Lauderhill honors Caribbean leaders at second annual awards night
Five honorees, a 14-year-old anthem singer and a June 25 proclamation turned Lauderhill’s Caribbean awards night into a civic showcase.
Five crystal awards sat on a mirrored table at Chateau Mar Golf Resort as Lauderhill marked its second annual Caribbean Heritage Awards Night. The chamber scheduled the event from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on June 25 at 3501 Inverrary Blvd., drawing elected officials, faith leaders, business owners and families.
Mayor Denise Grant arrived with a proclamation declaring June 25, 2026, Lauderhill Chamber of Commerce Day, while Commissioner John T. Hudson helped read it. The chamber highlighted its five honorees, led by Judge Jackie Powell, and leaned into its motto, Together We Grow. The awards honored the Caribbean community’s culture and contribution while also supporting local business growth and economic opportunity.
Powell, a Broward County Court judge and the first Jamaican American woman elected to the Broward bench, served as keynote speaker and received the Legacy of Justice Award. She was first elected in 2018 and began a new six-year term in January 2025. A Jamaican native who presides over civil matters, Powell earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Florida Atlantic University and a Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern Law Center, worked as a paralegal while attending college, later worked in the Broward County Public Defender’s Office and private practice, and has mentored young people for more than 20 years. The Caribbean Bar Association has named her its Judicial Liaison in Broward County.
The evening opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a national anthem performance by 14-year-old Shyla Dave, a runner-up in this year’s Lauderhill Rising Star competition. The city’s Rising Stars program is open to Broward County students ages 13 to 18 and showcases music, dance, drama and other acts.
U.S. Census Bureau estimates put Lauderhill’s population at 75,668 as of July 1, 2025, with 76.3% identifying as Black alone, 37.6% foreign-born and 26.5% of residents age 5 and older speaking a language other than English at home. June is National Caribbean American Heritage Month.
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