Preserving Culture through Community Leadership
In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt talks with Mileyka Burgos-Flores, CEO of the Allapattah Collaborative CDC in Miami, Florida, the only designated Main Street community in Miami. Mileyka is this year’s recipient of the Mary Means Leadership Award.
Show Notes
In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt talks with Mileyka Burgos-Flores, CEO of the Allapattah Collaborative CDC in Miami, Florida, the only designated Main Street community in Miami. Mileyka is also this year’s recipient of the Mary Means Leadership Award.
Allapattah, one of Miami’s oldest and most diverse neighborhoods, is home to Little Santo Domingo, revitalized by Dominican immigrants along the 17th Avenue corridor. Mileyka, originally from the Dominican Republic, found her calling in Allapattah during college at the University of Miami. She quickly became involved in community events and eventually led efforts to create a strategic plan for the area, forming the Allapattah Collaborative CDC in 2019.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, Mileyka and her team shifted focus to support local small businesses, aiming to preserve the cultural identity of Allapattah and Little Santo Domingo. Their initiatives include providing resources, education, and opportunities tailored to entrepreneurs in the district.
In their conversation, Mileyka and Matt discuss the importance of Main Street leaders supporting small businesses, the importance of “owning the dirt,” and Mileyka’s advice for fellow community leaders.
Further Reading: The Allapattah Collaborative CDC | Florida Main Street | 17th Ave – Allapattah Action Plan | Small Business Anti-Displacement Network | “Own the Dirt” Swag
About the Main Street Business Insights Podcast
Each week, join host Matt Wagner, Ph.D., as he travels the country and takes a deep dive into the personal journeys of downtown and neighborhood entrepreneurs. The stories that far too often go unheard. Learn about the innovative ways that these Main Street businesses have overcome adversity, whether it’s starting a new enterprise or keeping a multi-generation business alive, and the advice they have for others on how to keep their businesses on track. Main Street Business Insights is powered by Main Street America.
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