Miami Country Day

Miami Country Day School, a premier private K-12 institution, faced significant communityopposition when seeking increased enrollment approval. With site plan approvals pending and an upcoming partnership with Barry University, the school hoped to change the narrative about it’s expanding footprint. Without a structured strategy to address neighbor and community concerns, the school risked prolonged delays, negative publicity, and outcomes that could constrain its long-term growth. The dual nature of the challenge, spanning two municipalities and separate approval processes, demanded a coordinated campaign capable of operating simultaneously across multiple governmental and community stakeholders.

INGAGE designed and executed a proactive public affairs program centered on stakeholder engagement and relationship-driven government relations. Rather than waiting for opposition to surface, INGAGE organized and facilitated internal and external workshops that gave neighbors and residents a structured forum to voice concerns and receive direct responses from school leadership. The team conducted targeted meetings with neighbors and Miami-Dade County government officials to build understanding and goodwill ahead of formal review processes. By ensuring that residents felt genuinely heard and that their concerns were addressed before any votes were scheduled, INGAGE systematically reduced the conditions that fuel organized opposition.

In parallel, INGAGE led the public affairs, government relations, and public relations effort to secure Miami Shores Village approval for Miami Country Day's partnership with Barry University, engaging local officials, community stakeholders, and media to build a broad base of support for the collaboration. A formal partnership announcement ceremony planned by INGAGE and media release garnered positive coverage in The Miami Herald, Biscayne Times, and niche local outlets, along with a viral social media announcement.

INGAGE's approach delivered wins on both fronts. The site plan moved through the Miami-Dade County approval process without opposition present at the hearings, a direct outcome of the community engagement work that addressed concerns before they could consolidate into organized resistance. Miami Shores Village subsequently approved Miami Country Day's partnership with Barry University, clearing the path for a significant expansion of the school's athletic programming. Across both campaigns, INGAGE demonstrated that early, authentic community engagement paired with strategic government relations and positive public relations is the most effective tool for converting a contentious entitlements environment into a clear path to approval.