MCI TO HOST COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PRESS CONFERENCE SUNDAY MAY 20TH AT THE FRIENDSHIP MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH AT 11 A.M. May 15, 2018 (Liberty City, Florida) – The Board of Directors of Miami Children’s Initiative (MCI) is pleased to announce the selection of Ms. LaTousha Daniels as its new President/CEO effective April 16, 2018. Ms. Daniels, a product of MDPS and Liberty City, is humbled by the opportunity to return and serve the community she was reared in. Ms. Daniels comes to MCI after most recently serving as Grants Administrator with Miami Dade County Parks Recreation and Open Spaces, securing over 10 million dollars in programmatic and capital improvement funds in a 3-year span. Prior to her work at MDPR, Ms. Daniels has held a variety of leadership roles that postured her to be a change agent and grassroots leader in community and statewide advocacy. These roles include serving as the Assistant Executive Director of the Greater North Miami Chamber of Commerce, as a Legislative Aide to both the late Arthur Teele and Barbara Carey-Shuler, and as a Public Information Officer for the Former Miami Dade Child Development Services. An ordained minister, LaTousha is currently an Associate Minister of the Friendship Missionary Baptist (The Ship Miami) of Liberty City. She also founded LD Consulting, a firm that provides grant writing, non-profit program development and evaluation, public relations and event planning. “We are thrilled to have selected someone with so much history with our community and someone who understands the challenges, complexities and triumphs of our residents; that paired with her depth of experience in the nonprofit sector, I believe will lead the Miami Children’s Initiative into the next chapter” said Morris Copeland, Interim Board Chair of the Miami Children’s Initiative and Director of Miami Dade Juvenile Services. A “I Am, You Are, We are Liberty City” community presentation will be made this Sunday, May 20th, at 11:00 a.m. at the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. This event will introduce Ms. Daniels to the community and serve as an opportunity to highlight the staff and the accomplishments of this 10-year organization. A Miami native, Ms. Daniels, matriculated through the Miami Dade Public School System (MDPS) attending Orchard Villa, Charles Drew and Miami Northwestern; all schools within MCI’s Impact Zone. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Florida Memorial University, attended graduate school at the University of South Florida and received her certification as a Grant Specialist from the University of South Carolina. “I am so grateful to MCI’s Board for granting me this opportunity. It is amazing how one’s life, career and personal journey can bring them back to where it all began.” Daniels said. “It is an absolute honor to be given this chance to positively affect change and growth in a place I call home. I do not take this task lightly but am committed to growing MCI’s vision, impact and influence on Liberty City’s Youth and Families.”