Our History

A Word About Our Beginnings

The lives of children and families in Florida have been at risk for many years.

As a result, in 1998, the Florida Legislature mandated that in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, some government services be privatized and placed in the hands of community-based groups. Yet many local agencies, community and faith-based organizations were unaware of these changes.

The same year, Rev. Rick Sawyer was asked by Florida Department of Children & Families to begin a dialogue among agencies and community and faith-based groups to explore ways in which these three sectors might cooperate more effectively to help solve some of problems that threaten many S FL families.

A group from the faith community met to discuss ideas, needs and possibilities. In 2000, the Family & Children Faith Coalition (FCFC) emerged, unifying those who were interested in working together to make a greater impact in the lives of families and children in their local communities.

We started monthly networking meetings focusing on specific topics. Attendees from different community groups and agencies shared information and resources and began forging alliances on a neighborhood level. Training seminars were sponsored and word began to spread that FCFC was pooling the strengths of various groups and helping to unify a divided city.

Since then, FCFC, a 501c(3), tax-exempt non-profit, has mentored organizations and developed children and youth by connecting them to effective programs, resources and volunteers so that our communities thrive.

In 2012, FCFC re-branded as Hope for Miami — with the same mission and vision of helping restore the hope of “Shalom” to our city.