FIU, JPMorgan Chase to invest in Liberty City

Grant aims to transform Miami Northwestern Senior High

In partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Florida International University and JPMorgan Chase announced today a major investment of resources and support to help transform Miami Northwestern Senior High School.

JPMorgan Chase presented a $1 million check during the official announcement of the partnership, dubbed The Education Effect, at Miami Northwestern Senior High’s college resource center.

“JPMorgan Chase consistently looks to act as a catalyst for meaningful, positive and sustainable change within communities we serve across the globe. This public/private partnership reflects those values and only enhances our longstanding commitment to the Liberty City community,” said Mel Martinez, chairman of Florida, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and the JPMorgan Chase Foundation. “We are pleased to offer this grant to FIU and Miami Northwestern Senior High School and are hopeful that others will join us to maximize its long term success.”

Working hand-in-hand with FIU students and faculty, Miami Northwestern will use the three-year grant to fund a variety of academic projects, including the creation of an aquaponics garden, financial literacy classes for students and parents, and overall exposure to university life. The complete program will offer 22 dual-enrollment courses on-site at Miami Northwestern throughout the year – more than double the number offered by any other high school under the district’s Education Transformation Office.

“As an anchor institution in South Florida, we believe it is FIU’s responsibility as a public university to become engaged with our community,” said FIU President Mark. B. Rosenberg. “Miami Northwestern High School is the heart of the Liberty City community, and it is there that we can make a real difference. Along with our partners JPMorgan Chase and Miami-Dade County Public Schools, we’re making an investment in this community, this school and its students because we believe they deserve an opportunity to realize their dreams.”

About 47 percent of Liberty City residents have a high school education, and about 3 percent hold a bachelor’s degree. And at the heart of this neighborhood is Miami Northwestern, a school with deep roots and strong history in Liberty City. According to College Summit, a national organization with a successful track record at Northwestern, one in every four Miami Northwestern students does not graduate high school. Only 38 percent of those who graduate go on to college.

This university-assisted community school model is part of a larger plan that not only educates and engages students, but ultimately empowers the community. FIU and JPMorgan Chase also are leading partners in an effort to align community organizations around common goals to advance Liberty City through improving teaching skills and learning; enhancing parental and community engagement; and fostering an academic environment conducive to student success.

“Our goal is to graduate students who are ready to contribute to our 21st century society,” said Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho. “This grant will assist our school system in furthering our aim of creating the citizens of tomorrow.”

This collaboration is part of FIU’s commitment to engaging its community and creating win-win partnerships. For example, FIU and M-DCPS have established ACCESS – Achieving Community Collaboration in Education and Student Success–an achievement-oriented partnership that is firmly focused on improving student learning.  The district and the university already have come together to address critical areas such as pre-collegiate preparation, dual enrollment, clinical internships and collaborative research.

For more information about The Education Effect, contact Cecilia Gutierrez-Abety at 305-348-4164.