Miami Commissioner
Frank Carollo to Partner with Miami Dade College in Hosting “Goals not Guns,” a
Daylong Forum April 7, on Addressing the Epidemic of Youth Gun Violence in our
Community
At MDC’s Historic
Tower Theater with stakeholders from the community and the federal, state and
local governments who will together develop policy priorities
Miami,
March 23, 2016-
In the wake of dozens of youth gun violence incidents and deaths, Miami
Commissioner Frank Carollo is convening a daylong forum, Goals not Guns, on Thursday,
April 7, 2016, at Miami Dade College’s (MDC) historic Tower Theater, in
partnership with MDC’s nationally renowned School of Justice, and with key
stakeholders from the community, academia, clergy, social service agencies and
the federal, state and local government. The goal is to develop comprehensive
policy priorities to mitigate this deadly epidemic in our community.
A former police officer, certified public
accountant, father and elected official, Commissioner Carollo will lead the
discussion and help advance the resulting agenda.
“I am going into this endeavor much like our
business community and government work with the Greater Miami Chamber on the
Goals Conference each year. However, this has become an even greater priority,”
said Commissioner Carollo. “And this is not a onetime
deal. It is my hope that we reconvene a year later to measure our progress.”
The main objective
of Goals not Guns is to create a Greater Miami where violent crime is the
exception not the norm, where all residents apply constructive methods to
addressing disagreements, while cooperating on potential trouble. By convening
a working group that focuses on the delivery of
resources to targeted communities through advocacy, education and service
enhancements, progress can be made. It is also paramount to remove the
silos and barriers in which many stakeholders operate, for increased
collaboration.
The day’s program
is expected to proceed as follows:
*Registration from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Light
continental breakfast to be served.
I.
Opening
Session (8:30 – 9
a.m.)
Comm.
Carollo will deliver welcoming remarks, address the disturbing statistics and
frame the day.
II.
Employment and Economic Development (9 to 10:15 a.m.)
Discussion
of internships and employment opportunities for young adults, and where
improvements can be made in accessing jobs in the affected areas. The
discussion will also center on infrastructure and neighborhood improvement
issues in affected areas.
III.
Education – K-12, Higher Education and
Vocational Training
(10:20 – 11:30 a.m.)
The
conversation will focus on how to more effectively deliver quality educational
services from Pre-K through college and technical training that lead to
productive lives, economic stability and engaged citizens in the areas affected
by gun
violence. Early intervention will also
take center stage as well as creating a college-going culture in young children
and families. This panel will also address achievement gaps and student support
across the educational continuum, in the hopes of reducing high school dropout
rates and truancy and achieving greater educational attainment at the
post-secondary level for young people in the affected areas.
IV.
Lunch
Break (11:30 to 12:30
p.m.)
V.
Building Strong Communities (12:30 to 1:45 p.m.)
This
session will assess what has fostered the incidence of violence, and the social
and economic growth of the affected areas. How can affected communities be made
safe and healthy environments, while restoring community pride? How can
government and community services be enhanced? How can residents seize current
opportunities and those yet to be created? There will be two tracks, A and B,
in Theater I and II, respectively.
A.
The
role of youth athletics, recreational activities, libraries, cultural
enrichment, mentoring, and community activism.
B.
The
role of social and government services agencies, parks, career counseling, and of
the clergy and church programs.
VI.
Juvenile and Criminal Justice (1:50 to 3 p.m.)
a.
A
panel on the analysis of data to determine if young people in target areas have
had prior contact with the criminal justice system in order to prioritize
support and intervention for those youth. The discussion will examine
appropriate intervention options and the successful reintegration of
individuals returning to the community from the correctional and justice
systems. This panel will explore the collaboration between communities and law
enforcement and the involvement of police officers in mentoring within the
communities they patrol, which is paramount.
VII.
Closing
Session (3 to 3:30
p.m.)
a.
Commissioner
Carollo and others, including a celebrity guest(s), will recap the day in an effort to
holistically address all the issues related to youth gun violence, while also
setting goals for policy priorities, budget allocations, and a community
blueprint that can be followed for years to come, with annual assessment and
reports to the community. All those present will be encouraged to sign a pledge
to support Goals not Guns. And another major announcement will be made.
VIII.
Press
briefing (3:45 to 4
p.m.)
WHAT: Goals not Guns, Forum
on Addressing Youth Gun Violence in Miami
WHEN: Thursday, April 7, 2016, 8:30 a.m. – 4
p.m.
WHERE: MDC’s Historic Tower
Theater
1508 SW 8th St., Miami
MDC Media-only contacts:
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