More than 400 young professionals, local
change-agents and engaged Miamians filled The Stage Miami for The Miami
Foundation’s Our Miami Project Launch.
The kickoff event, held on Wednesday, July 31, introduced two new
projects: the Public Space Challenge and Match305, a talent retention project. Both
programs are part of the foundation’s Our Miami initiative, which fosters community by building attachment to the city,
developing public spaces and retaining young talent in Miami.
Our
Miami uses research from the foundation’s Our Miami: Soul of the City study
that clearly shows attracting and retaining young, talented and creative people
in Greater Miami will grow the economy faster than other, more traditional
measures of economic development.
“Looking
around the room at all of this young talent, I can’t help but feel optimistic
about Miami’s future,” said foundation President and CEO Javier Alberto Soto
during his remarks. “We are not a place where you have to find your niche within
a sprawling, established city. Planting
your roots in Miami gives you a chance to shape this young, dynamic community. Our role on the global stage depends on your
vision and your contributions to our growth.”
The Miami Foundation developed the Public Space Challenge to
uncover the best ideas for creating and improving local public spaces: parks, libraries, public
buildings, markets, plazas, playgrounds or any place where people can convene
and connect. Anyone can submit ideas. Community experts and professional
placemakers will identify the top ideas; The Miami Foundation will invest
$100,000 to make the ideas become reality. The Health Foundation of South
Florida joined the challenge, adding an additional $20,000 to fund public space
ideas focused on nutritious food access and physical activity.
The Miami Foundation also launched Match305, a talent retention project and Web survey. The online tool measures an individual’s “attachment” to Greater Miami and provides suggestions about how to become more engaged where they live. Results will be made available to community stakeholders to help guide talent retention efforts. The tool is based on research from a Georgetown University study and has been instrumental in reducing year-over-year employee turnover at Fortune 50 companies. Florida International University signed on as a partner in the project, investing $10,000 with Match305 to aid their ongoing local graduate retention work.
The Public Space Challenge will accept ideas through September 19. Anyone in Miami-Dade County can submit a challenge idea or participate in Match305 by visiting ourmiami.org.
About The Miami Foundation:
Established in 1967, The Miami Foundation has helped hundreds of people
create powerful legacies by establishing custom, charitable Funds. More than
$150 million in grants and scholarships has been awarded in the Foundation’s history.
Today, the Foundation stewards more than $160 million in charitable
assets. Through its Our Miami
initiative, the Foundation positions Miami as a premier place for young talent
to live, work, connect and engage. Visit miamifoundation.org and ourmiami.org for more information.