He is also a cofounder of #SmartMiami, a workforce development program providing sustainability accreditation training through resilient infrastructure development. His workshops serve to bring people together in a non-political environment to educate those who have a vested interest in our future.
Caballero has been inspired to advocate for sustainability and resiliency in South Florida because he recognizes there are barriers for people trying to make a difference. “It’s difficult to become LEED certified if you’re not with a big firm,” he said. “A lot of people are locked out of that knowledge base.”
In order to empower communities, #SmartMiami hosts a number of training programs to show how equity, resilience and resistance can combat climate change. Last year, Little Haiti became South Florida’s first ‘ecodistrict’, which is a new model of urban regeneration. The organization has also focused on hurricane preparation, both short-term and long-term. One successful outcome was a hurricane impact collective formed between four Opa Locka non-profits. Currently, #SmartMiami is looking at its next initiative: transportation.
The inaugural Transportation Camp Florida will be held May 9-10, where attendees will see Miami’s best infrastructure projects, including a tour of Port Miami, as well as hear from industry experts in transportation, engineering and construction. The camp is labeled an “unconference” where every attendee will be involved in leading the event. Caballero is excited to “fortify Miami and open doors for economic opportunities by offering a forum to plan for the future.”
In anticipation of the Transportation Camp, #SmartMiami will host a fireside chat with Dean Jean-Pierre Bardet of the College of Engineering on March 27 at the Sky Lab by the Launch Pad at UM. The College of Engineering will sponsor the event.
