
Join a community of innovative leaders who are creating opportunities for all students in Miami-Dade.
Miami is a cultural melting pot that has been shaped by many Hispanic and Caribbean influences since the 1960s, making it one of one of the most diverse cities in the nation. With about 40 percent of residents being dominant Spanish speakers, combined with the thriving presence of Latin food, music, and art, new visitors may feel as though they stepped into a foreign country. In addition to being a leader in the hospitality and travel industries for tourist destinations like South Beach, Miami’s other neighborhoods are bubbling ecosystems for new business and culture. Neighborhoods like Little Haiti and Little Havana are a window into the proud immigrant community of Miami, offering authentic festivals and marketplaces.
In Wynwood, you will discover blocks of the most incredible art galleries and outdoor murals, hot new nightlife venues, and innovative start-up companies and social ventures. Brickell, Downtown, and the Design District are Miami’s Manhattan, the cultural, financial, and commercial center of South Florida.
If you’re looking to contribute to the city on a local level, you can plug into the 27 local social ventures started by Teach For America alumni. These partnering organizations offer corps members and alumni numerous opportunities, including fellowships and events, to affect change in the areas of education, public policy, technology, entrepreneurship, music, and more.
As our nation's fourth largest school district, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) holds an A-rating and have a nearly 80 percent graduation rate. M-DCPS is one of only four districts in the nation to show improvement in reading and math two years in a row. As we grow hopeful about the rising numbers, we know that a significant gap still remains between Miami’s highest-income schools and the schools in low-income areas.
41st
Rank out of the 50 largest cities for educational attainment levels
54%
Miami-Dade County residents are foreign-born, up from 50% in 2007
“The dynamic energy of Teach For America’s young educators has been an integral part of the progress made by some of our most fragile schools. We thank these motivated teachers for their courage, tenacity, and dedication, providing students inspiration, guidance and a valuable education to ultimately accelerate academic achievement, boost graduation rates and maximize college readiness.”
Take a walk by the Wynwood Walls, an outdoor destination featuring graffiti art and murals.
photo by: Joe Anzalone/Flickr
Come for the miles of sandy shores, and stay for the nightlife at Miami's famous South Beach.
photo by: Phillip Pessar/Flickr
You'll find plenty of sporting events and concerts in Miami's many stadiums.
photo by: Corn Farmer/Flickr
There are plenty of outdoor activities, such as kayaking, paddle boarding, and jet skiing to do in this oceanfront region.
photo by: Ines Hegedus-Garcia/Flickr
The region also has a thriving arts scene. The Perez Museum of Art is just one of many noteworthy museums in the area.
photo by: John Zacherle/Flickr
Neighborhood Highlights
In the early 2000s, the warehouse neighborhood just north of Midtown Miami began to come to life. Interior designers moved in, followed by retailers and restaurants, and The Design District was born. Despite the presence of high-end establishments and an influx of luxury condominiums, the neighborhood remains an interesting socioeconomic and ethnic mix, and affordable apartments can be found in close proximity to all the area has to offer.
The nearby Wynwood Arts District is the center of Miami's art scene in the midst of what was formerly a Puerto Rican neighborhood. Like the Design District, the community in Wynwood continues to be quite diverse, and the Puerto Rican influence persists. These centrally-located Midtown neighborhoods offer corps members an excellent home base from which to commute to their schools and explore their new city. Teach For America's Miami-Dade office is also located in Midtown.
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Helios Education Foundation
"Helios Education Foundation believes that every student, regardless of zip code, deserves a high-quality education. Teach For America Miami-Dade believes the same and that's why we are proud to partner with this organization in support of their efforts to better prepare South Florida's diverse students for success in college and career." —Barbara Ryan Thompson, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Helios Education Foundation
Our Regional Partners
We value our partnerships with local schools, districts, universities, businesses, and other organizations. Our partners play a critical role in creating opportunities for children in our communities.
- Miami-Dade County Public Schools
- Daniel Lewis
- B. Carlin Foundation
- Helios Education Foundation
- Leslie Miller Saiontz
- US Department of Education
- Lennar Corporation
- The Wildflower Foundation, Inc.
- Micky Arison
- Julie Franklin
- Lisa Mendelson
- Wells Fargo
- Florida Department Of Education
- Albert & Jane Nahmad Family Foundation
- AMERICORPS: Florida (Volunteer Florida)
- Carnival Cruise Lines
- Margaret Starner
- The Starner Group of Raymond James