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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLiberty City TrustLIBERTY CITY =TRUST Liberty City Community Revitalization Trust TO: Todd B. Hannon City Clerk FROM: Elaine H. Black, President/CEO Liberty City Community Revitalization Trust DATE: January 15, 2018 RE: Annual Board Report Pursuant to City Code Sec. 2-890 (Annual report of City boards and committees), the Liberty City Trust Board of Directors is comprised of five (5) members that includes one (1) youth member. The Board has actively engaged in ensuring that the Liberty City Trust keeps the mandate of the agency's mission for which it was formed. The Board engages in maintaining the fiscal integrity of the agency's operations and records, and the needs and desires of the community it serves. Its vision is to empower those who live, learn, work, and play in Liberty City. The Board's objective is to transform a distressed, high - poverty community into viable, mixed income and sustainable neighborhood with access to well-functioning services, high quality public schools and education programs, high quality early learning programs and services, public assets, public transportation and improved access to jobs. The Board of Directors is responsible for the overall direction of the Liberty City Trust, including the approval of economic development opportunities in the Liberty City area. The Board plays a vital role in ensuring the implementation of such developments. The Board meets quarterly and/or as often as required to manage the business of the Liberty City Trust. The Board continues to be a fixture in the Liberty City/Model City community providing various outreach programs that have enhanced life, safety, employment, professional development and small business opportunities among its residents. Youth Employment Program The Liberty City Trust is embarking upon its third year of operating a summer Youth Employment Program (YEP) in underserved populations in the City of Miami. Last year's program provided a total of 92 positions. YEP continues to introduce youth to the workforce while giving them an opportunity to gain valuable work knowledge and work ethic to sustain employment beyond the program. Through this program, youth will build individual strengths and working principles for career development and work force readiness. These principles include engaging the talents and interests of youth, developing their skills and competencies, and providing positive adult role models. Todd B. Hannon City Clerk January 15, 2018 Page 2 I Love Libein CiV Campaign As part of an Ambassador program to promote the Liberty City community the Liberty City Trust has partnered with the Hadley Park Neighborhood Association, Liberty City Optimist Club and other community based organizations in the area to promote pride in the community, promote the community as safe place to live, encourage residents to take a role in beautifying the neighborhood and to encourage residents to move back to the area. Our goal is to promote Liberty City as a family oriented community with great amenities—parks, schools, streets and wonderful history. Liberty City has produced some of the greatest athletes, musicians, actors, film producers, professionals and politicians. This campaign is exposing to the world the rich cultural history in the Liberty City community. Affordable Housing The Liberty City Trust continues to promote Home ownership in Liberty City. There were Home buyer workshops conducted by HUD Certified professionals that allowed participants to earn their HUD 8 hour Certification for attending. The Trust continues to provide assistance to qualify new home buyers. In addition, the Liberty City Trust is supporting the Liberty Square Rising project and continues to market existing houses and create new affordable housing and rental opportunities for Liberty City residents. Seniors—Hurricane Preparedness The Liberty City Trust continues to leverage relationships with other providers to provide essential services and supports to seniors. The Trust partnered with the Table of Brotherhood that consist of concerned residents and agencies to assist those seniors following Hurricane Irma with food, water, ice and safety conditions. Many seniors were left unattended and suffered cruel and inhumane conditions that resulted in the Trust implementing a plan to support seniors during disasters including tree removal. Small Business Capital Investment Grant The Board continues to oversee the implementation of the Small Business Capital Investment Grant and the recipient of the award to ensure its success. The recipients that we are currently working with are Shantel's Jazz Cafe and Shrimp, Wings and Things. There is no other Board, either public or private, which would better serve the function of the Board. This Board is unique in that its members are knowledgeable about the community and they each bring their skills, talents, and access of resources that can benefit the Liberty City Trust and the area in which its serves. The Board provide additional services and manage special projects that cater to specific community needs, including organizing committees, addressing any issues that affects part or all of the community, from a traffic problem to deteriorating housing, and more. The cost, both direct and indirect, of maintaining the board is basically born by the Board Members themselves. There was no direct cost in 2017.