2. 1 Welcome to Target 2020!
2 Letter from Under Secretary Dr. Martha J. Kanter
3 Letter from Alberto Ibargüen
4 Letter from Senator Bob Graham
5 Summit Schedule
7 What to Expect
8 Summit Competition Guide
9 Speaker Biographies
16 Summit Supporters
17 Summit Partners
19 Resource Guide
3. Dear Target 2020 Florida Participants,
On behalf of Mobilize.org, the John L. and James S. Knight Foundation, the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Lumina Foundation for Education,
it is my pleasure to welcome you to Miami and to the third Mobilize.org
Target 2020 Summit on education and student success.
You’ve been selected from an impressive group of students from South
Florida community colleges and we look forward to spending the next two
days together, engaged in dialogue and collaboration, driving towards action
that addresses the unique barriers and obstacles you face in your pursuit
of academic goals and strengthening the engagement and participation of
Millennials in Miami.
We have an agenda that includes amazing civic leaders from around the state who are ready to share their
experiences and commitment to supporting your ideas. On Friday, we are honored to be joined by the Under
Secretary of Education Dr. Martha J. Kanter who will share her vision for student success across the country.
On Saturday, we’ll spend a day discussing and developing solutions to the most pressing challenges facing
from the Mobilize.org network.
The mission of Mobilize.org is to empower and invest in Millennials to create and implement solutions to
social problems. We believe the Millennial Generation is at a landmark civic, social and economic crossroads;;
it holds an endless potential for civic innovation while facing overwhelming socio-economic obstacles. We
factors in reversing generational poverty, and given both the challenges facing the Millennial Generation and
the unique innovation and technological savvy we have to address them, we must tap into the leadership of
our generation to solve some of our greatest problems as it concerns educational equity, quality and student
success.
While our partners are leading the way in addressing student needs that alleviate obstacles preventing you
from achieving your educational goals, Target 2020 is your opportunity to develop solutions that you will
lead. It is also a chance to use your voice in a way that will impact your campus, community and the future
of our country.
We encourage you to use this time to connect with those who share your experiences and your passion. Most
importantly, we encourage you to continue the conversations we have here and to let us know how to best
support you and your ideas after returning home.
Congratulations again on being selected to attend Target 2020 and welcome to Miami.
Sincerely,
Maya Enista Smith
CEO, Mobilize.org
4. Dear Students,
In his Back-To-School speech on September 24, 2010, President Barack Obama
the months ahead when you’re staying up late cramming for a test, or dragging
yourselves out of bed on a rainy morning, and wondering if it’s all worth it. Let
me tell you, there is no question about it. Nothing will have as great an impact
2020 Summit demonstrates your personal commitment to the importance of
education for your success in college and throughout your life.
Now more than ever, education is the currency of the 21st century and the key
to our nation’s future prosperity and security. Providing every American in the
United States with a quality education is both a moral obligation and economic
graduates.
To achieve this goal, over the next decade we’ll need to educate 10 million more college graduates with half
coming from our nation’s community colleges. This will be no easy task. As a former community college
leader for more than 30 years, and now as Under Secretary of Education, I can tell you that our challenge
is great, but it is a challenge we must meet.
I hope you will take this opportunity to renew your hopes and dreams by making sure you get the best
possible education. In this world, the future is in your hands but only if you are willing to work hard for it.
Investing in education and your success as a graduate will ultimately help shape our country’s future. By
sharing your experiences, contributing your ideas, helping others learn from the risks you’ve taken, and
building on your accomplishments you will illuminate the path to new opportunities for millions of students
and help our nation thrive.
Please accept my best wishes for a successful event. I look forward to seeing all of you.
Martha Kanter
5. Dear Students,
Welcome to the Mobilize.org Target 2020 Summit in Knight Foundation’s hometown,
Miami. I hope you’re ready to engage, to learn…and have some fun.
And congratulations on being selected to play a role in transforming the future of
education.
The Target 2020 Summit is an opportunity for you to meet community leaders,
share your voice and engage in a civic dialogue about the challenges you face
to completion. As South Floridians and community college students, Knight
Foundation and Mobilize.org believe your unique experiences equip you with the
This is your chance to be heard, so – speak up! Actively engage in the conversations. Ask questions and
share your thoughts, passions and ideas. Listen closely and understand that lively debate is an important
unite students in a way that drives your passion towards tangible ideas for sustainable change.
At the Knight Foundation, we promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities
and foster the arts. We seek and support ideas that transform communities and we believe that democracy
thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. In Miami, we seek to inform and engage our
community by bridging differences and bringing South Floridians together through the arts and educational
opportunities. We strive to help inform and educate our next generation of leaders and foster a spirit of
entrepreneurship.
the kind of leader who can transform our community and our country and we are proud to support your
conference.
Sincerely,
Alberto Ibargüen
President and CEO
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
6. Dear Millennial Students,
Civic education for the Millennial Generation is at a critical point in our state.
Florida is growing in ethnic and racial diversity and will soon become a state
where the minority is the new majority. Your generation is changing the face of
our communities and your voice, now more than ever, is essential to shaping the
future of education in our country.
That is why I am honored to welcome you to the Mobilize.org Target 2020 Florida
Summit. Over the next three days, you will share your experiences, contribute your
ideas and develop solutions that will help Millennial students on your campuses
and in your communities overcome barriers they face to achieving their academic
goals and promote civic participation. I am committed to listening, to being a part
of the discussion and to learning from your conversations.
I formed The Bob Graham Center for Public Service to enhance citizenship, train current and future civic
leaders, and develop policy on issues important to Florida, the nation and the world. The Center provides
a forum at which state, national and global issues of the day are debated and analyzed by policy makers,
scholars, students and members of the community. I am calling on you today to become a part of this
debate and to identify the important civic and educational needs of our communities. No one knows better
than you, the students, what you need to help our communities and the Millennial Generation become more
engaged and meet their academic goals.
While we are working across the state and the country, we need you working in your community. Visit
are doing to improve student engagement. Ask them what they can do to support you and your peers in
creating a culture of civic participation and student success. Your voice is crucial and collectively we can work
together to enhance citizenship in our communities.
On behalf of The Bob Graham Center for Public Service and The Florida Joint Center for Citizenship,
congratulations on being selected to attend the Target 2020 Florida Summit. You are all models of student
success that will help us create an educated, fully represented democracy with sustainable Millennial civic
engagement and true social change.
Sincerely,
Senator Bob Graham
The Bob Graham Center for Public Service
7. Summit Schedule
Friday, June 1, 2012
1:00 PM Registration (Deauville Beach Resort Lobby)
3:00PM Opening Remarks (Le Jardin Ballroom)
Maya Enista Smith
CEO, Mobilize.org
3:15PM Summit Kickoff
Dr. Eduardo Padrón
President, Miami Dade College
3:45PM Miami Millennial Civic Health Index Release by Florida Joint Center for Citizenship
Dr. Lenore Rodicio, Executive Director, Miami Dade College (MDC3) Student Success and
Completion Initiatives
4:45PM Break and Late Registration/Hotel Check-in
5:45PM Networking Reception (Peacock Alley)
6:30PM Dinner and Keynote (Napoleon Ballroom)
Dr. Martha J. Kanter
Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
7:45PM Program Ends
Saturday, June 2, 2012
8:30AM Breakfast (Richelieu Ballroom)
9:00AM Welcome
Amber Cruz
Program Manager, Mobilize.org
9:10AM Opening Remarks
Matthew Haggman
Miami Program Director, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
9:25AM Interactive Conversation Process Introduction (Le Jardin Ballroom)
Crystal Carson and Jade Flader
Target 2020 North Carolina and California Participants
9:45AM Table Discussion 1
What challenges do students face in completing their education?
11:05AM Break
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8. 11:20AM Table Discussion 2
12:40PM Expert Luncheon (Richelieu Ballroom)
2:00PM Table Discussion 3
improve completion rates at our schools?
3:20PM Table Discussion 4
What can Millennials do to ensure we achieve our individual and collective academic goals?
4:30PM Service Project by HandsOn Broward and the Miami Chapter of AmeriCorps Alums
(Cavalier 1 and 2 Conference Rooms)
6:30PM Dinner and Keynote (Le Jardin Ballroom)
Isa Adney
Author, Community College Success
7:30PM Entertainment in Miami (On Your Own)
8:00PM Summit Competition Workshop and Viewer’s Choice Award Filming
(Cavalier 1 and 2 Conference Rooms)
10:00PM Summit Competition Presentations Due at Summit Information Table
(Deauville Beach Resort Lobby)
Sunday, June 3, 2012
9:00AM Breakfast (Richelieu Ballroom)
9:30AM Summit Competition Kickoff
Damian Thorman
National Program Director, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
9:45AM Summit Competition Presentations (Le Jardin Ballroom)
11:00PM Past Target 2020 Award Winner Presentation
Crystal Carson, Target 2020 North Carolina Participant
Peer Pairing, Central Piedmont Community College
11:30PM Break
12:00PM Luncheon (Poolside Patio)
1:30PM Award Ceremony (Le Jardin Ballroom)
2:00PM Commitments to Action and Evaluations
2:30PM Program Ends
2:35PM Seed Investment Proposals Due at Summit Information Table
(Deauville Beach Resort Lobby)
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9. What to Expect
The Target 2020 Florida Summit convenes over 100 students from South Florida community colleges to
identify barriers they face in achieving their postsecondary educational goals and develop Millennial-led
solutions to address them.
The conversations will continue into the evening during a networking reception, followed by dinner with a
keynote address by Dr. Martha Kanter, Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.
The second day will include large and small-group discussions, interactive voting, and a keynote address
from Isa Adney, Author of . Participants will also have the opportunity to
network with community leaders and organizers during the expert luncheon.
On day two, the Summit Awards Competitors will also have the opportunity to receive expert advice
from the Mobilize.org team on improving their presentations and will record one-minute pitches for the
Mobilize.org Viewer’s Choice Award online. During this time, summit participants who have collaborated on
projects back home.
Interactive Keypad Voting
During Mobilize.org summits, participants use interactive keypad voting to drive conversation, acknowledge
disagreement and build consensus. Each participant receives a personal handheld keypad to vote on ideas
and discussion points that are raised or presented during the summit. Please write your keypad number
on the back of your name tag.
Prior to large and small group discussions, participants use their keypads to participate in a demographic
survey that help participants identify and understand where differences in opinion may exist. At the request of
can occur in a respectful, civil manner. Participants also use keypad voting to decide the winners of Summit
Award Competition.
Emergency Contact Information
Amber Cruz Rolanda Schand
Program Manager Florida Community Mobilizer
Amber@Mobilize.org Rolanda@Mobilize.org
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10. Summit Competition Guide
Winners will also participate in the Mobilize.org Fellowship program;; a 12-month skill-building curriculum
that prepares students to successfully implement their projects on their campuses, in their communities or
online.
proposals and invited the individual or team who proposed to compete in the Summit Competition.
minutes to present their idea to summit participants, who use their personal interactive keypads to vote on
Potential Social Impact – how well the project addresses a particular student issue or academic
barriers students face in Miami.
Creativity and Innovation – how well the project is customized to address your community’s
need in a new or unique way.
Sustainability – how likely is the project to last long enough to fully address the student issue/
Use of New and Social Media Communications – how well the project uses technology and
social media as a catalyst for social impact.
Choice Award, selected via interactive online voting. Competitors are encouraged to invite their peers and
classmates to tune in and vote at www.Mobilize.org.
Presentation Slides and Technology
Participants who plan to use and create slides for their presentation should bring their own laptops. Some
laptops will be available at the information table, but only for limited use. All other technical support you
need for your presentations, besides the LCD projector, is each individual and each team’s responsibility.
For the actual presentation participants must deliver their slides or other visual aids via USB hard-
drive to the technical staff at 10:00PM at the information table in the Deauville Beach Resort
Lobby for testing. Visual Aids are not required but may be useful to illustrate the points you make in
your presentation. WiFi Internet will be available in the hotel lobby but you should not rely on it for your
presentation since reception is not guaranteed.
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11. Featured Speaker Dr. Martha J. Kanter
Martha J. Kanter was nominated by President Barack Obama on April 29, 2009 to
2009. Kanter reports to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and oversees policies,
programs, and activities related to postsecondary education, adult and career-technical
and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Faith-Based and Neighborhood
Partnerships. To spur education, economic growth and social prosperity, Kanter is
charged with planning and policy responsibilities to implement President Obama’s goal
2020” as measured by the proportion of college graduates over the next decade. Under Secretary Kanter
and her team are keenly focused on improving college access, affordability, quality, and completion to
implement President Obama’s American Graduation Initiative.
are Pell Grant recipients. Kanter and her team are working closely with postsecondary partners from
across the nation to boost American innovation and competitiveness with an ambitious college completion
agenda, teacher quality reforms, adult education program improvements, modernization of career-technical
community college students.
From 2003 to 2009, Kanter served as chancellor of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District, one of
position. In 1977, after serving as an alternative high school teacher in Massachusetts and New York, she
then served as a director, dean and subsequently vice chancellor for policy and research for the California
vice president of instruction and student services until she was named president of De Anza College in 1993,
serving in this position for a decade until her appointment as chancellor.
Kanter has been recognized for her work numerous times, including being named Woman of the Year by
the 24th Assembly District, Woman of Achievement by San Jose Mercury News and the Women’s Fund, and
Woman of the Year for Santa Clara County by the American Association of University Women. In 2003, she
received the Excellence in Education award from the National Organization for Women’s California Chapter.
In 2006, she was honored for diversity and community leadership by the Santa Clara County Commission
on the Status of Women, and in 2007, the American Leadership Forum-Silicon Valley honored her with
the John W. Gardner Leadership Award. In 2008, Kanter received the Citizen of the Year award from the
Cupertino Chamber of Commerce. In 2009, Notre Dame High School in Silicon Valley honored her with the
her for the Business Hall of Fame. In 2011, Kanter was appointed to the U.S. National Commission for the
Department of State that supports worldwide humanitarian development and values by coordinating efforts
and delivering expert advice on issues of education, science, communications and culture.
Under Secretary Kanter holds a doctorate in organization and leadership from the University of San
Francisco. Her dissertation addressed demographic, institutional, and assessment factors affecting access
to higher education for underrepresented students in California’s community colleges. In 1994, she opened
policies to advance Foothill-De Anza’s legacy of excellence and opportunity for California’s expanding and
increasingly diverse student population. She received her master’s degree in education with a concentration
in clinical psychology and public practice from Harvard University, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from
Brandeis University. Kanter holds honorary degrees from Palo Alto University, Chatham University, Lakes
Region Community College, Moraine Valley Community College and the Alamo Colleges.
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12. Speaker Biographies
Isa Adney
Community College Success
Isa Adney is a national spokesperson for community college success, helping students
to avoid student loan debt and break cycles of poverty by choosing community college,
and ensuring that choice is a wise investment in their future by connecting with people
who can catapult them to wealth, success, and a job that they actually enjoy.
Isa has been featured in publications such as The White House blog, USA Today,
U.S. News, and The Lumina Foundation, FOX News Latino, and has been featured
Day, and Orlando Matters. She also shares her success story and core strategies as a
speaker to colleges and universities around the country, and shares free content to help students succeed
and inspirational interviews with professionals (such as a New York Times journalist and an NBA Executive)
on her blog www.communitycollegesuccess.com.
grandparents moved from Puerto Rico to New York City because there weren’t any jobs in Puerto Rico. They
didn’t speak a word of English when they came to the United States;; her grandfather worked as a janitor for
most of his life and her grandmother as a maid. Her father went to community college but never made it to
a university. It took time for Adney to realize that students from wealthier families had a head start in life,
Adney shares her personal story in her book Community College Success so historically underrepresented
groups in higher education can learn how build a community to help them achieve an education and a life
far beyond their dreams and family histories.
Adney graduated from Seminole Community College (now called Seminole State College of Florida), in May
received her B.A. in Communications May 2009. She will graduate with an M.Ed in Training and Development
from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in June 2012, and works as a Student Life Coordinator
at Seminole State College.
Adney is married and lives in Orlando, Florida.
Crystal Carson
Target 2020 North Carolina Participant
Mobilize.org Board of Directors
Crystal Carson was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina on a military base in 1988
and moved to Ancorage, Alaska at the age of three. From a young age Crystal knew
she would attend college and started saving pennies in elementary school. Her
postsecondary career started in her junior year of high school when she attended
courses. One year later, she earned her high school diploma at Robert Service High
struggles.
Crystal took a year to plan for her long-term goals and in 2008, moved to Charlotte North Carolina to pursue
her studies at Central Piedmont Community College. Like many other community college students Crystal
worked a full time job and did her best to balance classes and extracurricular activities and at one point
she took a semester off because she did not have the savings to pay for classes. But, with the connections
enrolling, Crystal has served as the co-chair of the Community Service Club and Vice President of the Student
Government Association at CPCC. She is also a Target 2020 North Carolina Democracy 2.0 Award winner.
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13. Alberto Carvalho
Miami-Dade Country Public Schools
Alberto M. Carvalho is Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS),
the nation’s fourth largest school system, serving a diverse student body of over
quality education for all students, Mr. Carvalho became Superintendent in September
2008.
Under Mr. Carvalho’s leadership, M-DCPS’ business operations were restructured, resulting in an increase in
in the budgeting process, he restored public trust and community support for Miami-Dade’s public schools.
District posted its highest high school graduation rate ever and through a data-driven approach to school
students consistently have outperformed their national peers on the Reading, Mathematics and Science
on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, a measure considered to be the gold standard of
performance accountability.
A leader in innovation, Mr. Carvalho is spearheading the transformation of education, pushing for the
migration from textbooks to digital content and is developing cutting edge educational environments to
meet the demands of today’s learners. He has been selected to lead statewide committees charged with
charting the future of public education in Florida. He successfully chaired the Governor’s Race to the Top
Florida’s schools. He was also tapped as chair of Florida’s Task Force on Educational Excellence which has
been charged with crafting the framework for the reform efforts driven by Race to the Top. In 2010, Mr.
In 2011 he was named one of the Top 10 Tech-Savvy Superintendents in the U.S. by eSchool News and was
awarded the 2011 Essie Silva Community Builder Award by United Way of Miami-Dade.
the prestigious Broad Prize for Urban Education. He is the President of the Association of Latino Administrators
and Superintendents (ALAS).
A versatile leader, Mr. Carvalho is the only superintendent in the nation who is the self appointed principal of
two award-winning schools – the Primary Learning Center and the iPrep Academy - and teaches Physics in
selected high schools across the district. He has been featured on CNN, NBC, The New York Times, District
Administration Magazine, The Christian Science Monitor, and Nightly Business Report.
Amber Cruz
Mobilize.org
Amber Cruz is Program Manager for Mobilize.org, working to develop programming
and provide support for summit award winners in the fellowship program. She became
a member of the team in September 2010.
organization, managing their events and PAC contributions. She came to Washington,
D.C. in January 2010 with three years of event planning experience at a private
event planning company in Oregon, where she planned a variety of events, including
organizer for Senator Jeff Merkley. Amber brings to Mobilize.org her belief in the power of Millennials to
make a difference through innovative, grassroots solutions.
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14. Cruz holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics from Willamette University in Oregon. She enjoys lending her
fundraising and event planning expertise to women’s organizations in Washington, D.C.
Grant Garrison
GOOD/Corps
Mobilize.org Board of Directors
Grant leads GOOD/Corps’s involvement in the Pepsi Refresh Project and advises on
engagements with other clients, including MasterCard, GE, Dick’s Sporting Goods,
the Carnegie Corporation, and the Columbia Water Center. As Pepsi Refresh Project
Lead, Grant oversees a Grants Management team of 13 that provides support to and
builds brand ambassadors among the more than 600 (and counting!) Pepsi Refresh
grantees, and the Production team that captures the remarkable stories of these
grantees in videos, infographics, events and written content. Prior to joining GOOD/
Corps, Grant managed strategy consulting engagements with diverse philanthropies
the Glide Foundation, the Chicago Council on Foreign Affairs, Architecture for Humanity, and San Francisco
focused on civic engagement in the United States and the former Yugoslavia.
Jade Flader
Target 2020 California Participant
Mobilize.org California Community Mobilizer
Jade Flader represents Mobilize.org as its Community Mobilizer in California. She
works closely with the Programs Manager as a mentor and facilitator for awardees
from Mobilize.org’s Target 2020 Education Summit, held in San Jose, Cali, through
organizing concentrated and effective seminars to continue supporting their student
projects. In addition to her role with Mobilize.org, Flader is a full time student attaining
an A.A. degree in Speech Communication at De Anza College in California. Afterward
graduating, she will transfer to a four year university for her B.A. in Film Production.
Flader was born in San Francisco, California, but grew up in Malaysia, where she graduated high school.
years, managing and representing models, coordinating castings and traveling abroad for international
productions. With help from her family, in 2009, both Flader and her twin brother moved back to California
to further their education.
Encouraging student success on her campus, Flader volunteered as an English tutor for cross cultural
programs that help non-native speakers improve their language skills. In addition to that, she facilitated a
passion for helping others as a volunteer at Sunnyvale Community Service which serves 1,200 families each
month to prevent hunger and homeless in her community.
In April 2011, Flader participated in the California Target 2020 Summit as a group facilitator. After the
summit, Flader was inspired to continue her service with Mobilize.org because of the student passion and
dedication she witnessed in building a supportive structure for their communities.
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15. Senator Bob Graham
Senator Bob Graham is the former two–term governor of Florida and served for 18
years in the United States Senate. This is combined with 12 years in the Florida
legislature for a total of 38 years of public service. Bob Graham retired from public
Bob Graham is recognized for his leadership on issues ranging from education,
economic development, healthcare, environmental preservation and his service on the
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence — including eighteen months as chairman in
2001–2002.
After retiring from public life, Senator Graham served for a year as a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy
School of Government.
In May of 2010, Senator Graham was appointed by the President to serve as Co-Chair of the National
Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. This followed his service as a
Commissioner on the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission and as the Chairman of the Commission on the
Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism. Currently he serves as chairman of
Senator Graham also serves as a member of the CIA External Advisory Board, as a member of the board
of directors of several companies and as the chair of the Board of Overseers of the Bob Graham Center for
Public Service at the University Florida.
background in government and intelligence.
Matthew Haggman
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Matt Haggman joined the staff of Knight Foundation in October, 2011.
Previously, Haggman worked for The Miami Herald covering Miami-Dade County
government and real estate. He has also covered legal affairs for the Daily Business
Review.
In 2008, he co-authored an award-winning series, Borrowers Betrayed, which detailed
lax state oversight of the home loan industry that contributed to Florida’s rise in
mortgage fraud. The series won numerous awards, including the Gerald Loeb Award, the highest honor in
business journalism.
Haggman has a doctorate of law from Vermont Law School and a B.A. in history from Tulane University.
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16. Dr. Eduardo Padrón
Miami Dade College
An American by choice, Eduardo Padrón arrived in the United States as a refugee at age
student achievement and the largest institution of higher education in America, with
more than 174,000 students.
An economist by training, Dr. Padrón earned his Ph.D. from the University of Florida.
Corporation of New York granted him its prestigious Centennial Academic Leadership Award. This year he
Service.
Dr. Padrón’s energetic leadership extends to many of the nation’s leading organizations. He is the immediate
past chair of the Board of Directors of the American Council on Education and a past Board chair of the
Association of American Colleges and Universities. During his career, he has been selected to serve on posts
of national prominence by six American Presidents. Most recently, he was named chairman of the White
House Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans by President Obama.
Dr. Padrón is widely recognized as one of the top educational leaders in the world. He serves on the boards of
the Council on Foreign Relations, the Business/Higher Education Forum, the League for Innovation (former
chair), RC-2020, the College Board Advocacy and Policy Center, the White House Fellows Selection Panel
(chair), the International Association of University Presidents. He has held leadership positions on the
boards of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the Hispanic Association of Colleges
& Universities (chair), the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Campus Compact, the Congressional
Hispanic Caucus Institute, and others.
President Padrón’s transformational accomplishments at Miami Dade College have been acknowledged by
the national media, including The New York Times, NBC Nightly News, Time magazine, The Wall Street
Journal, CNN and The Chronicle of Higher Education. He has received some of the most prestigious awards
in and out of academia as well as several honorary doctorates. He is also the recipient of highest honors
by the governments of foreign nations, including France, which named him Commandeur in the Ordre des
Palms Académiques;; Argentina, which awarded him the Order of San Martin;; and Spain, whose King Juan
Carlos II bestowed upon him the Order of Queen Isabella.
Dr. Lenore Rodicio
Miami Dade College
Lenore Rodicio is currently Executive Director the MDC3 Student Success and
Completion Initiatives at Miami Dade College. Dr. Rodicio joined MDC in the Fall
of 2002 as an adjunct instructor of chemistry at the Kendall and InterAmerican
Campuses. In the Spring of 2003, she accepted a position as a full-time faculty
member at MDC’s Wolfson Campus. In 2006, she became the chair of the Department
of Natural and Social Sciences at the InterAmerican Campus. She moved to Kendall
Campus in her current role in January of 2010. Dr. Rodicio has collaborated on a
number of grant projects aimed at recruiting students to the sciences and improving
modular redesign project funded through the National Center of Academic Transformation, and the Statway
project funded by the Carnegie Foundation. Aside from her interest in the sciences and mathematics, Dr.
Rodicio served as a founding co-chair of the Learning Outcomes Project that facilitated the development of
ten College-wide learning outcomes. As a result of her work with Learning Outcomes, Dr. Rodicio became
associated with the Association for General and Liberal Studies, and is currently serving as the vice president
and president-elect of that organization.
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17. Dr. Rodicio holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Barry University, and a Doctor of Philosophy
degree in chemistry from Louisiana State University.
Maya Enista Smith
Mobilize.org
organization whose mission is to improve democracy by investing in Millennial-driven
solutions.
At 28 years old, Maya is a veteran in the public service sector, beginning her non-
undergraduate at Rutgers University, focusing mainly on voter empowerment and
youth civic engagement. She began her career as the East Coast Coordinator for Rock The Vote at age 17,
a position in which she registered over 30,000 young people. Through her work with Rock The Vote, Maya
She continued her voter registration work when she accepted the position of National Field Director for
the Hip Hop Civic Engagement Project, a project that grew out of the successful National Hip Hop Political
Convention in Newark, NJ. Maya organized a 13 state campaign that registered over 300,000 new voters in
In addition to her work with Mobilize.org, Maya serves on the Advisory Board for CIRCLE, the Working
Group for the Civic Health Index of the National Conference on Citizenship, and the Board of Directors for
BoardSource. For her leadership, Maya has been awarded a YouthActionNet Fellowship, the Independent
Young Women of Achievement Award and Gelman, Rosenberg + Freedman 20011 EXCEL Award for Excellence
Volunteering and Service in New York City, NY and as a grant reviewer for competitive grant programs at the
Case Foundation and the Knight Foundation. Most recently, Maya was awarded the competitive Prime Movers
Fellowship of the Hunt Alternatives Fund.
Maya, very proud of her Jersey roots, grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey and attended Columbia High
School in Maplewood, NJ and Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. She currently resides in Washington
DC with her husband, David and her two black labs, Hudson and Zinny.
Damian Thorman
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Damian Thorman joined Knight Foundation in 2007 as National Program Director.
The National Program supports innovative ideas and leadership with the potential to
drive transformative change nationally and in Knight’s resident communities. He helps
develop new grant opportunities at a national level that target systemic change within
the framework of informed, engaged communities.
in Kansas City, Mo. He founded and ran the Thorman Strategy Group, a consulting practice that assisted
professor at Avila College in Kansas City, Mo. Thorman was the director of public affairs and policy at the
Ewing Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City from 1994 to 2002. In Washington, D.C., he served as assistant
director at the American Academy of Pediatrics, professional staff member of the House Education and
Labor Committee, and congressional aide to then-U.S. Rep. Bill Richardson. He also served a brief stint as a
reporter for the National Catholic Reporter in Los Angeles.
He has a law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a master’s in business administration
from Rockhurst University.
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18. Summit Supporters
The Knight Foundation is a national foundation with local
roots. It chooses, as the Knight brothers chose, to seek
opportunities that can transform both communities and
journalism, and help them reach their highest potential.
It advances journalism in the digital age and invest in
the vitality of communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. The Knight Foundation focuses
on projects that promote informed, engaged communities and lead to transformational change. It believes
that information is a core community need and that all citizens should get the information they need to
thrive in a democracy and act in their own best interest. To learn more about the Knight Foundation, visit
www.knightfoundation.org.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation focuses on issues
it believes are the biggest barriers that prevent people
from making the most of their lives. By teaming up
with partners around the world to take on some tough
problems, including the failures of America’s education
system, it funds innovative ideas and employs an
outstanding leadership team to direct strategies and grantmaking. The belief that every life has equal value
is at the core of their work. To learn more about the Gates Foundation, visit www.gatesfoundation.org.
Lumina Foundation for Education is committed to
enrolling and graduating more students from college.
They are the nation’s largest foundation dedicated
exclusively to increasing students’ access to and success
in postsecondary education. Their goal is to increase the
percentage of Americans who hold high-quality degrees
policy, and by using our communications and convening capacity to build public will for change. They have
worked with and made grants to many colleges, universities, peer foundations, associations and other
organizations that work to improve student access and outcomes across the nation. To learn more about the
Lumina Foundation, visit www.luminafoundation.org.
The Florida Joint Center for Citizenship is a partnership
between the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government
at the University of Central Florida and the Bob Graham
Center for Public Service at the University of Florida. The
Joint Center grew from a 2006 bipartisan effort, launched
by Congressman Lou Frey and Senator Bob Graham, to
improve civic education in Florida. Since 2006, with the help of many other organizations and people, the
state’s Social Studies standards and benchmarks have been revised and strengthened, the Justice Sandra
Day O’Connor Civics Education Act has added civics to Florida’s list of tested subjects, and the Joint Center
has been established by formal agreement between the University of Florida and the University of Central
Florida. The Joint Center is pleased to be one of many who are helping to restore the civic mission of Florida’s
schools. To learn more about the Joint Center, visit .
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19. Summit Partners
AmeriCorps Alums is a community of experienced volunteer leaders
who share a commitment to a vision of a more perfect America.
They are a national network of over half a million alumni from
the AmeriCorps national service (including NCCC, VISTA and pre-
AmeriCorps VISTA). As the premiere national service alumni
organization, AmeriCorps Alums is uniquely positioned to be on the cutting edge of the civic leadership
community. Their mission is to build community through a lifetime of service.
Catalyst Miami, formerly the Human Services Coalition (HSC),
communities thrive and to create a more equitable and caring society.
We work through a network of partner organizations, linking people
educational and economic opportunities. Our mission is to develop and support individual leadership and
strong organizations that work together to improve health, education and economic opportunity in all our
communities.
Over the past decade, College Summit has worked in partnership
with schools, school districts and colleges to develop a sustainable
model for raising college enrollment rates community-wide. In Miami-
college-immersion workshop program for a select group of high-
potential, academically mid-tier students. In 2003, at the urging of
a high school counselor who witnessed the positive effects workshop
students were having on their peers at school, College Summit shifted
schools students increase their college enrollment rate by using the summer workshop as one key lever to
accomplish that goal.
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20. HandsOn Broward inspires, equips and mobilizes people to take action
to positively affect change in Broward County. To learn more about
HandsOn Broward’s upcoming service opportunities or to schedule a
www.HandsOnBroward.org.
The Center for Community Involvement’s Mission is to enhance student
learning, meet community needs, and foster civic responsibility & a sense
of caring for others. The Center for Community Involvement is housed
within the Academic Division of the College. This Center is responsible for
all service-learning and America Reads activities of the College. In addition,
the Center functions as a volunteer clearinghouse for students, staff, and
faculty who wish to get involved in community service. With full-service
Center for Community Involvement serves the entire College.
Public Allies is a national movement grounded in the conviction that
everyone leads. We believe that everyone can make a difference and
can work to inspire more citizens to believe in themselves, step up, and
act. Public Allies’ mission is to advance new leadership to strengthen
the face and practice of leadership in Miami and in communities across
the country by demonstrating our conviction that everyone can lead, and
that lasting social change results when citizens of all backgrounds step
up, take responsibility, and work together.
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21. Resource Guide
Finances -- Aid, Scholarships, and Budgets
FAFSA Information
College Scholarship
Free site that allows browsing of scholarships and grant programs, along with links to program
information.
Florida Student Scholarship & Grant Programs
Education, administers a variety of postsecondary educational state-funded grants and scholarships, and
provides information to students, parents, and high school and postsecondary professionals.
South Florida Community College Scholarships
The South Florida Community College Foundation, Inc. (Foundation) awards numerous scholarships to
students attending the College each year. Students enrolled at least half time in an associate degree,
Jobs and Career Resources
Idealist.org
USAJOBS.gov
Job search engine and resource for federal jobs.
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
The Department of Economic Opportunity utilizes public and private sector expertise to attract, retain
and grow businesses and create jobs in Florida. Florida Jobs will connect you with those partners and
opportunities that will assist you in locating, retaining and growing your business in Florida.
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22. Organizations and Projects
AmeriCorps
Community College Success
career of your dreams.
Complete College America
credential of value and to close attainment gaps for traditionally underrepresented populations.
Institute for Higher Education Policy
around the world.
New Organizing University
New Organizing University is an online learning community, dedicated to providing organizers everywhere
organizing, data management, and digital strategy.
Opportunity Nation
Opportunity Nation is a campaign to promote opportunity, social mobility, and access to the American Dream.
YouthBuild, USA
energy of low-income youth to rebuild their communities and transform their lives.
Youth Service America
substantive roles. YSA does this through grant and service programs.
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