SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT PRODUCED BY THE MIAMI FOUNDATION | SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2012
Miami is a community that attracts people with big ideas and aspirations. Thousands of people each year choose the Magic City as their place to live, learn, work and play.
We at The Miami Foundation asked: What is it that makes this place so special? And, what can we do to capitalize on those things?
By continuing to invest in our aesthetic, the many things to do and our large welcome mat, we can position Miami to compete with great global cities.
Read on to discover what we learned, why it is important and how you can help make Miami greater.
YOUNG TALENT – Inside, read about DEEPER DIVE – Scan the blue QR HIDDEN GEMS – Miami has great, young, urban professionals who are codes with your mobile phone to instantly exciting things that you may have not choosing Miami to live, work and play visit our website and discover more about seen or visited: places, neighborhoods, after graduation. Their reasons vary from that program, idea or person. It’s easy to attractions that are off the beaten path. professional opportunities to quality of do and fun too. Don’t miss these gems in the following life. All agree Miami is the place to be. pages...and experience them in real life.
Photos: Freedom Tower (Ian Ibbetson), beach image (© Sergey Borisov/istockphoto.com) and Marlins Stadium (Image provided by Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau) 2OM SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2012 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT PRODUCED BY THE MIAMI FOUNDATION
The Miami Foundation provides civic leadership, bringing people together to tackle issues of concern in our community. Working together with our donors who established their private foundations with us and many community partners, we leverage collective knowledge, creativity and resources for a greater impact than any one of us could make alone.
By connecting philanthropy with community needs and Louis-Albert H. Jolivert and Javier Alberto Soto opportunities, we work to build a Greater Miami. Make Miami greater How do you People often ask us to define The Miami Foundation’s focus. Our answer is that we share a desire with you, our neighbors, to make Miami want to change Miami, greater. As stewards to a $150 million permanent endowment designed to improve our community, we are uniquely positioned to take the long view on or the world? its growth and progress. Know a problem that needs solving? Our society is increasingly mobile and our community increasingly global, often giving people the opportunity to live anywhere. You, along with more than 2.5 million people from more than 70 countries, choose to call Greater Have a creative spark and the drive to do more? Miami home. Yes, we have world-class sports teams, renowned beaches and nightlife, lush farmlands and a vibrant urban core. Beyond these instantly recognizable assets, however, we wanted to understand the bonds between Miami and you. The Miami Foundation
It is from this vantage that The Miami Foundation has embarked on Our exists to find Miami: soul of the city. help you innovative and effective ways to Our Miami will foster a stronger sense of community, advance quality of life initiatives and lead to a more vibrant economic make an impact and social environment. with your philanthropy.
As part of Our Miami, we have collected and analyzed county-wide data that provided insight on an important three-year study called Soul of the We can help you Community funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. This study explored what residents like most about where they live and which factors play the biggest roles in connecting people to their place. Perhaps achieve anything you want more importantly, how those factors contribute to our economy. even if you thought it was never possible. We discovered that we have a lot in common. Whether you are a second generation Cuban-American college student at the University of Miami, or a retired Jewish woman living in North Miami Beach, we all appreciate the Miami aesthetic, how welcome we feel, what there is to do and what we can learn while doing it.
Our Miami highlights the assets that abound around us and Six reasons sheds light on areas in which we still have work to do. to choose us Some of these will be easier to address than others. This is where The Miami Foundation will begin. From the basis of the data, we will support when thinking about your private foundation community initiatives, advance policies and nurture solutions that promote college degree attainment, attract the best and brightest young talent to Miami, develop a stronger sense of community and raise the quality of life for all area residents. Approach. Our team of philanthropic advisors will help you develop an approach to your philanthropy that reflects your personal values and We believe intuitively – and our research confirms – that younger Miamians interests. hold the key to our future success. The leaders of tomorrow are today’s recent graduates, young professionals and emerging creative class. But the Context. Together with you, we plan a gift that makes the most sense question is: What can Miami do to develop, attract and retain the best and in the context of your financial situation, your legacy plan, your lifestyle, the brightest people? How do we ensure that these leaders of tomorrow your family and your philanthropic goals. make their homes and their livelihoods here today? Expertise. Our professional staff is nationally respected for leadership It is important to note Our Miami is made possible because over our 45- in philanthropy, grantmaking, financial management and exceptional year history more than 700 Miamians have chosen to start their private customer service. foundations with us. We are fortunate to work with such a generous and thoughtful group. Fun. When you partner with us we take care of the increasingly complex laws, accounting, tax and compliance issues – freeing you up to enjoy We invite you to explore this publication, learn more about our spectacular making gifts to the causes that you care about. city and then determine for yourself what Miami is to you – and more importantly, what you’d like Miami to become. In the coming weeks we’ll be Accountability. We believe that charitable investments should be announcing a number of ways that you can get involved, including public expected to produce positive returns, just as it is expected from financial art displays, grant contests and an exciting challenge to give back to Miami. investments. Thank you for your interest in making Our Miami a better place to live, learn, work and play. Empowered. Our donors are informed and strategic because we share our knowledge and findings with you through regular reports, educational forums, donor briefings and site visits. Javier Alberto Soto Louis-Albert H. Jolivert President and CEO Chairman, Board of Trustees The Miami Foundation The Miami Foundation
Young Talent
Jason Atlass grew “I was used to boating, the beach, to the grocery store and gym, up in South Florida and left for living near my friends and family.” and is looking forward to Brickell Tallahassee to study accounting and CityCentre – a development finance at Florida State University. In May 2012, he finally came home, featuring shops, condos, a hotel, “When I graduated, it was the and now does consulting work for apartments and office space. downward spiral of the economy,” Grant Thornton International. Since says the 26-year-old. “It was nearly arriving, he’s been promoted, and There’s also the food. “New York impossible to land a job.” sees plenty of potential for growth. has the best restaurants in the world,” he says. “You move down He eventually secured a job in He compares Miami to New York for to Miami, and you’re not missing Tampa, and later New York, but its convenience and accessibility. anything; the food is just as good always had his heart set on Miami. As a Brickell resident, he can walk and diverse.” ourMiami.org | #ourMiami | @MiamiFoundation SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT PRODUCED BY THE MIAMI FOUNDATION SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2012 3OM Expanding investment in Miami’s creative communities
BY MATT HAGGMAN What roots people here, on the other hand, are strong cultural offerings, We are uniquely diverse in Miami. physical beauty including parks and More than three-fourths of us are from green spaces, educational offerings, somewhere else and more and how welcoming a community is than half foreign-born. Our to different people, the study found. institutions, like the city These were cited even more often itself, are young in years. than jobs and safety as producing And it’s a place often loyalty to a place. marked by dramatic change. The study found that attachment In the last decade Miami’s greater impacts the bottom line: places downtown population has nearly where residents were more attached doubled. Groundbreaking arts venues showed higher rates of local economic like the New World Center in Miami development. Beach opened amid a wider cultural awakening. Our universities have The Our Miami project by The grown exponentially: a metropolitan Miami Foundation builds on area that didn’t have a public research university four decades ago now ranks Soul of the Community by 7th per capita in the U.S. in college taking a closer look into the students. state of our community. It is a Which is what makes Miami so timely assessment, giving us all exciting: it’s an increasingly urban, a chance to take stock of our cosmopolitan city that is literally coming to be before our eyes. rapidly changing community.
Yet, finding a broader, shared sense Knight Foundation’s mission is to of community remains elusive. We support informed and engaged are still developing the community communities. In Miami we’ve looked anchors and institutions that both knit for ways to bring different parts of us together and root us here. our community together, through arts The Little Haiti Cultural Center is a place where people come together to meet, learn and public education. In particular, and share ideas. In 2008, Knight Foundation launched we’ve invested heavily in making the a three-year study to get a handle on arts a way to bind and inspire the what attaches people to place. Soul many constituencies that comprise our At the same time, we have seeded makers, helping foster a greater of the Community surveyed 26 cities, region. emerging artists through the annual sense that Miami is a place where including Miami. Some of the revealing Knight Arts Challenge, fueling the ideas are built. findings about Miami: three out of four Through our grants, we have creativity that contributes to a sense respondents said the metropolitan area is bolstered the cultural institutions of place and communal identity. It’s a compelling time for our young, not a place where people care about each that serve as public gathering points, dynamic city. other. And two-thirds said Miami, even including the emerging downtown Today, we are widening our as it now has a large college population, cluster that, once completed, will Not long ago, poet P. Scott is not a good place for talented college comprise the Perez Art Museum lens on Miami’s creative Cunningham – who leads the O, graduates looking for work. Miami, Frost Museum of Science and community by not only Miami Poetry Festival – called Miami Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. “a work in progress.” However, he focusing on artists and ideas added, the prospect of being part but entrepreneurs. The aim is of the city’s ongoing emergence is precisely what has kept him rooted to strengthen Miami’s start-up here. and entrepreneurial ecosystem and better connect it to the To him, unlike long established cities, the rewards of making gains here are broader community. greater. In Miami, he wrote, every new building, business, festival, The goal is to deepen engagement reading series, author and reader, – particularly among recent college “matters.” graduates – by providing the tools and forge the connections that Matt Haggman is the Miami Program empower our innovators and change Director for the Knight Foundation.
Source: Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs Department, The Miami Herald
A conversation with C.J. Ortuno on ‘openness’
C.J. Ortuno is the executive director “Generosity of spirit and the of SAVE Dade, an organization that sharing of scarce resources define promotes, protects and defends ‘openness’. Miami is a work in equality for the lesbian, gay, progress on this front, but we are on bisexual and transgender (LGBT) our way,” says Ortuno. population of Miami- Dade. He works with A husband and father from a both philanthropists multi-cultural family, CJ lives what who understand the “openness” means. Not being need to help others and LGBT himself, he works every day those people that need a helping to create equality in employment, hand. “Community is defined as housing, public accommodations welcoming our neighbors and and domestic partnership celebrating what makes us unique recognition. He is working for the and different.” greater good, while understanding that success will have no personal He is working to enable a more direct benefit. welcoming, world city: Miami. Openness, he believes, has
the potential for enhanced opportunity for all. “It can be a tide that lifts all boats. I see a day where we transcend C.J. Ortuno is the executive director of SAVE Dade. from the fortunate few to the and build their careers. “Some of Long-term, Ortuno sees a Miami fortunate many.” our homegrown stars leave Miami where “openness” and opportunities in search of opportunity. It is such a abound for everyone. “There’s no C.J. would also like to see a community pity. We need a Miami where the next finish line, but I can see that we’re where young people who grow up generation decides to stay right here getting closer,” he said. “We’re on here have opportunities to stay here to build family and community.” track.”
Source: Human Rights Campaign Equity Index hidden gem Sweet on Ice Cream Head to Little Havana for a scoop include mango, guava, mamey Oreo), el mani loco (crazy peanut), buena (spiced sugar plum), mi bon of culture and a cool treat at and avocado, all natural and made Willy Cherrino (double cherry), bon (chocolate cherry), red hot Azucar, an artisanal ice cream from locally bought produce. and mulatica (cinnamon oatmeal lover (banana and red hots), and and sorbet boutique. Inspired by Their signature flavors give frozen cookie). Seasonal choices will get Zapaticos de Rosa (rose petal). abuela, flavors are as colorful as dessert a fun twist with names like you in a festive spirit with options 1503 SW 8th Street; Miami; 33135. they are tasty. Tropical fruit varieties café con leche (Cuban coffee and such as pumpkin flan, noche azucaricecream.com 4OM SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2012 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT PRODUCED BY THE MIAMI FOUNDATION SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT PRODUCED BY THE MIAMI FOUNDATION SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2012 5OM
ourMiami.org #ourMiami our Miami: soul of the city @MiamiFoundation
What: Why: Approach: Our Miami is a project of The Miami Foundation To evaluate these qualities in greater depth, The Miami The Miami Foundation asked, “What can we do to make Our Miami, coupled with the Beacon Council’s One developed in association with a three-year study called Foundation partnered with the Metropolitan Center at our place, our city more attractive to an increasingly Community | One Goal report, augment years of national Soul of the Community. A project of the John S. and Florida International University. FIU gathered data in each mobile and global society?” research that clearly shows attracting young, talented James L. Knight Foundation and the Gallup organization, category to better understand the degree of alignment and creative people to your place will grow the economy Soul of the Community surveyed residents of metropolitan and/or variance between Miamians perceptions and Armed with powerful new data, The Miami Foundation faster than other more traditional measures of economic Miami (and 25 other cities nationwide) to explore and reality. and its partners will use Our Miami to explore how development and at the same time it fosters a deeper understand what residents like most about where they Miamians can make improvements that will nurture a sense of community. live and which factors play the biggest roles in connecting stronger sense of community and advance the quality of people to their place. life for all area residents. For the full report, visit ourmiami.org/report Community Economy Openness Social Life Leadership Involvement
Why it matters: A strong economy provides opportunities to advance Why it matters: Open communities create Why it matters: When residents have opportunities for positive Why it matters: Leadership creates a shared vision for a Why it matters: Community involvement reflects residents’ careers, prosperity and social advancement. opportunities for newcomers, while promoting social interaction, they become more motivated to connect with community, and motivates and inspires people to live up to commitment to their community and their ability to work civic participation among all citizens. They others and become more invested in their community. This and beyond their potential. together toward common goals. GROWTH IN PER CAPITA INCOME foster a feeling of hope and belonging. increases civic health. Key fact: In 2008, the most recent survey Key fact: Miami has the lowest level of civic 2% Key fact: Miami offers a higher than national average share of Key fact: The County has invested more than conducted by the County, 37% of engagement of any major metropolitan 10% employment in 4 out of 5 leading creative occupations. $450 million in cultural facilities since residents felt that Miami-Dade County area in the nation. 2008-09 2009-10 2005. Each dollar yields an additional $27 of was delivering excellent public service. Things we can do: funding. Things we can do: 1. Develop offerings that would make Miami a more welcoming Things we can do: 1. Develop a stronger infrastructure for civic engagement, GROWTH IN MEDIAN -1.93% place to young college graduates and families with young Things we can do: 1. Vote. including a collective belief that all citizens can work -3.1% 2009-10 HOUSEHOLD INCOME 2008-09 children. 1. Create new cultural venues and social assets in more 2. Continue to develop new leaders for Miami through together with a shared vision to build a more united 2. Support vocational and educational opportunities neighborhoods, such as the South Dade Cultural Center. programs such as Miami Fellows and Leadership Miami. community. for residents to increase work options 2. Raise awareness about free and low-cost cultural programs. 2. Enlist and empower citizens to participate in shaping the Key fact: Miami-Dade has a relatively small and ability to qualify for higher-paying jobs. community. concentration at 28% of young professionals with a bachelor’s degree or higher – which can deter high- growth companies from setting up here. A GOOD PLACE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FOR FAMILIES VOTER TURNOUT PERFORMING ART GALLERIES Things we can do: WITH CHILDREN 2008 General Election 1. Develop creative-class occupations that will attract young professionals ART VENUES AND MUSEUMS and provide long-term employment and advancement opportunities. 70% 2. Take advantage of our gateway, oceanfront location and encourage 1 28 306 playground international commerce and world-class tourism, which brings 2008 Mid-termPrimary for every opportunities for all levels of workers. 16% Election
2,394 20122012 Primary Mid-term children 20% ElectionElection 187 PHILADELPHIA playgrounds
HIGHWAYS AND FREEWAY SYSTEMS INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA AVERAGE WEEKDAY COMMUTE TIMES 12 12 Social Capital USE OF FACEBOOK 28 49 Why it matters: A high level of social capital affects a 93 93 minutes minutes community’s ability to unite for the common good. 10.2 million car public Facebook users in Florida 6 6 transit Key fact: Miami is home to more than 1,400 religious congregations; largest membership 1.5 million is Catholic, followed closely by Evangelical Facebook users in Miami Protestant.
Things we can do: 1. Promote civility. Employers, faith-based organizations, nonprofits, and parks and recreation have a role to play. 2. Expand social opportunities that reduce social isolation and build the fabric of community.
Basic Services Aesthetics Safety Why it matters: Safety affects all aspects of daily life and safe Why it matters: A community’s basic services create the major Why it matters: Aesthetics helps create a sense of pride in communities with low crime are more vibrant and economically stable. infrastructure on which residents depend for their quality of life. and enjoyment of the community, which makes us feel closer to our home. Key fact: From 2008 to 2010, the total number of crimes dropped Key fact: Of all households, 55.2% of them are 13% including violent crime categories, which decreased between RESCUE PERSONNEL considered “cost burdened” because they spend Key fact: More than 42% of Miamians live 15-30%. PER 1,000 RESIDENTS more than 30% of their income on housing. within a quarter mile of a park or beach. Things we can do: 1.84 Things we can do: Things we can do: 1. Expand walking and cycling paths and lighting. police 1. Expand and make improvements in public transit. 1. Integrate parks, bike routes and walkways in all 2. Maintain a high level of police and emergency services and 2. Encourage mixed-income developments in the urban core. neighborhoods. focus attention on the root socioeconomic causes of unsafe 2. Follow through on tree canopy plan of 30% to meet neighborhoods. minimum U.S. average.
AVERAGEaverage PUBLIC public spending SPENDING PERper STUDENTstudent Education MIAMI NATIONAL Why it matters: Educational opportunity creates economic and $9,100 $10,529 career options and helps our community attract and keep talented What you can do younger and working-age people.
Key fact: Miami-Dade Public Schools is a five- Impress your friends. Give your time, talent, Pay it forward. time finalist for the coveted Broad Prize that and treasure. recognizes performance, improvement and Read and share this publication. Establish your foundation at The Miami closing gaps in urban districts. Discover what is important. Visit and Volunteer to make a difference. Get Foundation and learn what hundreds connect your friends with ourmiami.org. your friends together and do something of individuals, families and businesses Things we can do: bigger. Make a contribution to your already know – working with us is fun 1. Continue to improve efforts at preparing students for college favorite charity. and easy. Visit miamifoundation.org/ and careers. myfoundation and learn more. 2. Increase resident perception of public education to enhance our ability to draw families with young children and retain All data is 2010, unless otherwise noted, the most recent year of the Soul of the Community data. Collected by the Metropolitan Center at Florida International University. talent in our community. Miami is compared to Philadelphia in the research. Philadelphia is the most similar city to Miami out of 26 communities in the Soul of the Community study. 6OM SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2012 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT PRODUCED BY THE MIAMI FOUNDATION Take Stock in Children invests in future talent
BY ELLEN SCHULMAN
Caroline Betances grew up in a low-income neighborhood in Miami’s Cutler Ridge community. Her mom, a home- based cosmetologist, supports three children alone. Adrian Lima moved from Cuba at car2go.com age five to live in Little Havana. Car2go, a vehicle sharing program, is a new When his parents divorced, his green transit option in Miami joining Deco mom had to rely on a disability Bike and the Miami Trolley. check to support three kids and was forced to move nearly every year. Affordable Both of these bright, ambitious Miami young people are finding their way out of poverty with good BY MILLIE ACEBAL ROUSSEAU educations, thanks to support from the nonprofit organization Take Living in Miami is an attractive proposition. Stock in Children. Established Brenda Pacouloute is a 2001 Take Stockin Children Scholarship Recipient. Beautiful weather, arts and culture, affordable in 1995, the statewide initiative After completing law school in Missouri she brought her talents back to housing and transportation make areas provides low-income students South Florida. Doing more for Miami like Downtown Miami and Brickell mentors and scholarships that desirable to people who want to live allow them to pursue higher she realized her real passion was in the urban core. educations. HIGH SCHOOL working with her hands. Today, Betances is studying “Miami-Dade County is now what “Historically, we’ve focused on GRADUATION RATES biomedical engineering at Florida the rest of the country is going to getting our students through high International University. Her look like in the future,” said Frank R. Nero, school, and then we award them MIAMI-DADE NATIONAL dream is to pursue a doctorate president & CEO of The Beacon Council. “It’s a scholarship,” explained the COUNTY degree and work to create a multicultural, multilingual, cosmopolitan Executive Director of Take Stock in more realistic and anatomically city. As areas expand in demographics, Children, Miami Dade College Tom accurate prostheses for people governments must be mindful of socio- Albano. who have lost their limbs. She economic disparity, and continue to improve knows a Ph.D. will offer more infrastructure and mass transit.” “Studies show that a earning power and career opportunities. college degree is a key However, as downtown Miami factor in ending the cycle Take Stock helped her learn to continues to gentrify, leaders should study more effectively, handle of poverty. Our goals now pay attention to potential economic stress and develop other critical include college retention and life skills. “Everything they did isolation as this exacerbates the helped us,” adding that she never completion.” problems associated with poverty. viewed her low-income status as a Source: National Center for Educational Statistics handicap. Segregation by income has harmful Albano said that the average effects on low-income people grade point average of a Take Lima hasn’t let his economic including worse economic outcomes Stock student when they start the whole life, but participating in the status stand in his way either. program is a 2.0, yet by the time program gave her direction and the Although living on food stamps and academic achievement. they graduate that average often practical tools she needed to pursue and disability checks was normal Additionally, new research by the skyrockets. In the 2012 class, 75 an advanced education. Mentored for his family, he was always percent of the students had GPAs since sixth grade by Judge Bornwyn able to maintain good grades. Organization for Economic and of 3.5 or higher. Two students Miller, she said the every-other- Remembering when he was Cooperation Development (OECD) graduated with 6.8 GPAs. Friday get-togethers helped her “selected” to apply for Take Stock shows that when students of mixed “blossom into what I wanted to be.” in sixth grade, he said the program Take Stock in Children graduate She hoped to follow in her mentor’s offered him the motivation and incomes attend school together, Betances excelled in school her footsteps as an attorney until inspiration to make college a achievement for all increases. reality.
Strong in both math and science, Managing growth and keeping Miami Lima said he loved creating things affordable for all is a challenge. Miami-based from a young age. In 2011, he Carlisle Development Group is answering the was the Take Stock in Children need for affordable housing in the urban core. COLLEGE valedictorian. Currently, he is The company relies on tax credits to build GRADUATION RATES attending Miami Dade College’s high-rise developments and offer them as Honor College on a full scholarship rentals. and completed his freshman year with a 4.0 GPA. He hopes to “Over the past decade, we have focused pursue a civil engineering degree. on building sustainable, transit-oriented This summer he finished an developments. These urban communities internship working on the plans include green building features that provide for the new Miami Herald building significant savings and an enhanced quality in Doral. of life for residents,” explains Carlisle’s CEO, Matthew Greer. “Families save money on Lima offers, “Take Stock was gas, water and electric bills each month.” invaluable to me, my family and
High-density, transit-oriented developments Source: National Center for Educational Statistics my future career.” also spur economic growth. Access to public transit and an increasing number of daily services within walking distance help keep costs of living in the urban core down.” hidden Miami is quickly becoming an international gem marketplace. As the area expands, Culinary Indulgences government planning must be mindful of It’s a spot where you can take in breathtaking views of Downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay socio-economic missing infrastructure and while you feast. Welcome to Tuyo, sitting atop Miami Dade College’s impressive new Culinary mass transit. It’s an important lesson to Institute, headed by award-winning executive chef Norman Van Aken. You can expect note as more Latin American and European mouthwatering dishes to accompany the spectacular views. 415 NE Second Ave., Miami; 33132. corporations look to do business here. tuyomiami.com
Young Talent
Rebecca Batterman, 26, is originally from the Weather factored into her decision, as did quality of life. “I came for Philadelphia suburbs. She attended the University of Arizona, and the lifestyle here – fun, sunshine – and from that, I had success in the returned home after graduating, to work in the family business. business world,” she explains.
“I realized I wanted to be on my own; I didn’t want to be a Rebecca works from her Brickell home, and enjoys the area’s boomerang child.” Rebecca decided on Miami, packed her bags and walkability, safety and cleanliness. “This city, as much as it’s a drove down in 2009, with no job or apartment lined up. She landed tourist city, really caters to residents.” She cites Miami Spice, and an internship with rbb Public Relations, and was promptly promoted free cultural events such as art walks in the Design District. For to account coordinator. Now 26, she runs her own firm, Say What entertainment, options range from concerts and comedians at the Communications, and also just got her real estate license. Arsht Center and The Fillmore to sporting events. ourMiami.org | #ourMiami | @MiamiFoundation SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT PRODUCED BY THE MIAMI FOUNDATION SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2012 7OM
Miami’s Brickell Avenue Doing more for Miami
BY ELLEN SCHULMAN cleaned. Recycling efforts With the exception of a were promoted. And in 2008, few, pedestrian-friendly Former Miami Mayor Manny Forbes magazine dubbed neighborhoods like Coconut Diaz has long been an Miami “America’s Cleanest Grove, South Beach and advocate for improving and City,” specifically citing its Brickell, most areas of Miami- elevating Miami’s natural clean drinking water, good air Dade County give residents beauty. “There’s quality year round, abundant plenty of reasons to prefer nothing more green spaces and recycling wheels over walking. Some important to me programs. say long distances between that government work, shops and other daily can do than to “Everybody participated in the stops keep them in their enhance a city aesthetically,” effort,” said Diaz. “And the cars. Others point to streets
Diaz once said. With his dividends are enormous – from Source: Miami-Dade County, Building built for speed and cars, not Manny Diaz, former Miami philosophy that a beautiful making neighborhoods safer and Neighborhood Compliance, 2011 walkers and bicyclists. Mayor and clean city attracts people, to making property values promotes safety and creates higher.” Miami has been ranked the in rehabilitating multifamily pride, he led the effort to assets cannot serve the fourth most dangerous area properties, worries about the create Miami 21, a long-term He added that aesthetics community if they are for pedestrians, according safety of “troubled” Miami urban plan. create a profound and inadequate or inaccessible to the national “Dangerous neighborhoods. positive sense of community. to residents. Distance and by Design” report from “Great cities, large “If people understand that cost prevent over half of Transportation for America, “There are a high their government cares,” he Miamians from enjoying a coalition campaigning and small, are those said, “then people are more our beaches and parks, and for safer and cleaner percentage of areas that over time have prone to become involved many outdoor areas remain transportation systems in Miami that are not and to take care of their own under-utilized. In 2010, only around the country. embraced the property.” about 42% of Miamians lived comfortable to live opportunity to enhance within a quarter-mile of a free Contradicting that ranking is in,” says Ward. “If we Despite the “clean” park or beach. Community Walk Score. By this measure, the beautiful and can do something recognition, Miami has many leaders have an important Miami ranks as the 8th most generous public realm,” challenges to overcome in task ahead of them to support walkable city in the nation. about cleaning up our he said in his Mayor’s order to provide beautiful efforts that improve Miami’s Criteria used to determine the troubled neighborhoods, public spaces for residents appearance and outdoor score include: connectivity, Message during the throughout our diverse offerings for all residents in all average block size, mixed businesses would come launch of Miami 21. neighborhoods. Our aesthetic neighborhoods. use, proximity of transit, in and there would be pedestrian safety, sidewalks, residential density, parks and more jobs for everyone.” During his tenure as mayor, applicant-initiated walkability from 2001 to 2009, Diaz features. Diaz says much of the long- made aesthetics and the term solution rests with environment a central part Walkability is not the only attitude. “We focus so much of his agenda. He launched measure that matters, when on the negative and not Clean Up Miami – now known it comes to judging the enough on the positive,” as Clean and Green Miami – livability of a city. Keith Ward, he said. “You have to make and announced a bold goal “to the founder and president people feel good about things, make Miami the cleanest large of Quality Management inspire them to be proud of city in the United States.” North America, Inc., a real what they have and challenge Trees were planted. Codes estate investment and them to do even greater were enforced. Streets were management firm specializing things.” Source: WalkScore, 2011, http://www.walkscore.com hidden em About our Partners Pay Flamingos a Visit g There’s more than horse racing to see at Hialeah Park. Some of the areas most exotic and vibrant residents live there – flamingos. They’re also among the most famous, starring in television shows and feature films throughout the years. Remember them in the opener of Miami Knight Foundation supports Vice? They first came to the track in 1933, and ever since have been transformational ideas that promote The Florida International University hatching and growing up on-site, making it the only place the species quality journalism, advance media Metropolitan Center is an applied has successfully reproduced outside of the wild. Their home – the infield innovation, engage communities social science research and of the racetrack – is a National Audubon Sanctuary. 2200 E 4th Ave.; and foster the arts. The foundation training institute focusing on believes that democracy thrives economic development, planning, Hialeah; 33010. hialeahparkracing.com when people and communities are performance improvement and informed and engaged. policy solutions to public, private and nonprofit organizations in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami- Dade Counties. The Center staff has over 60 years of combined Young Talent experience in providing policy guidance to decision-makers in the Pinecrest native Alexander Cahlin studied finance public and nonprofit sectors. at the University of Florida. His first job was in Chicago, and then the 24-year-old moved back home last year to work as an associate for Blanca Commercial Real Estate.
“I knew I wanted to work in real estate and Miami is such a Soul of the Community is a three- great place to be for real estate as opposed to New York and year study conducted by Gallup WPBT is South Florida’s premier Chicago.” He’s referring to Miami’s economic recovery thanks to of the 26 John S. and James L. public broadcaster, WPBT2 is the influx of foreign capital, and also that here you’re not just trading existing buildings. Knight Foundation communities a community-licensed, not-for- across the United States employing profit media enterprise serving The Coconut Grove resident also likes that Miami is very entrepreneurial, and that a fresh approach to determine the communities from the Treasure culturally, the city is exploding at the seams, particularly Midtown and the Design District. factors that attach residents to Coast to the Florida Keys. WPBT2 their communities and the role of provides high quality content from “I’m watching it grow right before my eyes.” He says the possibilities in Miami are community attachment in an area’s PBS, independent acquisitions and endless, and best for those with a sense of adventure and willingness to explore. “There’s economic growth and well-being. its own original productions. also boating, swimming and beautiful weather; you can’t beat that.” 8OM SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2012 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT PRODUCED BY THE MIAMI FOUNDATION Two Miami artists and one developer discuss the hot hood’s overnight gentrification
BY REBECCA KLEINMAN taking the derelict neighborhood more seriously. Its artists’ careers and It wasn’t too long ago real estate values have ballooned in that Wynwood was a tandem thanks to a deep symbiotic warehouse wasteland. relationship. Then Art Basel blessed Miami with an elite fair, Developer Tony Goldman understood a group of gallerists designated the this bond from the get-go. His arts district, and developers began Wynwood Walls, an outdoor art installation inspired by Miami-based Primary Flight, a collective that curates graffiti and contemporary art murals worldwide, invites artists to express their vision on warehouse exteriors.
“It’s become so well-received that we’re running out of blank canvases,” he says.
Brandon Opalka serves as the unofficial poster boy for the murals. The South Florida- born graffiti-writer-turned- contemporary-artist walks the fine line between the street and the art gallery as ivory tower. He painted Brandon Opalka, graffiti-writer-turned-contemporary-artist, and his creations works for Primary Flight and Wynwood Walls depicting a majestic redwood tree ‘Fountain’ by Typoe, a being chopped down and “Not only did this platform teach me Typoe, a self-taught graffiti and self-taught graffiti and transformed into lumber, to think beyond the traditional canvas, mixed-media artist who co-founded mixed-media artist. (Image respectively. but it’s basically the best billboard Primary Flight and its sister gallery courtesy of Spinello an artist could ever ask for,” he says. Primary Projects, as well as being Projects) He has received similar commissions among Miami art dealer Anthony for private residences and exhibits Spinello’s roster, agrees Wynwood beyond his Wynwood home base of is at a cross roads. After watching Dorsch Gallery. the full wall mural cycle from illegal graffiti tagging to fighting the city “So, on one hand, for rights in the declaration of art to saturation and a wave of restaurants do I miss the and shops that will eventually demand days of having a clean façades as the area becomes more commercial, he respects the 3,000-square-foot movement’s impermanence. studio for $700 “The thing I love most about street a month there? art, whether it’s legal or not, is it can’t Of course, but its be contained. Come Basel, a whole gentrification has new set of artists will show up and paint over what’s there if they can,” brought new gains.” he says. ourMiami.org hidden gem These pages serve to highlight the assets of Miami and what makes our Paddle Don’t Waddle community a unique place For the adventurous types looking for a good to live, learn, work and play. workout, there’s paddleboarding on Biscayne Bay. Using a canoe paddle, paddlers stand We hope this publication on a modified surfboard to move through the affirms and celebrates our vibrant, thriving community water. Don’t be surprised if you spot a gentle and the many opportunities manatee or curious dolphins on your journey. here. We also hope it has Various companies offer lessons, equipment shed some light on the rentals and tours, such as Paddleboard challenges we face together Miami, which also markets paddle parties with potential solutions. and yoga paddleboarding. If you prefer being on your own, try Matheson Hammock This is the beginning Park, where you’ll enjoy the open bay and of a dialogue. Miami and how you can opportunities breathtaking views of Miami’s skyline. play your part in making to give your time and Matheson Hammock Park is located at We invite you to visit our community better. stories of Miamians like 9610 Old Cutler Road; Coral Gables; 33156. ourMiami.org. This From current information you, ourMiami.org will paddleboardmiami.com interactive site is designed about the happenings serve as your connection to further connect you to in our community, to all things Miami.
Young Talent
Andrew Velo-Arias returned to his Hialeah Nicole Brisbane, who grew up in a Caribbean roots after graduating from Harvard because he saw family, left her childhood neighborhood in the southwest opportunity in Miami to work in finance for a large bank.. Miami suburbs to attend college and experience a different “Throughout college, I realized more and more that getting part of America. “I wanted to experience what I thought was back to Miami was a goal,” he said. “My family is here and the real America,” she said. “I felt like Miami wasn’t real America cultural connection to Cuba and Latin America is strong.” – it was more of a Caribbean and Latin America offshoot.”
Andrew feels comfortable with Miami’s diversity, a quality he After graduating from Florida State University and earning attributes to growing up and attending public school in the her law degree from Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., Nicole diverse Hialeah-Miami Lakes community. He sees a Miami returned to Miami with Teach for America. Today, she works that is becoming a more open place even though some for the nonprofit education organization on a national site cultural and socioeconomic groups still tend to stick together. development team and lives in the Omni district to be close to her job and social life. The entrepreneurial opportunities in a “fresher” city like Miami abound, he adds, emphasizing that becoming involved in She sees a new global, enriched Miami that can be public service is one of his priorities. segregated yet welcoming. “Miami attracts so many different kinds of people,” she observed. “I’d like to take advantage of the opportunities that are here and to give back in some way to a place that has welcomed “Having an opportunity to give back to my community is my family and hundreds of other families like mine,” he said. important to me,” she added, remarking that she connects “It’s exciting to me that Miami has a lot of potential and it still to a small group of like-minded young people. “I think Miami has a way to go to get to the level of a world-class city like has the potential of being an intellectual space for young New York.” professionals.”