Dozens of local leaders in the areas of business, education, health care, and more gathered in South Miami on August 12 for a breakfast and conversation featuring James R. Haj, president and CEO of The Children’s Trust, and Natalia Zea, the organization’s Chief Public Policy & Engagement Officer. The event was hosted by Miami’s Community News.

Publisher Grant Miller opened the event with a warm welcome, followed by former Miami-Dade Public Schools Superintendent Roger Cuevas, who praised The Trust as “a model for communities around the country” with “no parallel.” Among those in attendance was David Lawrence Jr., founding board chair of The Children’s Trust.

Haj shared the history of The Trust, founded in 2002 and overwhelmingly reaffirmed by voters in 2008 with 86 percent support despite the economic downturn of that year. Today, The Trust’s reach extends to more than 1,600 program sites across Miami-Dade County, supporting organizations who serve children, Haj said.

Highlighting key Trust initiatives, Haj described The Book Club, which mails free books monthly to nearly 50,000 children ages 0-5, and youth development programs that keep kids engaged, learning, and safe after school and during summer. Haj then went on to discuss upcoming priorities of The Trust, including the newly revamped HealthConnect initiative, which previously served about half of public schools. This year, coverage will expand to all public schools and some charter schools, with mobile health units and telehealth services supplementing on-site clinics. Haj also addressed the critical need for expanded affordable early learning and child care opportunities for working families.

Zea then introduced Zero Drownings Miami-Dade, a community-wide collaborative initiative committed to preventing child drownings - the leading cause of accidental death for children ages 0-14 in the county. Partnering with organizations including Miami-Dade County, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the American Red Cross, The Miami Foundation, United Way Miami, and several other funders and programs, the initiative provided 10 free swim lessons to 2,500 children in its first year. The goal, she said, is to reach 10,000 children this year and 20,000 by next year, and each year thereafter. The program focuses on children ages 4- and 5 who take part in the swim lessons as a daily field trip during their school day. Zea urged attendees to get involved - by spreading the word, partnering, or helping to fund the effort - underscoring that drowning deaths among children was something that the community can only solve together.