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Building Stronger Teams. Developing Stronger Youth.
The Village Builders Academy
OverviewThe Village Builders Academy is a professional and youth development initiative designed to strengthen both the adults who serve young people and at-risk youth.
Developed in partnership with the Overtown Children & Youth Coalition (OCYC), the Academy provides a menu of highly interactive two-hour workshops that organizations can select based on their unique needs and priorities.
Through a combination of staff development and student enrichment experiences, participating organizations gain practical tools that improve Builder, communication, engagement, accountability, and long-term success.
Alignment with OCYC
As a backbone organization, OCYC convenes partners, aligns resources, and strengthens the collective impact of youth-serving organizations throughout Miami-Dade County.
The Village Builders Academy extends that work by providing shared learning experiences that build capacity across OCYC's network of partners. Rather than serving a single organization, the Academy strengthens the entire ecosystem of agencies, educators, youth professionals, and students working toward common outcomes.
The Academy supports OCYC's commitment to:
Capacity building among partner organizationsProfessional development for youth-serving professionalsBuilder developmentYouth empowermentCommunity collaborationCollective impactAlignment with the Florida Department of Children and Families
The Village Builders Academy supports key priorities advanced by the Florida Department of Children and Families, including:
Prevention and early interventionSocial and emotional well-beingCommunity-based support systemsEducational achievement and life preparednessPositive youth developmentWorkforce readinessLeadership developmentProgram Structure
Participating organizations may select workshops that align with their current goals, challenges, and priorities. Each workshop is designed as a highly interactive two-hour experience focused on practical application and real-world implementation. Potential participating organizations include:
Pillar 1: Team Excellence
Teamwork Without Turf Wars
Breaking down silos and creating a culture of collaboration.
Working Across Generations
Understanding and leading teams with different communication styles and expectations.
From Staff to Leaders
Developing leadership skills at every level of an organization.
Public Speaking for Student Success Professionals
Communicating with confidence in classrooms, workshops, meetings, and assemblies.
The Psychology of Student Engagement
Understanding why students tune in, tune out, and how to increase participation and connection.
From Invisible to Influential
Building visibility, credibility, and influence within organizations and communities.
Pillar 2: Student Excellence
Equipping Young People for Success in School, Career, and Life
Designed to help students develop the habits, mindset, and skills needed for long-term success.
Accountability Is Where Potential Becomes Performance
Owning your choices, actions, and future.
The Unmistakable Advantage of Taking Initiative
Why opportunity often goes to the person who steps forward first.
The Opportunity-Making Power of Networking
Building meaningful connections before you need them.
Every Dollar Is a Decision About Your Future
Financial literacy, money management, and building healthy financial habits.
The People Who Rise Are the People Who Recover
Developing resilience and learning how to bounce back from setbacks.
The Internet Is Your Permanent First Impression
Understanding how digital footprints influence opportunities, relationships, and future success.
Community Impact
The Village Builder Academy creates a multiplier effect throughout the community.
As staff become stronger leaders and communicators, they increase their effectiveness with students and families. As students develop skills such as accountability, initiative, networking, resilience, financial literacy, and digital responsibility, they become better prepared for success in school, career, and life.
The result is stronger organizations, stronger leaders, stronger students, and stronger communities.
Facilitator
The Village Builders Academy is led by Jefferson Noël, an award-winning educator, university professor, TEDx speaker, author, and youth development professional.
Depending on the workshop topic and audience, sessions may be facilitated by Jefferson Noël independently or alongside members of his professional team and strategic partners, allowing participants to benefit from a variety of perspectives, expertise, and lived experiences.