Latest news with #MadelinePumariega
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Miami Herald
Miami's iconic building is honored, just as immigrants face attacks
Miami's Freedom Tower — once the proud 'Ellis Island of the South' — turned 100 on July 25. After a two-year, $25 million restoration, it will reopen next month as a museum honoring Miami's refugee story, especially the Cuban exile journey. And yet, the irony stings. The tower's centennial and reopening comes at a time when Miami — and the country — is in the midst of an aggressive immigration crackdown. In today's South Florida, 'Alligator Alcatraz' has emerged as the twisted, modern-day echo of the Freedom Tower one about confinement and deportation instead of a warm welcome Originally built in 1925 as the headquarters for the Miami News, the pink tower on Biscayne Boulevard later served as a famed one-stop government processing center and came to symbolize the new-found freedom to hundreds of thousands shellshocked Cuban political refugees fleeing Fidel Castro's communist regime. They dubbed it la Torre de la Libertad. From 1962 through the 1980s, the tower was the place where the continuous flow of refugees had their initial paperwork done, received food rations, medical care, job placement or relocation help. Since then, the tower, once one of downtown Miami's tallest buildings, has continued to serve as a symbolic beacon of hope and freedom for all individuals from different countries coming to Miami to escape from political oppression in Latin America and Haiti. Freedom Tower is now part of Miami Dade College, which has preserved the site as a civic and cultural landmark. The renovation included significant structural work to stabilize and modernize the building while retaining its historic integrity. That guarantees its future as one of our oldest structures. The renovation created new exhibit spaces to preserve and display the impact immigrants and refugees have had on Miami-Dade, with a new immersive museum experience that tells the story of Cuban immigration and Miami's evolution into the vibrant, multicultural city it is today. 'The Freedom Tower represents — not just for Cubans, but Venezuelans, Hondurans, Colombians — it really stands as a beacon of hope and opportunity,' Miami Dade College president Madeline Pumariega recently told reporters. Pumariega is the daughter of Cuban exiles. Later this year, visitors will be able to walk through the same lobby that once welcomed immigrants, view oral histories, photographs and databases of refugees from Operation Pedro Pan, to the Freedom Flights, to Mariel and the balsero crisis. There will be personal mementos — passports, photographs, toys brought by children — that speak to exile, resilience and success in a new country. Today, around the country, ICE agents are detaining migrants for deportation. Back in its glory days, this governmental climate of fear was absence for those who were welcomed through the Freedom Tower's doors. The stark contradiction is hard to ignore and leads many to wonder: Would Cuban refugees, or Haitians or Nicaraguans, be welcomed today at the Freedom Tower, or turned away? This isn't a rhetorical question. Miami's Freedom Tower represented Miami as a city in the United States where the 'huddled masses' sought refugee, found it and flourished to its benefit. The restored Freedom Tower is a celebration of Miami's soul — a visible reminder that this city was built and enriched by generations of immigrants, exiles and people looking for a new country, a second chance as they fled from tyranny and poverty. But its centennial should be more than a history lesson. It should challenge Miami today to live up to the promise that the tower represents.
CBS News
19-07-2025
- CBS News
Renovations at Miami's Freedom Tower finishing up ahead of its 100th anniversary celebration
Still standing tall against the massive urbanization that is 21st Century Miami, the building known today as the Freedom Tower has been a big part of Miami's history. Built to impress in the Mediterranean style, 100 years ago it was home to the Miami Daily News and the headquarters for the Cox newspaper chain. This week workers scrambled to finish a massive $25 million renovation to mark the building's centennial anniversary. Madeline Pumariega, the president of Miami Dade College. She recently gave CBS News Miami a tour of the facility, noting the planned innovations. "This hallway is intended to depict a journey, a journey to freedom so many that have come in search of hope and opportunity," she said. Pumariega is referring to the hundreds of thousands of Cuban refugees who passed the historic building from 1962 through 1974. The Federal Cuban Assistance Program provided Cuban exiles and refugees with financial aid, food, medical care and guidance on setting up life in America. Carman Valdivia remembers visiting the Freedom Tower in her childhood. "They would take us there for the doctors and dentists and things like that," she said. Cuban exile doctors were allowed to practice inside the Freedom Tower, while new arrivals learned English there. When the federal refugee funding ran out, the building fell into hard times and was in disrepair. It changed hands several times and was eventually rescued by the family of the late Jorge Mas Canosa. In 2003, the building gained attention again thanks to a massive memorial to "The Queen of Salsa" Celia Cruz. Miami Dade College later acquired the Freedom Tower and is now spearheading the renovations which include digital displays and exhibits, like the stacks of suitcases. The Castro regime would only allow exiles three changes of clothes and not much else when they exited the island. The exiles came to America with all they had packed in one suitcase. They often kept their suitcases along with the airline tickets that flew them to freedom. Pumariega said the stacks of 1960s luggage is a powerful reminder for many of where they come from. There is plenty of Miami history in this iconic building which will re-open to the public later this summer or early fall.
Miami Herald
02-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Miami-Dade schools to lose millions after federal grant cancellations
The U.S. Department of Education has halted funding to several longstanding grant programs that serve low-income and vulnerable students, a move that could cost Miami-Dade County Public Schools more than $45 million in the coming school year. The funding, which was approved by Congress in March and expected to be distributed starting July 1, would have supported migrant education, teacher development, English-language instruction, and other services for high-need populations. 'As the significant bulk of this funding is tied to students, including our most fragile student populations, we pray that they do not become permanent—which could result in catastrophic learning and life consequences for children and families across Miami-Dade,' said Steve Gallon, vice chair of the Miami-Dade school board. Nationwide, the cuts affect at least 18 grant programs totaling more than $8 billion, according to the Department of Education's 2025 budget summary. Among the programs cut: $375 million for migrant education$2.2 billion for professional development$890 million for English-learner services$1.3 billion for academic enrichment$1.4 billion for before- and after-school programs Florida alone stands to lose about $396 million, the Tampa Bay Times reported. The grant programs have been replaced by a new initiative, the K-12 Simplified Funding Program, which will distribute $2 billion in flexible block grants to states. The Dept. of Education's budget summary says the change gives states 'flexibility to deploy these resources in a manner consistent with the needs of their communities.' But education advocates warn that because the money is not targeted, students with the greatest needs may not receive support. This is not the only federal funding loss affecting Miami-Dade. In February, the Department of Education also terminated a $9.26 million grant awarded to Miami-Dade schools under the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) program. The five-year grant was meant to support a project called Edu-PARTNERS, aimed at recruiting and retaining teachers in high-need schools. The program included a partnership with Miami Dade College and mentorship opportunities for new educators. According to the grant application, Edu-PARTNERS aimed to increase teacher diversity and promote greater equity in student access to quality instruction. Miami-Dade was one of more than 30 grantees selected in the 2024 competition. But on Feb. 12, the department issued a formal termination notice, ending the grant immediately. No public explanation was given for Miami-Dade's termination. A Department of Education employee reached by phone said they had no information on individual grant cancellations but noted the TQP program has existed since 2008 and has historically funded successful partnerships between school districts and educator training institutions. Madeline Pumariega, president of Miami Dade College, said the institution remains committed to its mission. 'Despite the grant cancellation, we continue to expand our teacher preparation and education programs,' she said, citing the school's teacher academy and apprenticeship offerings. The cancellation has alarmed local and national education leaders. Tony White, president of the United Teachers of Dade, said in a statement that 'canceling any program that helps with our county's teacher shortage is harmful to the students of this district.' The TQP program, authorized under the Higher Education Act, is the only federal initiative specifically focused on building sustainable educator pipelines in under-served communities. Its sudden cancellation is part of a broader shift by the Trump administration, which says many of the defunded programs no longer align with its goals. According to the department's budget summary, the elimination of these programs is expected to save taxpayers $2.13 billion in fiscal year 2026. For Miami-Dade students, the long-term cost remains unclear. This story will be updated.
Miami Herald
27-06-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Miami's Freedom Tower just got a $5 million gift from the Knight Foundation
The Knight Foundation has pledged $5 million to support the restoration and reopening of Miami's iconic Freedom Tower, Miami Dade College announced this week. The donation comes ahead of the tower's 100th anniversary and a planned public reopening in September. The funds will support new cultural programming, including a major exhibition and gallery, as well as ongoing preservation work at the downtown landmark, which has been closed since 2022. The Knight Foundation gift is the largest private contribution so far to the Freedom Tower Centennial Campaign, which aims to raise money to revitalize the nearly century-old building and reaffirm its role as a center for arts, culture and history in Miami. 'This gift is a testament to the belief that Miami's history deserves to be preserved, celebrated, and shared,' said MDC President Madeline Pumariega. 'Thanks to Knight Foundation's support, the Freedom Tower will continue to serve as a beacon of civic memory, cultural expression and community pride for the next 100 years.' The $5 million donation will fund the creation of the Knight Skylight Gallery and a new signature exhibition, 'Refuge and Reflection,' set to open this fall. The exhibit will explore the building's multifaceted history — from its early days as a journalism hub to its later role processing Cuban refugees in the 1960s and 1970s. 'For so many families, including my own, this landmark has long been a symbol of hope — a place where dreams of freedom and opportunity took root, said Francesca de Quesada Covey, the Knight Foundation's vice president of community impact. 'It holds the stories of our community's history, identity and resilience. With this gift, we're helping ensure those stories continue to be shared in ways that inspire and unite future generations.' Located on Biscayne Boulevard, the Freedom Tower has long stood as a symbol of Miami's immigrant roots. In 2008, it was designated a National Historic Landmark. The 289‑foot tower, often called the 'Ellis Island of the South,' was completed in 1925 as the headquarters of The Miami News, serving as a landmark of Miami's early 20th‑century growth. It later became the Cuban Refugee Assistance Center from 1962 to 1974, where hundreds of thousands of Cuban exiles found welcome, medical aid and new beginnings. MDC closed the tower in 2022 to begin a two-year, $25 million restoration. The project includes much-needed structural and façade repairs, but doesn't alter the building's Mediterranean-style exterior. The Knight Foundation's support comes alongside public investment. Earlier this year, Gov. Ron DeSantis included $25 million for the project in his state budget proposal. The college has also received a $500,000 state cultural grant and has formed a centennial advisory committee co-chaired by Gloria and Emilio Estefan. With construction underway, the college says it is on track to reopen the Freedom Tower in time for its centennial. In addition to the new exhibition, the renovated space will feature reimagined versions of the Cuban Legacy Gallery and the Kislak Center, housing artifacts, manuscripts and art celebrating Miami's diverse heritage. 'This gift is a testament to the belief that Miami's history deserves to be preserved, celebrated, and shared,' Pumariega said.
