Mexican American Council - Give Miami Day

For more than 40 years, the Mexican American Council (MAC) has stood as a pillar of hope, advocacy, and opportunity for farmworker youth and families. Our mission is to break the cycle of poverty through education, the arts, and civic engagement—ensuring that every child has the chance to dream boldly and succeed confidently.

My journey is proof of what access, opportunity, and community can make possible.

I came to this country from Colombia, crossing the Mexican border with the same hopes carried by countless farmworker families in South Miami-Dade: a better life and a fair chance. I attended South Dade Senior High School during my first year, the very community I now have the privilege of serving. Through perseverance, mentors who believed in me, and the opportunities this country offers, I became a first-generation college graduate and earned two degrees from the University of Miami.

I am also a proud U.S. Navy veteran, continuing my service today as a Reservist. My commitment to serve did not end when I took off the uniform; it continues every day through my work at MAC. It is an honor to stand as a beacon of hope and a mentor to the youth in our community, showing them that through hard work, discipline, and perseverance, it is possible to rise, thrive, and create a future far greater than what many believe is within their reach.

At MAC, we strive to provide every farmworker child with access to quality education, the arts, leadership development, and technology, the very tools that opened doors for me. These programs do more than shape academic success; they transform lives, empower families, and build resilient communities. When our youth see someone who looks like them, comes from where they come from, and has walked the same path, they begin to believe in their own potential. That belief is powerful—and life-changing.

Your support makes this possible.

Every donation, no matter the size, directly strengthens the programs that expand opportunity, ignite passion, and empower youth to break generational barriers. With your help, we are not just funding programs, we are investing in dreams, inspiring belief, and building pathways to brighter futures.

Together, we can ensure a better tomorrow for every farmworker youth we serve. Together, we can create a community where every child has the chance to thrive. Together, we can continue the mission that changed my life and will change countless others.

Thank you for standing with us. Thank you for believing in them.

                                                   Sincerely,                                                                                                                                     Jose F. Gonzalez - Director of Operations & Strategic Initiatives