REMARKABLE LEADERS: Shared personal stories of perseverance, leadership and community impact, offering invaluable lessons to the next generation. PHOTO COURTESY OF 100 BLACK MEN

Miami – The 100 Black Men of South Florida, Inc., in partnership with Barry University, hosted a powerful and inspiring event — The Human Library — on Saturday, Oct. 11 The event at the Monsignor William Barry Memorial Library in Miami Shores offered a unique opportunity for attendees to connect through storytelling, conversation and cultural reflection.

The concept transforms individuals into “living books,” allowing guests to engage directly with community elders whose lived experiences are full of wisdom, resilience, and hope.

This session of the Human Library series celebrated and honored several distinguished South Florida trailblazers who have dedicated their lives to public service, education, and cultural advancement:

• Dr. Barbara Carey-Shuler, the first African American woman appointed and elected to the Miami-Dade County Commission.

• Col. Brodes Hartley, Jr., retired president and CEO of Community Health of South Florida (CHI).

• Mrs. Nancy Dawkins, a 102-year-old community matriarch and lifelong advocate for social justice.

• Marshall Davis, Sr., founder of the Marshall Davis African Heritage Cultural Arts Center.

• Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, School Board member for District 2, Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

• Dr. Dorothy Jenkins Fields, archivist responsible for the establishment of Miami’s Black Archives.

The remarkable leaders shared personal stories of perseverance, leadership and community impact, offering invaluable lessons to the next generation.

Their narratives not only chronicled the challenges they overcame but also highlighted the legacy of empowerment and progress that continues to define South Florida’s African American community.

“Our elders are living libraries of history and heart,” said Pierre E. Rutledge, president of the 100 Black Men of South Florida. “The Human Library allows us to listen, learn, and honor their contributions while inspiring others to serve with purpose.”