MDC Annual Report - A Catalyst for Impact 2023 Annual Report
Uplifting Homegrown Talent
2023-07-08 10:08:48
Miami Dade College secured a $10 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge to expand employment opportunities and create pathways to high-quality tech jobs for local residents. Through its Miami Tech Works initiative, MDC and its Tech Talent Coalition community partners will collaborate to provide industry-aligned training and internship opportunities, ensuring even higher levels of job placements for about 1,000 participants over the next three years. With the support of government, academic, and civic sector partners, Miami Tech Works aims to make local resident workers the first choice for incoming tech companies.
Shortly after the grant announcement, MDC hosted the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Alejandra Castillo, for a tour of the Wolfson Campus facilities where our world-class faculty are training students for the future of work. During her visit, Castillo also participated in a roundtable with community and industry leaders for a collaborative discussion on how we can together provide quality job training and placement within the fast-growing technology sector.
National Center of Excellence in Cybersecurity Receives Boost
The Cybersecurity Center of the Americas, recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence by the National Security Agency (NSA), received additional support with $2 million from the Florida Department of Education and the Florida Center for Cybersecurity to inspire and prepare more students to pursue careers in the field. Aimed to help increase the local talent workforce in cybersecurity, these funds will offer accessible training options, create meaningful pathways from high school to college, and support Miami’s transformation as a tech hub.
Connecting Local Talent to Employers
As we continue strengthening a pipeline for talent, the College continues to partner with the City of Miami to host Venture Miami Tech Hiring Fairs — a networking opportunity where employers from across our community can connect with local talent. In the last year alone, Miami Dade College has hosted two successful tech hiring fairs, adding to a total of four since its inception. This initiative has seen an overwhelming response, with thousands of job seekers registering for the fair and learning about hundreds of entry, mid, and high-level positions available from leading companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Blackstone, BrainStation, Ford, Bank United, Kaseya, Santander, Slalom, Papa, and Tradestation, among many others.
Blackstone Taps MDC for LaunchPad Network
As MDC continues to be a beacon of hope for our community and a path to economic prosperity, Miami Dade College has been awarded $500,000 from the Blackstone Charitable Foundation to establish a Blackstone LaunchPad and grow the College’s existing entrepreneurship programs through The Idea Center at MDC. The College will use part of the funds to support a new satellite space for The Idea Center at MDC’s West Campus. “Miami is a city to which Blackstone is strongly committed,” said Michael Chae, the company’s chief financial officer. “What we see here is a vibrant, diverse community with a huge opportunity to attract talent from outstanding schools like MDC.”
Student Spotlight
MDC psychology student Michelle Peñalver recently won a Blackstone Ideas Competition with her concept for Formula, a virtual platform for mental health counseling. She won a cash prize and is in the process of making her idea a reality. While the specifics are not yet finalized, her vision is clear. “This will allow young people to engage with therapy, but from a positive angle,” said Peñalver, who is working toward an associate degree. “This product will give people the ability to receive assistance and find their own formula for life.”
Peñalver, a transplant from Venezuela, said MDC has transformed her future. “I came to Miami with big dreams, and education was a major part of my plan,” she said. “MDC opened that door for me. I will always ‘be MDC,’ and I will tell students that whatever you want to do is possible because you are in the right place.”
MDC Partners With MITRE on Workforce Development
Miami Dade College joined forces with MITRE to expand, engage and develop diverse talent through internship and faculty development opportunities. The new partnership seeks to enhance workforce development and support economic growth in Miami.
The partnership introduces a new opportunity for collaborative research and development between MITRE staff and MDC students and faculty to work on many of the complex challenges facing the nation. Areas to be explored include Web3, blockchain, cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, climate science, and digital health. The collaboration will also include curriculum development in addition to internship opportunities for MDC students to support the growth and acceleration of Miami’s tech ecosystem.
“We’re proud to partner with Miami Dade College to combine our shared values and resources to solve problems for a safer world,” said MITRE Vice President Julie Gravallese.
Preparing Future-Ready Talent
Diageo North America partnered with Miami Dade College to announce a $1 million commitment that will fund a permanent endowment supporting access to deserving students in underrepresented communities. The program will help MDC provide the resources to accelerate a diverse pipeline of future-ready talent.
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