Miami

Elevating community perspectives to drive impactful innovations and equitable outcomes.

Overview

Elevating the voices of a diverse community to reach shared prosperity

With the backdrop of beautiful beaches and rich cultural heritage, Miami is renowned for its coastal beauty, cultural diversity, and dynamic arts scene. The city boasts a flourishing entrepreneurial spirit and a deep-rooted history shaped by its multicultural communities. However, rapid development has highlighted stark economic disparities and rising affordability challenges.

 

GreenLight engages with the community to identify and address barriers to economic mobility by scaling proven programs that open opportunities and make measurable progress towards a more equitable future.

Portfolio

Investing in proven organizations to bring to Miami-Dade to address community-identified needs

Our social innovations, as diverse as the communities we serve, make immediate and sustainable impact.

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Miami

Addressing Challenges in Miami

51%

of households in Miami struggle to meet their basic living expenses, far exceeding state and national averages

24%

of eighth-grade children are proficient in math, with a disproportional scoring gap between Black and Latine students and their white peers

$10,093

is the average annual income for the bottom 20% of workers, compared to $254,000 on average for the top 20%

Miami Team and Partners

GreenLight Miami is made up of a diverse group of changemakers from across the community, working together for positive impact.

What Our Community is Saying

“Serving as the pathway to opportunity for our community, Miami Dade College is proud to collaborate with GreenLight Fund to strengthen initiatives that remove barriers, enhance economic mobility, and deliver solutions transformative to our city and the students we serve.”

Portrain of Madeline Pumariega, President of Miami Dade College, on a forrest background

Madeline Pumariega

President, Miami Dade College

“By listening to our residents, investing in proven programs, and measuring impact, GreenLight Miami will help us break down barriers and create lasting change. Together, we’re building a more inclusive, equitable, and prosperous future for all Miami-Dade families.”

Daniella Levine Cava

Miami-Dade County Mayor

“Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. The GreenLight Fund’s strategy aligns seamlessly with our mission, enabling us to expand our reach and provide essential resources to the families and individuals we serve. Partnerships like this are vital to strengthening our community.”

Headshot of Symeria Hudson, on a colorful and blurred background

Symeria Hudson

President and CEO, United Way Miami

Housing Connector

Housing Connector

Team

Emily Montes
Portrait of Emily Montes with a nature background.

Emily Montes

Coordinator, GreenLight Miami

 Valeria Perez-Ferreiro
A headshot of Valeria Perez-Ferreiro with a nature background.

Valeria Perez-Ferreiro

Founding Executive Director, GreenLight Fund Miami

 Yanelis Valdes

Yanelis Valdes

Program Manager, GreenLight Miami

Advisory Council

Zelalem Adefris

Catalyst Miami

AJ Ager

Goldman Sachs

Shekeria Brown

J.P, Morgan Chase

Loreen Chant

Health Foundation of South Florida

Norie Del Valle

UnitedWay Miami

Santra Denis

Miami Workers Center

Dr. Anna Etienne

The Ladder Project, LLC

Angeline Evans

YWCA South Florida

Phillip Lloyd Hamilton

Florida International University

Trina Harris

Touching Miami With Love

Dr. Paula Hopkins

Miami-Dade Beacon Council

Dr. Andrea Iglesias

Urban Health Partnerships

Michelle Johnson

Mayor’s Office of Miami-Dade County

Thamara Labrousse

SantLa Haitian Neighborhood Center

Vania Laguerre

Bank of America

Maryam Laguna-Borrego, Ed.D.

Miami-Dade College

Brittany Lambert-Brown, LMHC

Overtown Youth Center

Chris Lane

National Christian Foundation, Templeton and Lopez Family Funds

James Lopez

Power U Center For Social Change

Annie Lord

Miami Homes For All

Esther Rose Louis

Metro Mommy Agency

Luis Luna

People Acting for Community Together (PACT)

Derek McDowell

Boyne Capital

Gepsie Metellus

SantLa Haitian Neighborhood Center

Marya Meyer

The Women’s Fund Miami-Dade

Marcel Navarro

MMG Equity Partners

Gabriel Ochoa

YMCA of South Florida

Felipe Pinzon

Hispanic Unity of Florida

Rosa Santiago

The Kirk Foundation

Kim Torres

Branches

Pamela Tuttle-Hollingsworth, M.Ed.

Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe

Marta Viciedo

City of Miami

Nikisha Williams

The Miami Foundation

Natalia Zea

The Children’s Trust

Founding Investors

Dan Adan / Halmos Capital

AJ and Kerri Ager/ Goldman Sachs

Angel Alvarez

Suzanne Amaducci

Anonymous

Baptist Health South Florida

Robert Barlick

Jonathan And Sarah Barrios / JP Morgan

David Becker And Rebecca Wallack

Mari Beeck

Tere Blanca / Blanca Commercial Real Estate

Ricardo And Claudia Caporal

Russ And Judy Carson

Abbey Chase

Chidsey Family Fund

Nicole and José Costa

Deloitte Miami / David Coto And Kim Griffin

Albert De Cardenas

Jorge And Jane De Cardenas

Claudia And Carlos De La Cruz Jr.

Debra And David Deutch

Bob Dickinson

The Dinovi Family Foundation – Deanna And Tony Dinovi

Al Dotson

Miguel And Vivian Duenas

Alejandra Fernandez And Michalis Stavrinides

Leslie And Gregory Ferrero

Firestone Capital Management

Barbara Garrett

Dave And Hilary Gershman / Trivest Partners

Walter And Yasmin Gonzalez

Nancy Hector

Deborah Hoffman

Cena Hackler Jackson

José Milton Foundation

Jared Kaplan / Newedge Wealth

Arden And Jack Karson

Todd Krim

Bank Of America Miami / Vania Laguerre And Gene Schaefer

Dan Lansman

The Jorge And Awilda Lopez Family Fund / The Cornerstone Group

Paul Lowenthal

The Maroone Family

Julianne And Derek Mcdowell

Camilo And Nina Miguel Jr.

Alex Montague And Maria Alonso

Claudia And Gabe Navarro

Marcel And Susana Navarro

Dave And Jane Nolan

Ken O’Keefe

The Jane And Daniel Och Family Foundation

Will Osborne And Karen Bechtel

Mike Pappas

Eric Poms

Jared Waggy And Anthony Poppe

Jarrett And Sean Posner

Alan Potamkin

Santiago Tobar Potes

Peter Pruitt

Thomas R. Roth

Sumesh Sachar

Mackenzie Scott

Ron Shuffield /Ewm

Fernando Silva / Lockton Corp

John And Susan Simon

Gregory G. Simoncini And Ed Dudley

Paul And Marte Singerman

Lauren Smith And Mel Meinhardt

STW Foundation

Tony Tamer

Troy And Sissy Templeton / Trivest

The Barry S. Sternlicht Foundation

The Kirk Foundation

Bennett Thompson

Avi And Maria Weintraub

Teresa Weintraub

Annette And Seth Werner

Louis Wolfson III

Type

Can Outside Nonprofits Solve Local Problems?

Media Mention, News

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Can Outside Nonprofits Solve Local Problems?

Apr 23, 2026

Atlanta, Boston, Kansas City, Miami, National, San Francisco Bay Area, Twin Cities

 GreenLight Fund Miami invests $600,000 to bring Housing Connector to Miami-Dade

News

Miami Times

GreenLight Fund Miami invests $600,000 to bring Housing Connector to Miami-Dade

Mar 4, 2026

Miami

 GreenLight Fund Brings Housing Connector to Miami

Announcement, News, Press Release

GreenLight Fund Brings Housing Connector to Miami

Feb 26, 2026

Miami

 Building Opportunities and Addressing Inequities in Miami-Dade County

20 Stories of Change

Building Opportunities and Addressing Inequities in Miami-Dade County

Nov 21, 2025

Miami

 Miami Becomes GreenLight Fund’s 14th Location Nationwide

Announcement, News, Press Release

Miami Becomes GreenLight Fund’s 14th Location Nationwide

Jan 29, 2025

Miami

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