Mayors Corner Newsletter (March 2019)

CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS MAYOR OLIVER GILBERT III

CornerTHE MAYOR'S
MARCH 2019 NEWSLETTER

Mayor's Fitness Challenge Finale

After seven weeks of hard work and dedication, the competitors of Mayor Oliver
Gilbert’s Fitness Challenge celebrated their accomplishments at the March 2nd
finale. Over a dozen competitors were recognized for their perfect attendance and
outstanding commitment to the challenge. The winner of the 60-Day Challenge took
home tickets to the 14th Annual Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival, a membership
pass to 24 Hour Fitness in Miami Gardens, a brand new Fitbit Activity Tracker and
a custom crafted workout kit to use as they continue their journey to staying active
and fit. Kudos to everyone who participated in this round of the Mayor's Fitness

Challenge!

National School Breakfast Week

Mayor Oliver Gilbert celebrated National School Breakfast week as he visited Scott
Lake Elementary along with the Live Healthy Miami Gardens team and City
partners Florida Impact and the University of Florida. Following cheerful

greetings, Mayor Gilbert jumped right into the morning action by serving students
a hearty breakfast.
 

National School Breakfast Week is a country-wide campaign by the School
Nutrition Association designed to show parents, students and school officials the
benefits of students fueling up for the day with a healthy school breakfast. With
support from the National League of Cities and the Walmart Foundation, the Live
Healthy Miami Gardens program leads efforts to make the City of Miami Gardens

a healthier place to live.

Bid Whist & Spades Tournament

On March 2nd, Mayor Oliver Gilbert and community members from across
Miami-Dade County gathered at the Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex for the
City of Miami Gardens’ Annual Bid Whist & Spades Tournament. Bid Whist, the popular

card game, is one of the most traditional pastimes enjoyed by Miami Gardens’
Residents.

Once again, Jazz in the Gardens has proven why it is known as the fastest growing
jazz and R&B festival in the U.S.! The 14th Annual Music Festival featured a star-
studded list of performances and one-of-a-kind ancillary events such as the Film,
Music, Art and Culture Conference (FMAC), the Poetry in the Gardens National

Poetry Contest, the Women’s Impact Luncheon celebrating Women’s History Month
and the Official Opening Night Party.

Rattlers In The Gardens

During this year’s festival, the National Alumni Association of Florida A&M
University (FAMU) was presented with a donation of $15,000 to establish a
scholarship fund in honor of FAMU alum and renowned photographer, Adrian
Freeman. Following the scholarship presentation, the Jazz in the Gardens audience
was surprised with the announcement of the soon-to-return Orange Blossom Football
Classic and the presentation of the 2019 FAMU National Alumni Association’s
Presidential Medal of Service to Mayor Oliver Gilbert. As a passionate Rattler and
dedicated FAMU alum, Mayor Oliver Gilbert humbly accepted the award on stage
with FAMU President Larry Robinson, Vice President of University Advancement and
Dean of the School of Business and Industry, Shawnta Friday-Stroud, NAA President

Colonel Gregory Clark, and the family of Adrian Freeman.

Orange Blossom Classic

Right from the lively Jazz in the Gardens stage, Mayor Oliver Gilbert
announced the next great endeavor for Miami Gardens, the 2020 Orange
Blossom Football Classic. The annual intercollegiate football game was
started in 1933 at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU)

and featured historically black universities. Originally held at the
Durkee Field in Jacksonville, Florida, the Orange Blossom Classic later

transitioned to cities such as Tampa, Tallahassee and most recently
Miami. The celebrated return of the Orange Blossom Football Classic is

set to take place on Labor Day of 2020 at the Hard Rock Stadium in
Miami Gardens.

Look Out for Updates on Jazz in The
Gardens' 15th Anniversary in 2020!