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Miami Loves Teachers

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Community-Wide Initiative Launches to Champion and Retain Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Educators

Miami gives thanks to its teachers – the heart of education

August 27th, 2025

The College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), The Education Fund, and the 2026 Miami Host Committee together announce the launch of the Miami Loves Teachers website, a comprehensive community initiative designed to champion the more than 18,000 educators across the district. The new Miami Loves Teachers platform (https://miamilovesteachers.org/) launches as M-DCPS earns its fifth consecutive “A” rating from the Florida Department of Education thanks to the work of its dedicated educators.

“Our trajectory of excellence at Miami-Dade County Public Schools is a testament to the incredible work of our students, teachers, staff, and leaders,” said Dr. Jose L. Dotres, Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. “Miami Loves Teachers represents the kind of community-wide support that makes the difference in ensuring every educator has what they need to help students succeed.”

Teachers are bearing the brunt of economic challenges and strengthening their morale (which is under strain) is crucial to retaining talented educators in classrooms. Given that teachers spend their day shaping our children’s minds and futures, the Miami Loves Teachers platform provides these influential educators with resources they need to continue their vital work. 

When teachers receive recognition and resources they need, the impact is measurable: A TNTP study found that “irreplaceable” teachers who experienced multiple retention strategies, including advancement opportunities, regular performance feedback, and public recognition, planned to stay at their schools nearly twice as long as other teachers. Additionally, University of Michigan research demonstrates that funding just one classroom project boosts student achievement and reduces teacher turnover, with teachers 22% more likely to stay in their current classroom when their projects are funded.

“Educators’ experiences, insights, and needs drive Miami Loves Teachers,” said Eric Poms, Chief Executive Officer of the Orange Bowl Committee and the 2026 Miami Host Committee. “Together, we’re building the support system for Miami teachers to thrive.”

 The Education Fund Powers Miami Loves Teachers
 Superintendent Dotres selected The Education Fund to spearhead Miami Loves Teachers, recognizing the organization’s 40 years of experience helping Miami-Dade students and teachers thrive. 

“Miami Loves Teachers represents our community’s deep appreciation for the educators who shape our future,” said Linda Lecht, President of The Education Fund. “This collaborative initiative brings together major community organizations to ensure our public-school teachers have the resources, opportunities, and community recognition they deserve. We’re honored to power Miami Loves Teachers and connect our four decades of experience supporting Miami-Dade County Public Schools with this exciting new partnership.” 

 Miami Loves Teachers supports Miami-Dade County Public Schools through innovative programs that directly benefit teachers and students:

  • The Education Fund Ocean Bank Center for Educational Materials: Provides free classroom supplies annually to public school teachers, with total distributions exceeding $28 million since 1993.
  • The Education Fund Teach-A-Thon: Connects business leaders directly with classrooms, raising funds for essential classroom resources while building community understanding of public education.
  • Ideas with IMPACT:  A teacher-driven professional development network where M-DCPS educators share successful classroom strategies that boost student achievement. The program provides grants to teachers for innovative classroom projects and creates a pipeline of proven teaching methods that spread throughout the district, multiplying the impact of every dollar invested in teacher excellence.
  • Enhanced Learning: Helping teachers in college and career counseling, culinary, visual arts, and STEM reach more students with enhanced learning opportunities. 

Increasing Teacher Retention Through Recognition
As part of its mission to uplift the teaching profession, the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation develops targeted campaigns within host cities that are focused on celebratory programs within national championship host cities. Miami Loves Teachers includes programs such as the College Football Playoff Foundation’s Teachers of the Week, highlighting outstanding educators throughout the school year and awarding them $1,000 classroom grants. The CFP Foundation will also shine a light on the rewarding side of education by highlighting M-DCPS teachers across all grade levels and subjects, sharing innovative teaching methods and student success stories. This fall, educators, students, and community members can nominate a teacher.

“The teachers in our district are true champions for our students,” said Superintendent Dotres. “They deserve recognition not just during Teacher Appreciation Week, but throughout the year for their unwavering dedication to student success.”

Further, in collaboration with the College Football Playoff Foundation’s Tickets for Teachers initiative, Miami Loves Teachers will give M-DCPS educators exclusive and free access to premium experiences, including cultural events, professional development opportunities, networking events, and more. Local businesses are invited to join The Education Fund in providing comprehensive resources for teachers, whether in the form of grants for their classrooms, resources, professional development opportunities, morale-boosting events, and more. 

Miami-Dade County Public Schools teachers can sign up for these benefits now at https://miamilovesteachers.org/

About The Education Fund
The Education Fund brings innovative methods to local public schools, raises awareness about public education, and encourages private-sector investment. Recognized for improving student outcomes, The Education Fund has received prestigious awards, including the TD Ready Challenge, Greater Miami Chamber’s NOVO Award for Non-Profit Excellence, South Florida Business Journal’s Business of the Year, and the Blue Foundation’s Sapphire Prize among others.  In 2024-2025, the non-profit organization celebrates 40 years of student success.  

Learn more at educationfund.org. Follow on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X. 

About the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation
The CFP Foundation is the community investment arm of the College Football Playoff, supporting education across the country. The CFP Foundation’s primary cause platform, Extra Yard for Teachers, is dedicated to elevating the teaching profession by inspiring and empowering teachers in four focus areas: resources, recognition, recruitment and professional development. The CFP Foundation utilizes multiple partnerships to execute its initiatives and support positive educational outcomes. To learn more, visit cfp-foundation.org and follow Extra Yard for Teachers (@CFPExtraYard) on social media. 

About the 2026 Miami Host Committee  
The Host Committee for the 2026 College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship (2026 Miami) is a collaborative effort of the entire community, South Florida municipalities, visitors’ bureaus, the Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium and led by the Orange Bowl Committee, which previously has hosted 21 college football national championships in its nine decades of existence.  The game is expected to generate tremendous economic impact and international media exposure for the region, while the Host Committee is committed to creating a significant legacy of giving back to South Florida. The 2026 Miami Host Committee Board is populated by a diverse group of South Florida leaders. The Host Committee has planned a series of community events leading up to the 2026 CFP National Championship Game on Jan. 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium. For more information on supporting the Championship effort, log on to 2026Miami.com or follow @2026MiamiHC on X and Instagram.

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Finding Finland Hidden in Plain Sight

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FinnFest USA Brings Finnish Culture, Creative Voices, Global Ideas and an Unexpected Pizza-Roll Connection into Focus in Minneapolis.

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Zéya 100k

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The Miami born app celebrated a major milestone with a seriously fun South Florida party, but 100,000 downloads are only part of what’s next.


September 26, 2026

Zéya had plenty to celebrate, and they definitely knew how to throw a party.

The Miami-born swapping app recently marked 100,000 downloads, and SFL Insider joined the celebration for a night that felt much more like a fun Miami get-together than a typical tech event.

The atmosphere was lively, social, and genuinely welcoming, which actually made a lot of sense once we learned more about what Zéya is trying to build. This isn’t supposed to be another faceless marketplace where you post something and hope a stranger buys it. Zéya wants swapping to feel social, easy and connected to your community.

And after spending the evening celebrating with the people behind it, that part of the concept clicked.

Because we all have stuff.

The dress you wore once. The bag you loved until you didn’t. The camera you were definitely going to learn how to use. The random purchase that seemed necessary at the time and has barely moved since.

Zéya’s question is pretty simple: Why keep buying more when someone nearby might want exactly what you already have?

Even better, the app is now getting ready to move beyond swapping just things.

Services are coming too.

And that could make Zéya a whole lot more interesting.

– Creative Director & Strategist: Kateryna Brovkova — @kate.directs – Event Photo & Video Coverage: Yoisker Palmi — @yoiskr7 – Zéya Team: Zéya — @zeya_app – Sounds by: Lacré Studios — @studioslacre

Swipe. Match. Swap.

The easiest way to describe Zéya is old school bartering with a very modern makeover.

You browse what’s available nearby, see something you want and connect with the person who has it.

Then you offer something of your own.

Swipe. Match. Swap.

If the values don’t quite line up, Zéya allows an optional cash top-up to help make the trade work. And now, you don’t necessarily have to swap at all.

Zéya’s new cash-only option is officially live, meaning users can purchase an item directly when they find something they want. That’s a pretty significant shift for an app that started with swapping at its core. You can still trade, add cash to balance out a swap, or now skip the trade altogether and simply buy.

In other words, Zéya is starting to look less like a traditional bartering app and more like a flexible local marketplace where you decide how you want to make the deal.

100,000 Downloads Is a Pretty Big Deal

Zéya has now officially surpassed 100,000 downloads across iOS and Android, an exciting milestone for a company that started right here in Miami.

Founder and CEO Mehdi Taifi sees that number as something bigger than just downloads.

“One hundred thousand downloads is exciting because it shows that swapping can become a real habit, not a last resort,” Taifi said.

That idea stuck with me.

We’re so used to thinking buy when we want something new. Zēya is trying to get us to think swap first.

Earlier this year, the company also closed a $2.45 million strategic growth round led by Storage Innovations LLC, helping support its next stage of development.

Judging by the energy at the celebration, Zéya certainly isn’t treating 100K like a finish line.

– Zéya Team: Zéya — @zeya_app – Founder: Mehdi Taifi — @medimeds – Event Photo & Video Coverage: Yoisker Palmi — @yoiskr7

Zēya 4.0 Makes the Whole Thing Easier

The company has also rolled out Zéya 4.0, designed to make getting from “I want that” to actually completing a swap much faster.

One of my favorite additions is the AI Listing Assistant, mostly because writing listings is probably the least exciting part of selling anything online.

Take a photo, upload it, and the app can generate the item name, description, and category in seconds.

Done.

The update also adds chat before making an offer, group chat, and a visual balance meter that makes it easier to see whether a proposed swap feels fair.

Zéya has expanded its categories too, including Baby & Toddler and Sports & Outdoors.

So that barely used handbag has value.

But so do the golf clubs in the garage.

And Now Zēya Is Moving Beyond Stuff

This might be my favorite part of what’s coming next.

Zéya is adding services.

That changes the whole idea of what you can bring to a swap.

Maybe you don’t have a designer bag to trade, but you’re an amazing photographer.

Maybe you tutor.

Maybe you’re a personal trainer, stylist, graphic designer, pet sitter or the magical person who actually knows how to organize a closet.

Your skills have value too.

The full details of how services will work are still to come, but opening Zēya to services takes it beyond simple bartering. It becomes more about exchanging value, whether that value happens to be sitting in your closet or comes from something you know how to do.

And suddenly the possibilities get much bigger.

It All Feels Very Miami

Maybe that’s another reason I enjoyed the celebration so much.

Zéya feels very Miami.

It’s social. It’s stylish. It’s a little entrepreneurial. And it revolves around discovering something you want without necessarily paying full price for it.

We can absolutely get behind that.

The party reflected that same energy. People were mingling, talking about the app and celebrating what is clearly a big moment for the team, but it never felt overly corporate or stuffy. It felt like a community celebrating something that started locally and is beginning to grow.

That seems especially fitting for a company that wants its marketplace to feel like a community too.

Swap, Don’t Shop

There is an obvious sustainability benefit to giving perfectly good things another life instead of constantly buying new ones.

But Zéya doesn’t make that feel like a lecture.

The appeal is much simpler.

You have things you don’t use. Someone else wants them. And chances are, they have something you want too.

Add AI-assisted listings, local discovery, cash top-ups, cash-only purchases, community features, and soon the ability to exchange services, and it starts looking very different from the bartering most of us remember.

Zéya’s tagline is “Swap Don’t Shop.”

After a fun night celebrating 100,000 downloads and getting a closer look at where the Miami company is headed next, we’re curious to see just how far people are willing to take that idea.

Because if swapping can be this easy and this social, maybe we really don’t need to buy everything new.

CHECK OUT ZEYA HERE 

– Zéya Team: Zéya — @zeya_app – Venue: One K — @onek_socialbar

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The Hobby Card Show Turns Fort Lauderdale into a Collector’s Playground

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Luli Fama Launches Paradise Found Cruise ’27 Swimwear Collection in Miami

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Luli Fama celebrates its Paradise Found Cruise ’27 swimwear and resortwear collection with a luxury Miami launch at its Dadeland Mall boutique.


 August 20, 2026

Miami swimwear favorite Luli Fama is stepping into Cruise ’27 with Paradise Found, a new swimwear and resortwear collection inspired by tropical escapes, exotic prints and effortless vacation glamour.

South Florida Insider has already taken a closer look at the Luli Fama Paradise Found collection, and it feels made for Miami.

The new Cruise ’27 collection combines the bold, body-confident swimwear Luli Fama is known for with elevated resort pieces designed to move effortlessly from the beach and pool to cocktails and dinner.

On Thursday, August 20, Luli Fama will celebrate Paradise Found with an exclusive evening at its newest Dadeland Mall boutique in Miami, complete with fashion, light bites, personalized surprises, and a luxe espresso martini bar.

Inside Luli Fama’s Paradise Found Cruise ’27 Collection

Paradise Found is inspired by the feeling of discovering a hidden tropical retreat.

Think lush landscapes, warm golden hour light, exotic patterns, and silhouettes made for somewhere beautiful.

The collection features Luli Fama signatures, including flattering ruched details, seamless construction, adjustable fits, and statement swimwear, alongside an expanded selection of resortwear.

We especially love the pieces that blur the line between swim and ready-to-wear.

Flowing dresses, sleek coverups, and body-skimming silhouettes make it easy to transition from a sun-drenched afternoon to an evening out without losing that relaxed resort feeling.

It is sensual, polished, and unmistakably Miami.

Luli Fama Brings Luxury Resort Style to Miami

There is a reason Paradise Found feels so natural in South Florida.

In Miami, resortwear is not reserved for vacation.

A swimsuit can become part of an outfit. A coverup can take you to lunch. A flowing resort dress can carry you from an afternoon by the water straight into cocktails and dinner.

Luli Fama has always understood that lifestyle.

Paradise Found takes it a step further, creating a Cruise ’27 wardrobe that feels as appropriate for a tropical getaway as it does for a weekend in Miami.

The campaign captures that mood beautifully, pairing the collection with palms, lush greenery, tropical architecture and the kind of sun soaked setting that makes you want to extend your vacation indefinitely.

Paradise Found Comes to Luli Fama at Dadeland Mall

Luli Fama will bring the world of Paradise Found to life on Thursday, August 20 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at its newest boutique at Dadeland Mall in Miami.

The intimate celebration will bring together invited guests, influencers, celebrities and media for an early look at Cruise ’27.

Luli Fama is also dressing invited guests in pieces from the brand, allowing the new collection to be experienced the way it was designed to be worn: in motion, styled and out for the evening.

Luli After Hours Espresso Martini Bar

Fashion is only part of the experience.

For the Paradise Found celebration, Luli Fama is introducing Luli After Hours, an Espresso Martini Bar inspired by the glamour of the collection.

Guests will be able to sip three specialty espresso martinis created for the evening.

The Luli Babe puts a polished spin on the classic espresso martini, while Golden Hour pairs salted caramel with edible gold shimmer. Miami After Dark takes a richer approach with chocolate hazelnut and a cocoa dust finish.

Along with cocktails, guests can expect light bites, curated details and a special personalized surprise.

The result feels less like a traditional retail event and more like checking into a private resort for the evening.

A Miami Swimwear Brand Celebrates at Home

For a brand with such a strong connection to South Florida, launching Paradise Found in Miami feels especially fitting.

Luli Fama has built its identity around colorful, confident swimwear and resort fashion with a distinctly tropical point of view.

Paradise Found carries that identity into Cruise ’27 while giving it a more elevated, escapist mood.

And with Luli Fama’s newest boutique now at Dadeland Mall, Miami shoppers have another destination to experience the brand in person.

After getting our own closer look at Luli Fama’s Paradise Found Cruise ’27 collection, we can safely say the name fits.

Paradise has officially been found, and this time, it is in Miami.

Check out the collection HERE

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