In the Fall of 2009, the IDEAS Miami chapter was founded by Viktor Elsaieh and Sydney Smith, along with a strong group of members at the Florida International University (FIU).
Throughout their first year, FIU hosted multiple ecosystem clean-ups and create an official partnership with the Shack-a-Leg Miami (SALM) non-profit organization to host Island Clean-ups and Eco Tours in Biscayne Bay.
Since the inception, IDEAS Miami has grown to 5+ different chapters including:
- FIU-North
- FIU-South
- University of Miami (UM)
- Miami-dade College (MDC) and
- Coral Reef High School (CRHS), the 1st K-12 chapter in IDEAS
- St. Thomas University (STU – building Fall 2011)
This community of leaders at different universities are working together to facilitate positive change on their campus and building a coalition, as ONE, to help the Miami community incorporate sustainability.
IDEAS Miami, Fall 2011
This is an incredible example of how an organization could work as a coalition between different schools and universities. Keep a look out for more big news on the Miami chapter throughout the year!
—–>> IDEAS Miami Facebook
—–>> IDEAS Miami email: IDEASforMiami@gmail.com
Current Leaders include:
- Brian Zirulnikoff - FIU North
- Matt Atkins – FIU South
- Sydeny Smith – FIU South
- Elias Egozi – FIU – South
- Sean Ahearn – UM
- Susana Marin – UM
- Jae Shrader – UM
- Jennifer Villatoro – MDC
- Marta deTuya – CRHS
- Ainara Gastaminsa – CRHS
- Carmen Aguilo – STU
- Nick Nottenbaum – Graphic Designer / FIU
