Program founders John Flickinger (far left) and Doug Weiser (far right), join Ransom Everglades’ Head of School , Ellen Moceri (center) and several Summerbridge Miami graduates.Summerbridge was re-branded as Breakthrough Miami in 2004 (see below).
Our History
Twenty-one years ago, Summerbridge Miami was established on the campus of Ransom Everglades School to help talented middle-school students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds “break through” the barriers of race, culture and socio-economics with an academic enrichment summer program taught by high-school and college student interns.
In 2007, the program – rebranded as Breakthrough Miami — was recognized for its excellence by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, with a grant of $3.25 million to expand to serve more students and families in need.
Today, Breakthrough Miami serves more than 1,000 students from across Miami-Dade County on sites located at five independent schools and one public charter school, and the program has become an eight-year program, guiding students from the 5th grade through high school graduation. Our sites are:
- Ransom Everglades School, Coconut Grove
- Carrollton School for the Sacred Heart, Coconut Grove
- Miami Country Day School, Miami Shores
- The Cushman School, Miami
- Palmer Trinity School, Palmetto Bay
- International Studies Charter High School
Breakthrough Miami is the largest and most dynamic affiliate of San Francisco-based Breakthrough Collaborative, which has 33 sites nationwide. Click here for more information about The Breakthrough Collaborative.
Summerbridge Miami is now Breakthrough Miami
Breakthrough Miami changed its name to better reflect the year-round nature of our program and to reflect its association with the national Breakthrough Collaborative of 33 affiliated sites. The mission of the program remains unchanged: to ensure that all students, regardless of background and financial means, have equal access to excellent educational opportunities and enthusiastic teachers. 
