2024 Achievers
Tanisha Cidel
Arts & Culture
Tanisha Cidel is a trailblazing force in the South Florida arts community, dedicating her life to nurturing the next generation of innovative and inspirational artists. As the director of the magnet theater program at Norland Middle School, Cidel inspires countless talented middle schoolers to discover their own creative voices. Cidel’s commitment to the arts goes beyond the classroom. She co-founded the prestigious performing arts academy, Evolutionary Arts Life Foundation, and developed a diverse career in the entertainment industry. She contributed to the Oscar-winning film “Moonlight” and Peabody award-winning TV series “David Makes Man” on OWN and HBO Max. Through her work, she uses the power of arts to tell underrepresented stories, fostering understanding, empathy, and unity among the next generation.
Ronald E. Frazier
Business & Entrepreneurism
Guided by the motto "perseverance, endurance, and achievements against the odds," Ronald E. Frazier built a remarkable career as the second Black registered architect in Florida. He founded one of the largest Black architectural firms in the 1970s, becoming a symbol of success in a challenging environment. Frazier’s work integrates West African Adinkra and Kente Cloth symbols to tell African American stories through architecture across historic buildings in South Florida. Today, Frazier is preserving the heritage of Black communities facing gentrification. His leadership on community boards ensures Black businesses participate and benefit from public projects. As Chairman/CEO of BAC Funding Corporation, he’s proudly overseen more than $65 million in loans for Black-owned businesses, awarded $250,000 in grants to nonprofits, and helped create more than 5,000 jobs for Black citizens in Miami-Dade County.
Brother Lyle Muhammad
Community Service
Brother Lyle Muhammad has been devoted to empowering underserved youth and adults for over 35 years. As an education and human development specialist, he has pioneered national initiatives aimed at transforming lives and communities. His impactful work has earned national recognition, particularly related to gun violence prevention when he was invited to attend President Biden’s address at the White House to launch the Office of Gun Violence Prevention. As Executive Director of The Circle of Brotherhood (COB), Brother Lyle is committed to empowering Black men to help solve community challenges, focusing on youth development, crime prevention, and economic sustainability. Between 2022 and 2024, he led the COB in securing $6 million for South Florida's gun violence prevention ecosystem and supported the creation of the region’s first 30-person, full-time community-based violence prevention team.
Dr. Rashondia Gaines
Education
Dr. Rashondia Gaines has built a distinguished career that bridges both dentistry and education. Her deep commitment to her HBCU roots began with a BA in Chemistry from Hampton University, where fostering leadership and service became a cornerstone of her personal and professional ethos. In her role as Clinical Associate Professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, she serves as Director of the Predoctoral Clinic, Director of Faculty Practice, and as a mentor to predoctoral and college students. Through her involvement with Women of Tomorrow, she guides under-resourced teenage girls at McArthur High School and advises young entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities. Dr. Gaines participates in dental missions across Jamaica, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Guatemala, in addition to providing dental care to low-income communities in Florida.