The south Miami-Dade community of Richmond Heights celebrated its 76th anniversary this past weekend with a brunch hosted by The Historic Society at Zoo Miami. Richmond Heights was founded in 1949 as one of the country’s first communities created for Black World War II veterans and their families.
“We are the protectors of our past and the curators of our collective memory,” said Jessica Garrett Modkins, executive director of The Historic Society. “And we will continue telling these stories, boldly and beautifully.”
This year’s brunch honored businesses and organizations that power the community’s economic foundation. Among the 2026 honorees were J.L. Brown Development, Manifezt Foundation, Mike & Jackie’s BBQ & Catering Services, Richmond Heights Community Development Corporation, and SBC Community Development Corporation.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava delivered the keynote greeting for the event, which also marked the beginning of Black History Month.
“Black history is Miami-Dade history,” she said. “The strength of Richmond Heights has always been its people, and the heart of its economy has always been small businesses.”
(Courtesy of The Historic Society)
Dallas Garrett Modkins, teen president of Jack and Jill of America’s South Miami Chapter, delivered an original address titled “Black to the Future: Powered by Legacy, Driven by Vision.”
“To be Black in America is to live in the past, present, and future all at once,” he said. “Legacy without vision becomes nostalgia. And vision without action becomes a dream deferred.”
The event also brought the announcement of a new partnership with Paradise Television Network (WDFL, Channel 18.2), which will air various documentaries by The Historic Society throughout this month, including “HBCU Honors,” “HBCU Homecomings,” and “Miami’s Richmond Heights: The Black Shangri-La.”