‘5000 Role Model’ students push for tech literacy — and Suarez gives them a boost
Jason Melus, an 18-year-old Turner Tech High School senior, said he never had the opportunity to understand investing while he was growing up. So, in his junior year, he began reading “get rich” books and watching YouTube videos on how to start a business.
“I really want to get out of my home because my home is very destroyed,” Melus said, adding that there were holes in the wall and floors. “I want to live in a better home.”
Melus was one of the high school students in the “5000 Role Models of Excellence” program who attended an innovation tour Wednesday at Miami City Hall. They listened as Mayor Francis Suarez and a Black tech founder spoke on the growing tech environment in the city. Students later visited virtual reality start-up AEXLAB and Motorsport Network media company.
The 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, founded by Rep. Frederica Wilson in 1993, works to guide marginalized students along a path to higher education, adulthood and success.
Last year, about 100 students gathered at the Hard Rock stadium during the Annual Police & Youth Conference summer, following the murder of George Floyd, to start a conversation on trust among law enforcement. At its core, 5000 Role Models aims to steer at-risk boys away from crime and violence and partner them with supportive, positive male figures in their community.
Muhammad Ali Jr. made a surprise appearance during the event to spread awareness and raise donations for the first Muhammad Ali Jr. Legacy Continues anti-bullying gym, in commemoration of his father. He wanted to spread a message of reducing physical violence and Black-on-Black crime.
“When he died, he gave you the opportunity to find the Muhammad Ali within you, find the greatness that God made you for and live for that purpose,” he said.
Keith Caldwell, the senior adviser to the city manager, kicked off the event Wednesday, asking, “Are there any kings in the house?”
Melus, along with a sea of about 45 other high school students dressed in white button downs and red silk ties, shouted back, “Here!”
Isaiah Jackson, author of the “Bitcoin & Black America” book series, shared that the median wealth of Black Americans has been stagnant for decades. His aim: to educate every Black American about Bitcoin.
“All you got was a shiny iPhone and Netflix but nothing changed financially, it’s still the same in Black communities,” Jackson said.
As new technology arises, Black and brown Americans either push it away or don’t understand it, forcing them to become consumers, as they did with the dawn of the internet in the ‘90s, he said.
“There’s no more excuses,” Jackson said. “Doesn’t matter if you’re Black, white, green, purple or blue. Everybody can get involved in Bitcoin cryptocurrency. Will not always have equal outcomes, all we’re pushing for is equal opportunity.”
Suarez, a champion of cryptocurrency, began his remarks offering each student in attendance a digital wallet and $100 worth of cryptocurrency to encourage participation in the tech movement, although the details are still being worked out for that and parental permission will be required.
“Us being a crypto capital is important,” Suarez said. ”Why is it important? Because your futures are important, because your children’s futures are important.”
Suarez ended with a call to action asking each student to speak with barbers, restaurants and other businesses to encourage the acceptance of Bitcoin as a form of payment.
“We’re not going to let Silicon Valley or any other part of the world take that from us,” he said. “That’s coming here. Those jobs are coming here, those are your jobs.”
Isaiah Dacius, a 17-year-old senior, said that while his parents worked hard to provide him a good life, they lacked financial stability and support. He wants to share his newfound knowledge on investing and cryptocurrency with them as a symbol of appreciation.
“It might take some time for them to adapt to it, but I’m pretty sure in the long run it will play out,” he said.
As president of the Turner Tech 5000 Role Models chapter and member since second grade, he’s learned to lead by example and said he’s aware of the stereotypes that can stall advancement for Black people in the tech industry.
“Knowing that we have actual, successful young Black men in this room and people, individuals in this room, we could change that cycle,” he said.
This story was originally published October 27, 2021 at 5:11 PM.