect for the environment around her. Long before topics like sea-level rise were on Greater Miami’s radar, Lila believed it was important to…
RUTH SHACK AWARDEES CREATE A LEGACY OF CIVIC LEADERSHIP
Felecia Hatcher was leading a successful career spearheading marketing and social media around the country for tech companies like Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony, when she was laid off. The layoff led to her starting a successful altruistic business as an entrepreneur. In 2008 Felecia launched a gourmet popsicle and ice cream company, Feverish Pops, dedicated to sustainability and innovation. She … Read More
HOUSING & AFFORDABILITY: HOW CAN WE ENSURE THE MOST VULNERABLE OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE TAKEN CARE OF?
The Our Miami Report is a biennial civic indicators report that provides a community snapshot of eight quality of life issues shaping life in Greater Miami. We approached local leaders working on these issues to provide additional context to the data, trends and stories behind the report. Here, Shekeria Brown, executive director of South Florida Community Development Coalition, weighs in … Read More
DEVELOPING MY LEADERSHIP STORY IN THE MIDST OF SOCIAL CHANGE
Natalie Castellanos is in the current class of Miami Fellows, the Foundation’s 14-month signature leadership program. The program focuses on helping Fellows develop a deeper understanding of effective leadership while learning about civic issues and ways to solve them in Greater Miami. Natalie shared a bit about her experience thus far with us. The night before my Miami Fellows interview, … Read More
ECONOMY: MORE JOBS ARE BEING CREATED, BUT ARE THEY THE RIGHT ONES?
We approached local leaders working on civic issues to provide additional context to the data, trends and stories behind the 2016 Our Miami Report. Here, Tom Hudson, host of “The Sunshine Economy” on WLRN Radio and VP of News at WLRN Public Media, weighs in on the economy.