November 7, 2024 – Victims of Communism Day
Madeline Pumariega
America is more than just a place; it is often described as a Shining City on a Hill or an enduring idea. As the daughter of Cuban exiles, I see it as a profound testament to the promise of freedom and opportunity. From the streets of Havana to the mountains of Caracas, people suffering under dictatorial rule look to this nation with the hope of escaping oppression and truly living free. As the President of Miami Dade College, positioned at the heart of the Americas, I am proud to announce the establishment of the Institute for Freedom in the Americas, located within our beloved Freedom Tower, set to celebrate its centennial and grand reopening in 2025.
It is fitting that Miami Dade College is home to the Institute. Thanks to Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature, the passage of SB 1264 strengthens education standards by requiring instruction on the ills of communism. This legislation authorizes the Institute to promote economic and individual freedoms to advance human progress in Latin America and the Caribbean. For nearly a decade, our college has hosted Presidential Dialogue, an annual forum that brings together former presidents and heads of state from Latin America and Spain to discuss economic and social challenges impacting the region. The Institute, which will offer a year-long Fellowship, enhances this initiative by furthering the Institute’s commitment to the values of public service, integrity, collaboration, and innovation.
Beginning in January 2025, Fellows will engage with top scholars, policymakers, and former heads of state, gaining practical experience while tackling critical issues confronting democracy. The program features interactive seminars, experiential learning, and structured mentoring, with each Fellow contributing to the Institute’s thought leadership. The experience culminates in a capstone proposal designed to advance freedom, commencing with an intensive in-person residency at Miami Dade College. Upon completion of the program, Fellows will receive a Certificate of Completion in Global Governance and Democratic Growth in Freedom, gain a deeper understanding of governance and leadership, and establish strong connections with a global network of peers and mentors.
Where there is dialogue or debate questioning the significance of freedom, Miami Dade College stands alongside think tanks like FIU’s Adam Smith Center and The James Madison Institute that champion democracy, liberty, and global governance at home and abroad. The Freedom Tower, historically home to Miami’s oldest newspaper and later the Cuban Assistance Center for refugees fleeing communism, now begins a new chapter with the Institute for Freedom in the Americas. Here, future leaders at Democracy’s College will learn to defend democracy and create innovative policies that promote economic freedom and human prosperity for generations to come.
Madeline Pumariega is the President of Miami Dade College.
