At The Underline, we firmly believe in the power of collaboration and community engagement. Our journey to transform Miami's Metrorail into a vibrant 10-mile linear park has been made possible, in part, through the invaluable support of community partners like Radical Partners. We recently interviewed CEO Joan Godoy to tell us about her experience partnering with The Underline.
What inspired your organization to become involved with The Underline, and how does it align with your community-focused mission?
The Underline is one of the few high-quality, free, and always accessible outdoor spaces in Miami where locals from different walks of life collide. At Radical Partners, one of our objectives is to activate and engage locals and this has seemed like the perfect place to do for several years in a row. Aside from the place, the team is always open for us to do social experiments to connect Miamians and foster community.
Can you share a success story or milestone achieved through your collaboration with The Underline?
One of our favorite moments was in 2023 when we wrapped up the 10 Days of Connection, a movement to connect locals across lines of difference. We activated The Underline to play Social Yaks, a card game developed by our friends at Be Strong International. Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who awarded us with a Proclamation earlier that day, stayed and joined the fun. The Underline can be an equalizer and a unifier, and we're excited to keep accelerating that possibility by activating the space.
How have the community members you serve benefitted from the initiatives or projects carried out in partnership with The Underline?
When it comes to social impact organizations, 5-10 of them have gained exposure through the activations we've made, which means more locals are involved with their causes as volunteers, donors, or supporters. Dozens of our friends and partners in impact have learned about different opportunities and possibilities that exist in the city, such as free public transportation and food venues, hundreds of leaders have been challenged to innovate to activate locales and build community, while also being reminded of the simplicity and the power of human connection. We're sure their families have also benefited from learning about the existence of The Underline and have had quality-time moments that we don't know about.
