The latest Miami-Dade County resilience news for you

In this issue:

15th annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit is coming to Miami-Dade County
Give Miami Day is November 16 - Get a head start on November 13
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlights investments under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Assistant Secretary Estenoz appointed Chair of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force
New study reveals Biscayne Bay's $64 billion economic impact
Better Bus Network shifts into gear on Nov. 13
South Florida Region designated as National Tech Hub for Resilience
Miami-Dade County launches Broadband & Digital Equity Plan, becomes first local community in Florida to follow national initiative
Miami-Dade County highlights weatherized home to celebrate National Weatherization Day
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins named 2023 Outstanding Public Transportation Board Member by the American Public Transportation Association
Two projects receive inaugural Mark Samuelian Awards in Urban Resilience
Report highlights enhancements for resilience at military installations
Join experts for Nov. 8 panel discussion on resilience in South Dade
Inaugural Miami Housing and Health Summit set for Nov. 29
Thrive305 resilience takes center stage at Florida Civic Advance Summit
Learn how to meet code requirements for resilient design at free virtual training
NOAA video explains key takeaways from 2022 Interagency Sea Level Rise Technical Report
Support the Biscayne Bay Recovery Fund on Give Miami Day
City of North Miami to receive free expert aid from APA’s Design-Preservation Rapid Assistance Team
Climate Science Crusaders pitch in on FIU's Sea Level Solutions Day
Dream in Green awarded prestigious grant from EPA for Environmental Justice Project
What we are reading
Jobs
Events

15th annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit is coming to Miami-Dade County

Miami Dade County and the City of Miami Beach will host the 15th Annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit on November 16 and 17 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The registration deadline has been extended to 11:59 p.m. on November 8 since a record number of participants have signed up, so click here now if you still need to reserve your spot. The theme of this year’s Summit is Transformative Climate Action, and the event will celebrate a decade and a half of progress with discussions on the state of the climate, the role of insurance in building resilient communities, electrification strategies, partnering with the private sector, climate and affordable housing, policy wins, challenges and opportunities, and more.

“I am thrilled Miami-Dade County has the opportunity to host the Climate Leadership Summit this year in partnership with the City of Miami Beach,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Our County is leading the way on climate action, and our partnership with Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties makes our region a shining national example when it comes to collaboration across county lines for a future ready region.”

The Climate Leadership Summit is a great opportunity for residents, local governments, businesses, and elected officials to discuss and learn about the impacts and solutions to climate change in Southeast Florida.

The Climate Leadership Summit is organized by the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact (Compact). Formalized in 2009, the Compact is a partnership between Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties to mitigate the causes and adapt to the consequences of climate change. The Compact outlines an on-going collaborative effort to foster sustainability and climate resilience at a regional scale.

For the first time ever, this year's event features the work of 13 local artists made possible by the Miami-Dade County Office of Resilience and Arts Resilient 305, a program of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs.

For more information, visit www.SoutheastFloridaClimateCompact.org.

To register, click here.

Give Miami Day is November 16 - Get a head start on November 13!

The generosity of our community is key to resilience throughout Miami-Dade County. Give Miami Day is one of the largest annual giving events in the nation. On this day, supporters make a remarkable philanthropic impact by supporting our community’s local nonprofits. Created in 2012 by The Miami Foundation, Give Miami Day has raised more than $100 million for 1,000-plus community nonprofits. Last year, more than 41,000 donors generously contributed more than $32 million to champion the organizations improving quality of life and equity in the County.

This year, Give Miami Day is on November 16. Get a jump start by marking your calendar for November 13, when Early Giving begins and you can lend a helping hand through donations to your favorite organizations!

Learn more here.

County Spotlight

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlights investments under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

On October 18, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava welcomed U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to Miami-Dade County during his visit to South Florida to highlight key investments in public transit, the airport, and seaport from President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“I have seen the improvements in communities large and small," said Secretary Buttigieg. "I've seen them on roads and bridges, trains and transit, airports and ports like this one. And I think just like school children today read about the New Deal in the aftermath of the Great Depression, kids one day are going to be reading about the big deal of what we got done together in places like PortMiami and around the country."

Since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was passed, Miami-Dade County has received more than $400 million in federal funds and has more applications pending for approval for critical projects such as the North Corridor. Overall, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s administration has been able to secure more than $1.3 billion in federal and state grant funding combined.

“We were so honored to welcome Secretary Buttigieg to our world-class port and airport, highlighting our rapid growth and the critical infrastructure investments we’re making at both MIA and PortMiami,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and strong partnership with the Department of Transportation, we’re making major investments that will create good-paying jobs for our community while building a stronger, more resilient, and future-ready Miami-Dade, for generations to come.”

To see the full video of the press conference at PortMiami, click here.

Assistant Secretary Estenoz appointed Chair of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force

On Oct. 27, the Department of the Interior announced the appointment of Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Shannon Estenoz as Chair of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force. The intergovernmental body created by Congress brings together federal, state, Tribal and local governments to help protect and restore the Everglades. The announcement took place as Assistant Secretary Estenoz, who brings 23 years of Everglades experience, visited Everglades National Park to celebrate the opening of the reconstructed Guy Bradley Visitor Center and the new Flamingo Lodge & Restaurant and tour the Flamingo Marina, where the National Park Service (NPS) is working with partners to replace aging infrastructure with a $19.8 million investment from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).

“The Interior Department is committed to the collaborative protection and restoration of America’s Everglades. This unique and vast ecosystem, known as the ‘River of Grass,’ is home to Tribal communities, offers habitats for a multitude of species, supplies drinking water for more than nine million people, provides irrigation for agriculture, and is the heart of South Florida’s vibrant tourism and recreation economy,” said Assistant Secretary Estenoz, who is a fifth generation native of Key West.

"Assistant Secretary Estenoz has been a true champion for the Everglades and Everglades Restoration for decades,” said retired Col. Terrance “Rock” Salt, who has held numerous positions, including overseeing the Department of Interior’s efforts in Florida to restore the Everglades and serving as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. “This is a terrific appointment for South Florida and Miami-Dade County. The Department of the Interior could not have chosen a more qualified person for this important position."

President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivers the single largest federal investment in Everglades restoration in U.S. history. Together with the Inflation Reduction Act, these are once-in-a-generation resources for the conservation and stewardship of America’s public lands and waters and to tackle the climate crisis.

New study reveals Biscayne Bay's $64 billion economic impact

In collaboration with the South Florida Water Management District, Miami-Dade County announced groundbreaking findings from the 2023 Biscayne Bay Economic Study revealing the combined economic impact of Biscayne Bay-related activities at an astonishing $64 billion. The 2023 study is an update of the original 2005 study, which had estimated Biscayne Bay’s economic output at $12.8 billion dollars. The impressive, updated figure represents $24 billion in income, supporting 448,000 jobs and contributing $4 billion in tax revenue, proving that the watershed directly influences the county's economy, making it an essential driver of prosperity, reaffirming that Biscayne Bay is intrinsically linked to Miami-Dade County's prosperity accounting for 19% of Miami-Dade County's economy, 9% in the Southeast Florida region, and 3% of the State of Florida's economy.

The updated study was unveiled at a press event at PortMiami with the participation of Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County Commissioners Kevin Cabrera and Micky Steinberg who serve on the Biscayne Bay Watershed Management Advisory Board, South Florida Water Management District Vicechair and Biscayne Bay Commissioner Scott Wagner, and Miami-Dade County’s Chief Bay Officer Irela Bague.

"The new study confirms that our beloved Biscayne Bay is one of the most valuable in Florida, supporting many industries, employing hundreds of thousands, and collectively generating billions of dollars in annual revenue,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Biscayne Bay is the blue heart of our County. Protecting this treasure will not only nurture economic growth but also enhance the well-being of our entire community. It is vital we continue working together to restore it for generations to come."

“Our momentum to restore South Florida’s ecosystem is unprecedented, and we are going to continue to expedite projects such as the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands suite of projects, which will build coastal resiliency and improve water quality," said South Florida Water Management District Governing Board Vice-Chairman and Member of the Biscayne Bay Commission Scott Wagner. "Thank you to Miami-Dade County for partnering with us on this important study.”

Conducted by Hazen and Sawyer, this year’s study delved into the real estate market, showing that Biscayne Bay and the Miami River waterfronts have substantially influenced residential property values, and uncovering that the bay contributed $7.9 billion to residential market values, while the river added $98 million to the total, bringing in annually $240 million to Miami-Dade County.

To view the full report, visit www.miamidade.gov/biscaynebay.

Better Bus Network shifts into gear on Nov. 13

Miami-Dade County is rolling out the Better Bus Network (BBN) on Nov. 13. Led by transit riders and the community, the plan improves Metrobus and MetroConnect service, increasing frequency through the biggest network overhaul in county history.

Meeting the goals of Action 13 within the Resilient305 Strategy, the Better Bus Network is a transformative project initiated collaboratively by Miami-Dade Transit and the Transit Alliance. The Better Bus Network is ushering in greater access and service for riders. Here are just a few of its multiple benefits:

• Better Bus doubles the number of residents near 15-minute or better bus service on weekdays, increasing from 380,000 to 814,00 residents.

• It will bring 150,000 more jobs within walking distance of frequent transit service, increasing jobs near frequent service from 326,000 to 478,000.

• It will also double access to lower wage jobs near 10-minute or better service, from 9% of low wage jobs in the existing network to 18% in the Better Bus Network.

• The Better Bus Network will more than double the number of low-wage jobs that are near frequent transit service on Saturdays, from 17% today to 42%.

• Low-income residents near frequent service on Saturdays will increase more than 6 times, from only 40,000 today to more than 256,000.

• Zero-car households near frequent service on Saturdays will nearly triple, from only 19% today to more than 57% with the BBN.

South Florida Region designated as National Tech Hub for Resilience

On October 23, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that the South Florida Climate Resilience Tech Hub, led by Miami-Dade County, has been designated as one of 31 Tech Hubs in the nation, selected from a competitive pool of nearly 200 applicants across the United States and its territories. This designation will elevate and accelerate South Florida’s advances in climate action and resiliency, and unlocks access to tens of millions of dollars in potential funding. The Tech Hubs Program is a federal economic development initiative designed to drive regional technology and innovation-led growth by strengthening capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy key climate technologies.

“South Florida's Tech Hub designation recognizes our region’s global competitiveness in climate tech,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. "This is a generational opportunity that promises to tackle the climate crisis and directly fuel economic development here in South Florida, thanks to the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to climate innovation. Miami-Dade is proud to work in partnership on this initiative with public, academic, and private partners from Broward, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties. And with the help of our federal partners, we’re building a more prosperous, future-ready region.”

Grounded on Mayor Levine Cava’s Future Ready Strategy, the South Florida Climate Resilience Tech Hub aims to meet climate urgency by developing, commercializing, and scaling Sustainable Resilient Infrastructure (SRI) technologies focused on climate adaptation and mitigation, including: coastal resilience and marine infrastructure; clean cement; energy-efficient building operations; and clean energy generation, transmission, and storage.

The SRI market is expected to reach $1.3 trillion globally in 2032 and, with the help of Tech Hub initiatives, South Florida is poised to generate $9 billion in new revenue in the next decade while creating around 23,000 good paying local jobs.

Miami-Dade County launches Broadband & Digital Equity Plan, becomes first local community in Florida to follow national initiative

On October 26, Miami-Dade County officially launched a new Broadband and Digital Equity Plan that outlines a six-point approach to close our digital divide and ensure all Miami-Dade County residents have equal access to high-speed internet. The launch took place at Miami-Dade County’s first-ever Digital Equity Tech Summit attended by more than 200 participants. Click here to see Mayor Daniella Levine Cava's video announcement.

With this Plan, created in partnership with the Miami Foundation and Miami Connected, Miami-Dade County becomes one of the first local communities in the United States to respond to the Biden Administration’s “Internet for All” initiative – positioning the County to benefit from a historic level of federal investment in broadband infrastructure.

“High-speed internet should be as commonplace as water and electricity,” said Mayor Levine Cava. “Broadband access isn’t a luxury, but a necessity that opens doors to opportunity and facilitates inclusion in the new economy by enabling access to education, jobs, and services that can meaningfully improve our residents’ lives. By launching this plan now, we are ahead of the curve and positioning our County as a national leader on digital equity.”

According to data collected by Miami-Dade County from the Federal Communications Commission and the County’s Geospatial Information System, only 36% of households have access to top-quality, fiber-based broadband, and more than 455,000 households do not have access to competitive pricing and multiple internet service providers.

“What will it take for every single person in Miami to have access to high quality internet? Bold, unified leadership, and a clear plan,” said Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, president and CEO of The Miami Foundation. “When we stood together three years ago and launched Miami Connected, we made a bold promise to make Miami the most technologically inclusive region in the nation. This Broadband and Digital Equity Plan is a massive step toward fulfilling that promise, and we’re proud to stand together to make this plan a reality.

Learn more here: Broadband & Digital Equity Plan (miamidade.gov).

Miami-Dade County highlights weatherized home to celebrate National Weatherization Day

On Oct. 30, to promote energy efficiency and improve the quality of life for residents, Miami-Dade County’s Community Action and Human Services Department (CAHSD) participated in National Weatherization Day. This event highlighted the importance of weatherization and energy conservation, and this year, CAHSD highlighted a weatherized home located in Homestead.

National Weatherization Day is a nationwide initiative that underscores the significance of weatherizing homes and buildings to reduce energy consumption, lower utility bills, and create more comfortable living environments. These initiatives not only help residents save money on energy costs but also contribute to our broader sustainability goals.

CAHSD has been working diligently to enhance the well-being of our community members through our Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). CAHSD’s Energy, Facilities, and Transportation Division facilitates the WAP program, which is designed to reduce the monthly energy burden on low-income homeowners by making their homes energy efficient through the installation of cost-saving measures.

Installation at the featured home included: 4 smoke detectors, a co-detector, a shower head, 12 CFLs bulbs, 2 air filters, a W/H pipe insulation, 8 repairs to windows to close properly, installation of BATT, blocking insulation and foam tape, 2 replaced windows, 2 replaced exterior doors, 2 replaced exhaust bathroom fans, stove exhaust ventilation, and an installed energy recovery ventilator.

For more on the WAP program, visit www.miamidade.gov/socialservices or call 786-469-4730.

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins named 2023 Outstanding Board Member by the American Public Transportation Association

On October 10, District 5 Commissioner and Chair of the Transportation, Mobility, and Planning Committee Eileen Higgins was recognized as the 2023 Outstanding Public Transportation Board Member by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) at its annual expo in Orlando, Florida. This prestigious award celebrates Commissioner Higgins’ dedication to advancing public transportation in Miami-Dade County and her remarkable leadership within the industry.

“I am deeply honored to receive this award from APTA, an organization that leads the way in supporting and advocating for effective and equitable public transportation,” said Commissioner Higgins, whose acceptance video can be viewed here.

One of Commissioner Higgins' most laudable achievements is her relentless pursuit of accessibility within Miami-Dade Transit. Commissioner Higgins is a firm believer in the transformative power of public transit when it comes to connecting people to better-paying jobs and educational opportunities. She recognizes that access to reliable and efficient transportation is not just a matter of convenience but a critical factor in improving the quality of life and economic prospects for Miami-Dade residents.

“It is with great pride that we congratulate Eileen on this well-deserved recognition,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Her tireless work is reflective of her deep passion for our community, and her leadership is helping shape the future of transportation and mobility in Miami-Dade County.”

Two projects receive inaugural Mark Samuelian Awards in Urban Resilience

The first annual Mark Samuelian Awards in Urban Resilience were announced on Oct. 26 at a ceremony at FIU-The Wolfsonian museum in Miami Beach. This new award commemorates the life and legacy of Miami Beach Commissioner Mark Samuelian, who championed a residents-first approach to resilience for homes and communities that face natural and climate hazards.

The two projects receiving the inaugural awards of 2023 were:

"Seminole Park," a 75-home development in Hollywood, Florida by the Seminole Tribe of Florida
"House In A Garden," a single-story home in Coconut Grove

The Resilience Action Fund (RAF) launched this program with a $50,000 pledge after the sudden loss of Commissioner Samuelian in 2022. The awards recognize individuals and organizations that have demonstrated practical success in implementing hazard-resilient measures and strategies in residential properties across South Florida.

Click here to read more about the award program and this year's recipients.

Report highlights enhancements for resilience at military installations

Over the past 18 months, the South Florida Military Installation Resilience Review (MIRR) Project Team has been studying the resilience of its installations. The team, comprised of Council Staff, Jacobs Solutions, and the South Florida Defense Alliance, has been working diligently in partnership with South Florida’s Military Commands and other key stakeholders to identify risks, hazards, and vulnerabilities of concern “outside of the fence line” that potentially adversely impact the missions of the installations. This review was then followed by the development of resilience-enhancing investments and policy approaches to address vulnerabilities that benefit both the installation and community.

Praising the team for its work, General Laura Richardson, Commander of the U.S. Southern Command, said, “A big thank you to the Military Installation Resilience Review [team]- the relationship between military and community planners has been developed and is growing. Military readiness and mission assurance through community resilience is achieved through regional planning, cooperation and investments. Increasing resilience at these regional facilities better enables SOUTHCOM’s component commands and mission reliance on these critical locations."

To learn more, click here.

Join experts for Nov. 8 panel discussion on resilience in South Dade

ChamberSOUTH will host a panel discussion on Nov. 8 focused on Sustainability and Resilience - From the Everglades to the Bay to South Dade. Gain new insights on how climate resilience will transform the region during this popular monthly ChamberSOUTH luncheon.

Moderator

Patrick Morris, Miami-Dade County Director of Civic and Philanthropic Partnerships

Panelists

Jim Murley, Miami-Dade County Chief Resilience Officer
Meenakshi Chabba, Ph.D., Ecosystem and Resilience Scientist, The Everglades Foundation
Rachel Silverstein, Ph.D., Executive Director, Miami Waterkeeper
Charles LaPradd, Miami-Dade County Agricultural Manager

Click here to register.

Inaugural Miami Housing and Health Summit set for Nov. 29

Miami Homes for All and the Health Foundation of South Florida are hosting the first-ever Miami Housing and Health Summit 2023 on November 29 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Jungle Island. The summit will advance our community’s conversation on the housing crisis by providing:

Recently updated, best-in-class data on housing gaps and needs
A positive, compelling vision of the future
Innovations in affordable housing finance, including intersections with other industries such as health and climate
Highlights on impact funding, resilient designs, and innovative partnerships

Keynote speakers include David J. Erickson of the New York Federal Reserve Bank and Ron Book, chairman of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava will be honored as the 2023 Housing and Health Champion.

For a full agenda and to register, click here.

Thrive305 takes center stage at Florida Civic Advance Summit

On Oct. 27 at the Florida Civic Advance (FCA) Summit in St. Petersburg, perspectives on the Thrive 305 work underway countywide to ensure a better future for all residents were highlighted in a case study presented by Miami-Dade County's Chief Resilience Officer and FCA Board Chair Jim Murley and Pat Morris, Director of Civic and Philanthropic Partnerships, pictured in the photo above with FCA Board Member Robert Jones. The theme of this two-day summit focused on "Civic Health for the Whole Community: From Data to Community Action and Results," bringing together people and organizations from across the state and locally in a World Café dialogue. Participants identified practical strategies for engaging the whole community in both measuring civic health and implementing actions to improve community wellbeing.

Civic health relates to the overall wellbeing of residents, neighborhoods, and communities, using their voice to find equitable solutions to key issues where they live and work. Communities with strong indicators of civic health have higher employment rates, stronger schools, better physical health, and more responsive governments, and their residents live longer, healthier lives.

The Civic Health Index’s data-driven measures help target and inform actions that can facilitate positive change for the whole community. Florida has not conducted a statewide civic health index analysis and report since 2012. The Florida Civic Advance seeks to change that by convening key partners and allies who share the mission of strengthening the civic health of Florida communities.

Click here for a full agenda.

Learn how to meet code requirements for resilient design at virtual training

Register now to join the Miami-Dade County Office of Resilience for free interactive virtual Resilient Design Training on Tuesday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. This session is designed to help you meet compliance with County codes, save money, and reduce risks as the Office of Resilience covers the Sustainable Buildings Program, Sea Level Rise Strategy, and other related policies. Approved by the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners (BCC), these requirements ensure that County facilities and operations are safe, efficient and resilient as climate change continues to impact our community.

The Resilient Design Training session will cover how departmental project managers play a key role to reduce global emissions and provide the tools needed to guide consultants toward sustainable development. This session is appropriate for general County staff, administrators, project managers, consultants, project designers, engineers, architects, contractors, and related professionals. Everyone is welcome to join!

When registering, participants are invited to submit questions to guide the panel discussion, which will focus on these resilience topics:

Future sea level and groundwater conditions
IO 8-8 compliance requirements, including LEED and ENVISION certification, prescriptive path, maximum measure, and additional requirements
Integrating resilience language into design
Hurricanes and extreme flooding
Electric Vehicles

Click here to register and submit your questions.

NOAA video explains key takeaways from 2022 Interagency Sea Level Rise Technical Report

A new NOAA video shares the most up-to-date sea level rise projections for the United States, and encourages viewers to take some initial steps. The video highlights key takeaways from the 2022 Sea Level Rise Technical Report, with a focus on the impacts on coastal communities. Viewers are encouraged to consider actions they can take within their communities, and directed to existing web tools for assessing the timing and severity of local impacts from sea level rise.

Biscayne Bay Spotlight

Support the Biscayne Bay Recovery Fund on Give Miami Day

We're just a couple of weeks away from Give Miami Day. Help support Biscayne Bay education and conservations efforts through the Biscayne Bay Recovery Fund. Funds will complement the goals and future proceeds collected from the Protect Biscayne Bay specialty license plate.

Early Giving Starts November 13.

Give Miami Day is November 16.

To learn more, visit www.givemiamiday.org/biscaynebayrecoveryfund.

Municipal Spotlight

City of North Miami to receive free expert aid from APA’s Design-Preservation Rapid Assistance Team

The Urban Design and Preservation Division of the American Planning Association will share the expertise of its Design-Preservation Rapid Assistance Team (D-PRAT) with the City of North Miami on November 13-14. Now in its third year, this pro-bono program supports under-resourced communities and organizations that otherwise would not have access to these services by collaboratively planning for the future, focusing on urban design and/or historic preservation issues.

The Miami-Dade County Office of Resilience is proud to be assisting D-PRAT with this workshop that will help the City of North Miami plan for streetscape, historic preservation, and public space design. D-PRAT will offer technical expertise to help implement innovative green streets initiatives, with a particular emphasis on promoting and safeguarding the swale system using green infrastructure such as bioswales, while integrating alternative modes of transportation such as bicycle infrastructure. D-PRAT will also be providing information and guidance on the importance of historic preservation and adaptive reuse with an emphasis on downtown housing. In addition, the workshop will offer direction on corridor enhancements and help identify public spaces where residents can take pride creating lasting value by serving as focal points for the current community and future generations.

Those wishing to join the In-Person Community Workshop are invited to attend on Monday November 13 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Scott Galvin Community Center at 1600 NE 126th St, North Miami, FL 33181.

Click here to learn more.

Partner Spotlight

Climate Science Crusaders pitch in for FIU's Sea Level Solutions Day

Rising early on Saturday October 28, scores of devoted climate science volunteers met at Vizcaya Museum to participate in the 8th annual Sea Level Solutions Day, led each year by Florida International University’s Institute of Environment with collaboration from Miami-Dade County's Office of Resilience and FIU's Department of Journalism and Media in Carta.

Thanking FIU Professor Dr. Tiffany Troxler and participants, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said by video, ”We are delighted to have so many volunteers working together on solutions to sea level rise - both here at Vizcaya and at multiple sites throughout the County. You are our Climate Science Crusaders, and we are grateful for your service!”

The annual event is held at the peak of the seasonal King Tides, which are the highest tides of the year, causing flooding in some areas around South Florida due to increasing sea level.

Volunteers are part of the solution as they join forces to collect information about flooding across several areas. Equipped with "climate science kits," they record tide heights and collect water samples that check for salinity and contaminants. Findings are logged in via a smartphone application. This information is then aggregated and deposited into a living database to be used to verify depth and water quality at specific locations and to estimate frequency and extent of urban flooding around South Florida.

This participatory research helps with studies underway at FIU and the University of Miami. It also helps Miami-Dade County implement the Sea Level Rise Strategy by providing insights on where and how to prioritize efforts for such major projects as septic-to-sewer conversions, upgrades to the stormwater management system and related infrastructure improvements. In addition, the Office of Resilience uses findings to help educate community members in Adaptation Action Areas, in areas that include the Little River and Biscayne Canal Basins, so that residents can also be part of the solution.

Dream in Green awarded prestigious grant from EPA for Environmental Justice Project

On October 24, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Miami-Dade nonprofit organization Dream in Green (DIG) was the recipient of a grant to advance environmental justice as part of President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The organizations, which EPA has selected through its Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Cooperative Agreement and Environmental Justice Government-to-Government programs, will use the funds to ensure disadvantaged communities that have historically suffered from underinvestment have access to clean air and water and climate resilience solutions in alignment with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative.

“No President has invested more in environmental justice than President Biden, and under his leadership we’re removing longstanding barriers and meaningfully collaborating with communities to build a healthier future for all,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Together, these community-driven projects will improve the health, equity, and resilience of communities while setting a blueprint for local solutions that can be applied across the nation.”

With the grant funds, DIG will develop, plan, and implement activities to educate and provide resources to mitigate the stresses of climate change on local food production and health risks of extreme heat targeting neighborhoods in high hazard flood zones and food deserts. The project supports heat initiatives in Miami-Dade County and promotes youth development of natural resource management skills and knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices to combat food insecurity, adapt to the changing climate, and increase tree canopy.