Mary Ferré ( “Ms. Meme”)
Position: Art Teacher
School: Key Biscayne K-8 Center
School District: Miami Dade County Public Schools
City, State: Key Biscayne, FL
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Mary Ferré, known as Ms. Meme to her students and community, was nominated by a member of her community, Indra Arango.
Ms. Meme has 27 years of service in the Miami Dade County School District, where she has been an art teacher for various elementary schools throughout her tenure. She has demonstrated exceptional service to her students and community through her leadership and teachings about the art world. She shows how the children can engage with art and be creative for themselves. She has taught art to over 10,000 students.
Before teaching, Ms. Meme was also a volunteer Museum Educator, and she frequently organized art gallery field trips for the students during school hours. She volunteered on the weekends for the children to discover new forms of art and artists at the local museums. Among many activities she organized, Ms. Meme offered the students and community her famous Miami Metrorail Art Tours, showcasing all of the Public Statues and Art in the metrorail stations. Over 1,000+ students particpated.
Her enthusiasm and positive, whole-hearted personality makes her an asset to the students, school and community. She has always shown great professionalism and is a teacher the students rely on for knowlege, support and development. She has changed the lives of many students who have been lucky to have her as a teacher and friend.
"I believe Meme is a LifeChanger due to the positive impact she has made in her communtiy," said Arango. "We are all very thankful to have her in our educational system and wish that she could be acknowledged with this award for her impact, time and service to our community over the past three decades."
Ms. Meme Ferré has forever changed my life, time and time again, and not only because she's my incredible mother, but also as an artist and educator equally. My mother has instilled in me a dedication to lifelong learning, exploration, and experimentation.
As an artist, of the many lessons she has taught me, those of constraints and limitations, while often difficult, are not accidents or mistakes, but rather opportunities to expand our perspectives and enlighten our worldview. I still remember her telling me "There are no mistakes!" or "Don't use the eraser so much." - always nudging me to think differently and critically, always to embrace constraints and discover more.
As an educator, she taught me access to the arts is not equal to everyone, and that no matter one's resources, art education and self-expression are fundamental to both the individual and the community.
My mother has taught across borders, peoples, causes, and classes - working constantly on countless impactful projects far and wide - bringing joy and a higher level of appreciation for art to everyone she teaches.
Meme (Mary) Ferré is simply one of those remarkable people whose love and commitment to the joy and well-being of others shows in all that she undertakes. As accomplished as she is in the arts and community service, her most significant accomplishment is how she shines the spotlight on others....from family to students to members of her community and others who have been recipients of her generosity.
I truly hope that the committee will award Meme Ferré with the title of Life Changer of the Year. That is how we lucky friends already know her.
I have known Mimi for over 40 years. She's by far the most creative person I know. She thinks outside the box. I have been collecting her painting over the years and find her sense of color to be extraordinary. I have seen her first hand in the classroom how she excites the children she teaches with possibilities. She inspires them with her respect of their creative process. Mimi is an amazing artist and human being. She is the person most deserving of this award for her dedication as a teacher and her contributions to her community.
Standing at the open door of Meme Ferre’s classroom, you immediately get caught up in the buzz of enthusiasm and joy as she moves among her students, encouraging each one to direct their creative impulse into their art project. She tells her students to explore and discover, to play with color and shape, to expect the unexpected. She exposes them to the work of well-known artists, the not-so-famous and the up-and-coming; artists in Miami, elsewhere in Florida, and from all around the world; artists who share the heritage of many of her students from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Haiti. She regularly takes her classroom to Miami museums and galleries, to art in public places, in parks and on Miami’s city streets. Each year she has a visiting artist come work with the entire school on a collaborative, multi-day project. In 2015, for example, Puerto Rican painter, Carmelo Sobrino spent a week helping students create “The Traveling Line” mural. It began as a series of undulating lines that looped and soared along the whole length of a long drab hallway. Soon students (and parents and teachers, too) were filling the spaces inside and between the lines with colorful dots, stripes, squiggles and all manner of riotous patterns. Sobrino encouraged them to think of life as a traveling line, full of variety and complexity and at times turning back on itself before moving forward. They clearly connected with the message. It was their work and they owned it.
We’ve been Meme’s friends for more than forty years. In addition to her teaching and showing her own artwork, she has been a dedicated advocate for the arts for all of the decades we’ve known her, bringing a wide range of artistic expression to her community, whether it be film, theater, dance, or the visual arts. We have seen on many, many occasions past and present students as well as numerous members of our diverse community come up to her in public to show their appreciation. As an artist herself, her instincts have informed her teaching. She understands how intimidating the idea of making art can be and helps students relax, play with the materials at hand and enjoy the process. Her positive influence on the lives of thousands of students is the mark of an individual who understands the importance of nurturing and honoring the creative impulse in fellow human beings. She is a truly gifted educator and well deserving of this year’s Life Changer of the Year Award.
Meme Ferre is an amazing person to know. I was lucky to meet her at North Beach Elementary as the art teacher to all of my five children. Her involvement has been a huge impact to our community. She showcases her students art work at every opportunity to display their talent. It was always touching to see my five children showcase their art work around our school and community. I admire how she always helps and get involve with the different organizations in our city. I admire her passion for nature and protecting our environments. I am thankful for my Meme's hard work and dedication for our children, schools and community.
Meme is enthusiastic and passionate about her art and her dedication to the importance of art and educating all ages.
Meme Ferre is a true life changer. She is an essential part of the Key Biscayne family.
I've had the pleasure to meet Meme through Copperbridge Foundation in which she serves as a board member. As a member of this non-profit, I've seen her devoting time to teach in at-risk communities and engage in art panel at schools, libraries, and public spaces. Meme is an exceptional artist and art teacher but also a promoter of change and improvement in her community and her family’s homeland: Puerto Rico. Her caring personality, talent, and numerous social and volunteer activities make her worthy of this recognition.
It is with great enthusiasm that I support Meme Ferre for the LifeChanger of the Year Award. I have known Meme for 38 years. Over these years, I have been involved in many of Meme's artistic projects. Some have included the Miami's International Film Festival, the installation of major public artworks in Miami, museum lectures, children's art projects, her own solo art exhibitions, and many school projects with the thousands of children whose lives she has touched. Meme is a, larger than life, imaginative artist with colorful, playful, creative ideas that inspire her students. Her love of color and shapes and her knowledge of art history motivates them to learn more and be outrageously creative. I am the director of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center for the past 27 years. Meme has helped me bring nature alive through art to our 30,000 visitors a year. Meme has been our artist-in-resident for the past 15 years. Nature has a WOW moment when walking with Meme along the ocean, mangroves and dunes. Nature becomes an important factor in your life. Conservation and preservation become second nature and it is in this way
that Meme Ferre becomes a true LiveChanger! Her spirit for making the world a better place is contagious. I cast my vote on behalf of all the lives Meme has changed and will change in the years to come.
An amazing Visionary ??
Creative themes ??is in her genes
Motivation towards her students is so abundant ???
Shows ?? & support to all her students
I truly believe we need more humans in this world to share the passion, love and respect that Meme Ferre practices in her daily life as an amazing role model. My daughter Chantal Bonitto has the honor to be taught art by Meme from kinder to 5th grade and truly my daughter is the amazing young lady she is today because of Meme. Chantal loves the Arts because she loved her teacher Meme Ferre. Through Memes teachings it opened the art side of my daughter making her more creative, look outside the box, see colors differently thus making her see the world differently, but more importantly herself.
My daughter is in New World School of the Arts, in Honors and I attribute Meme Ferre as the influencer, life changer therefore being a major reason to the story of my daughter’s success and mine as a mother. The great values, leadership skills and being out of the box for our kids, has created some great human beings and life changing stories thank you for playing such an intricate part in molding our kids, tomorrow’s legacy!
Thank you Meme Ferre a true life changer and legacy in our community!
Missing you and so grateful,
Susana Baker
Mother of Chantal Bonitto, student of Meme Ferre, North Beach Elementary
I worked with Meme and she taught my three children. As a parent and as a peer, I can tell you that she inspired children to be the best they could be. She was always creating new and interesting projects for the children to do. Meme also planned art field trips for the children. We now have a lot of culture in Miami. Not everyone takes advantage of that, Meme did. Through her art, Meme has changed and continues to change the lives of many.
Of course, I am biased, but my daughter. Mary Ferré, known for 27 years in her classes as Ms. Meme, has always been an exceptional human being and professional school teacher, now for almost three decades.
Meme is a curious, tenacious, imaginative artistic, loving and devoted daughter, mother and grandmother. She is giving and generous to a fault.
All these human qualities, wrapped up in determination and perseverance, make of her a Life Changing Role Model.
I have been in public service for fifty years, having served in many capacities, including Mayor of Miami for 12 years. People in our community know me. For the past decade, what amazes me is that in public most people greet me as Ms. Meme’s father.
I know she has positively influenced the lives of thousands of children and their families.
Meme is a life changer because
She cares. She is a loving, selfless giver. Dedicated to children, art and the combination of both her whole life. She goes out of her way for
Others which she has proven over and over with a life of service to her students, family and community. She has changed
Many lives with her love, enthusiasm, talent and willingness to share with all who are fortunate enough to know her.
When I had just recently moved to Florida from my previous home of NYC, I was a nervous wreck. I hid behind fake optimism and tended to build walls against the world around me. Then I went into Ms. Meme's class. Immediately, I was met with such a kind, loving, open-minded teacher. At first, I had my doubts. I was a bit of a prick and wanted to do things my own way, namely art projects. But ms. Meme gently urged me on, until I developed a genuine love for showing up at her class. I met some of the greatest people I've ever known, and they made me happy. When I mentioned that I would apply to MAC (The Miami Arts Charter School) in the hopes of studying Creative Writing, Ms. Meme chided that she actually knew a member of the staff there. I had brushed it off as just a fun fact, but Ms. Meme actually wrote me a letter of recommendation into the school, which I think was an important stepping stone that helped me get in. Now, I'm happy as ever, and can't help but point at Ms. Meme when I'm asked how I got in. I love her so, so much and I hope she can read this just to know how much she means to me.
I was the Art Supervisor for the Miami Dade County Public Schools when I first met Mimi, who was applying for a job as an art teacher in the system....it took me 5 minutes and one question, "Why do you want to teach ART" for me to realize - here was A GOOD ONE!!!!!
Mimi's honesty, enthusiasm, energy, and above all else, the love to impact children with something as magical and forceful as the ARTS...her mission was not to make every kid and artists, but to instill the love of surrounding oneself with the arts and culture, and she has done that every year she has taught her lucky students. I also know Mimi well in another facet of her life and her career, as a professional artist....I have shown her work in the non-profit gallery I curate, and have seen her grow and flourish in her practice. I so appreciate that whenever she has an exhibition, she invites her students and their parents, recognizing that its important for her students to also see her as a professional artist, and a role model. For these and so many other reasons, I'm so proud to call Mimi my friend!
Meme
Comes from a family of public service. She carries the tradition of her father City of Miami mayor for over a decade, that put our county on the world map. She has taught art to our 4 children, two of which have one first place in the county and our youngest in whom she has instilled a sense of pride in his communicating thru art as a medium. I could not think of a better teacher to be awarded this recognition.
Leo Brito
Meme is full of positive energy and gives that to the students everyday. She makes her time with students a time of exploration and creativity which makes them LOVE the arts! Meme is an inspiration to many and her dedication to teaching what she loves is evident in our school not just in her classroom. We have art decorating our school in many areas and that is all due to her enthusiasm to share her love of art with all of us.
Mary is wonderful
A life changer
I've known Meme since we were children and have admired her creativity, dedication to teaching, and caring and generous nature. I have attended many of her art exhibits and have met many of her students there. I've been impressed to see the enthusiasm that parents and students show for their teacher. I've heard many stories of how supportive Meme is as a teacher and how innovative she is as an artist, always looking for ways to pass on new ideas and inspire her students to be their best. She has boundless energy! I know she has been a life-changer to many students, they are what motivates her. She also promotes the love of art in our community as exemplified by the countless programs she has initiated and participated in. It was wonderful to see a local artist of such talent as Meme possesses exhibit at a satellite show in Art Basel last year. I can think of no one more deserving of this wonderful recognition.
I was fortunate enough to have Ms. Meme as the art teacher for my two children from K-5. Her true love for art and her children shows every day in her life. Although my son is now in college and my daughter graduates H.S. this year, we consider Ms. Meme to be a life-long friend of our family.
Ms. Meme is definitely an asset to our school and art department. She is a passionate, enthusiastic, and caring teacher. It is through her passion, dedication, and optimism that she instills a love of art in all her students. They are all able to freely explore and express themselves through their creative art work. Besides teaching in her classroom, she is involved in other community and school-wide activities advocating the arts. She embodies all the attributes of an exceptional art teacher. Congratulations to Ms. Meme for this well deserved recognition!
Meme has been a breath of fresh air to our school and to the art department. She is enthusiastic about her profession and it shows with her creativity and passion for the subject she teaches. The students at our school have learned so many different techniques and have learned to appreciate the many different aspects to art itself. Whenever there is a district wide contest, the students are enrolled enthusiastically. Each student gets a chance to showcase their creativity. Meme is the consummate professional and is a life changer for our students. She is so deserving of this award!
Meme taught my son, Mikhail, in 2001-2004 at North Beach Elementary School. Her teaching technique is allowing students to immerse, enjoy and explore Art fully. They experience MeMe’s enthusiasm and support and love Art for their lives.
Mikhail is now completing his Masters in Interior Architecture & Design at the Paul Cejas School of Design at FIU. We are supporting this Nomination for MeMe wholeheartedly and with gratitude for in her many years of teaching, she has influenced so many students like my son. Kathryn Orosz
My wife and I have been good friends with Meme for 30 years. A number of years ago. Meme got me involved in a project at her school. I am a sculptor who lives in New Mexico.I come to Florida and spent several days with her students, discussing art, what I do for a living, and showing them my artwork. We then got all those involved to do drawings of a public sculpture that thy would like to see at their school.
I took home what seems like hundreds and hundreds of drawings, and based on the students ideas I came up with a sculpture.
I built it in New Mexico, transported it to Florida and installed it at her school . Meme then arranged a dedication ceremony that was absolutely wonderful
Meme' s energy and drive, love of and dedication to Art and to her students, was obvious every minute of every days I spent with her. Her students simply adored her.
In the years since then I have seen no sign of a let up in the pure love she shows to all. I have never met a more dedicated professional and I am convinced she is the best candidate for the award.
I have known Meme almost all my life. She has always been passionate and dedicated to art. She is a caring and beautiful person. Enjoys teaching and helps her students see the beauty of art. Meme defenetely deserves this great prize!
I have worked with Meme for the past five years at a very special event hosted by Big Blue and You, called ArtSea. She is a very professional artist who is always available to help out where needed. Her commitment and dedication to the children we serve goes above and beyond what is expected. She always ready with creative, fresh and new ideas to inspire the next generation.
As an Art teacher, Ms."Meme" teaches her students to think outside the box, One of her -year long- assignments is to have students, of all ages, look for art in different places around their city and on their travels. Appreciation for diversity is an important factor in this assignment. They have to log in, draw and explain in their Art Portfolio what they saw in museums, nature, buildings and/or art exhibits. The assignment is broken up into segments, for grading purposes, and as the school year comes to an end, students come to appreciate the beauty around them and how each of them view the same thing in different ways. In this manner Ms. Meme passes along to her students her passion for art and creativity. I am very fortunate to work at the school where she teaches and look forward to the end of the school year so I can see and enjoy the Art Portfolios and the world of art through her students' eyes. Ms. Meme assures that future artists are appreciated by having young minds fall in love with art for the rest of their life. For this reason I believe she already is a Life Changer!
Meme Ferre has been a dedicated art educator and advocator for arts education for more than three decades. I know her since the 1980s, when she was a recognized practicing artist. I witnessed her taking her practice into the classroom, to impact the future generation of art lovers, supporters, and makers. She was an important partner to The Wolfsonian museum, when I was director there, and helped us understand the roles museums can play in supporting art education. Now as acting director of Bakehouse Art Complex, I am so excited to see the work of her students exhibited here annually. She is in fact a life changer of many and warrants this overdue recognition.
Both of my daughters were fortunate enough to have Mary Ferre as their elementary school art teacher. She is an amazing, compassionate teacher who manages to engage and inspire all of her students - no matter their level of talent - with original, creative assignments. My daughters are now 19 and 16 and I still have so many of the pieces they created back in elementary school. She is a real gem and I can't think of anyone more deserving to win this prize!
Mary (Meme) Ferre is a compassionate teacher who inspires others to care. This was very evident after Hurricane Maria when she organized a fund drive for Puerto Rico. ??
My mother, Ms. Meme, has been a superstar art teacher who has transformed the lives of thousands of children during her teaching career. There is no better nominee who gives so much of her time, and her heart, to help all children from all backgrounds, see the transformational powers that the ARTS can bring. Her passion and dedication is felt the moment you meet her and step into her art room. The artworks and murals around the school reflect the collaborative community spirit, and she brings top artists from around the world to her school, so they can be inspired. In a world that can be very dark, and troubling with violence and fear, Ms. Meme is able to bring light and helping students feel alive, creative and magical. I hope you can recognize her and that she wins this great prize!
