U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones Presents $1.039 Million DOJ Grant to Support Miami-Dade’s 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project

Federal funding will strengthen youth mentoring, violence prevention, and community partnerships as new mentors and mentees take oath at Miami Dade College ceremony

MIAMI - U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones joined community leaders, educators, and members of the judiciary Monday evening at Miami Dade College's North Campus to celebrate the induction of new mentors and mentees into the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project and present a $1,039,000 Department of Justice (DOJ) grant to Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) to strengthen youth mentoring, violence prevention, and public safety initiatives.

The federal grant, awarded through DOJ's Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), will support the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Youth Empowerment and Safety Initiative, implemented through the nationally recognized 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project.

Founded in 1993 by Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson, the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project has spent more than three decades helping young men build brighter futures through mentorship, education, leadership development, and positive community engagement. The program connects students with accomplished men who serve as mentors, emphasizing personal responsibility, academic achievement, good citizenship, and alternatives to crime and violence.

"Public safety is about more than prosecuting crime. It is also about preventing crime and giving young people the guidance and opportunities to make the right choices," said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones. "For more than 30 years, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson's 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project has demonstrated the power of mentorship and personal responsibility. Last night, we watched a new generation of mentors and mentees make that commitment together. I was proud to present this $1.039 million Department of Justice grant to support a program that is helping young men stay on the right path. We will remain relentless in holding criminals accountable, but investing in our youth, strengthening families, and building trust between law enforcement and our communities are equally important to making South Florida safer."

The ceremony brought together Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega; Miami-Dade County School Board Chair Mari Tere Rojas; District 4 School Board Member Roberto J. Alonso; Miami-Dade County Commissioner Oliver G. Gilbert III; and Congresswoman Wilson, the program's founder.

United States District Judge Rodney Smith of the Southern District of Florida and Miami-Dade County Judge Gordon Murray administered the oath to the incoming mentors and mentees, marking the beginning of their commitment to the program's principles of leadership, accountability, service, and achievement.

The $1,039,000 federal award will fund prevention-focused programming designed to reduce juvenile delinquency, youth violence, gang involvement, and youth involvement in the criminal justice system. Through the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, the initiative will strengthen partnerships among students, educators, families, law enforcement, and community organizations.

Funded activities will include Police & Youth Conferences, Youth Health and Mental Health Summits, mentoring sessions, leadership development workshops, conflict-resolution education, career exploration, and community engagement opportunities. The initiative is designed to equip young people with the skills, relationships, and resources necessary to succeed in school, pursue productive careers, and become responsible members of their communities.

The grant was awarded September 30, 2026, and supports a project period extending through September 30, 2030.

The funding reflects DOJ's commitment to supporting local partnerships that address the root causes of youth violence, strengthen community trust, and prevent crime before it occurs.

About the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project

Established in 1993, the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project is a nationally recognized mentoring and dropout-prevention initiative founded by Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson. The program connects young men with positive adult role models and promotes academic success, personal responsibility, leadership, and college and career readiness.

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