The Miami Foundation Accelerator Grants Browse Recent ideas

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden's mission is to save tropical plant diversity by exploring, explaining and conserving the world of tropical plants. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Family programs educate children and families about the importance of local plants and ecosystems, and their role in conservation and sustainability. Engaging children in a positive experience in nature is a crucial step to making Miami a more sustainable urban environment. While planting an edible garden, making a recycled craft, providing habitat for pollinators, or meeting a real scientist, these programs provide tools, instruction and inspiration to apply in their homes.

Family programs at Fairchild will directly advance environmentally sustainable practices in Miami-Dade. Designed to educate and inspire families to recognize the importance of local ecosystems and their direct impact on conservation and sustainability, programs offer hands-on activities in recycling, gardening and promoting native ecosystems. Families leave with an improved appreciation for sustainable practices.

Family Programs at Fairchild are offered to 45,000 members and 300,000 visitors on an annual basis. Since this program began in September 2014, approximately 200 South Florida families have participated on a monthly basis, with an increasing number of repeat participants. Verbal feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and demand for additional programming is evident. A written survey is under development to formally incorporate feedback into future expansion.

HandsOn Miami is a local nonprofit organization that is on a mission to inspire, equip, and mobilize people to take action to positively effect change on our Miami-Dade County community. We have inclusive opportunities to engage everyone in service.

By focusing on developing meaningful youth volunteer engagement, we are helping to foster the next generation of Miami leaders who are well-versed and connected to Miami's challenges and successes.

Volunteer Rate - this project will result in the meaningful activation of a minimum of 500 youth volunteers (5-17 years of age). Combined, these volunteers will contribute 1,250 hours of service and directly benefit 10 local nonprofit organizations, schools, or governmental agencies.

This project's success will be measured by:

1. Number of youth volunteers (5-17 years of age) activated
2. Number of hours of service completed
3. Number of agencies served
4. Number of Youth Project Leaders Trained
5. Surveys that show an enhanced understanding of the challenges faced by Miami-Dade County and belief that, as a youth volunteer, the volunteer has an opportunity to positively effect change within the County.

Artistry Project operates in Miami/Broward community we a project call Use your Voice Break the Silence. AYM have individual and small group counseling services and also a talk show for those who want the break their silence and held other.

•To provide comprehensive rehabilitation services for all underage female victims of sex trafficking
To provide Educational, Interpersonal Skills, Recreational, Cultural, Health and Lifelong learning opportunities for youth and adults.
• To offer educational advancement opportunities for youth and seniors.
• To ensure that no one in Miami/Broward or in surrounding areas goes hungry.
• Prevent youth from Human Trafficking
• Help rape victim reclaim their life back

Create value and opportunities for families.Build sustainable fundraising and partnerships.Develop a sustainable dynamic organizational culture.Promote effective public awareness and education.Supporting survivors both online and offline. How wonderful that we can find and help each other heal; how horrible that so many women and men are victims of rape. The goal of Artistry Youth in Motion is to provide free food to those in need,while working to eliminate hunger and food insecurity in Florida

we help are sex abuse victim reclaim their life back
We promote are youth by taking them to different booking, audition and help them with their career, Professionals and mentors who support the youth education and career development through the integration of creative holistic arts.

Yoga and Mindfulness Outreach, Inc. is a Florida Non-Profit organized by volunteers who provide free classes to less advantaged individuals in low-income neighborhoods and at prisons/jails and juvenile justice facilities.

The benefits of yoga, mediation and mindfulness involve improved health and mental health, positive conflict resolution and reduced stress and are especially benefit in at-risk communities.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/20/yoga-for-at-risk-communit_n_102630.html, http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=About_Research&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=158775, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/15/yoga-prisoners-mental-health-well-being_n_3580583.html.

These populations cannot afford the relatively high cost of these practices. YAMO provides free classes using a volunteer corps of instructors.

Improving health, mental health, safety (conflict resolution, community peace).

Close to 50,000 person-classes have been provided since we began. Currently over 146 persons per week are provided with yoga and meditation classes they could not otherwise afford or access.

Funding to help us obtain our 501c3 and reimburse volunteers for gas and related service provision expenses would allow us to serve more people each year!

The Rhythm Foundation was founded in 1988 with a mission to promote cultural awareness through the presentation of live music and related media programming. We have become a leading presenter of world music in the US.

Dance Band Night will be a consistent series that brings people together to share a love of dance and music, centered on specific social dance styles of greatest relevance to the diverse North Beach community. In its heyday, the historic oceanfront structure hosted dances for area senior citizens. Now the neighborhood is a melting pot of young South American and Caribbean residents. We will build an event that allows people of all ages to share a cultural experience, literally dancing together.

The series provides residents with a rich arts and cultural environment and sustains an artistic community. With the regular activation of the Bandshell, a cultural gem in the heart of a lively but underserved area, we will anchor a cultural scene in North Beach connecting with the new art cinema, the mama-y-papa restaurants, working with area musicians and dance schools. We will showcase the vitality of the area through the music and dance traditions of the diverse people who live there.

Dance Band Nights is modeled on the popular Midsummer Night Swing series in NYC’s Lincoln Center, with whom we have block-booked artists in the past. Ours is a new series, but we have worked at the Bandshell for more than ten years, and have just been awarded a contract by the City of Miami Beach to manage the facility year-round. With another series we produce, Big Night in Little Haiti, we have found the consistency to be key in building community and meaning links with neighborhood partners.

Naomi is a connector dedicated to creatively developing initiatives that spark conversation on diversity, encourage collaboration, and inspire action for positive social change. She is currently pursuing a Master's in Community & Social Change at UM.

As described by U of Michigan professors, intergroup dialogue “… represents a grassroots effort to meet one of the major challenges facing our democracy today: the lack of communication among diverse groups of people in schools … communities, and … workplace. By forging lines of communication among different elements of society, [it] helps to create a more just, harmonious, and strong democracy.” This approach can impact Civic Participation by developing a more empathic & collaborative culture.

To effectively address the “unmet needs of … residents,” CDM will focus on bringing people of all cultural & economic backgrounds together. CDM believes that part of feeling “connected … to the place they live” includes cultivating stronger connections between residents themselves. Since there are so many “transplants from out of the state or country” it’s very important to familiarize them with what makes our community unique; and what better way to do so than by dialoguing with local citizens?

CDM held an interactive kick-off event in Oct. ‘14, bringing together 150+ people of all ages & cultural backgrounds on a bicycle ride to learn about several positive social change efforts taking place in Overtown, Liberty City, & Little Haiti. We've also been developing partnerships with local schools & community-based organizations in order to connect with the largest network of residents possible for the initial photo-voice exhibit, & upcoming intergroup dialogue component of our initiative.

We are the Cuban Museum, in existence since 1996, and about to inaugurate a permanent venue in Miami, for mid 2015. The Museum aims to become a major cultural organization in Miami-Dade County and nationally, as the museum of the Cuban Diaspora.

To be foreign, as opposed to be mainstream. To be transient as opposed to being rooted. To belong, to develop civic duty and ownership. The fact that more than half of the County's population is foreign-born, and that growth in arts attendance rose only 0.4% in 2013, reveals a divide that in part could be explained in terms of cultural "outside-ness". This project will generate a blueprint for addressing issues faced by all cultural NGOs in M-D through, a model that can be applied by other NGOs.

The 51.8% foreign born population.
The 0.4% growth in attendance in 2013.

Dozens of cultural programs for minorities, particularly Latinos/Cuban Americans;
The Cuban Museum has 18 years experience addressing issues of audience development and outreach to minority communities in South Florida.

Director of Advocacy, CIL of South Florida. Former Senior Trial Attorney, Civil Rights Division, US Department of Justice, 1993-2005.
CILSF serves a cross-disability population, and seeks to enhance voluntary compliance with federal civil rights.

Restaurants are often faced with the decision of whether to allow a customer to enter while accompanied by a dog, and are required by federal law to allow cutomers with disabilities to be accompanied by a service dog. There id often great confusion about what a service dog is, and what questions the restaurant may lawfully ask. This project proposes to train restaurants and users of service dogs about the law, to help alleviate confusion and tension.

Integration of underserved populations.

The CIL of South Flroida has trained restaurant owners and users of service dogs about the ADA, resulting in better relationsships and compliance with the ADA. We have also taught users of service dogs about their rights, and diminished the need for litigation. We have also worked with city officials and health department oficials about the rights and obligations set forth in the ADA concerning service dogs. Thsi project is intended to increase cooperation and compliance.

We are two female entrepreneurs, passionate about Miami, focused on democratizing conversations about community change. We want to facilitate increased civic engagement, solution generation, and collaboration for Miami.

We know there are few practical ways for Miamians to engage decision makers. For example, Commissioner meetings only allow a 2-minute comment, and are often seen as a tedious, elusive and low-impact experiences. We are lowering the bar to entry, inviting all people to contribute to the conversation, and then bridging the divide between community voices, synthesizing and highlighting the trends among hundreds of citizens, and bringing those great ideas to decision makers to engage with.

The Our Miami data highlighted extremely low historic volunteer and voter turnout in comparison to our peer cities. We must find new ways to engage people in their city’s future, and to lower the barriers to entry. By giving a low-lift way for people to contribute to the local social good, and by fostering a collaborative space for people to collaborate in local problem solving, we expand accessibility, increase participation, and foster community connection in a previously disconnected space.

The 1st campaign generated 150 ideas in less than 10 days, with more than 600 people in the group. We synthesized the results into a 21 page position paper and are now sharing it with local mayors, library leaders, foundations and relevant parties across Miami to demonstrate the power of community engagement and to infuse new ideas into their process. We made the report a public source of reference, and are finalizing an article featuring the best community ideas for The Huffington Post.

The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade is a 501(c)3 organization which fosters the recreational, educational, environmental and cultural life of the Miami-Dade County community by encouraging and soliciting support for our County’s park system.

The pedometer will track route, pace, calories, distance, time and connect these with our local parks, museums, nature centers, or places of special interest along the way. As walkers in the program reach certain milestones, they’ll receive special offers, park passes, discounts on tours and fitness and recreation programs, for those participating in the program. This friendly, simple to use app would motivate walkers and improve activity levels, weight loss, and include social tools.

Health & Safety- The Walk for Life Program will motivate members to get out and get moving by providing a fun social atmosphere, special offers, and reports on their progress. According to the American Heart Association the benefits of walking are significant to a healthy lifestyle including, reducing the risk of coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, breast and colon cancer, and type 2 diabetes as well as improving blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and maintaining a healthy body weight.

There are approximately 40 walkers in the Deering Pilot and over 200 walkers already enrolled in the project community-wide. Local, specialty parks, support the volunteer directed program with specialty walks and quarterly trainings for volunteers and participants to increase connectivity to other Parks programs. These walkers not only return week after week for the program, but become more aware of the cultural and natural resources they are enjoying and also recruit family and friends to join.

Director of Advocacy, CIL of South Florida (CILSF)Former Senior Trial Attorney, Civil Rights Division, Justice Department (1993-2005). CILSF is a nonprofit serving the disability community.

Far too often, patients who need to communicate about their health condition are forced to pass notes or use lip reading. Under the ADA, they are entitled to provision of a sign language interpreter. The CILSF proposes to train health care professionals about their obligations under the ADA, and train the deaf community about their rights.

The lack of health care services to underserved populations.

For the past 7 years, the CILSF has trained members of the deaf community about their rights under federal law (ADA and Section 504), and worked with health care professionals to eduxate them about the need to hire sign language interpreters when communicating with patients and companions who are deaf. far too often, requests for provision of a sign language interoreter are denied. We are seeking funding to enhance out training efforts, to help doctors more effectively communicate with patients.

Ignition Fund supports brilliant ideas and innovation in
the fight against sex trafficking and violence against children. Ignition Accelerator use the techniques proven to develop effective programs in this field to support social ventures broadly.

Miami has a vibrant non-profit ecosystem with major players who draw national attention for innovation. There is remarkable coordination among these institutions for tackling long-established problems.

Our world is changing rapidly and those with the least are impacted disproportionately. But the established organizations are not best suited to address needs that arise quickly. Their large size, long funding cycles, and complex procedures make rapid change difficult for leading non-profits.

Ignition Accelerator will clearly spur economic growth. It will also bolster civic engagement and raise volunteer and charitable participation through new avenues to participate for all.

The impacts are multiplied across each of the eight targeted segments as each graduating class will support multiple social venture organizations. There will be particular emphasis on health and safety, arts and culture, and education while creating economic and social benefit through effective programs.

Ignition Fund supports programs, organizations, & individuals with innovative responses to social problems. CoFounder Sandy Skelaney, has built organizations from the ground up and successfully consults social venture organizations to create processes & procedures, obtain funding, and train organizations to deliver upon their social purpose. CoFounder Morgan Ware oversees foundations who fund social ventures and brings that skill to clients and the many non-profit boards she sits on.

The Miami Mentoring Collaborative is a partnership between BBBS’ Mentoring Resource Center and multiple non-profits and businesses to recruit and train volunteers, provide diverse volunteer opportunities and create a local culture of volunteerism.

The MMC will reduce inter-agency competition and maximize the number of qualified volunteers engaged in meaningful volunteer experiences. The MMC will launch its newest volunteer recruitment campaign during National Mentoring Month in January. So far 500 volunteer mentors and 50 agency staff have been trained. BBBS’ average match duration in 2013-14 was 31.2 months and the rate of retention was 68%. Using our proven models will increase community engagement through volunteerism in Miami.

Data points addressed by this project include Miami’s volunteer rate and young adult volunteer rate. Specific outcomes include such measures as numbers of volunteers recruited, numbers of volunteers trained, numbers of staff trained in volunteer recruitment and retention, number of new volunteers placed and resulting number of youth served. Through combining organizational resources and purposeful volunteer recruitment and retention strategies, we intend to create a culture of volunteerism.

Young persons who lack a strong relationship with a caring adult are much more vulnerable to academic failure and involvement in risky behaviors. BBBS has consistently documented statistically significant improvements in peer relationships, scholastic competency, grades and risk attitudes. Each year, BBBS/MRC generates 1500 volunteer inquiries. Collaborating to increase civic engagement through volunteering will achieve similar long term outcomes for a greater number of Miami-Dade youth.

Orchestra Miami is a professional, non profiit orchestra which exists to build community and educate through music. Founded in 2006 by Arti Dir Elaine Rinaldi, we have brought free concerts and educational programs to thousands of people in Miami.

Orchestra Miami is building an educational program of lasting importance for the children, as well as creating art for the whole community to enjoy. This program is an important part of the Miami Children's Initiative's Liberty City Renaissance, a Knight funded program, which uses the arts to give each child in Liberty City the tools and preparation necessary to be able to attend college.

This project addresses both access and participation. By bringing opera to Liberty City, all residents will have access to attend a great performance for free, and all children will have the opportunity to participate. Additionally, Orchestra Miami will bring performances of its other children's programs to the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, so that the children and their families can enjoy and learn.

We have had children enrolled in the program since September. Most of the children suffer from ADHD, and have trouble sitting still and focusing. Their first inclination is to act out rather than speaking in turn. In the 10 weeks since they began, we have noticed that the children are calmer, more focused and engaged. Some of the girls said that, upon putting on their ballet leotards, that this was the first time they felt beautiful. These are significant success in a very short time.

The Wynwood Business Improvement District was created in 2013 thanks to the vision of neighborhood land owners. The BID works as a committee within the City of Miami to ensure that services are augmented to create lasting, positive change in Wynwood.

The Wynwood BID will continue to spearhead efforts to ensure that: 1) Wynwood becomes pedestrian/bike friendly; it will be walkable, have signs and maps, and be well lit at night; 2) Increased access to transportation (trolley; DecoBikes; better parking; alternative methods); 3) The Wynwood BID will continue to advocate at the city, state, and county levels for the betterment of Wynwood, including a new plan for denser residential development essential to a walkable city.

Interestingly, Wynwood is at the epicenter of arts in Miami, and this project addresses all eight areas of The Our Miami Report. We have chosen to focus discussion on the broad-based impact to transportation because Wynwood, like South Beach, has a unique opportunity to become Miami's most walkable neighborhood. We will partner with The Miami Foundation to ensure that the broadest public is aware of all efforts--current and future--to improve transportation throughout the 101 acres of Wynwood.

In only one year of operations, the Wynwood BID has:
- become an effective voice for the neighborhood with city, county, and state agencies and officials;
- improve safety and security through a partnership with police, and install cameras;
- establish one way streets; DecoBikes; and new crosswalks
- work with FP&L so that all streetlights work and new ones are added;
- provide Women of Wynwood street teams; and
- work with urban planners PlusUrbia to master plan oversights in Miami21.