10 DAYS OF CONNECTION
2020 IMPACT REPORT
Building a more inclusive, empathetic, connected, and compassionte region, 10 days at a time.
May 1-10Â | 10 Days of Connection Courtesy of: Radical Partners
TABLE OF CONTENTS
May 6 | The Allapattah Collaborative CDC Courtesy of: Radical Partners
Introduction
PG. 1
Why Connect
PG. 2
The Leaders
PG. 3
The Connection Journey
PG. 4
The 10 Days in 2020 ° Our Impact ° By The Geography ° By The Numbers ° By The Stories
PG. 5 PG. 9 PG. 10 PG. 11 PG. 12
Reflections & Next Steps
PG. 14
Acknowledgements
PG. 15
Stay Connected
PG. 17
INTRODUCTION The 10 Days of Connection is an annual, community-led challenge to fight divisiveness by bringing together people from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to break down silos, engage in acts of connection, and refocus on our shared humanity. Since 2017, from May 1-10 each year, hundreds of leaders and organizations come together to challenge people to step out of their comfort zones and connect with people who are not like them, in whatever way they are ready. In 2020, we found ourselves in the midst of challenging times prompted by the COVID-19 virus and all of us either thrust into isolation or on to the frontlines. Back in May, we were keenly aware of how important unity, empathy, and connection were in that exact moment. Our mission has never been more important and we adapted our movement to be virtual/physically distanced as our community navigated this global challenge. 150+ organizations curated 90+ virtual or physically distanced connection experiences for people to connect with others, strengthen their sense of belonging, encourage solidarity in our networks, and show up for our neighbors and all affected by the crisis. This report tells the story of how the initiative came to be, how it has evolved, and how it provided meaningful, inclusive, and accessible opportunities for everyone to explore new perspectives and focus on what unites us instead of what divides us in a time of deep discord.
May 8 | Share Our Stories Courtesy of: Radical Partners
May 8 | Street Team Courtesy of: Jen Klaassens
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WHY CONNECT? "We are constantly reminded of our differences and unfortunately, that usually happens in a way that divides us. Cultures, religions, ethnicities, languages, perspectives, traditions; they are all beautiful things that can teach us so much and co-exist if only we would allow them to do so. Technology and social media also have the potential to foster collaboration, yet algorithms sometimes take us other ways. We have become increasingly divided across lines of difference and incidents of hate persist. What would happen if we came together to just hear each other out? What would happen if we are eager to learn instead of imposing beliefs? What would happen if we dare to seek to understand and find common ground?
May 7 | Plant Based Cooking Courtesy of: Radical Partners
Connection is the laboratory for barriers to be broken, for meaningful conversations to be had, and for humans to experiment what it feels like to be kind and love everyone loudly." Joan Godoy Executive Director, Radical Partners
May 7 | Guitars Over Guns Live Courtesy of: Joan Marie Godoy
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THE LEADERS
February 25 | Host Committee Kick-off Meeting Courtesy of: AO Insight Group
In late 2016, leaders from six Miami organizations heard locals expressing a need for stronger relationships, deeper understanding, widespread kindness, and increased empathy. These leaders - Roberta Shevin (MCCJ), Nancy Ancrum (Miami Herald) Stephanie Sylvestre (The Children's Trust), Rebecca Mandelman and Matthew Beatty (The Miami Foundation), Claudia Grillo and Tammy Klingler (United Way of MiamiDade) - came together and decided to take action. Together with Radical Partners, they dreamed up Connect Miami and the 10 Days of Connection came to be. Since then, these 6 founding organizations continue to spearhead this initiative and the leadership team continues to grow. In 2018, the initiative expanded into Broward county with the leadership of Cori Meltzer (CFM Mediation), making the 10 Days of Connection a regional endeavor. In 2019, Leslie Miller Saiontz (Achieve Miami) and the University of Miami joined the leadership team. This initiative has also seen additional support from Children’s Services Council of Broward County, Community Foundation of Broward, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Jewish Federation of Broward County, The Cowles Charitable Trust, and a vast host committee of more than 150 organizations and individuals around the world.
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2017
2018
1 county
2 counties
88 hosts
180 hosts
110 connection experiences
112 connection experiences
15,000+ locals engaged
48,000+ locals engaged
6 leading organizations
7 leading organizations
THE CONNECTION JOURNEY
2019
2020
2 counties
2 counties in South Florida
186 hosts
43 US states
120 connection
57 countries
experiences
156 hosts
40,000+ locals engaged
90 connection experiences
12 leading organizations
44,000+ participants 13 leading organizations
May 10 | Together We Can Courtesy of: Radical Partners
THE 10 DAYS IN 2020 Over the course of this year's 10 Days, local organizations and leaders offered numerous virtual and physically distanced opportunities to increase connectivity across lines of difference. Here are some of the ways South Floridians, and other individuals across the world, united in their shared humanity.
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May 8 | Read Aloud Challenge Courtesy of: Achieve Miami
CONNECTION CHALLENGES, SPREADING POSITIVITY, & ACTS OF SERVICE Standing in solidarity with and supporting all of our neighbors Many South Floridians took on the challenge to get to know others, support the community, foster cheer, and bring smiles through the COVID-19 pandemic. Locals wrote letters to vulnerable and quarantined seniors with 211 Broward and the United Way of Miami-Dade. Many others shared their immigrant stories during the Americans for Immigrant Justice #ConnectionKeepsHopeAlive social media campaign and some made masks with Act-2 to donate them to those experiencing homelessness.
VIRTUAL GAME NIGHTS & STAYING ACTIVE Bringing joy to each other through movement and play As people around the world were going into isolation to avoid the spread of the virus, many hosts found innovative ways to keep locals moving, engaged, and having fun. Flexing minds: Strong Girls and Global Ties Miami tested knowledge and provided healthy competition with trivia games. Flexing muscles: Thomas Armour Youth Ballet, Body by Becky, and Jellyfish Jam gave folks a chance to stay fit and shake it out from wherever they call home.
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May 9Â | Interfaith Iftar Courtesy of: Radical Partners
VIRTUAL GROUP CONVERSATIONS, WORKSHOPS, & PANELS Building community through dialogue Several 10 Days participants did not let the pandemic keep them from meeting new people, learning new skills, and hearing new perspectives. FitLit hosted a critical conversation about the effects of the pandemic on Black and Brown communities, the Center for Independent Living paired those with and without disabilities to foster understanding, and the Greater Miami Jewish Federation hosted an interfaith panel around renewal and resilience to build solidarity.
May 3Â | Sharing Our Stories Courtesy of: Radical Partners
GRABBING A MEAL 'TOGETHER' Breaking bread to celebrate our differences and commonalities
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Dozens of people built relationships across lines of difference over a meal. Some happy-houred, some ate, and some cooked, but all reached across the table to gain a new perspective. This year there was a civic dinner about democracy and civic priorities, a cross-cultural vegan cooking class, and even an opportunity to learn how to be a support system for the refugee community.
May 7 | Responding to COVID-19 Courtesy of: Cori Meltzer
May 6 | List(e)n Film Tour Courtesy of: Radical Partners
MOVIE WATCH PARTIES Exploring new topics and difficult truths though film Movies became an essential component of this year's initiative as they provided a jumping off point for deep and important conversations. Films on critical topics like race and ethnicity, incarceration, reproductive rights, gun ownership, education, and ability became the platform for participants to share their lived experiences and have hard hitting conversations about identity, difference, and struggle.
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OUR IMPACT 10 days 156 hosts 90+ connection experiences 18,000+ attendees (THAT WE COULD COUNT)
26,000+ locals engaged (THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS)
6 continents reached
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43 US states reached ALABAMA, ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, NEBRASKA, NEW JERSEY, NEW MEXICO, NEW YORK, NEVADA, NORTH CAROLINA, NORTH DAKOTA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, OHIO, OKLAHOMA,
OREGON,
PENNSYLVANIA,
RHODE
ISLAND,
SOUTH
CAROLINA,
SOUTH
DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, UTAH, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON D.C., WYOMING.
57 countries reached ARGENTINA,
AUSTRALIA,
AUSTRIA,
BELGIUM,
BRAZIL,
CANADA,
CHILE,
CHINA,
COLOMBIA, CUBA, DENMARK, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, ENGLAND, FRANCE, FINLAND, GERMANY, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, HONG KONG, INDIA, IRAN, IRELAND, ISRAEL, JAMAICA, JAPAN, KAZAHSKTAN, KENYA, MEXICO, MORROCO, NETHERLANDS, NEW ZEALAND, PAKISTAN, PANAMA, PERU, PHILLIPINES, PUERTO RICO, ROMANIA, RUSSIA, SAUDI ARABIA, SENEGAL, SOUTH AFRICA, SOUTH KOREA, SINGAPORE, SRI LANKA, SWITZERLAND, TAIWAN, TANZANIA, THAILAND, TUNISIA, TURKEY, UNITED STATES, VENEZUELA, VIETNAM.
BY THE GEOGRAPHY
8 hosts outside of Florida
BY THE NUMBERS
Many thanks to the hosts and participants that offered their feedback about the 10 Days.
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Of those that shared their thoughts:
100%
Would like to participate again!
95%
Are more likely to be mindful of accessibility and inclusivity at all events and gatherings.
90%
Are more likely to learn more about someone before they jump to conclusions.
93%
Are more likely to step up and say something when witnessing an act of hatred, racism, or other kind of discrimination.
94%
Are more likely to do something to build bridges amongst our community.
90%
Feel more connected to their community after participating in the 10 Days of Connection.
90%
Built more empathy for folks with different lived experiences than their own.
BY THE STORIES
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May 8 | The Overlooked: COVID-19 & Racial Inequity Courtesy of: Radical Partners
"As a member of the Asian-American community myself, I feel like events like this are paramount to the unity not only within the Asian-American community but with American society as a whole. I learned of the different perspectives of how AsianAmericans have been treated during the COVID-19 crisis. I also learned that the AsianAmerican community has been strong in acting together against race-based attacks against us." - Anonymous
May 9 | Improving the lives of the houseless Courtesy of: Radical Partners
"The connection to the community is most rewarding. I love the giving and sharing. Adapting to new stages in life and all its changes isn’t easy, but when you feel part of a group it helps. In these uncertain times, support from our community is priceless!" - Miles Mariano-Ortilla
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BY THE STORIES "I love how despite everyone having a different story, we were all able to come together, which is what it's all about." - Francheska Colour "I felt very blessed to be a part of this. Not only did I expand my audience but I learned about so many other great organizations who are promoting inclusion." - Katherine Magnoli "This opportunity showed the importance of looking beyond and across persons, nations, and communities. Humanity requires deeper interactions and connections with other persons..." - Rapudo Hawi "Even virtually, it was great to feel more connected to the Miami community as a whole. It was much needed!" - Anonymous May 7 | In It Together Courtesy of: Radical Partners
May 8 | Global Trivia Night Courtesy of: Radical Partners May 8 | Honoring Heroes Stories Courtesy of: Cori Meltzer
REFLECTIONS & NEXT STEPS The 10 Days of Connection has become an annual community-led initiative to encourage South Floridians to join in our shared humanity. It happens every year from May 1 to May 10 with the ultimate purpose of bringing people from different backgrounds and beliefs to share a conversation. Thanks to the love and support of hundreds of hosts and thousands of locals, Miami-Dade and Broward counties now have constant opportunities to learn about others, foster kindness, and spread empathy around. We all continue to work together towards a more united South Florida! With your feedback and support, we will keep working hard to strengthen this initiative in many ways. Our aim is for South Florida to be known globally not only for its diversity, but for its commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and equity. If you have any ideas, please reach out to us. As we begin to plan for future initiatives, we ask you to keep exploring new perspectives all year long, to stay connected, share with others, and to spread kindness, empathy and connectedness wherever you go.  See you around town,
- On behalf of the 10 Days of Connection Leadership Team
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS THANK YOU SOUTH FLORIDA for building this community-wide initiative with us! We are very grateful for the tens of thousands of locals that took part this year from all different corners of the world no matter the circumstances. We continue to be inspired by the 170 leaders and organizations who continue to take ownership over this community initiative and were part of the fabulous host committee. It is inspiring to see all these organizations working together.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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Thank you to the amazing founding organizations who envisioned Connect Miami in 2017 and got the ball rolling with us for the 10 Days of Connection to come to life: The Children's Trust, MCCJ, The Miami Foundation, Miami Herald, and the United Way of Miami-Dade. We'd like to express our gratitude toward this year's leadership team: Claudia Grillo and Tammy Klingler, University of Miami; Cori Meltzer, CFM Mediation; Leslie Miller Saiontz, Achieve Miami; Maria Alonso, United Way of Miami-Dade; Nancy Ancrum, Miami Herald; Nestor Rodriguez, MCCJ; Stephanie Sylvestre and Danielle Barreras, The Children’s Trust. Thank your for your vision, unconditional support, and sponsoring this initiative alongside our friends from Children's Services Council of Broward, Community Foundation of Broward, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Jewish Federation of Broward County, The Cowles Charitabe Trust, and The Miami Foundation. Thank you to Jen Klaasens and Erica Britton for joining Cori Flam Meltzer in taking this initiative to Broward County for the third year in a row. Special thanks to this year's Executive Committee for shaping the 2020 10 Days of Connection and pushing for the initiative to grow stronger each year: Darius Daughtry, Art Prevails Project; Debbie Dietz, Disability Independence Group; Edwin Vasco, ACT-2; Eleazar Padilla, The Children's Trust; Katherine Leiva, FitLit; Michael Roman, City of Miami; Santra Denis, Avanse Ansamn; Vanessa Navarro, HistoryMiami Museum. Thank you to Adriana Oliva and her all-star team at The AO Insight Group for their social media support and sharing the 10 Days of Connection magic with the world. And thank you, the reader, for believing in our mission and joining us in this collaborative journey.
May 9 | A Cup of Joy Courtesy of: Radical Partners
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May 1 | Apart But Never Alone Courtesy of: Jen Klaassens
STAY CONNECTED www.10daysofconnection.org info@connectmiami.org Connect Miami 10 Days of Connection | Miami-Dade 10 Days of Connection | Broward @10dofc @10dofc
May 10 | Together We Can Courtesy of: Radical Partners
Miami, Florida, United States November 2020