Alum Spotlight: Mayor Daniella Levine Cava
Meet Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade Mayor and former Girl Scout
Editor's Note: This Q&A originally ran in The New Tropic.
What’s your favorite Girl Scout cookie?
The oatmeal peanut butter ones – Do-Si-Dos!
If there was a Miami badge for Girl Scouts, what three tasks would need to be completed to earn the badge?
1) Doing a beach clean-up,
2) Growing tropical fruit,
and
3) Visiting at least 5 different distinct ethnic communities
within Miami.
What’s your favorite Miami memory?
Paddling in a kayak through our beautiful Biscayne Bay.
Tell us about your work — your job and/or any volunteer work.
As Miami-Dade County Mayor, I oversee almost 30,000 employees, 25 departments, and a budget of $9 billion. On any given day, I could be collaborating with local public servants who keep everything in Miami-Dade running — from the Airport to the Zoo. I’m responsible for roads, libraries, building safety, disasters and pets, just to name a few things.
Pick a favorite local outdoor experience. What is it? What’re we doing? Who’s going with ya?
I love visiting Fruit and Spice Park where you can eat what’s growing and learn about the plants’ history and delicious recipes!
What’s your favorite local Instagram or TikTok account and why?
My favorite is my own Instagram account, @mayordlc, because I get to share information with our residents and engage directly with many of them.
If you could eat only one meal from a local restaurant for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Papaya salad at any South East Asian restaurant.
What’s a project you’re working on (big or small) and how can our readers help you with it?
Planting trees to increase our tree canopy. Come out to Adopt a Tree events and get your friends and neighbors to do the same!
What are you looking forward to this year?
Watching my granddaughters grow, as they learn to read and explore the world, continuing to serve as your first woman Mayor, and ensuring Miami-Dade County is a thriving community for all for generations to come!
