Power U Center for Social Change

1998 Power University was formed to build an organizing base around urban issues in low-income inner-city neighborhoods.

1999 Power U Center for Social Change was incorporated as a separate, community-owned grassroots organization.

2001 Secured over $1 million in inner city school improvements.

2003 Co-founded Root Cause and sponsored 34 mile march against the Free Trade Area of the Americas

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003 Provided alternative certified graduation for more than 140 students who met graduation requirements but were denied diplomas due to FCAT.

2003 Established the People of Color Alliance for Public Schools to work for the systemic change in the Miami-Dade public school system.

2004 Stopped toxic dumping in Wagner Creek; won the fight for a Turnpike Noise Wall

2005 Stopped the expansion of an I-95 ramp in Overtown, already devastated by I-95.

2005 Created the SCRUB program, which required a standard of excellence and accountability for clean schools and clean bathrooms.

2005 Conducted community planning session with Florida Atlantic University and Overtown residents.

2006 Submitted Environmental Community Impact Report on proposed use of public land for luxury condo development.

2006 Won first lawsuit against the City of Miami for improper bidding procedures.

2007 Won second lawsuit against City of Miami and Crosswinds Developers.

2007 Organized several town hall meetings, vigils, and marches to City Hall where residents spoke out against luxury condos requesting low-income housing.

2007 County takes back the land from City and Power U provides input to the new RFP process.

2007 Youth leaders trained by Power U conduct assessment of disciplinary practices in Booker T. Washington High School and present findings and demands to School Board, teachers, and students.

2007 Established first Overtown Renter's Association.

2009 Renter's Majority Project did a city wide survey for renters.


2010 Power U introduces a new program called Powerful Women & Families.


2011 Suspension rates have gone down this school year in part due to our pressure on school board and Vitti to make this happen. Superintendent Nikoli Vitti is disallowing the "Tardy Tank" and making principals figure out how to keep students in classes, so that they are receiving their education for the day.

2011 Power U Youth held their first community forum to end the Schoolhouse to Jailhouse Pipeline.

2012 Restorative Justice trainings with people from 26 schools identified as "persistently lowest-achieving"