FIU students with disabilities go to work and learn at Miami-Dade County

MIAMI – The first group of interns for the “Phoenix Project” began work on Monday at several Miami-Dade County departments. The project opens the doors for FIU students with disabilities to get practical experience working in departments throughout Miami-Dade County government.

“The Phoenix Project is a wonderful example of what can happen when some of the key institutions in our community work together for the benefit of our residents,” said FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg. “At FIU we are actively looking for partnerships such as the Phoenix Project that can help us have an even greater impact in the lives of our students and community.”

For one semester, the interns will gain work experience in their field of study, which includes construction management, information technology, computer and environmental engineering. Interns will be working alongside professionals who provide support for thousands of PC users, manage construction projects at one of the busiest ports in the world, and perform other important functions.

Through a partnership with South Florida Workforce, that organization is covering the salaries of eligible students up to $12 per hour.

“The County has a strong commitment to equal employment opportunity for everyone,” said Mayor Alvarez. “I encourage our human resource managers to include people with disabilities in our diverse workforce.”

In addition to coordinating the internships, FIU and the County’s Office of ADA Coordination provided “disability etiquette” training for County employees who are working in departments where Phoenix Project interns will be stationed.

Editor’s note: Interns are available for “media shadowing” while on the job. To coordinate a media shadowing opportunity, please contact Marie Bertot at mbertot@miamidade.gov or call 305-375-2274.

Media Contact:  Maydel Santana-Bravo at 305-348-1555.

-FIU- 

About FIU:
Florida International University was founded in 1965 and is Miami’s only public research university. With a student body of more than 38,000, its 17 colleges and schools offer more than 200 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations and law. More than 100,000 FIU alumni live and work in South Florida. FIU has been classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a “High Research Activity University”. In August 2009, FIU welcomed the inaugural class of the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu.