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Write Up of Positive Partnerships Program, Inc. and Mural Project For Coconut Grove Sailing Club

Four different people, from very different paths, all had the same vision: finding a way to reach the children that often slip through the cracks of our overburdened public schools. Officer Austin, a City of Miami Police Officer, had established a friendship based on common interests with Brian Grant, NBA player on the Miami Heat. Brian and his wife Gina were actively involved in community outreach while living in Portland, Oregon and were seeking out a way to connect to their new hometown. Officer Austin was actively exploring avenues to connect with the community and connected with Lisa Martinez, a Nationally Board Certified Teacher at Coconut Grove Elementary School. Together they formulated the plan for the Positive Partnerships Program with the support of the Grant Family. Its pilot year generated great amounts of local community support, which has pushed this program's founders to dedicate more time and resources to the program's mission.

The Positive Partnerships Program mission can be summarized in three words: Project Safety Net. The program seeks out children with the potential to be successful, but that face challenges in regards to conflict resolution and problem solving. The program brings together the children's families, teachers, neighborhood police officers, local business representatives, government officials, and other community members to create a network of caring individuals focused on broadening their horizons and nurturing the belief that each child has the potential to be a productive, contributing community member. This mission is carried through in school meetings focused on monitoring behavior and introducing behavior modification techniques, after-school community service activities, family and mentor "bonding" activities, and time with guest speakers which explore different career and life opportunities. This process creates a safety net for children that need extra support and motivation as they venture out into the world.

The Positive Partnerships Program Mural was displayed at the sailing club for two weeks beginning August 22nd has a special story behind it. At the core of PPP is the understanding that if the community is going the extra mile to support the kids of the program, that the kids need to seek out ways to give back to the community. Theoretically, the idea had perfect symmetry, but the kids didn't really understand the true value of community service. The children did not know about their community or the reason why it was a special. With the help of an incredible mentor, Robin Smith-Diaz, and an internationally renowned artist, Xavier Cortada, the kids began to explore the reasons why Coconut Grove is special and unique. With eight weeks of research and a better understanding of their community, a need for a forum to express the lessons learned became apparent. Robin guided the children through a discussion that led to the theme and various parts of the mural. With these ideas in place, the mural began to take shape. Xavier and Robin created the framework for the children's creativity. The canvases were brought to Virrick Park and the children, their mentors, and families were brought together to contribute to the mural during a full day's event. It was a day of fun, sharing, and learning. After everyone's hard work, a mural emerged that represents the children's hope for the community and the path that the Positive Partnerships Program is etching out to help in fulfilling the children's realization of the value of community. If you have any questions regarding the program or the mural please contact Lisa Martinez at 786.457.0964 or email her at positivepartnershipsprogram@yahoo.com.