Name: Ian Kirschner
Breakthrough Program: Breakthrough Miami, College Bound
Subject Teaching: American Sign Language
School Attending/Year: University of Florida, Senior

After an intense week of ITTI and being immersed in instructional theory, this past Saturday we took a step to see firsthand the areas our students are raised in.

All of us teacher interns hopped on a bus, drove past the miscellany of private schools, estates, and shopping centers of East Coconut Grove, and traveled through some of the most distressed communities in Miami. Communities such as Little Haiti, Little Havana, Liberty City, and Overtown once embodied a cultural and intellectual vividness. But now, the children and adults of these communities lack the academic, emotional, and economic support that we so often take for granted.

Going against this cycle of fleeting schools and many children left to fend for themselves, there are organizations making an impact on the lives of these Miami children and parents. In short, these non-profits serve as a decisive life-line in these areas. I was very surprised to learn of the collective reliance not only within these organizations, but between organizations.

The Little Haiti Cultural Center - located in Little Haiti, Miami - was our first stop. Amidst abandoned buildings scattered throughout this section of Miami, there is a vibrant and modern non-profit cultural center for kids. Here, underserved children are given exposure to and instruction in foreign languages, visual arts, and the performing arts. The facility was simply state of the art (what you would expect from a MoMA) - complete with a Haitian art gallery. Students of the center experience the intellectual and therapeutic value of photography, global cultures, writing and dance. It is not only the technical skills that are valuable, but the time here is spent cultivating self-confidence and awareness of self and others.

While the Little Haitian Cultural Center is a safe and productive area for students in the summer, there are other organizations working during the school year. Overtown, was once a mecca for blacks in Miami. It held an entertainment district and a central commercial area. But in the 1960s the construction of the I-95 and I-395 expressways gave businesses incentive to find their way out of Overtown. Along with that, schools began to become less and less supported, population dissipated, and poverty began to take hold. Now, the renaissance of Overtown only serves only as a blurry historical memory. Overtown is now known as one of the most high-risk areas in Miami. If it was not for The Overtown Youth Center (OYC) and Breakthrough Miami, there would be to no route for children to defeat this overwhelming culture of drug addiction, gangs, and violence. OYC and Breakthrough Miami make the possibility of sustainable self-advocacy a reality by giving students the attention and high-expectations they need to succeed. At OYC, children have a safe-haven that inspires them to learn about themselves, their community, while successfully graduating from high school and college. The center also offers adult education for the parents, home visits, and school visits to ensure the environment and habits of the children are beneficial. 

So after this tour what have I learned? What have I learned from our week of teacher training? I've been constantly reminded of one thing the most this past week: Collaboration. Without collaboration within and between organizations, no progress can be made. The Little Haitian Cultural Center, The Overtown Youth Center, Breakthrough Miami and other non-profits such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, all complement each other. They work to strengthen the Miami, American, and global organism. This week has taught me that while it is important to plan and teach with a fortified vision, no one person can do it all. Mentor teachers, administrators, and experienced Breakthrough teachers (shout out to Rachel Watson!) really are essential to successful teaching at Breakthrough. I'm only echoing what other intern teachers have already realized, but the collective effort is vital!

Our tour through Miami was a culmination to our extensive training process. So, after hours upon hours of preparation, once our students arrive this week, our classes can begin to really take shape. .