Penny Wise Campaign Gearing Up for Budget Battle 

 
Newly elected Mayor Carlos Gimenez has proposed a budget for Miami-Dade County that slashes $3.6 million from funding for community-based organizations. The Penny Wise Campaign's message to the Board of County Commissioners is "Don't be penny wise and pound foolish." Funding for social services is necessary for a thriving community and saves the county money in the long run. Read our letter to the editor .

Please plan on attending one of the upcoming public meetings about the budget and speaking in support of vital services. See a calendar of upcoming hearings. Contact Caitlin MacLaren if you would like to get involved in the campaign. 

Get Involved in Florida's Redistricting Process

 
Legislators have begun the process of outlining new congressional districts, a task that must be completed by 2012. You can ask questions and voice your concerns at one of the scheduled reapportionment committee meetings. Check out the list of public hearings to find a meeting near you. 

Service Providers Learn about Advocacy

 Advocacy is in season here at Catalyst Miami, where we just completed the third session of Democracy Summer, an eight-part training program for nonprofit service providers that covers advocacy techniques, constituent engagement and the role of nonprofits in policy making. Get an inside look at the second session and read Allegany Franciscan Ministries  Regional VP Miguel Milanes's powerful speech, which he delivered at the kickoff of Democracy Summer. 

Tip of the Iceberg 

SURVIVING A DOWN ECONOMY... the recap

The Tip of the Iceberg roundtable discussion, hosted by Catalyst Miami and sponsored by Allegany Franciscan Ministries on July 20, was informative and thought-provoking. Guests discussed strategies for maintaining a robust nonprofit sector, such as drawing down more federal funding and increasing collaboration with one another. Catalyst Miami President & CEO Daniella Levine announced the launch of a new program entitled "Nonprofit Leadership and Training Institute," which will kick off in September 2011. Read more.  

Public Allies Miami Class of 2011

 The 2011 classes of the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI), the Children Leadership Training Institute (CLTI) and Public Allies Miami graduated last month.

PLTI is a 22-week program for child advocates that  focuses on leadership and civics.  Participants completed community projects such as bringing curriculum for children with special needs to local classrooms and sharing resources about free summer programs with other parents. This year we proudly launched  CLTI to complement our parent leadership program and foster civic engagement among children in Miami.

Public Allies is a national AmeriCorps program that matches emerging leaders with 10-month apprenticeships at community organizations.   Read more .    

Take the Social Media Survey to Increase our Impact 

We are all increasingly reliant on social media tools and need ways to get our messages out quicker and with more impact. In light of this, we are exploring a possible tool that would benefit our local social change organizations. We hope you will take a few minutes to answer questions that will help us in our design. If you have questions, please feel free to contact George-Mathias Oma. Thanks for your time and for all you do to build a better Miami. Take the Social Media Survey. 

Share Your Thoughts on Miami-Dade's Economy

The One Community One Goal Project encourages you to share your opinion about the future of Miami-Dade County's economy by participating in a short survey.  The purpose of One Community One Goal is to identify Miami-Dade's assets and challenges, target industries and establish a detailed strategy for generating new jobs.  Everyone in the county is asked to participate in the survey.  Responses will set the tone of the strategic plan, and we need widespread participation.   The survey is available in English, Spanish and Creole. To get started, click on the "Survey" tab at  www.onecommunityonegoal.com.     

Ann Kimble: Champion for People Living with Disabilities 

Ann Kimble has volunteered at Catalyst Miami since 2000 when she learned about our work through a flyer forwarded by Center for Independent Living.  A graduate of the Parent Leadership Training Institute, Ann started an organization to advocate for those, like herself, with special transportation needs. She credits Catalyst Miami with giving her the courage and the tools to make it possible.    Read more.  

Maisah Williams is a Certified Financial Counselor with Catalyst Miami's Prosperity Campaign. The campaign's aim is to assist families and individuals in long term stability. "We don't provide just a quick cover up," Maisah says, "We are solution-oriented. We help people get to a level in life where they are self-sufficient, meaning they are able to not only locate resources, but to maintain those resources as well."

A young high school graduate of inner-city Miami has been accepted into Miami-Dade College--but her family cannot afford it.   Click here to learn how Maisah helps to change her life.