Lord knows there’s plenty to gripe about.
The good news is that there’s also plenty to do. Florida ranks dead last in rate of community volunteering in 2022, and Miami-Fort Lauderdale ranks 50 out of 50 – at about half the national average, according to AmeriCorps.
So, for this second installment in this Biscayne Times series on citizenship, we offer this rough guide for getting involved with your neighbors in a way that works for you. For the first installment, see “‘Ain’t It Awful’ Ain’t an Answer” in our May issue, which offered a 12-step plan for getting involved in political/civic life.
This piece offers some possibilities for how to put the plan to work and learn more.
One can attribute abysmal volunteer rates to many things – that South Florida is transient, atomized, pleasure-obsessed, self-involved, profoundly unequal. Top-ranked states such as No. 1 Utah or No. 2 Minnesota, or No. 1 metro Minneapolis-St. Paul, certainly not perfect, are not comparable.
So here, we offer a smorgasbord of possibilities for getting informed and involved. A great place to start is VolunteerFlorida.org for checking out opportunities in your area. We offer a tip of the hat to former County Commissioner Katy Sorenson, founder of the Good Government Initiative.
Voting
First, be a voter. Second, be an engaged voter. Third, be an involved voter, and get others to vote. Deadline to register is July 25 for the Aug. 23 primary, and Oct. 11 for the Nov. 8 general election. Helpful sites include:
Vote.org Start here, check with six friends to make sure their registration is up to date, and you’re off to the races.
League of Women Voters (LWVMiamiDade.org) You can’t go wrong here, a group of smart and able advocates for a better civic life.
Democratic Party Facebook is your best bet. One well-developed group is the Northeast Miami-Dade Democrats, which hosts plenty of community meetings.
Republican Party Here, too, try Facebook for connecting. Local Republican grassroots organizations are stronger in other parts of Miami-Dade County, from Hialeah to the west and south. BT territory may trend blue, but it’s not true-blue. Check precinct maps for the 2020 presidential vote, and you’ll notice they trend indigo on land and turn pinkish as you head into the northern waterside areas, especially tax-cut-loving Indian Creek, where Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump are building a new manse.
Engage Miami (Engage.Miami) Watch this one. This is an active group of millennial Gen Z folks who aim to “help make South Florida more just, sustainable and democratic while also building civic power for young people.” Like a pop-up, this was active in 2020, went into abeyance, and it’s quickly setting up its tent again now.
Ruth’s List Florida (RuthsListFL.org) This is a tightly organized group that recruits and trains pro-choice Democratic women to run for office.
Leadership
The Miami Foundation (MiamiFoundation.org) This omnibus organization for civic engagement is a great first step to learning about your community and finding ways to get involved, whether as a volunteer or donor for Give Miami Day in November.
One signature initiative is the Miami Fellows program for emerging leaders, spearheaded by longtime civic activist and community leader Ruth Shack, 90, who says: “I have lived through six Miamis, and in each instance there was a paucity of individuals who stood up and took ownership.”
Leadership Miami (MiamiChamber.com; search for “Leadership Programs” under the “Committees” tab at the top of the homepage) This signature Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce program grooms mostly early and mid-career professionals for community leadership in Miami-Dade by introducing them to a variety of community leaders and activities.
Community Organizations
Catalyst Miami (CatalystMiami.org) Founded in 1996 by now Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Catalyst Miami advocates for racial and economic justice at all levels in the county through specific initiatives to remedy those injustices.
South Florida Community Development Coalition (SFCDCoalition.org) Described on its website as a “policy advocacy coalition organizing collective action to advance comprehensive community development for social justice,” with a mission to “educate, equip and empower the public, private and nonprofit sectors to champion comprehensive development.”
Community Reinvestment Alliance of South Florida (ReinvestmentAlliance.org) A coalition of “community leaders representing diverse stakeholders advocating to ensure fair and equal access to financial services/products, and increased community investments.”
Miami PACT (MiamiPACT.org) Miami People Acting for the Community Together. is a faith-based group of about 40 churches, synagogues and mosques. Since 1988, PACT has made progress on issues like community IDs, civil citations rather than criminal records for youth and drivers without fines, affordable housing and – now – increasing tree cover in Miami-Dade County. Its big event is the Nehemiah Action Assembly held every spring, but the real work and fellowship is in the buildup leading up to it.
Feeding the Community
With skyrocketing rents and gas and grocery prices, food insecurity has worseed in South Florida as food banks seek volunteers. Lending a hand here is a great gateway to civic involvement. Check out Feeding South Florida and Joshua’s Heart Foundation in North Miami Beach. And here’s a real favorite: Farm Share, founded in 1991 to recover crops from Florida farmers to distribute fresh and nutritious food to Floridians. Slogan: “No person goes hungry. No food goes to waste.”
There’s also Pass It on Ministries of South Florida, an emergency food pantry at 14617 NE Seventh Ave., Curley’s House of Style, Inc. – Hope Relief Food Bank and Glory Temple Ministries, in or near Liberty City.
Fraternal Organizations
That’s your Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis clubs. These dues-paying organizations stay involved in a variety of civic initiatives and welcome participants. If you want to connect with good people doing good things, these are places to start.
The Environment
This is a vast catchall category, with a ton of groups. April may be Earth Month, but the earth needs tending every day. Some groups are policy-focused and political. Here are some to check out.
Hold the Line Coalition (HoldTheLineCoalition.org) Founded in 2004, the Hold the Line Coalition’s aim is to stop expansion of the urban development boundary (UDB) now under pressure to sprawl well west of Krome Avenue and into the Florida Everglades. Its broader mission focuses on land preservation, agriculture, public transit, affordable housing, and clean air and water.
The CLEO Institute (CleoInstitute.org) This locally based and potent group is dedicated to fighting climate emergency through a combination of community engagement, education and youth programs, with climate justice at the local level.
Friends of Biscayne Bay (FriendsOfBiscayneBay.org) An advocacy program that’s dedicated the last 20 years to supporting the health and prosperity of the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, from the headwaters of the Oleta River to Card Sound.
Friends of the Everglades (Everglades.org) The mission of Friends of the Everglades is to preserve, protect and restore the only Everglades in the world.
Urban Paradise Guild (UrbanParadiseGuild.org) For years, this group has sought to educate people and replace invasive species with native plants, particularly in North Miami’s Arch Creek East (ACE) Preserve between 135th Street and FIU and Amelia Park in Hialeah. UPG is also active in getting seeds to Haiti to help that nation feed itself.
1,000 Friends of Florida (1000FofF.org) This is the most significant group dedicated to protecting the environment, controlling development and promoting more sensible planning in Florida.
Tenant Rights
SMASH (Smash.org) That stands for Struggle for Miami’s Affordable and Sustainable Housing, and its mission is a “Miami free of slumlords and climate gentrification.” Founded in Overtown and Liberty City, it has spread its message to Little Havana and the broader Miami community.
(PublicAffairs & CQ Press)
Miami Worker’s Center (MiamiWorkersCenter.org) This organization bills itself as a strategy and action center working for gender, racial and economic justice in Miami.
Reading List
Last month, we touted “Politics is for Power: How to Move Beyond Political Hobbyism, Take Action, and Make Real Change” by Eitan D. Hersh of Tufts University, who encourages a reduction of “political hobbyism” – an overreliance on social media posts, podcasts, Twitter and much else that can result in lots of talk, little action, and fortification within our bubbles, which he contends damages our fragile democracy.
This month’s suggestions include the 2017 edition of “America, the Owner’s Manual: You Can Fight City Hall – and Win” by former Florida Sen. and Gov. Bob Graham and his former press secretary and speechwriter Chris Hand, and “You’re More Powerful than You Think: A Citizen’s Guide to Making Change Happen” by Eric Liu. This is a bracing read for steps to take for citizen power.