In 2013, building upon Key Biscayne Police Chief Charles Press’ decade-long service to Liberty City, the Village of Key Biscayne, Miami Children’s Initiative, Key Biscayne Community Foundation, Himan Brown Charitable Trust, and Chief Press Foundation partnered to create the Sister City Initiative. The objective is to join the Village of Key Biscayne and neighboring Liberty City to provide better outcomes for the children and families of Liberty City while providing opportunities for residents of each community to grow, learn, and care about each other.
Sister City Initiative
CONNECTING NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES & FOSTERING COMMUNITY GROWTH
Key Biscayne and Liberty City's
SISTER CITY INITIATIVE
MISSION
The mission of the Sister City Initiative is (1) to create a lasting partnership of support, enrichment, education, and growth between the Village of Key Biscayne and neighborhood of Liberty City; and (2) to create a new conversation between underserved neighborhoods and police officers to ensure greater trust and greater cooperation.
VISION
Our vision is to foster community growth and encourage inter-community engagement while educating and supporting the residents of both communities in order to create a more prepared, connected, and supportive greater community.
OBJECTIVE
The Sister City Initiative’s objective is three-fold: (1) to provide better outcomes for children and families in underserved communities; (2) to provide opportunities for neighbors of different socio-economic levels to learn and care about each other; and (3) to create a local model for community & police dynamics that could be exported to other communities nationwide.
THE SISTER CITY INITIATIVE
In 2013, building upon Key Biscayne Police Chief Charles Press’ decade-long service to Liberty City, the Village of Key Biscayne, Miami Children’s Initiative, Key Biscayne Community Foundation, Himan Brown Charitable Trust, and Chief Press Foundation partnered to create the Sister City Initiative. The objective is to join the Village of Key Biscayne and neighboring Liberty City to provide better outcomes for the children and families of Liberty City while providing opportunities for residents of each community to grow, learn, and care about each other.
The Sister City Initiative’s objective is three-fold: (1) to provide better outcomes for children and families in underserved communities; (2) to provide opportunities for neighbors of different socio-economic levels to learn and care about each other; and (3) to create a local model for community & police dynamics that could be exported to other communities nationwide.
Under the Sister City Initiative’s umbrella, numerous community programs have been created, including:
- Back to School Jam
- Chief Press’ Holiday Relief
- Commitment to Service
- Annual 4th of July Parade
- Liberty City Food Co-op
- Michael’s Magic Camp
- Wellness in the Schools, and more!
Sister City Initiative
OUR COMMUNITY IMPACT
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FOOD PANTRY & FOOD SECURITY
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CERTIFIED FOOD WORKERS
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TOYS, TURKEYS, & SCHOOL SUPPLIES
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SUMMER CAMP FUNDING
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SOCIAL IMPACT LOAN
Sister City Initiative
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Under the Sister City Initiative’s umbrella, various community programs have been developed and launched. Each of these programs follows our goals of bettering the outcomes for children and families in underserved communities, fostering community growth, and uniting neighboring communities.
Back to School Jam
For over 12 years, Chief Charles Press and the Key Biscayne Police Department have worked to positively impact the relationship between the police and the children in Liberty City. The Back to School Jam is a collaboration between the Key Biscayne Police Department and the Miami Children’s Initiative which hosts hundreds of Liberty City children for a fun-filled event with back-to-school supplies, uniforms, shoes, and various activities, including water-slides, games, food, and music.
Chief Press' Holiday Relief
Every year Chief Charles Press and the Key Biscayne Police Department purchase hundreds of toys and turkeys for the residents of Liberty City at Christmas time. Chief Press and his officers take their day off to personally hand out the toys to the Liberty City children that line up to receive what is most likely their only gift. The following week, the Chief is back in Liberty City to hand out hundreds of turkeys to seniors so they can have a holiday meal with their families.
Commitment to Service
Chief Press with the Miami-Dade County Association of Chiefs of Police created a resolution in support of three major police academies, requiring newly trained police officers to participate in two days of community service in Liberty City with the Miami Children's Initiative.
4th of July Parade
The Key Biscayne 4th of July Parade has become a time honored tradition in the Village and in the Greater Miami-Dade region. Every July, the parade brings in a tremendous number of people to enjoy the sights and sounds of the parade and a day of celebration for Key Biscayne residents and underserved neighboring communities.
Liberty City Food Co-Op
Key Biscayne resident Pat Molinari merged her experience and knowledge as a caterer with her interests in helping the larger community to create the Liberty City Food Co-Op which provides more than 100 Liberty City residents with fresh and healthy produce twice a month via a pop up “farmers market” where residents are able to pick up their produce to last them for the next two weeks.
Catalytic Philanthropy
The Key Biscayne Community Foundation and Himan Brown Charitable Trust approach charitable giving with a catalytic philanthropy model in order to maximize the opportunities afforded by community and partnership. Together, we practice catalytic philanthropy in grant making to Liberty City programming via the Key to Giving program.
Golf & Tennis Kids Day
In collaboration with two leading sports training academies, Arraya Tennis Academy and Crandon Golf Academy, we host 120 Liberty City kids residing in Miami Children's Initiative Impact Zone to a day of multi-sport fun at Crandon Park Golf Course. Liberty City kids are coached on tennis and golf, providing them with an incredible and inspirational experience that will enable them not only to learn new skills but to dream big.
Michael's Magic Camp
Through Michael's Magic Camp, roughly 90 inner-city youth participate each year in this educational, life-enhancing two-week adventure at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center in Crandon Park. Through enriching hands-on activities, the camp teaches these campers how to protect, preserve, and respect South Florida’s fragile environment.
Wellness in the Schools
The Sister City Initiative helps support the implementation of Wellness in the Schools, an organization piloting healthy eating and play in public schools. Wellness in the Schools has three distinct programs, Cook for Kids, Coach for Kids, and Green for Kids, each of which promotes an important dimension of healthy living and habit formation.
In the Works
The Sister City Initiative and Key to Giving program are working tirelessly to create new programming that will benefit the greater community. Aside from the Key to Giving Talent program applications, we are currently working to launch a basketball youth sports program, an eye protection initiative, and a mobile pediatric eye care unit.
Sister City Initiative
CONNECTING NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES & FOSTERING COMMUNITY GROWTH
Get In Touch With Us
CONTACT SISTER CITY INITIATIVE
Interested in learning more? Have a question for us? The Sister City Initiative is operated by the Key Biscayne Community Foundation, and we are happy to field any of your questions or comments. Just use the contact form below, or contact us via our contact information here.
SISTER CITY INITIATIVE
240 Crandon Blvd, Suite 108
Key Biscayne, FL
33149
(305) 361-2770
9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.