Hello and welcome to your South Florida.

I'm Pam Giganti.# Civic engagement is the# cornerstone of a functioning# society and democracy,# empowering people to contribute# to and to shape their# communities and governments in# powerful ways.

From local advocates and grassroots organizers# to elected officials and volunteers, civic leaders come in many forms, but they all share a## common goal to drive## positive change and uplift their communities.

On today's program, we're exploring the vital role# civic leadership plays in shaping the future and the programs empowering## a new generation of leaders.

That's why we're here at F.I.U's Maurice A Ferre# Institute for Civic Leadership, part of the Green School of International and public affairs.# Named after former Miami Mayor# Maurice Ferré, the institute# serves as a hub for fostering# a more engaged and informed# community through workshops, research and forums.

The Ferré Institute is helping## inspire students to get involved in their communities and their futures.

The Maurice Ferré Institute# for Civic Leadership was# launched in 2021 to promote# civic engagement and leadership,# sustainable community infrastructure and social justice, and we do that through academic## research and community oriented programs.# In terms of academic, we have# a certificate that's available# both to undergraduate students# and to graduate students in# civic engagement and public management.

We also have a free microcredential that's# available for students.

We have a fellowship## program that students are able to participate in service-learning projects as well.# We've been very successful in# fundraising for scholarships.# Maurice Ferré is probably most well known for being the first Hispanic mayor of Miami.# He was born in Puerto Rico# and was the first Hispanic# mayor of a major U.S. city, so he served as the mayor from Miami from# 1973 to 1985, during some of# Miami's most tumultuous years.# He made sure to bring unity# between the white, the black# and brown communities.

He was very progressive## in the sense of social justice.

He appointed the first black## city attorney and even went to the Department of Justice to## help desegregate our Miami's police and fire departments.# But before he was the mayor,# he was also a state legislator,# a county commissioner, and# later dedicated his life# to public transportation as# the director of the Miami Dade# Transportation Authority.

On this rendering, you'll## see that Maurice Ferré was one of the first to propose## a tunnel underneath the Port of Miami in order to eliminate## a lot of the traffic that was going through downtown.

He was very visionary in the sense of not only realizing that to leverage federal dollars,## that we had to work regionally.# working in collaboration with Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County.# Through the Tri-Rail and other# transportation, we were able to# leverage and make a more# unified South Florida community.

And I think what's really come# about through the interviews# that we've done with those# who knew him and those who# worked with him, is how much# he loved people and how much he# loved Miami, and how he really# wanted to empower people to# be civically engaged to make a# difference in their community.

As a nonpartisan institute, we# really focus on just education# and letting voters to make# their own informed decisions.# This semester, we have a series called FIU votes.# Our first one focuses on# government 101, to explain# the difference between the responsibilities of the local, state, and federal government.# The second in our series is# contacting your Representatives,# we give students the tools on# how to advocate and to reach# their representatives to express their opinions.

And then our final in our FIU vote## series is Your Vote Your Voice, which ties voting to## the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals so everyone## can find an issue that really will drive them to the polls to make a difference.# Our number one goal is just# to make sure that every young# person feels confident when# they're casting their ballot,# and they feel as if you know# they're making the best and most# informed decision they can.

We'll always try our best## to provide, you know, nonpartisan, you know, factual, educational information.# Today we hosted an event with# the ACLU at FIU Student Club,# and this was about explaining# the Florida Constitutional# Amendments Forum.

We had a representative## from the Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Office from the League of Women Voters,## from Engage Miami, and from## the ACLU to basically break down each amendment so that we could provide## a clearer understanding of what a yes or no vote.# Again, we don't want to tell# anyone how to vote, but we want# to make sure that they're able# to make informed decisions for.# Quite a few years now.

Engage Florida has been a partner with FIU through# the Fair Institute.

Through our partnership,## we are regularly here at FIU registering young people to vote, making sure that# their, you know, their voter registration forms are updated and their voter information## is up to date.

We also assist with## vote by mail requests and we help decode the ballot with them.

Since January until right now, we have registered over 2000 students to vote this election cycle.

We want to make sure that# we put young people front# and center, and if we're helping build their civic# power through this partnership,# you know, it's a win win,# you know, for FIU, but also# the organization as well.# And the future of Florida.

My spiel to students is that,## you know, although it may not seem like it in## terms of bigger elections, like presidential elections,## with the whole Electoral College, that our vote may not count,## but in local elections, this is where we really feel all of## the ripples of, you know, voting and legislation.# I really encourage students to# get involved and investigate# And really, you know, invest# their time in our future# because this is what we're really talking about.

This is what is in our hand.# Voting legislation, the ballot.

That's our future.# We don't just inform and# say, oh, come to our event# or whatever, but they show up.

We show up because we really want change.

Working with organizations like# the ACLU, at FIU club and other# organizations and students like# Enrique and Genesis is really# just heartening because you see# how motivated they are and how# involved they are.

And to be that role model## for their peers and showing how they can move the needle.# And really it's all about# just giving them the tools# and the resources to feel like they can make their voice heard within the Green school## and across FIU.

We have affiliate## faculty like Doctor Jose Mauricio Gomez from Modern Languages,## who are really our liaisons out in the community and within our classes.# So we want to be able to pull# together the different units of# the university to work together,# bringing in faculty from# different majors, from different# programs, to inform students# about the programs, but also# give them an opportunity to get# engaged.

The South Florida community.

I think one of the landmarks is the diversity.

It's a multi linguistic community.# It's a place where during the history, especially from the 60s until now, everything changed.# I would say that you cannot# survive here if you are not# able to communicate in the# main languages that we have.

Then I think FIU and Instituto# Federal in this case,# and the part that I am working# now in, in my department in# modern languages, we can bring# together that big effort just# to prepare.

In the case of the leadership, you cannot be a really good leader here if## you are not aware of that variety of that diversity.# We are professors.

We have a big impact in our students.# And that's why here in the in# the School of International# Relations and Public Affairs,# CIPA is, you know, helping# the new leaders in the future,# but not only in this community# but all over the world.

And it makes sense to me to be## in this college and being part of the Institute of Array.

We are building up the new generations to come and languages.# That is my duty in this# college is a big part of that.

It is a privilege to serve in# this position as the director# of the Maurice Ferré Institute.

Learning about Maurice Frey through his archives,# through our interactions with his family and for those that worked with him.

It's about being a responsive leader.

It's about caring about people and doing## what you can, not just for your own## personal well-being, but what's going to be for the betterment of your entire commu.. And we really want to prepare# our students to be the next# generations of global# leaders, whether it's here in# Miami or across the country and across the world.# We want students to realize# that we're all in this together,# and that we should work together# to make this a better future.

(Pam) For more than 20 years, the# City of Weston has been educating# high school students about# the inner workings of local# government through a program# called Weston University.# Through this initiative, students get hands on experience in all facets of city government,## empowering students to engage with their## community and learn what it means to be an active and informed citizen.

So good morning.

Welcome to the City of Weston.# Weston University is perhaps one# of our favorite programs that we# get to do as city staff.

Being able to teach## students about what we do in local government is really, really great for us.# Today, we're here at the city of Weston with 20 some students from local high schools## that are participating in Weston universities.# And it's the first introduction# for these young adults into# what municipalities do, how# a local government is run.

This program is in its 23rd year.

It's the brainchild of our## director, Miss Denise Barrett Miller, and our previous city manager, who made# a determination that it would# be great to educate our local# community and starting at# the ages, a young adults in# high school so that we could# educate them on what you know,# what it means to live in a# city and how it operates.# Our goals were always to one.

Provide information on local city services# and local government.

How to make a difference## in your community that you as an individual do have a voice## and how to use that voice.

And then three expose## students to careers in public service that they might never## have known otherwise existed.

The students after today go## to various departments, such as a day with fire,## a day with police, which is the Broward Sheriff's Office,## a day with Parks and Recreation and landscape and public works,## a day with a zoning.

They will look at site plans.# They will go up on fire ladders.

They will do just such a wide## variety of hands-on activities that are not available or offered## to the average person so that they can see## what it's like to be somebody in that department and see what they deal with every day.

I'm most excited to kind# of further my understanding# of the criminal justice# system and stuff like that.# I'm really excited to work# with BSO because I'm already# in their program for Broward# Sheriff's Office Explorers# and expanding my my knowledge# of that, and then combining# that with how the local# government works with Broward# Sheriff's Office, I would# I find it super exciting.# By far my favorite aspect# is the simulation that they# do when they come into this# chamber and they actually take# city commission positions,# somebody, a mayor, somebody,# a city manager, and they're# given rural issues that our# city commission has considered# in the past, and they're asked# to debate and make decisions# on those having been through# the program and understanding# how government works a little# better, it kind of informs# their decision making, and it# even gives them a little# sense of what the pressure and an actual elected official# faces when they're on the dais# trying to make decisions.

As representatives of the people## I get to see students who are absorbing the information,## are asking good questions and are being challenged a little bit about## their preconceived notions about what government was.# If they leave at the end, just# slightly more trusting of us,# I consider that a victory.

The real success is when## it culminates with our visit to DC.

We visit like, you know, Congress, we visit our# congresswoman or our# senators, and they're excited.# It's a very different feel the confidence.

They're sharing, the collaboration between them, how collegial they all are.

Even today.# Some have shared that they're# looking at military academies.# Some may go on to be aides with# local state representatives or# like state senators.

And I'm hoping that## we're giving them the basis and foundation.

Plus, anytime they have a question, they're always# welcome to come back and ask.

I think you'll find if you# were to talk to all the staff,# is this program lights their# fire again about government?# I mean, we do the work on a# day in, day out basis, but when# we can share what we do with# the community, in this case,# the students, and it's well# received and they're engaged# and they ask good questions, it# makes what we're doing worth it.# We have had so many students come through.# It has changed.

Some career paths open doors.# We see these young adults blossom into kids going off to college and then having the wherewithal# and the knowledge to be# involved in their community.# We're not telling them that they need to stay in Weston and be involved.# We're teaching them that wherever life leads them, this is how to be involved.

I started my career in local government through the city of Weston's Western University program.# I'm currently an employee# at the City of Boca Raton.# I've been there approximately# 12 years and my in my# current capacity, I am the Deputy Director of Municipal Services and I'm## also the city civil engineer.

We were the first class of Weston University.# Everyone was kind of learning# as we went, which made it# even more exciting because# everybody that was part of# the program at the time really wanted to be there.

The civics education is not something## that you learn about in your normal curriculum.# It's something you kind of have to seek out.

And when you start digging into it,## you find that there's a whole world of government## that exists that is not covered in your textbooks or in the media or## in anything these days that kids are normally exposed to.# And I think I'd always wanted# to be part of the community,# and I just really didn't know what that meant.

And credits so much to Denise Barrett## and Weston University for all of the opportunities,## not only for my education but for my career.# I wouldn't be here today.

I wouldn't be the civil## servant that I am without the city of Weston and the Weston University program.# I think that over time, 23# years later, it's demonstrated# that proven evidence that the# students have gone through# this program have gone on# to be successful in their# careers, whether they choose,# like working in as an elected# official or in a municipality.

It really has helped them## hone their professional skills.

And for that, I think it's been very successful.# Three years ago, Mr. Decker tasked my## department with creating a program for adults.

It has been incredibly rewarding to see how many# people sign up and the passion# that they have for their city.# It has been positive from day one.

They want to learn more and## more and more about every intricacy of every department,## because you have people from all over the world and in## other countries, they don't have the access that they## do here to their city government, and they find it fascinating that## we would invite them in, and then they, in turn,## go back into their neighborhoods and tell people where they can get## correct information versus disinformation.# I strongly believe there is a natural distrust in government right now,## not necessarily because of what's happening at the local level,## but we're all lumped into the same conversation.# Government is government to a lot of people.

And so if we can introduce students and## adults to actual people who work## in government, who are charged with the the goal of providing good services in a responsible# way, and then we can show that# that's exactly what we do.# Maybe we can start earning# back some of that trust,# but we just want to have# a more informed citizenry.

These young people coming up today are bright.

They're energetic.# I think they are well intentioned.

And if they're our future leaders,## I have a lot of reason to be optimistic.

(Pam) A program by the Belle# Glade Chamber of Commerce called# Leadership Glades, brings# together local professionals# to learn about the community# and develop the skills# needed to address its unique# challenges through workshops# and hands on experiences.# Participants gain valuable insights into areas like local government, education and agriculture.# Now in its 33rd year Leadership,# Glades hopes to continue# cultivating strong, committed# leaders who are equipped to make# a meaningful impact in the Belle# Glade community and beyond.

The Glades communities are# different than most urban# communities that I've been a# part of in Palm Beach County.# It's certainly a more rural community, but it's got very deep roots.# I meet families that are second, third, fourth generation in this community.# I think there's a lack of# knowledge for most of Palm# Beach County about everything# that happens in the Glades.# This community is feeding America.

It's feeding Palm Beach County.# When you go into the grocery# store, what you're buying,# a lot of it is grown right# here in the Glades area.# There's always challenges when# you get to a rural community# with a diverse residency and seasonal residency.

In some cases, because we're agricultural## based, where residents will move## to other harvesting locations at other times during the year.

Good morning, Leadership Glades.

I am here to welcome you all# to the class of 2024 2025# Leadership Glades Program.

Leadership Glades is a program for the Belle Glade Chamber of Commerce.# Leadership Glades focuses not just on Belle Glade.# Our program is focused on the# entirety of the community.# Leadership.

Glades originated in the 90s.

It had some of the most widely# known names in this community.

Members get together and# say, you know, there's a lot# happening in Belle Glade that# a lot of people don't know.# How can we help them get to know# what's happening in the Glades?

The program has run since# because it's so well received.

People that go through# leadership glades find things# out in the community that# they've grown up in that they# didn't know happened here.

I am from the Glades.# I was raised in Canal Point and# then in Pahokee, and thought# that because I was raised here,# went to school here, that I knew# everything about the Glades.

I was amazed to learn at all the inner workings of# the different industries here in our community.

Had no idea how far reaching the## judicial system was, even though my father was the judge## out here for many years, had no idea that we had a## full-service courthouse out in the Glades, had no idea how far## reaching the education system was out here.# The members in the class will get to see a lot of the different types of businesses that are# operating out here, see, really the connections and interconnections that these companies have.

Often with the agricultural# businesses, we'll see how# secondary education has been Developed in a way to support industry needs in this community.# The agricultural industry relies on the, you know, CDL programs for truckers that are## a key component of agriculture that are## held out here in the Glades area.

Since I've been with my career## in the Glades, we have worked through Leadership## Glades and some of the other organizations that graduates## have been in to help reopen West Tech facilities to help## bring jobs out for our community specifically.# A lot of great things have# come out of the resources# that we've built from the leaders that we've built in Leadership Glades.# The class members will see# not just what's being grown.# They're going to see how it's# handled after it's grown how# it gets from farm to table.

If it's local or farm to shipping for some of# the products that provide food# sources for most of America.# They'll see some of the social# safety net resources that are# available, that it's amazing# how many people that have lived# here their whole lives don't# know are available to them.

I work for Stein Sugar Farms.

I'm a fourth-generation farmer# here in the agriculture area.# I think when I was in the# class, I was 34 years old# and thought I knew everything,# knew all about the community.# It was a real eye opener.

You're in there seeing people in all, you know,# facets of the workforce, and you get to know them.

And that's a contact.# I mean, with the sheriff# department, with the hospital,# with social services, and# if you have problems, you# can go to the people that# are in the class and all.# They become your friends and, uh, really helps in life, you know, to know people## in different places.

It opened a lot of doors for me,## but I can't say enough for it.

I would recommend it.

It is supporting emerging leaders, giving them the information that they need## with the resources that are out in our community.# Understanding what industries# are here and by making# the connections through networking and getting to know and build relationships with the people## that are in their class.# And then the value of that# is when they leave and go on.# They're able to be better# advocates in our community# for things that they need# and to help bridge any gap# there might be with connecting# people to the resources that# they serve that are available# here in our community.# And if they're not here in our community.

How we can bridge the gap to the eastern## communities as well.

I look around in the## room as we have orientation every year, and it is amazing to me to## see the fresh new faces.

Our community is growing,## we're crossing borders with diversification,## and it is refreshing to be able to see that there's a need and a want for people## to be connected.

We think that## we've built a program that's durable, replicable, sustainable, and we really want it to# continue to grow and thrive over the coming years.

For people that aren't here full time,## that maybe work out here, but live in town## when they hear stories about what the perceptions of the Glades are,## they can speak from a voice of confidence that they've## been there and they've seen what's actually in the Glades, a very deep## rooted, Did strong culture that has many generations## of commitment to Feeding America and Feeding Palm Beach County.

For more on civic leadership,# follow us on Facebook at your# South FL and for more community# content, head over to our# website, South Florida PBS.org.

Forward slash YSF.# I'm Pam Giganti, as always, thanks for watching.