MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins announced they have partnered with the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau on Football Unites: Cultural Tours. As part of these educational tours, Miami Dolphins players, alumni and staff will join youth, community leaders and law enforcement to experience the richness and diversity of South Florida. The cultural tours listed are scheduled through the end of 2018, but additional tours in South Florida will be scheduled throughout 2019.
"We have a proud and inspirational history in South Florida and we are excited to work with the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau and Football Unites partners to learn more about our community," Miami Dolphins Senior Vice President of Communications & Community Affairs Jason Jenkins said. "More importantly, we look forward to sharing these experiences with our youth to spur engagement and discussions on inclusivity, tolerance and acceptance."
"We are delighted to partner with the Miami Dolphins to showcase our vibrant multicultural neighborhoods as part of their highly anticipated program dedicated to connecting players, youth and community," Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) President & CEO William D. Talbert III said. "Our community's greatest attraction is its people and their diverse heritage. Visitors from around the world are eager to experience the Miami mosaic of heritage neighborhoods full of history, art, culture, food, music, dynamic people and enthusiastic sports fans. We're very excited to join the Miami Dolphins to kick-off the multicultural tours as they learn more about Miami and meet the youth of our great community."
"We're proud to partner with the Miami Dolphins to promote cultural tours in South Florida. With attractions that honor its multicultural heritage and history, Greater Fort Lauderdale is a must for visitors and residents interested in experiencing the diversity of the destination," Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau President & CEO Stacy Ritter said.
Football Unites Cultural Tour Dates
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
- Little Havana, Overtown
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
- Freedom Tower, Holocaust Memorial and Jewish Museum, South Beach Palace
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
- Little Haiti, Liberty City
Sunday, November 18, 2018
- African American Research Library in Fort Lauderdale, Broward County experience
Through Football Unites, the Miami Dolphins have created opportunities for South Florida-based groups to strengthen and expand their impact around community engagement, education and justice reform. The team chose 11 recipients to receive Football Unites grants for the 2018 season. This diverse set of recipients includes Art Detectives, Community Justice Project, Inc., Miami Gardens Police Department, National Organization of Black Law Executives South Florida Chapter (NOBLE), North Miami Police Athletic League, North Miami Beach Police Athletic League, Pridelines, SAVE, Trayvon Martin Foundation, Urban League of Broward County and YWCA Miami.
The grant recipients come on the heels of Stephen Ross and the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project announcement of a long-term partnership, centering on social justice, education and police and youth relations. The cornerstones of the partnership are the 5000 Role Models Police and Youth Conference and a College Academic Signing Day for Wilson Scholars at Hard Rock Stadium. In addition, the Dolphins will continue pre-existing programs with the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project and amplify new events. In all, these social justice community initiatives will impact more than 10,000 Role Models.
The educational component of Football Unites is the Project Change Scholarship. The scholarship identifies one high school student each year and pays for their tuition to college over a four-year period. The goal of the scholarship is to target students to impact their lives, so they can make a change in their community. This year's inaugural recipient is Valicia Browne. Browne, a graduating senior from Olympic Heights Community Large School in Boca, has a goal to establish medical clinics to offer reasonably priced health care in underserved communities and has been accepted to Florida State University.
These initiatives are in addition to Dolphins previous work in this space through the team's collaboration with the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE). Founded and created by Ross in Oct. 2015, RISE harnesses the unifying power of sports to improve race relations and drive social progress. To learn more about RISE, visit **risetowin.org**.
