County’s Black economic development agency aims to monitor social economic conditions throughout County

As part of its efforts to expand economic prosperity, the Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust (MDEAT) is conducting a disparity study to monitor social-economic conditions throughout the County. MDEAT, an agency that seeks to increase the participation of Black residents in the County’s economic growth, conducts these studies every ten years.

The agency is launching its Transformation 305 Listening Tour to allow residents to share their perspectives on various social-economic issues in their communities. The first listening session is scheduled for Tuesday, April 4, at 6 p.m. at the Arcola Lakes Branch Library at 8240 N.W. 7th Avenue in Miami.

“There is something special about our County. The promise this County delivers attracts millions of people from across the globe to our shores to build their version of the American Dream by way of Miami-Dade County. Every resident deserves access to this world-renown Miami-Dade County quality of life,” said Bill Diggs, MDEAT’s executive director. “With this disparity study, MDEAT endeavors to monitor conditions that fulfill this promise. We invite the community to participate in our Transformation 305 Listening Tour. During these sessions, participants will talk, and we will listen. We need their honest feedback on various social-economic issues. Our future depends on it.”

In outlining the “Powers and duties of the Trust,” Miami-Dade County Code of Ordinances requires MDEAT to conduct a disparity study that examines the present economic conditions ofBlacks in Miami-Dade County every ten years. The goal is to better understand the full landscape of residents’ quality of life, the plight of the business community and identify ways to increase the participation of Black residents in the County’s economic growth. The results are then used to craft a disparity study and inform the agency’s legislative agenda, economic development initiatives and programs, and community partnerships.

For information regarding MDEAT’s Disparity Study, contact Matthew Tisdol, Legislative Analyst, at or (305) 375-5661 or Matthew.Tisdol@miamidade.gov.

MDEAT’s Transformation 305 Listening Tour is scheduled as follows:

● Transform 305 Listening Tour – Arcola Lakes Branch Library | Tuesday, April 4, 6:00 p.m. | Arcola Lakes Branch Library 8240 N.W. 7th Avenue Miami, FL 33150

● Transform 305 Listening Tour – Westchester Regional Library | Saturday, April 8, 10 a.m. | Westchester Regional Library 9445 Coral Way Miami, FL 33165

● Transform 305 Listening Tour – South Dade Regional Library | Saturday, April 15, 10 a.m. | South Dade Regional Library 10750 SW 211 Street Cutler Bay, FL 33189

● Transform 305 Listening Tour – Homestead Community Center | Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m. | Homestead Community Center 1601 N. Krome Avenue Homestead, FL 33030

● Transform 305 Listening Tour – City of North Miami Public Library | Tuesday, April 25, 6:30 p.m. | City of North Miami Public Library 835 NE 132 Street North Miami, FL 33161

● Transform 305 Listening Tour – Betty T.Ferguson Recreational Complex | Thursday, May 4, 6:30 p.m. | Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex 3000 NW 199th Street Miami Gardens, FL 33056

● Transform 305 Listening Tour – Westchester Regional Library | Thursday, May 11, 6:30 p.m. | Westchester Regional Library 9445 Coral Way Miami, FL 33165

REGISTRATION: http://www.bit.ly/MDEATevents

This is a Hy-Lo News Staff Report.