Tag:

United Way

Educare Miami-Dade: Elevating the Quality of Early Education (Video)

by Dan Perez April 26, 2016

Educare Miami-Dade is the demonstration school for the United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education. The center is an innovative learning, teaching and training initiative dedicated to elevating the quality of early care and education in Miami-Dade County and beyond. The United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education models proven best practices, and shares those practices with adult learners including parents, educators and child care providers. The center also works with business leaders and lawmakers to raise the standards of early childhood education, and support sustainable and lasting change.

Educare Miami-Dade is where it all comes together. Leading research and expertise on early education’s best practices are put into practice in the school, which serves infants, toddlers and preschoolers from different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Nurturing caregivers fuel young minds in a state-of-the-art facility. The unique composition of the demonstration school allows for in-depth observation of those practices through one-way mirrors without interrupting the learning process of the children.

Here’s a video I shot and co-produced with the good folks at the United Way of Miami-Dade that truly illustrates how Educare Miami-Dade is working to ensure that all children will have access to the highest quality early care and education…

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrZ9cg6u9DU[/youtube]

April 26, 2016

United Way of Miami: Meet 102-year-old Juana Romero

by Dan Perez February 10, 2016

written by Dan Perez

Did you know that 1 in 7 seniors in South Florida faces the choice between paying for rent, food or medication? This past year, United Way-funded programs, like the Little Havana Activities and Nutrition Centers, provided 11,154 seniors with hot, nutritious meals.

Seniors like Juana Romero – who is 102 years old.

Here’s a short video I produced with the good folks at United Way of Miami-Dade – share her story and help build a #StrongerMiami

[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/154677439[/vimeo]

February 10, 2016

Photography

Dominoes: Little Havana, Miami (In Pictures)

by Dan Perez June 23, 2015

written by Dan Perez

Last week, I was shooting a short video for United Way of Miami-Dade at the Little Havana Activities and Nutrition Center on 8th Street in Miami. The center serves over 11,000 individuals (mostly seniors) each year and has served 81,000 since its inception in 1972. Of the over 11,000 served annually, over 91% live below the poverty line, 64% are women, 77% are age 75 and older, 66% live alone and 93% are Hispanic. I spent about 90 minutes there but it was clear to see how vital this center is for the many seniors who spend the better part of their day there.

After wrapping up, I popped back in to the recreation room with my Lumix GH2 and Olympus M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 lens to shoot a few pics of the seniors playing dominoes. Oh, and you can make a donation to the LHANC HERE. Enjoy the pics…

Like us on Facebook and you’ll make us really happy; we’re not sure why, though, but studies have shown that people who like our facebook page are 37% cooler than people who don’t…

June 23, 2015

Corporate Giving Back Sound and Vision

Six Pillars: The Critical Factors Determining Florida’s Future

by Dan Perez March 2, 2014

written by Dan Perez

[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/86945364[/vimeo]

Florida is at a critical point in its modern history. As the fourth largest state with growing demands for infrastructure, water and energy and the ever‐changing needs of tomorrow’s knowledge‐based economy, Florida faces opportunities and challenges that will require collective action to accomplish a vision of high‐wage jobs, global competitiveness and vibrant communities. The composition of the economy is also in flux, leaving structural issues of labor supply and demand with the need to create over one million jobs by 2020 and accommodate seven million more Florida residents by the year 2030.

The framework offered to accomplish such a task is known simply as the Six Pillars™. The product of years of collaboration and research by the Florida Chamber Foundation, the Six Pillars identifies the critical factors determining Florida’s future:

> Talent Supply & Education

> Innovation & Economic Development

> Infrastructure & Growth Leadership

> Business Climate & Competitiveness

> Civic & Governance Systems

> Quality of Life & Quality Places

Here in Broward County (Greater Fort Lauderdale), Over 300 business, civic, government leaders and residents are leading the Six Pillars strategic planning process. I had the opportunity to collaborate with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance to create a video featuring several business and community leaders outlining the benefits and expected outcomes of the Six Pillars plan. We arranged interviews with the following people, all of whom are featured in the video:

Charles Caulkins – Partner, Fisher & Phillips LLP and Chairman, The Broward Workshop

Bob Swindell – President/CEO, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance

Kathleen Cannon – President/CEO, United Way of Broward County

Dr. Germaine Smith-Baugh – President/CEO, Urban League of Broward County

Mason Jackson – President/CEO, CareerSource Broward

Gregory Stuart – Executive Director, Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization

Susan Starkey – Councilmember, Town of Davie and President of the Broward League of Cities

Kelley Shanley – President/CEO, Broward Center for the Performing Arts

Robert Runcie – Superintendent, Broward County Public Schools

While the Six Pillars offers a powerful tool for strategic planning at all levels, the objective to develop a state-wide, 20-year plan requires a commitment to measuring the current status and progress toward stated goals. The Florida Scorecard is a dynamic online tool that seeks to track those factors identified within each of the Six Pillars as indicative of our situation. Moreover, the Scorecard consists of more than 120 metrics to best communicate key issues. You can view the current version of this tool at TheFloridaScorecard.com.

So scroll back up to the top of the post and watch the video I produced that will help you not only understand the mission of the Six Pillars objective, but why it is so important to the future of Florida…

For more information on Six Pillars, visit flchamber.com/six-pillars/overview

Did you know that video promotion is over 6 times more effective than print and online? If you’re not using video to promote your product, service or event, maybe it’s time you did. Feel free to contact us to discuss how we can help tell your company or organization’s unique story…

Like us on facebook and you’ll make us really happy; we’re not sure why, though, but studies have shown that people who like our facebook page are 37% cooler than people who don’t…

March 2, 2014

Corporate

United Way of Miami: Revolutionizing Early Childhood Education (VIDEO)

by Dan Perez February 6, 2014

written by Dan Perez

In 2009 the United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education in Miami was awarded with a three-year grant totaling $3.5 million to implement Literacy Enhancement for Early Readers, or Project LEER (Which means “to read” in Spanish). Over the three years of the grant, the program engaged teachers and students at the United Way Center for Excellence, Demonstrations School, Educare of Miami, Southside Elementary and Primary Learning Center (two Miami public schools), and St. Alban’s Child Enrichment Cneter. In total, 22 teachers and approximately 450 students participated in the program.

The Center was the only early education program in Florida to receive an Early Reading First grant in 2009. Project LEER was designed to improve oral language, phonological awareness, print awareness, and alphabetic knowledge for students in existing preschool programs. The Center partnered with the Miami-Dade County Public School System, University of Miami, and Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL), a nonprofit education research and development organization. In its partnership with McREL, participating teachers, co-teachers and school staff receive professional development training based on a program developed by Dr. Elena Bodrova known as Scaffolding Early Literacy (SEL).

I was called upon to record the very first training sessions at the United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education with Elena Bodrova and her team from McREL back in January of 2010. In 2012, I was contracted to produce a short documentary film outlining the adaptation of these new teaching methods and the results. Having already started filming the sessions with my beloved Panasonic DVX (of which I owned three at the time), I finished up the documentary film with the same camera (I’ve since retired them); a most fitting final project for the camera I built my business upon back in 2006.

What I realized over the months of filming in the classrooms is that the job of the pre-school teacher requires an astounding level of patience coupled with a matching level of passion. They are the first teacher these young children encounter in their lives and in the process of seeing them in action and then interviewing them afterwards, I developed an overwhelming sense of respect for the job they do. It’s truly a life calling. So I finally decided to post the short film here on my site as I’m still amazed at the remarkable effort these teachers put forth every day. It’s not only a look at how The United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education is addressing the educational and developmental needs of the children of South Florida, but at the remarkable dedication of these early care professionals. Enjoy…

February 6, 2014

Corporate

United Way | TEAM NFL: Lardarius Webb of the Baltimore Ravens

by Dan Perez August 26, 2013

written by Dan Perez

Last month, I was contacted by the good folks at United Way of Central Maryland to produce a PSA with Baltimore Ravens cornerback Lardarius Webb, who happens to workout in the offseason right here in Miami. Webb is joining NFL players from around the league to help reduce the dropout rate by recruiting 99,000 volunteer readers, tutors and mentors as part of United Way TEAM NFL, a program stemming from the organizations’ 40-year partnership that is committed to cutting America’s dropout rate in half by 2018.

You can partner with Lardarius Webb (who was a really nice guy) by clicking the banner above or visit www.unitedway.org/team-nfl to find your favorite NFL team and get involved by entering the draft and becoming a volunteer, spreading the word (please share this post on your social networks), or making a donation.

Here’s the video, which we shot at the Bommarito Performance Systems training facility in Miami. Enjoy…

Live United: Lardarius Webb of the Baltimore Ravens from DanPerezFilms on Vimeo.

The United Way of Central Maryland
The United Way of Central Maryland is sharply focused on programs that bring financial stability, good health and self-sufficiency to people facing poverty in Maryland in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties. By donating to UWCM, you give help for today and hope for tomorrow to those who need our support the most right now. Visit www.uwcm.org for more information.

August 26, 2013

Corporate

United Way of Miami-Dade: Join the ReadingPals Program

by Dan Perez August 12, 2012

written by Dan Perez

The United Way of Miami-Dade is seeking volunteers to help enhance literacy opportunities for young children and instill a love for reading, even before they can read for themselves.

Join the ReadingPals program and spend an hour each week reading with children in early education classrooms across Miami-Dade. The 24-week program begins October 15, 2012 and concludes May 10, 2013. Prior to beginning the program, each volunteer will be required to complete a background check and attend an orientation session, where they will learn about age-appropriate books, tips for reading to young children and receive a reader toolkit with sample activities and more.

This is a unique opportunity to both instill the love of reading in young children, and engage volunteers in a fun and inspiring hour that will become the highlight of their weeks.

I consider myself very fortunate to call the United Way of Miami-Dade a client. Here’s a short video I produced for them that outlines the program and its benefits. After watching the video, why not BECOME A READER?

August 12, 2012