Broward UP to Tap into ‘Unlimited Potential’ of City of Hollywood Residents

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (July 30, 2019) – The City of Hollywood recently signed on as the latest municipal partner of Broward UP, a community-centric approach developed by Broward College to raise education access and attainment levels, and to drive social mobility and economic development across Broward County.  

The City of Hollywood joins the City of Lauderhill, the City of West Park and the City of Lauderdale Lakes as local municipalities to partner with Broward College to mobilize the services and resources of Broward UP. Through the partnership, the City of Hollywood will work in tandem with the College toward fulfilling its mission to encourage a community that retains and promotes employment opportunities, economic growth, and improved quality of life.

The MOU, approved by the City of Hollywood Commission on July 3, will see the College providing direct support for:

• On-site workshops, courses, and programs for residents
• Certification training at identified City locations aligned to employment within the City of Hollywood
• Access to training for employees and residents to earn Broward College degrees and certifications
• STEM, coding and technology training
• College and career-readiness support for City of Hollywood residents
• Entrepreneurial programming 

Echoing the overwhelming vote of support from City officials, Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy said Broward UP will enable residents to access the training and skills needed to improve employment prospects and uplift their quality of life.

"The City of Hollywood is proud to partner with Broward College on Broward UP," said Levy. "This is an important first step toward bridging the postsecondary education gap in Hollywood, which should, in turn, help close the economic gap that exists for some residents. By making certification training, career-readiness courses, and entrepreneurial programming more readily accessible through Broward UP, Hollywood residents should find an easier path with fewer barriers that could otherwise prevent them from realizing their dreams. The partnership with Broward UP will provide an excellent opportunity for people to connect and advance in their chosen career." 

Broward UP, the UP meaning "unlimited potential," is aimed at improving the lives of residents in Broward County zip codes with the highest unemployment and lowest education levels. While Broward County's unemployment rate is approximately 3.3 percent, it soars to more than ten percent in some cities.  In response to this disparity, Broward UP has adopted three goals: increase college access and attendance; improve degree and certificate attainment and holistically raise social and economic mobility.  

"By partnering with local municipalities and community organizations, we are working directly with communities that have identified the need for specific support," said Broward College President Gregory Adam Haile, Esq. "We are excited to have the City of Hollywood on board. Together, we will expand educational and employment opportunities for residents."