M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Mayor and Town Council
From: Rafael G. Casals, Town Manager
Date: April 19, 2017
Re: The Children’s Trust Grant Agreement (FY 2016-17)
REQUESTtitle
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, APPROVING THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CHILDREN’S TRUST AND THE TOWN FOR THE PROVISION OF A ROBOTICS SUMMER CAMP AT TOWN HALL; AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE SAME; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
On December 1, 2016, The Children’s Trust released a request for proposals entitled “Summer Youth Enrichment Enhancements”. The purpose of this competitive solicitation was to fund high quality, research or evidence-based youth enrichment summer services for middle and high school-age youth in underserved communities with high need and minimal program opportunities. Summer programs must focus on technical education, college prep and/or business entrepreneurship using a research or evidence-based curriculum or program model that is administered by qualified management and direct personnel.
On January 17, 2017, the Town submitted a grant proposal for the “Careers in STEM Summer Camp”. The Town of Cutler Bay’s Careers in STEM Summer Camp falls under the Trust’s program focus area of "Career & Technical Certification Programming". In collaboration with primary partner, Miami-Dade College School of Continuing Education and Professional Development Homestead Campus, youth will participate in a six (6) week Robotics Engineering camp for grade levels 6-8. Using a combination of hands-on instruction and online skills assessments, youth that successfully complete the STEM Summer Camp will receive a "Introduction to Robotics" certification from Carnegie Mellon University.
Youth will also have access to Carnegie Mellon's Computer Science-STEM (CS-STEM) network to continue receiving up to six (6) additional certifications tailored to youth and adults. Additional activities include; fitness/nutrition, life skills, educational field trips, and a Robotics Festival (Community Service Project). Cutler Bay will target middle school youth (ages 11-13), living in Cutler Bay (including priority zip code 33157) and surrounding priority areas of South Miami Heights and Goulds.
On March 8, the Town received notification that The Children’s Trust staff is recommending the Town for a $136,350 grant to implement the “Cutler Bay Careers in STEM Summer Camp”.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the attached resolution be adopted authorizing the Town Manager to enter into contract negotiations and execute the agreement between the Town and The Children’s Trust.