093-2000 LTCCITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http:\\ci.miami-beach.fi.us
L.T.C. No. 93-2000
LETTER TO COMMISSION
April 25, 2000
TO:
FROM:
Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City Commission
Lawrence A. Levy N~
City Manager
SUBJECT: DADE PARTNERS EXEMPLARY JOINT VENTURE AWARD
This Letter to the Mayor and City Commission is to advise the Mayor and Commission of the
awarding of Dade Partners Exemplary Joint Venture Award to the Cool School of Miami-Dade
County and the Miami Beach Police Department.
The Miami Beach Police Department and Cool School of Miami-Dade County, Inc. have a unique
partnership that is fully dedicated to serving the students of Fienberg Fisher Elementary School. So
dedicated, in fact, that they monitor the participating students' progress throughout their school
careers.
For the past five years, these partners have worked together in an after school program that has been
beneficial in keeping children out of gangs and improving their behavior, manners, and social skills.
Using Cool School's four cornerstones; education, recreation, culture, and counseling services as a
model, the partners provide a continuous interaction with a wide variety of activities for the 80
students and 30 alumni in the program. Miami Beach Police Detectives facilitate G.R.E.A.T. (Gang
Resistance Education and Training), the "Jail is Hell" tour, and many other weekly activities for
students and their families. Cultural activities range from attending museums and the symphony to
beautification projects, while recreational activities include organized sports, computer and board
games, arts and crafts, and presentations by high school students. Counseling services include weekly
"rap sessions," as well as psychological assessment and teacher surveys.
Recognizing the wonderful merits of this program, the Dade Partners bestowed its Exemplary Joint
Venture Award on March 14, 2000.
We are all proud of our Police Department and those working for Cool School and congratulate them
on this wonderful and well earned achievement.
LAL.'~~:PS:SR:MMS
F:XPOLI\TECHSERV~POL1CIES\COM_MEMO\dade partners exemplary award ltc wpd