2026 Achievers - 2026 Black Achievers Awards

Arts & Culture

A Fort Lauderdale native and lifelong South Floridian, Darius V. Daughtry is the 2026 Black Achievers Honoree for Arts & Culture. A poet, playwright, educator and arts advocate, Daughtry founded Art Prevails Project in 2015 to make the arts more accessible and create opportunities for local artists and audiences to connect through storytelling. What began with theatrical productions and free arts activations in the historic Sistrunk community has grown into an organization that has reached thousands of students, staged nearly 20 original productions and presented countless arts experiences. Guided by the principles of community, creativity and connection, he also founded Our Voices: Festival of Words, an annual celebration of literacy, poetry and self-expression that brings nationally recognized writers and artists to South Florida. A University of Florida graduate, Daughtry is also a published author and TEDx speaker whose commissioned poetry includes a permanent installation at the Broward County Convention Center.

Business & Entrepreneurship

A visionary leader and advocate for economic opportunity, Gordon Eric Knowles is the 2026 Black Achievers Honoree for Business & Entrepreneurship. As CEO and president of the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, Florida's oldest historically Black chamber, Knowles has dedicated his career to advancing entrepreneurship and expanding opportunities for minority-owned businesses throughout South Florida. Through strategic advocacy and collaboration with public- and private-sector partners, he has helped transform Miami-Dade's procurement and contracting landscape, expanding access for Black-owned businesses to compete for major development and infrastructure projects. Knowles is an active mentor to emerging leaders and invests his time and resources in programs that inspire future generations of innovators, tech founders and corporate pioneers. A graduate of Florida International University with a Bachelor of Science degree in apparel management and a minor in marketing, he considers his greatest accomplishment helping others recognize their potential, pursue their ambitions and create opportunities for generational impact.

Community Service

Born in Jamaica and a South Florida resident for more than three decades, Kirk Brown is the 2026 Black Achievers Honoree for Community Service. As Chief Executive Officer of Broward County-based Handy Inc., Brown dedicates his career to improving outcomes for children, youth and families throughout Broward County. He has designed and implemented innovative social programs that have helped young people once considered unreachable become employed and socially conscious citizens while championing approaches rooted in lived experience and community partnership. Brown believes meaningful change occurs when those closest to a challenge help shape the solutions, a philosophy that has guided his work in direct service and organizational leadership. He earned bachelor's degrees in sociology and criminal justice from Florida Atlantic University and a master's degree in social work from Barry University. His honors include the Links Inc. Legacy of Excellence Award, Florida State University School of Social Work Instructor of the Year and Florida Atlantic University's Distinguished Alumni recognition.

Education

Dr. Tameka Bradley is the 2026 Black Achievers Honoree for Education, recognized for her commitment to preserving history and expanding educational opportunities for South Florida's youth. A historian, author and public humanities leader, Bradley serves as regional manager of Broward County Library's African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC) in Fort Lauderdale. In 2023, she launched the Black History Saturday School Series, creating educational experiences for learners of all ages. She is the author of the award-winning nonfiction book, Democracy Abroad, Lynching at Home: Racial Violence in Florida. Bradley earned a bachelor's degree in history and anthropology from Florida A&M University and a master's degree and doctorate in U.S. history from Florida State University, with doctoral study focused on African American history, historical administration and public history. She leads the South Florida Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and serves on the South Florida People of Color board.