MISSION
Do The Right Thing of Miami, Inc. is a non-profit, community-based program whose mission
is to recognize and reward Miami youths for their exemplary behavior, accomplishments,
and good deeds through a unique partnership with the City of Miami Police Department.
PRIMARY GOAL
Do The Right Thing is committed to achieving the highest level of excellence for youths
in our community by reaching the following common goals:
- Do The Right Thing strives to reinforce socially desirable behavior among our youth.
- Do The Right Thing seeks to demonstrate that “good kids” are newsworthy.
- Do The Right Thing endeavors to support schools in Miami-Dade County by providing
incentives to encourage positive student behavior modification.
- Do The Right Thing desires to foster positive relationships between police officers
and the young people in our community.
- Do The Right Thing hopes to better our community by bettering the future of our youth.
AWARDS PROGRAM
The DTRT Awards Program distinguishes exceptional school-age children who choose to be drug
and crime free, exhibit non-violent behavior, do well in school, make a difference in their
communities, and demonstrate turnaround behavior. The program ensures that young people are
not only rewarded for “doing the right thing,” but also publicly recognized as role models
for their peers. Each month, up to 1,000 students are nominated by teachers, parents, police
officers, and other adults in the community for their good deeds or positive behavior. With
the assistance of the selection committee, ten students are chosen as winners for that month.
They are invited to a ceremony at the Miami Police Department and the chief of police awards
them with prizes such as mini-tablets, t-shirts, plaques, and other prizes donated by local
businesses. Every month one of the top middle or high school winner receives a trip to
Washington, D.C. Monthly, one top elementary school winner receives a trip to Rapids Water Park.
In order to reach as many children as possible and reinforce their positive behavior, all
nominees receive a host of prizes including but not limited to a Do The Right Thing t-shirt,
personalized certificate of recognition, a congratulatory letter from the chief of police, and
a bumper sticker. The program seeks to show children that “doing the right thing” can be a rewarding
experience while at the same time deterring negative behavior in schools. By reversing the increasing
trend of crime and violence in schools, DTRT strives to better our community. In addition to its awards
component, Do The Right Thing provides an array of other activities to help underprivileged children
in the community such as anti-violence youth rallies, seminars on current topics affecting our youth,
and crime prevention contests.
OFFICER DO RIGHT
In response to the increasing violence in our community and concerns over school safety, Do The
Right Thing launched the highly successful Officer Do Right™ Initiative in 2016. Officer Do Rights™
visit their respective schools once a month to deliver prize incentives to up to 15 Do The Right
Thing student nominees. During Officer Do Right’s™ visit, he/she brings in Happy Meal lunches
donated by local, participating McDonald’s so student nominees can “Dine with Officer Do Right™,” and be
awarded their prizes for doing the right thing. Officer Do Right™ is also on the lookout for students
doing the right thing and invites them to spin the Do The Right Thing prize wheel for special rewards
such as bike safety lights, pencils, etc. With a continuing officer presence in elementary/K-8 school sites,
Do The Right Thing strives to forge stronger, more positive relations between law enforcement and citizens
beginning with our youth.
NATIONAL INITIATIVE
Due to the success of DTRT in Miami, the program is offered to law enforcement agencies nationwide
as well as internationally. Contact the Miami DTRT office to start a chapter in your community.
For further information, contact the Do The Right Thing Program by phone at 305-603-6957,
www.dotherightthinginc.org or by email at dtrtmiami@aol.com.
Join us on Facebook at Do The Right Thing of Miami, Inc. and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @DTRTMiami
|
