Miami-Dade Parks launches expanded Fit2Lead program as part of County's Peace and Prosperity Plan

Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department kicked off the county’s expanded Fit2Lead program with an official launch ceremony and orientation session at Tamiami Park Fuchs Pavilion on Tuesday morning. Fit2Lead is an award-winning, evidence-based parks program for at-risk youth, which offers job training across Miami-Dade County with participants placed in park-based employment opportunities throughout the summer. The program expansion allows for an additional 350 internships in the existing program this summer and is an essential element of Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava's and the Board of County Commissioners' Peace and Prosperity Plan, which spends $7.8 million on a variety of initiatives.

“By increasing this investment in our Fit2Lead program, we are doubling down on a program with proven results for high-risk youth,” said Mayor Levine Cava, who proposed the Peace and Prosperity Plan. The plan was unanimously approved by the Board of County Commissioners on June 8. “These kinds of investments are critical to addressing the root causes of gun violence, as we invest in programs for violence prevention, intervention, enforcement, and community revitalization to build safer, more prosperous neighborhoods.”

“This is part of a multi-faceted solution. It’s important to get to our youth early, so that we can make a difference,” said Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz.

“Miami-Dade Parks is providing youth with the opportunity to develop skillsets that will serve them for life. The knowledge they gain in this program will help fulfill their potential as the next generation of leaders in the community,” said Parks Director Maria Nardi. “All of us here today believe in each and everyone of you,” she told the interns at Tuesday’s event. “Believe in yourselves! We are here to give you a path forward.”

“We all have challenges in life, but every day, we have an opportunity to focus on today and on doing things better," added Cathy Burgos, director of Miami-Dade County’s Juvenile Services Department. "Our goal is to have pro-social opportunities for young people in this community to have choices to change their lives around."

Miami-Dade Parks developed the Fit2Lead Parks Program five years ago in partnership with Miami-Dade Police, the Juvenile Services Department, Miami-Dade County Public Schools and multiple universities. A controlled study conducted in 2017 found a 31% reduction in number of juvenile arrests in zip codes where Fit2Lead was offered as compared to zip codes where the program was not offered.