HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRA-R-26-0025 Back upLIBERTY CITY
TRUST
Liberty City Community Revitalization Trust
May 7, 2026
James McQueen, Executive Director
Southeast Overtown/Park West
Community Redevelopment Agency
819 NW 2nd Avenue
3rd Floor
Miami, Florida 33136
Re: 2026 Youth Employment Program (YEP)
Request for Funding
Dear Mr. McQueen:
Thank you for the opportunity again to be considered for funding by the
Southeast Overtown Community Redevelopment Agency ("CRA").
The Liberty City Trust is a quasi -public government organization created through
the City of Miami Ordinance No. 12859 in 2006. Our office and contact
information are as follows:
Elaine Black, President/CEO
c/o Charles Hadley Park
4800 NW 12th Avenue
Miami, Florida 33127
Telephone No. (305) 329-4707
Email: eblack@miamigov.com
The mission of the Liberty City Trust is to provide oversight and facilitate the
City's revitalization efforts and initiatives. Our primary areas of focus include
housing, commercial and business development, and improving the overall
quality of life for the residents we serve.
The Liberty City Trust respectfully requests funding in the amount of $75,000 to
support the 2026 Youth Employment Program ("YEP"), an initiative designed to
create pathways to employment, reduce poverty, and empower youth to become
active contributors within their communities. Through this program, 22
students from the Overtown community will be employed at a rate of $15 per
hour.
Program Background and History
In 2015, the Liberty City Trust established the Youth Employment Program
("YEP") to provide meaningful employment opportunities and workforce
experience for students ages 14 through 19. Participants work for eight weeks
during the summer months of June through August in a variety of entry-level
positions within nonprofit organizations, the private sector, and City of Miami
Parks.
For the past 19 years, the Liberty City Trust has remained committed to ensuring
that residents of Liberty City and surrounding communities have access to
opportunities that improve their quality of life through trusted, community -
centered programs and services.
Since its inception, the YEP program has employed approximately 874 students,
providing:
1. Income support to low-income families;
2. Valuable job training and work experience; and
3. Positive and structured summer engagement that helps keep youth
productive and out of trouble during school recess.
The goal of the YEP is to continue providing summer employment opportunities
while also helping students develop individual strengths, career readiness, and
workforce competencies. The program specifically targets at -risk youth by
incorporating youth development principles focused on career development and
workforce preparedness.
To date, the Liberty City Trust has employed 89 youth from the Overtown
community between 2022 and 2025 through prior CRA funding support.
Program Impact
The YEP program serves as a strong example of how community -driven
initiatives can empower young people and prepare them for successful futures.
Last year, twenty (29) students participated in the program and received
biweekly compensation in the amount of $600. Their work experience was
supplemented with two hours per week of classroom instruction focused on life
skills development and professional competencies. A Life Skills Coach was
assigned to work individually with each intern and evaluate their progress in the
following areas:
• Employment, social, and financial management skills
• Human relations and workplace etiquette
• Self-esteem development
• Resume writing
• Public speaking
• Writing skills
• Job search strategies and career planning
The program successfully imparted essential life skills, fostered job readiness,
and encouraged community engagement among participants. All twenty-nine
participants received evaluation ratings of "4," indicating work maturity skills
demonstrating independence with minimal or no supervision.
Many students reported increased confidence, stronger communication skills,
and a clearer understanding of career pathways. Several participants also
expressed a heightened sense of responsibility toward their community, and
some secured part-time employment as a direct result of their participation in
the program.
Overall, the impact of the YEP program on youth within the Overtown community
has been overwhelmingly positive.
Should you have any questions or require additional information, please do not
hesitate to contact us at (305) 329-4707. Thank you in advance for your
consideration and support of this important 2026 summer youth initiative.
Sincerely,
&a ge q, Rad
Elaine H. Black
President/ CEO
Attachments
LIBERTY CITY
TRUST
Liberty City Community Revitalization Trust
Program Details and Coursework
We believe that the program is consistent with the mission and interest of the
Liberty City Trust. The YEP will serve multiple purposes by preparing youth for
the workplace. The program activities will implement workshops on job
readiness, career exploration, financial literacy, life skills, and opportunities to
continue education and social growth as indicated below:
The workshops for the FY26 period will be as follows:
Coursework Calendar
June 5, 2026
Orientation - Introduction to the program, worksites, and supervisors.
June 10, 2026
Professional Skills - Interns will learn about interview preparation.
June 17, 2026
Resume Writing - Introduction to the fundamentals of resume building.
June 24, 2026
Creativity and Innovation - Interns will learn problem solving,
creativity/ flexible thinking.
July 1, 2026
Financial Literacy - Interns will learn the basics of managing their finances;
from starting a bank account and depositing checks to using online banking
and income taxes from a Finance Expert.
July 8, 2026
Conflict Resolution and Teamwork - Interns will learn how to de-escalate from
understanding conflict.
July 15, 2026
Job Search and Career Planning - Using all skills from the previous weeks to
help the students define their career path and learn to use online job services
to apply for a job.
July 22, 2026 86 July 29, 2026
Closing Interviews
LIBERTY CITY
TRUST
Ly Revitalization Trust
PROPOSED BUDGET REQUEST
LIBERTY CITY TRUST
2026 YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
Applicant Agency:
Project Name:
Tentative Start Date/End Date:
Liberty City Trust
2026 Youth Employment Program
June 15, 2026 to August 7, 2026
Salary - $52,800.00
Summer Interns - a temporary summer position which will provide
program participant with the opportunity to work 20 hours per week for 8 weeks
at the rate of $15.00 per hour. (22 interns x 20 hours per week x $15 x 8 weeks)
FICA Taxes/Unemployment (Fringes) - $ 4,040.00
FICA will be paid for all salaries: $55,200 x .0765 - $3,222.80
Uniforms - $ 1,320.00
Summer Interns are provided with 5 Uniform T-Shirts to wears and bags.
The cost of shirts is $12.00 (22 interns x 5-Tshirts x $12.00 per shirt).
Payroll Fees - $ 600.00
Workshop Facilitator - $14,150.00
A temporary summer position for 8 weeks. This position will manage, and
conduct curriculum implemented for program participants, as well as interfacing
with worksite supervisors, monitoring, planning, evaluating, creation of a
pictorial of the participants and follow up on progress during the program.
Background Checks - $ 2,090.00
All program participants will go through a level II background check and
drug testing. Drug testing and background check are mandatory for
employment. (22 interns x $95)
Total Budget $ 75,000.00
LIBERTY CITY
TRUST
Liberty City Community Revitalization Trust
gwyNONLY WX6T YOU NEF,