- This event has passed.
February 1 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
To kick off Black History Month, HistoryMiami Museum is honored to present a compelling dialogue on Stories of Resistance from Black Miami. Hosted by veteran radio host Tamara Gant, the conversation will feature Commissioner Marleine Bastien, Lonnie Lawrence, and Dr. Adora Obi Nweze as they discuss Black Miami’s enduring struggle against racial injustice, the ongoing fight for equality, and the resilience that has defined our local Black communities for generations.
Sip of History delves into South Florida’s past and present through moderated conversation with artists, activists, and community stakeholders from a variety of disciplines. Hosted by HistoryMiami, each conversation explores a different topic centered on the diverse stories of our local communities. Conversations are paired with a Miami inspired cocktail created by author, Mixologist, and Brugal 1888 Brand Specialist Gabriel Urrutia.
Members: $5, Non-Members: $15
Register View Program Flyer
Sip of History is made possible with support from Brugal. Participants must be 21+ to attend.
Featured Speakers:
Tamara Gant
Tamara Gant is a radio veteran with more than 30 years of experience and has worked in South Florida at stations such as 99 Jamz, NewsTalk 1080am, 97.3 The Coast and Hot 105. She is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin where she earned her Bachelor of Journalism. In addition to currently co-hosting “Those 2 Girls in the Morning” with Julie Guy on 1015 Lite FM, Tamara is one of four interviewers for the Stories of Resistance from Black Miami oral history project.
Commissioner Marleine Bastien
Marleine Bastien was born in Haiti. She is the former Chair of the Florida Immigration Coalition and Vice-Chair of the Haitian-American Grassroots Coalition. She’s worked on the following campaigns: Haitian Immigration Refugee Fairness Act of 1998, Temporary Protected Status, The Dream Act, Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Living Wage and Miami-Dade County’s Human Rights Ordinance, and the Children’s Trust Campaigns (as a treasurer and spokesperson for the Black Community with Congresswoman Carrie Meek). She’s testified twice in front of the U.S. Congress, OAS Human Rights Committee, and the United Nations (in Geneva and the Philippines). She is a founding member of the Haitian-American Grassroots Coalition, the Haitian Neighborhood Center (Sant La), the Center for Haitian Studies, the Florida Immigrant Coalition, Girl Advocacy Project (GAP). She is the Executive Director of Family Action Network Movement (FANM). She currently serves as the District 2 Commissioner on the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners.
Lonnie Lawrence
Lonnie Lawrence is a seasoned professional with a distinguished career in law enforcement and public service. A product of Miami’s Overtown community, his journey began in 1964 when he graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. Mr. Lawrence earned a Bachelor of Science in Management from Barry University and continued his studies at Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command. Following his time at Northwestern, Mr. Lawrence worked for both the FBI and the US Marine Corps, before beginning a 3 decade long tenure with Miami Dade’s Police Department. Throughout his career, Mr. Lawrence has held various critical roles, including assignments in Homicide, Organized Crime, and Community Relations. Mr. Lawrence retired in 1997, but continued to serve the community as Director of Special Operations for Congressman Kendrick Meek. He currently sits on the Executive Board of the South Florida Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE).
Dr. Adora Obi Nweze
Dr. Adora Obi Nweze holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Fayetteville University and a Master of Education from the University of Miami. With a distinguished 39-year career in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, she has served as a teacher, placement specialist, and principal. A committed leader and advocate, Dr. Nweze served as President of the Florida State Conference NAACP where she spearheaded major legal and civil rights initiatives, leading several critical lawsuits addressing voter disenfranchisement, school vouchers, felony disenfranchisement, and affirmative action. She served as a member of the National Advisory Council (NAC) for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and was appointed Chair of the Affirmative Action Committee for the Florida Democratic Party. Her advocacy extends to public health, where she worked closely with the Florida Department of Health’s HIV/AIDS Division to bring awareness to the disease’s disproportionate impact on Black and marginalized communities across the state. She is a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors and the NAACP Special Contribution Fund Board of Trustees.
Meet the Mixologist:
Gabriel Urrutia
Gabriel Urrutia brings over 17 years of hospitality experience all based in the city of Miami. In his previous roles, he has conducted more than 150 training sessions for bartenders, while drawing on his creativity and knowledge to develop over 100 fresh and exciting cocktail menus. Gabe was also a finalist for St. Germain’s Can Can competition in 2011 and winner of the National Dekuyper Challenge in 2016. Born in Miami to parents from Cuba and Chile, Gabe embraces his Hispanic/Latinx roots in everything he does. In 2004, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Florida International University, an MBA with a concentration in Marketing from Nova Southeastern University in 2014, and also attained the BarSmarts Advanced certification as well as the Certified Spirits Specialist certification from the Society of Wine Educators. He is also Level 1 from Court of Master Sommeliers and WSET Level 1. At the age 28, he was nominated and shortlisted for “Young Achiever of The Year” at the London International Wine Fair 2009 by The Drinks Business. He was the only nominee from the United States. In 2019, he was selected as one of Wine Enthusiast’s 40 under 40 Tastemakers of America and most recently started a podcast, Miami Accent, chatting with anyone and everyone in the beverage world locally. Also in the same year, Gabe wrote Miami’s first cocktail book in history, Miami Cocktails: An Elegant Collection of Over 100 Recipes Inspired by the Magic City. Miami Cocktails was nominated in 2020 for the prestigious Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for best new book.
Additional Information
Please see below for additional information regarding the program. For further assistance, please contact Visitor Services at (305) 375-1492 or email programs@historymiami.org.
Add to Google Calendar Accessibility
To request materials in accessible format, sign language interpreters, and/or any disability accommodation, please contact Darianne Hernandez, Visitor Services Manager, at accessibility@historymiami.org or call (305) 375-1651 at least two weeks in advance of your visit to initiate your request. TTY users may also call 711 (Florida Relay Service.)
Release
By entering the premises, you consent to interview(s), photography, audio recording, video recording and its/their release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for news, web casts, promotional purposes, telecasts, advertising, inclusion on web sites, or any other purpose by HistoryMiami Museum (HMM) and its affiliates and representatives. You release HistoryMiami Museum (HMM) its officers and employees, and each and all persons involved from any liability connected with the taking, recording, digitizing, or publication of interviews, photographs, computer images, video and/or or sound recordings. By entering the premises, you waive all rights you may have to any claims for payment or royalties in connection with any exhibition, streaming, webcasting, televising, or other publication of these materials, regardless of the purpose or sponsoring of such exhibiting, broadcasting, webcasting, or other publication irrespective of whether a fee for admission or sponsorship is charged. You also waive any right to inspect or approve any photo, video, or audio recording taken by HistoryMiami Museum (HMM) or the person or entity designated to do so by HistoryMiami Museum (HMM) You have been fully informed of your consent, waiver of liability, and release before entering the
Photo Credit: Memorial March down NW 3rd Avenue for the six victims of Birmingham’s racial violence, 1963. Miami News Collection, HistoryMiami Museum, 1989-011-1698.
Related Events
Release
By entering the premises, you consent to interview(s), photography, audio recording, video recording and its/their release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for news, web casts, promotional purposes, telecasts, advertising, inclusion on web sites, or any other purpose by HistoryMiami Museum (HMM) and its affiliates and representatives. You release HistoryMiami Museum (HMM) its officers and employees, and each and all persons involved from any liability connected with the taking, recording, digitizing, or publication of interviews, photographs, computer images, video and/or or sound recordings. By entering the premises, you waive all rights you may have to any claims for payment or royalties in connection with any exhibition, streaming, webcasting, televising, or other publication of these materials, regardless of the purpose or sponsoring of such exhibiting, broadcasting, webcasting, or other publication irrespective of whether a fee for admission or sponsorship is charged. You also waive any right to inspect or approve any photo, video, or audio recording taken by HistoryMiami Museum (HMM) or the person or entity designated to do so by HistoryMiami Museum (HMM) You have been fully informed of your consent, waiver of liability, and release before entering the premise.