Florida Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson unveiled the expansion of her in-school mentoring program, 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, to the Bahamas on Sunday afternoon. This announcement was made aboard a cruise ship anchored at Port Miami during festivities marking the Bahamas’ 50th independence anniversary.
The celebratory event was attended by prominent figures including Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County Public School Board Chairwoman, Mari Tere Rojas, and Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis.
Strong Role Models For Male Students
The mentoring initiative was established by Wilson in 1993 and pairs male high school students with male mentors, offering alternative paths to steer them towards success. Wilson, with a background as a teacher, principal, and former Miami-Dade County School Board member, mentioned the program is already operative in multiple counties in Florida and in Detroit, Michigan.
During the announcement, Wilson mentioned it was a perfect moment to disclose the program’s expansion amidst the Bahamas’ anniversary celebration. The initiative is slated to launch in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, in September 2024, benefitting over 50 students initially.
5000 Role Models Takes Proactive Approach
Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis, who had previously been a mentor in the 5000 Role Models program, suggested taking the project international as Wilson recommended. Reflecting on his experiences, he expressed a strong desire to introduce the program in the Bahamas by quoting Frederick Douglass, renowned U.S. orator and abolitionist: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”.
The Bahamas gained its independence from the United Kingdom on July 10, 1973, concluding 325 years under British dominion. Congresswoman Wilson, among many in South Florida, traces her ancestry back to the Bahamas. Representing Florida’s 24th Congressional District, which includes parts of Miami-Dade and South Broward counties, she is the first and sole Bahamian-American in Congress.
Reflecting on the program’s expansion, she described it as a “dream come true.”
