North Miami panel advances March 28 Miami‑Dade Women’s Summit plans, approves two‑year summit chair and program funding

Chairwoman Blaine Mier told the North Miami Commission for Women on Monday that she has been named chair of the inaugural Miami‑Dade Women’s Summit and is working to recruit an 11‑member advisory committee to run the event on March 28, 2026. “I am actively working to add 11 other members to this board,” she said, describing the work as a “heavy lift” that will require continuity beyond the first year.

The commission agreed to the chair’s proposal to hold the same chair for two consecutive summit cycles to establish the event and its standards. The motion to keep the same chair for two years passed unanimously in a roll call vote (5‑0).

Mier presented a sponsorship plan that targets a $150,000 budget for the first summit. She proposed a tiered approach: a title sponsor in a range of $25,000–$50,000, and a broader set of partners (she asked the commissioners to compile a list of up to 100 potential partners) with a working target of 50 partners contributing $1,500 each as one component of the funding strategy. Commissioners and staff discussed approaching large institutional sponsors (Miami‑Dade County, universities such as FIU or Miami Dade College) rather than small businesses for the title sponsorship.

On logistics, the commission discussed possible campus venues (Miami Dade College and Florida International University were mentioned) and the need for a fiscal agent to receive sponsorship funds. Assistant City Manager Katia Filippo and the board attorney advised using an independent nonprofit as the summit’s fiscal agent to avoid conflicts of interest and to ensure transparent tracking of funds; commissioners suggested several local nonprofits and chambers as candidates for that role. The attorney emphasized that a neutral, nonprofit fiscal agent is appropriate because the summit will involve multiple jurisdictions and partners.

The commission also scheduled follow‑up steps: a post‑summit evaluation and a debrief for recommendations; the advisory committee will have authority to finalize sponsorship ranges and marketing plans. Mier said the commission is aiming to register about 1,000 attendees for the first year and emphasized the summit’s role in building countywide partnerships and leadership capacity for women.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to have the same chair for the Miami‑Dade Women’s Summit for two consecutive years: passed, 5‑0 (motion recorded and seconded; recorded at the meeting). - Motion to raise $240 to contract Desource Therapeutic Touch Incorporated for the Dec. 26 Nomi meetup: passed, 4‑1 (recorded roll call vote). - Nomination/appointment of Vice Chair LaFortune: passed, 4‑0 (roll call recorded). - Motion to adjourn: passed, board adjourned following closing remarks.

Why it matters

The summit is intended as a countywide convening of municipal commissions, chambers, colleges and nonprofits to share best practices, highlight local initiatives and expand leadership and economic opportunities for women across Miami‑Dade County. Establishing a two‑year chair term and a neutral fiscal agent are steps intended to create institutional continuity and reduce the operational burden on any single city or organization.

What’s next

The advisory committee will meet to finalize sponsorship tiers, select a fiscal agent and confirm venue and marketing plans. The commission asked the advisory group to report back to the commission on sponsorship decisions and to undertake a post‑summit debrief and evaluation after March 28, 2026.

Attributions

Direct quotes and specific proposals in this report are drawn from statements made at the North Miami Commission for Women meeting. Chairwoman Blaine Mier and Assistant City Manager Katia Filippo provided the commission’s plan and staffing guidance. Sabine Desource presented vendor services and pricing to the commission and was the subject of a separate, recorded vote for a vendor payment.