By Charles Moseley
The ground- breaking ceremony and grand opening of The Destination Sistrunk Welcome Center in the hub of Sistrunk Boulevard, in Greater Fort Lauderdale, on February 27-28, 2020, marked the beginning of a significant historical event which pays tribute to both the old and the new in Black cultural heritage in South Florida. If this two- day event is any sign of things to come, South Florida is in for quite an amazing treat, moving forward.
Albert Tucker, Vice-President of Multi-Cultural Affairs at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Center & Visitors Bureau, has been a strong proponent of building minority tourism along with supporting the development of minority owned businesses for over a decade here in Broward County. His efforts, along with others from both the public and private sectors, are now beginning to bear fruit along the Sistrunk corridor, as reflected in this most recent project.
“The collaborative efforts of Broward County’s Cultural Division and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau is poised to advance tourism, arts & culture and economic empowerment in this growing community.”
“Cultural Tourism is an important tool for celebrating, preserving and promoting Broward County’s heritage.”
“The opening of the Destination Sistrunk Welcome Center will provide us with a unique opportunity to enhance the business and tourism capacity of small businesses and prepare these businesses to actively participate in their local tourism ecosystems”.
“Additionally. This program will increase business opportunities for artists of color and encourage public participation in the arts,” added Tucker.
This project was made possible through an official resolution enacted by the Broward County Board of Commissioners as shown in the following excerpt.
Resolution No. 2018-016 of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, “recognizes that cultural tourism is 
an important tool for celebrating, preserving and promoting our County’s unique heritage, stimulates the economy, increases opportunities for artists and creatives, encourages public participation in the arts and facilitates cultural commerce.” Destination Sistrunk is highlighted in this Resolution as a model cultural tourism program, “that will help to enhance the business and tourism capacity of small businesses and attractions in their local communities and prepare these businesses to actively participate in their local tourism ecosystems.”
Grace Kewl-Durfey, Director of Community engagement at the Broward County Cultural Division, elaborated further regarding the significance of this project which will continue at its original venue in the Midtown Commerce Building in December. Until then it will still remain in an adjacent part of the building until December.
“Destination Sistrunk is positioned as a gateway to Black culture and heritage throughout Broward County and is comprised of a welcome center, programs, signature events, and the destinationsistrunk.com website. It was piloted by Broward Cultural Division from 2015-2018. In 2019, Broward Cultural Division worked with local partners to establish and incubate the Destination Sistrunk Cultural and Community Investment Partnership, Inc. (Destination Sistrunk Partnership), a nonprofit organization that will grow to implement Destination Sistrunk independently.”
“The welcome center is operated by the Destination Sistrunk Partnership and Broward Cultural Division. It will host meetings, workshops and events presented by Destination Sistrunk and community partners. Programming includes oral history storytelling and collection; independent film and music industry development; artist presentations; internships; and marketing of Black museums and heritage sites, restaurants, and entertainment venues. The Miami/Fort Lauderdale 48 Hour Film Project, New Starz Talent Festival and SongFest are Destination Sistrunk signature events presented in partnership with individual artists and organizations. Programming and the signature events will take place at the welcome center and at cultural venues throughout Broward County. Destinationsistrunk.com will grow as digital welcome center, another way to experience Black culture,” added Kwel-Durfey.
The first evening provided networking opportunities for small business entrepreneurs and those interested in meeting others interested in the cultural arts in their neighborhood along Sistrunk Boulevard. Friday’s entertainment showcased the talents of the rhythm and blues band known as The William Scott Band, which delivered a sterling performance.
Friday night continued with an amazing one man show offered up by Darius Manuel, one of South Florida’s hidden gems. Manuel displayed a vast command across a number of musical genres, leaving no stone unturned, during his show intitled, ”KING: AN ODE TO THE AMERICAN DREAM,” against the backdrop of video footage chronicling King from his early years as a youth until his untimely demise.
Manuel’s masterful performance of the life and times of civil rights icon, the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., captivated his audience and was nothing less than spectacular. Manuel had the audience riveted to their seats as he acted, sang, and incorporated spoken word to them on a musical journey of Dr. King which will not be soon forgotten.
Tara Chadwick, a current resident near the Sistrunk Corridor for the past three years, hails from Toronto, Canada. She’s also the president of one of the area’s homeowner’s associations. She gave her take on Manuel’s performance.
“My experience here this evening with “The Ode to Dr. Martin Luther King, is that this piece was probably the most impactful piece that I’ve ever seen on Dr. King. It was stunningly beautiful . It was an incredible original score.”
Aside from performing, Manuel is sharing his talents among his students at the Florida Children’s Theatre. Janet Erlick is its artistic director.
The Florida Children’s Theatre was founded in 1952. It provides classes for students ages four-18,- in singing, dancing, acting, circus, musical, theatre, and improv. It offers a full season of professionally produced production.
“We have a lot of community outreach programs and we’re a non-profit arts education program which serves some 25,000 people annually, with students from Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties,” said Erlick.
Be the first to comment