Best multi-cultural/diverse cities to live.

LadyeezmanChris,

This is off topic. Oh well, I am graduating college soon and need to know.

How is the job market in the social service field in Miami. I was looking it up on the internet, and read that Miami is known for its plentiful social service jobs. Is this true?

Also, how is the cost of living?

Furthermore, is Miami pretty good with having integrated working-class and middle-income residential neighborhoods in the city (no suburbs) --a mixture of Black, Latino, Asian, and White?

How is the public school system?

Is Miami a clean city?

I would love to get information from a person who lives in Miami than getting it second hand from what I read from Wall Street residential locator. If you could please give me some information. That would be great!

Peace.

Furthermore, does anyone else know of good multi-cultural progressive cities to live in with a decent job market, many integrated working-class and middle-class residential neighborhoods in the city (no suburbs), pretty clean, has a somewhat decent public school system, and a reasonable cost of living? Also, no East Coast cities or Midwestern cities.

Peace.

 

No east coast cities? But I'll be honest with you, I may be bias, but the city of Toronto fills all those needs you mentioned.

 

Soul Brotha,

Thank you. Unfortunately, I hate cold weather. However, I will keep it in mind.

Peace.

 

dunno why its NOT talked about but san francisco is the place to be. maybe its that damned "gay thing" that puts people off. ive been here for 5 years now and its the best. if anything this is the town of freaks. its like what new york was 15 years ago. what other city has a city wide marathon where drinking on a sunday morning is encouraged? other wierd/cool facts, on sunny days theres a well known fellow who sells gourmet chocolate marijuana truffles. no lie, four bucks a pop.

sure the cost of living is high, but its san francisco! one of the most beautiful cities on the west coast.....oh, and stay away from los angeles! i put in 95% of my life there, and its not the best place ever.

 

Amen to the San Fran testimony.

Jeverage, i'll tell you what i tell everyone else; Miami isn't really the place for someone who's just begun his working life. It’s the kind of city where you either start or end your adult life. The reason I say so is simple: the cost of living here. It is just so darn expensive. In fact, Forbes magazine, time and time again, ranks Miami amongst the most expensive cities in the country, and for good reason. Valid proof is the number of retirees and seniors who live here. Renting an apartment is not necessarily a slam dunk. I came here in 2000 and even then the cost of living was so expensive that I contemplated my other options such as Chicago, New Jersey and Seattle (another very expensive city). Honestly, you’d need very good and trustworthy agents if you’re to get a cheap rented apartment. I found that out the hard way but thankfully, I live in a condo with my fiancée so I don’t have to worry about all that anymore. We live a few blocks away from the beach, and that is very good if you’re aiming to save some cash.

Also, the condo market is moving into older neighborhoods and suburbs so maybe those would be cheaper. If you have a great job and a promising financial prospect, the best thing to do would be to buy a condo in Miami and think about your dream home later. (That is what myself and my fiancée are planning to do). There are always good condo deals here in the Miami condo market so you’re in luck. That way, you can have some cash to yourself rather than blow it all on renting.

However, the great thing is that if you graduate with a very good degree, you’d get a job. Now, Miami has a very competitive corporate agenda but it’s a survival of the fittest thing. The best get the best, simple as that. Now I graduated in Nov last year and whilst I have yet to become a full time partner with a firm, I am well on my way to doing so. I joined a firm in Jan (I’ll omit the name for obvious reasons) and am doing my training for six months and then I’d weigh up my other options and decide if I’d become an associate here or go somewhere else.

Also, the fact that the social service workforce is immense – tourism and social service account for most of our treasury – largely works in your favor if that is what you’re after. As long as you’re well qualified, you’d be fine.

With the exception of Miami Beach, most of Miami is really dense sprawl. It has its urban twist to it but for the most part is about fitting in as many people as possible. The reason I say so – any person from Miami will tell you the same – is because cities like Miami and Atlanta (to be honest, most big cities in the South) were centered around the automobile, as opposed to mass transit. So it has its dense parts and its not very dense parts. So if you don’t want suburbs, here’s your spot.

Miami, whilst being a diverse city, is not very integrated in terms of class and as unexpected, there is a huge disparity in wealth and race. There are tons of middle and upper class blacks and “buppies” like myself, but this city has seen an increasing number of blacks moving to other cities in the South and I cannot blame them; it’s cheaper. But the thing is the gap between the rich and poor is so huge here. It generally is the case in the whole country but Miami’s seems worse. You can tell by just taking one trip to Liberty City and Coconut Grove. But the thing is most of Miami’s poor black residents are concentrated in one area which is the Liberty City-Little Haiti area, although both areas are seeing gentrification.

Miami really is more divided by class than race but as you know, both have knocks on each other especially in America.

I hope that helps you but you can still rely on other sources of information. I hope you make up your mind to move here.

 

Laydeezmanchris,

God Bless you brother. Thank you sooo much. I am also considering other Southern cities. I love warm weather.

Thank you Soul brotha and ladeda. Your contributions have helped me out a plenty. God Bless.

Peace.