On March 3rd, Mayor Steven C. Bateman addressed the Homestead-Florida City Community Relations Board. Citing the importance of the Community Relations Board and its commendable history, Mayor Bateman called upon the Board to expand its activities and presence in the community. “I feel that this is one of the most important boards in the City of Homestead, “said Bateman.

The seven-member Board includes three members appointed by the Florida City Mayor, three members appointed by the Homestead Mayor, and one member jointly appointed by the Florida City and Homestead Mayors. The Board welcomes the community’s attendance at their meetings at 5:30 P.M. on the first Thursday of the month in the City Manager’s Conference Room at Homestead City Hall.

According to the enabling ordinance, the Homestead-Florida City Community Relations Board (CRB) was created to foster mutual understanding, tolerance and respect among all economic, religious and ethnic groups in Homestead and Florida City.
The CRB provides a forum that encourages and facilitates opportunities for members of the community to discuss issues concerning diversity and tolerance among various economic, religious, and ethnic groups and serves as conciliator in controversies involving community relations.

Although CRB members encourage everyone in Homestead’s communities to contact them regarding community relations issues, they have determined to focus on the following topics: domestic and local violence, immigration issues, fair housing practices, fair and local hiring practices, youth involvement, and continuity of local history.
The members of the CRB are: Vielka M. Dyer, Paola Mazure Usquelis, Esq., Romanita R. Braggs Ford, Juanita S. Smith, Arthur Gladney, Joseph Prater, and Robert Fuller, Jr.

The Community Relations Board may be contacted by e-mail at crb@cityofhomestead.com or by telephone at 305-224-4433.

Meet the members