Daniella Levine Cava

Daniella Levine Cava

Daniella Levine Cava is an American attorney and politician who serves as Mayor of Miami-Dade County. She previously worked in legal advocacy and nonprofit leadership before serving on the Miami-Dade County Commission. Her tenure as mayor has involved responses to hurricanes, pandemic recovery, housing initiatives, and infrastructure planning across Miami, Miami Beach, Hialeah, Homestead, and neighboring municipalities.

Early life and education

Levine Cava was born in New York City and grew up in a family with connections to Brooklyn and Queens. She attended Barnard College and studied at Columbia University before earning a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law. During her student years she engaged with organizations such as AmeriCorps, Public Interest Law Program (PILP), and community groups in South Florida neighborhoods including Little Havana, Coconut Grove, and Coral Gables. Influences on her early civic perspective included exposure to activists and public servants associated with Sister City programs, leaders from American Civil Liberties Union, and figures linked to urban policy debates in New York City and Miami-Dade County.

Legal and nonprofit career

Levine Cava practiced law with ties to Florida legal institutions and nonprofit organizations addressing social services, housing, and child welfare in partnerships with entities like United Way, Legal Aid Society, Catholic Charities USA, and the Florida Bar Association. She held leadership roles at local nonprofits engaged with agencies including Health Care District of Palm Beach County, Miami-Dade County Public Schools referral programs, and collaborations with Florida International University and University of Miami research centers. Her legal advocacy intersected with statewide initiatives led by the Florida Department of Children and Families and national networks such as the National League of Cities and National Association of Counties. She worked alongside philanthropic partners including The Ford Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and community development corporations like Enterprise Community Partners.

Political career and Miami-Dade County Mayor

Levine Cava was elected to the Miami-Dade County Commission, representing districts that include municipalities such as Key Biscayne, Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Bal Harbour, and unincorporated areas like Cutler Bay. Her service on the commission involved collaboration with officials from Miami-Dade County Public Schools superintendents, law enforcement leaders from the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), and public health directors associated with the Florida Department of Health. In 2020 she ran for Mayor in a campaign engaging constituents across precincts tied to Florida's 27th congressional district, intersecting with issues debated by statewide leaders including governors, U.S. representatives, and county executives. Her mayoral administration coordinates with federal agencies including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), state offices such as the Florida Division of Emergency Management, and metropolitan bodies like the South Florida Regional Planning Council.

Policy initiatives and major actions

As mayor, Levine Cava prioritized hurricane preparedness and climate resilience, advancing projects related to sea-level rise mitigation used by planners affiliated with Miami-Dade County Office of Resilience, engineers from Florida Atlantic University, and consultants from firms formerly engaged with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She launched housing affordability measures collaborating with partners such as Miami-Dade Affordable Housing Trust, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, and national housing groups like Habitat for Humanity and Enterprise Community Partners. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, her administration coordinated vaccination and recovery programs with Miami-Dade County Health Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and local hospitals including Jackson Memorial Hospital and Mount Sinai Medical Center (Florida). She advanced transportation and infrastructure projects involving Miami-Dade Transit, regional rail stakeholders like Brightline, port authorities including the Port of Miami, and aviation partners at Miami International Airport. Public safety and justice initiatives engaged law enforcement reform conversations with advocacy groups such as American Civil Liberties Union, prosecutors from Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, and judges on the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court. Economic recovery efforts included collaboration with chambers of commerce such as the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and workforce programs linked to CareerSource South Florida.

Personal life and recognition

Levine Cava's personal affiliations include participation in civic institutions and boards that have overlapped with cultural organizations like the Perez Art Museum Miami, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, and educational partners such as Florida International University and University of Miami. She has been recognized by local and national organizations including awards from United Way, honors presented by Miami-Dade County, commendations from regional civic groups, and acknowledgments from statewide associations like the Florida League of Cities. Her mayoralty has been noted in coverage by media outlets such as the Miami Herald, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and broadcast partners including WPLG Local 10 and WTVJ NBC 6. She resides in Miami-Dade County and engages with philanthropic networks connected to foundations including Knight Foundation and community development initiatives supported by Wells Fargo Foundation.

Category:People from Miami-Dade County Category:University of Miami School of Law alumni Category:Barnard College alumni