Greetings:

In July 2024, I participated in an Arts and Entertainment Tour of Miami's African American Footprint which featured the historical stories told through art murals, entertainment and food ways. The tour route highlighted several historical works of art that featured African Americans who have made and continue to make a significant contribution to our community such as a mural of Trina, Betty Wright, Ode to Overtown, a statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and a memorial statue of Toussaint L'Ouverture, commissioned and paid for by the City of Miami to honor a Haitian general who died in 1803 after successfully leading the Haitian revolution in Haiti.

The tour began and ended at the location of the Olympic size pool that bears the names of Mr. Miller J and Mrs. Nancy S. Dawkins which is located at Charles Hadley Park, 4800 NW 12th Ave, Miami, FL 33142.

At the end of the tour, it dawned upon me that two of the people who have sacrificed and contributed so much to our community have not been honored with a mural. At that moment, I decided to form a committee of community members to devote our time and efforts to raise funds to honor Mr. & Mrs. Dawkins with a mural like so many others in our community have been honored.

Our vision is to honor Mr. & Mrs. Miller J & Nancy Dawkins for their unwavering commitment and dedicated service to the advancement and empowerment of our Liberty City community with an artistic mosaic mural.

At the young age of 102, Mrs. Nancy S. Dawkins is still an active member of Miami Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. as well as an active and engaged member of numerous organizations in our community. Mr. Miller J. Dawkins (deceased) was a member of Sigma Alpha chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He was a public servant leader and worked energetically to enhance and uplift his community and the residents.

This legacy project will be the first of its kind in the Liberty City community. Our committee will gift a work of art depicting two African Americans to the City of Miami. The artwork will be created and placed on a City of Miami building in a public park located in the Liberty City neighborhood. By utilizing a mosaic tile medium, as opposed to paint, the mural will be an enduring work of art for future generations to admire, learn about, and enjoy.

Our project proposal also includes the production of an educational and historical documentary detailing the legacy of the "Railroad Shop / Colored Addition"; land that is now known as Charles Hadley Park. The documentary will also feature an interview with Mrs. Nancy Dawkins telling her story, as only she can.

We have engaged the curatorial and artistic services of the internationally renowned artist Marvin Weeks(https://marvinweeks.com/. Marvin Weeks’ body of work and commitment to beautifying our community makes him the ideal artist for this project. Marvin will serve as our liaison with the City of Miami Professional Advisory Committee, and the Art in Public Places Board. Marvin will also host a Youth Empowerment Workshop in collaboration with a local elementary school to educate youth about the Dawkins and careers in the art industry.

In order to achieve our vision, we are seeking your generosity and support to achieve our fundraising goal of $80,000 by January 1, 2026. This amount will cover the curatorial and artist fees, the cost to produce the documentary, the mural unveiling and documentary screening.

Our hope is to unveil the mural and screen the documentary in February of 2026; during Black History month.

On behalf of the Dawkins family and our committee, I would like to thank you in advance for your generosity and support.

Please share our story.

ONE LOVE!

Best Regards,

Mary K. Washington - Chair - Dawkins Mural Project

Committee Members

Professor Sam Latimore

Cary Johnson

Clarateen Kent

Gregg Dean

Stacey Jones

Taj Duncan