Meet GI 305 | Miami’s first guaranteed income program

We had the good fortune of connecting with GI 305 and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi GI 305, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
We want people to remember our unwavering commitment to addressing economic neglect, our dedication to empowering historically marginalized communities, and our belief that systemic change is achievable through collective action. Ultimately, we want to encourage others to refuse complicity in the poverty of our people.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
GI 305 is a nonprofit organization advancing guaranteed income in Miami Dade-County, Florida. We are running Miami’s first guaranteed income program, and a related education campaign around using guaranteed income as a means of alleviating poverty and housing insecurity.

GI 305’s program disburses $650 a month to local residents and workers within six Miami neighborhoods: Allapattah, Liberty City, Little Haiti, Little Havana, Overtown, and Wynwood. This money is without conditions and restrictions, promoting choice and agency without discrimination or invasive state-structured case management.

We started GI 305 to address the longstanding economic neglect and housing displacement of historic minority communities in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Our communities heavily depend on traditional welfare programs, with little to no economic progress. GI 305 uniquely positions Guaranteed Income as a community-centric solution to poverty, violence, and displacement, in contrast to traditional anti-poverty cash welfare programs. We are showing that any community, regardless of financial constraints, can establish a basic income floor through collective organizing efforts. This vision underscores our unwavering commitment to effect systemic change and societal progress.

What we are most proud of is our commitment to spreading our initiative one person at a time. GI 305 plans to add community members to the fund as the money is raised to do so, in contrast to other programs which develop yearly cohorts. With each person supported by Guaranteed Income we are one step closer to moving guaranteed income from a “pilot experiment” to a permanent program here in Miami-Dade County.

The journey to where we are today at GI 305 has been both challenging and rewarding. Establishing a nonprofit dedicated to guaranteed income requires navigating through various obstacles, including institutional and organizational challenges. It is not an easy path, but our team’s collective dedication, resilience, and strategic thinking played pivotal roles in overcoming these hurdles. The commitment to our mission and the belief in the transformative power of guaranteed income kept us motivated even during challenging times.

We ultimately want people to know that GI 305 is more than a nonprofit organization; it’s a catalyst for systemic change. We want people to see our commitment to community-centric solutions, our unique approach to guaranteed income, and our dedication to preserving Miami’s historic minority communities. Our story is one of resilience, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of a more equitable and inclusive future. We invite everyone to explore our work at gi305.org and join us in reshaping the narrative of economic justice in Miami-Dade County.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
That’s tough! There is so much to see and do in Miami. In the spirit of the communities GI 305 serves, we would show our guests the beauty of each of our neighborhoods, along with a few extras that are our favorite places to go.

For food, must visits are:
– Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop in Wynwood
– Chef Creole in Little Haiti
– El Rey de Las Fritas in Little Havana
– Fresco y Mas in Allapattah for a $3 cuban sandwich 🙂
– Lil Greenhouse Grill in Overtown
– Palacio de los Jugos
– Islas Canarias, for the most superior croquetas in Miami

Some activities:
– African Heritage Cultural Arts Center in Liberty City
– Historic Lyric Theatre in Overtown
– Dale Zine in Little River
– Doing some work at Panther Coffee in Little Haiti/Wynwood
– Crandon Park for a quiet beach day
– Paradis Books and Bread in North Miami
– Saturday morning farmer’s market in Legion Park
– Little River Flea, wherever they are that weekend
– We’d also probably take them with us to volunteer with some of our favorite Miami orgs! BuddySystemMIA, Hermanos de
la Calle, Beyond the Bars, PowerU

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
We walk on the shoulders of the great community leaders who stood before us, and we are working night and day to provide a pair of shoulders for the community leaders who will come after us. There are several freedom fighters who inspire our work, many of whom were not popular among their contemporaries.

For devotion to equality we draw inspiration from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King was a civil rights leader, advocate for non-violent protest, the abolition of poverty, and for the establishment of a national Guaranteed Basic Income.

For bravery we draw inspiration from Muhammad Ali. Ali was a staunch advocate for abolition of poverty and non-violent resistance to oppression. Adversary of American imperialism, segregation, racism and bigotry.

For leadership we draw inspiration from Tecumseh, the legendary Shawnee Chief and warrior who resisted American expansion. He was a skilled orator able to unite the Native American communities of the Ohio River Valley to reject European influences and empower native cultures. He himself led by example, eating only native foods, wearing only shawnee clothing, and refusing to drink alcohol.

For commitment to truth we draw inspiration from Amy Goodman, American Journalist and Co-Host of Democracy Now! Radio since 1996. Ms. Goodman is world renowned for her apologetic reporting of international human rights violations. She is a beacon for independent journalism and is unafraid of challenging governments through her honest reporting.

In moments of doubt, we seek literature to inspire our imaginations. None can elicit such creativity like Octavia Butler. In her book “Parable of the Sower”, the character of Lauren reminds us that navigating change requires a forward-looking perspective. Instead of succumbing to the inevitability of transformation, Lauren proactively shapes her present actions based on the lessons learned from her community’s past challenges.

The road to change seems daunting, especially when the transformation we seek may extend beyond our lifetimes. Yet on this road we find those who, despite facing adversity, steadfastly refuse to turn their backs on their communities. While the vast structures around us may seem unyielding, small collective efforts, over time, can construct a foundation—a sturdy pair of shoulders—for the organizers who will continue this important work after us. It’s a reminder that our actions, no matter how modest, contribute to the evolving narrative of Miami and the lasting impact we strive to create.

We draw inspiration from our family roots, the guidance of our mentors, the leaders who came before us, the literature which invites us to dream big, and ultimately the resilience of the communities we serve.

Website: gi305.org

Instagram: @gi305cf

Linkedin: GI 305 (https://www.linkedin.com/company/gi-305)