đź“· Photo courtesy of Madi Paez
Hiya, Madi. What is it that you do here in Miami?
I am a co-founder of GI 305, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster social and economic empowerment for the residents and workforce of Miami. We achieve this through a permanent guaranteed income program and grassroots organizing initiatives that promote community engagement and equity.
GI 305’s program disburses $650 per month to residents and workers within six Miami neighborhoods. This money is without conditions and restrictions, promoting choice and agency without discrimination or invasive state-structured case management.
Our organization ultimately formed as a response to the deepening social and economic crisis in Miami, seeing guaranteed income as a solution to the growing financial insecurity and housing instability, and limitations of traditional cash welfare. The repercussions of this crisis have reverberated throughout Miami-Dade County, hitting hardest in neighborhoods burdened by historical disinvestment and neglect.
What neighborhood(s) are you reppin’?
GI 305 proudly represents some of Miami’s most diverse neighborhoods, each with its own rich cultural heritage and fabric: Allapattah, Liberty City, Little Haiti, Little Havana, Overtown, and Wynwood.
Unfortunately, these neighborhoods have been economically marginalized amidst rapid industrial growth and urban development in Miami-Dade County.
These communities find themselves on the precipice of displacement and gentrification, making the need for guaranteed income all the more urgent. Through the implementation of guaranteed income, we aim to empower the residents and workers within these neighborhoods, granting them increased financial agency, promoting social equity, and fostering a sense of economic empowerment and optimism. Part of our work is also to highlight the unique attributes of each neighborhood, recognizing and celebrating the resilience of the individuals and communities we serve.
What brings you most alive about the 305?
Contrary to what some might think, there is an abundant network of organizing in Miami, and it is a space that inherently stands against much of what Miami politics is typically defined by. The people and groups that make up this space and embrace systemic transformation and re-imagination of the world we live in are what bring me most alive.
The 305’s organizing canvas, while yet to be filled, holds significant promise. It’s an open invitation for individuals and communities to contribute their unique colors, creating a masterpiece that challenges the status quo and paints a vision of a more equitable and inclusive future.
What’s your favorite Miami memory?
My favorite GI 305 Miami memory is when we participated in the Miami Foundation’s #PaintMiamiPurple campaign to galvanize the community during Give Miami Day. We went around to three GI 305 neighborhoods — Wynwood, Little Haiti, and Little Havana — with a blank canvas and a tub of purple paint. By the end of the day, our canvas was full of purple handprints and so many more Miamians had heard about GI 305 and Give Miami Day.
If you could eat only one meal from a local restaurant for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Croquetas from Islas Canarias — hands down. Probably add a batido de mamey to wash them down.
Outside of the obvious stop above, share your other top three destinations for where you’d go on your perfect Miami day.
A perfect Miami day would include some form of exercise, food, and relaxation. Running in the Aventura Circle in the morning is a great way to start your day. Afterward, I’d probably head to the Saturday morning farmer’s market in Legion Park. There’s a group that makes fresh juice at the end of the row and it is amazing. Then, I’d head to Panther Coffee on Biscayne to get some work done.
What’s your favorite local social media account to follow and why?
Besides the obvious @gi305cf, @theplantain is a must-follow. The satire is too good.
If you could give any one piece of advice to locals, what would it be?
Small collective actions over time set the foundation for big changes in the future.
How does Miami help you do what you do or influence your work?
Our mission and work is nothing without Miami and the communities we serve. Miami’s rich cultural tapestry and community pride play a pivotal role in influencing and shaping the work of GI 305. Our initiatives are not only a response to the specific needs of the city but also a celebration of the resilience and diversity that define Miami’s dynamic landscape.
If there was one thing you could change, address, etc. about Miami, what would it be?
The traffic — it’s horrific.
On a serious note, though, I wish that Miami’s economic justice space prioritized agency and self-determination more. Initiatives like workforce development and financial literacy, while well-intentioned, sometimes fall short of their anti-poverty goals because they don’t empower people in the same way a solution like guaranteed income does. GI 305 is working to change this narrative every day.
What are you looking forward to in 2024?
I am looking forward to starting Miami’s first guaranteed income disbursement in April 2024. With each person supported by Guaranteed Income we are one step closer to moving guaranteed income from a “pilot experiment” to a permanent program here in Miami-Dade County.
That’s a wrap on this week’s Locals to Know. Know someone who ought to be featured or would like to be featured yourself? Reach out by sending an email to [email protected] with the subject line “TNT Locals to Know 2024.” If chosen, you might just see yourself or a friend in a future newsletter.