Mayor Suarez at the Urban Core Education Forum

Mayor Francis Suarez began his presentation at the Urban Core Education Forum by thanking organizers for persevering to address the critical need to improve and grow our educational system. Speaking “not only as mayor” but as a resident and father of two children, Suarez acknowledged the gaps and the need to incentivize developers to include schools in their models. “We need to invest and focus on our educational system over anything else.” Suarez emphasized not only the immediate need for improved educational opportunities for our city’s children, but that the need will grow exponentially, particularly in the urban core, as more tech companies consider relocating to Miami.

Suarez discussed partnering with our school board and superintendent to give children necessary resources including learning financial discipline and establishing a kindergartner savings account program. He commended recent raises in salaries for teachers and voiced his support for funding STEM/Robotics curriculum. The mayor also addressed solutions to obtain critical funding while competing with other programs such as sports. Self-described as “not a tax guy”, Suarez said he is listening to our residents who have voted in favor of improving education and will vote accordingly this legislative session.

With his tweets about Miami becoming the new Silicon Valley being seen by 28 million people, Suarez spoke to the momentum to prepare for tech jobs and growth in the urban core. The major question he gets from tech entrepreneurs is about the educational system in this, the “Magic City”. In order to create a Miami for everyone, we need to give our children and parents the resources they need. We need to give our children specific tools to thrive in this economy.

Miami has a story to tell and Suarez is passionate about the importance of telling that story well. Stating that Miami graduates more Black and Hispanic engineers than any area in the country, he is fighting the misperception that Miami is not developing talent and is an “intellectual importer”. With 53,500 followers on Twitter, Suarez is energized to keep his phone nearby and keep telling Miami’s story. He welcomes questions and encourages investors and software companies to come and see what Miami has to offer. As the story continues to unfold, Suarez invites this community to keep the conversation moving forward via texts, calls and @FrancisSuarez.