The Pompano Beach City Commission approved an agreement last month with Broward College to promote educational opportunities for residents and City employees. In return, Broward College will gain access to select City facilities for use in their curriculum. It is a continuation of the Broward UP (Unlimited Potential) program started in 2019, which the City of Pompano Beach participated in.
At the commission meeting Dr. Jennifer Saint Louis, an Associate Vice President at Broward College, said “we believe that all residents have unlimited potential” and that “[Broward College was] so blessed to partner with Pompano early on.”
In a pre-recorded video played during the meeting, President of Broward College Gregory Haile said that “I am proud of the difference we are making together and I am honored by [the city’s] partnership.” Although, he also added that “we still have a lot of work to do.”
The agreement, valid for a term of five years, requires Broward College to create new entrepreneurial curriculum, build a college-readiness campaign, develop strategies for accessibility for residents, provide on-site workshops and deliver certification training.
For enrolled students, workplace and soft skills training will be made available.
In addition to creating new curriculum, the two entities will engage in a marketing campaign through their various channels, in order to increase exposure for new and existing programs.
Mayor Rex Hardin said that the program “does great work for our community and others. It is a great program that was started under President Haile.”
Commissioner Beverly Perkins expressed concern at the meeting that Pompano Beach residents in her district weren’t being adequately reached by existing marketing efforts, saying that “it sounds good – looks good too; but are you really reaching the people that could use the services you have to offer?”
The resolution passed by the City Commission unanimously. Broward UP courses and workshops are currently being offered year-round.
