The City of Miramar officially dedicated its Multi-Service Complex to Broward County Commissioner Alexandra P. Davis on Thursday morning, cementing her decades of public service and leadership in the community. The 38,000-square-foot facility at 6700 Miramar Parkway will now bear her name as the Alexandra P. Davis Multi-Service Complex.
The renaming ceremony drew city officials, community leaders, and residents who praised Davis for her tireless work as a commissioner, vice mayor, and advocate for immigrant and Caribbean-American communities.
Vice Mayor Yvette Colbourne, who introduced the resolution to rename the facility earlier this year, called Davis a trailblazer whose dedication has always gone beyond titles.
“My former Miami-Dade coworker, my former commissioner colleague, and my friend. As a coworker, I have seen firsthand the tireless energy that she brought to every task. She never approached her role as just a job. I witnessed her dedication to the public and to public service … She has an unshakeable passion to serve and to break down barriers that stand in the way of progress of her community,” Colbourne said.
“She does not serve for a paycheck. In fact, like any good Jamaican, she held numerous jobs,” she added with a laugh.
Commissioner Davis, visibly moved by the recognition, reflected on her immigrant journey and her lifelong commitment to service. “I stand before you today deeply humbled and profoundly grateful to have this building named in my honor. I was not born here; I came here as an immigrant, and I’m so proud to represent all immigrants who can come here and make something of themselves,” she said.
Her words resonated deeply in Miramar, a city that is home to thousands of Caribbean immigrants and whose entire commission today reflects those roots, with each member tracing ties to the region.
She recalled her upbringing in Jamaica and the inspiration she drew from seeing women in roles traditionally reserved for men. “That country taught me a lot. It was the first time I actually saw women driving a big bus that carries passengers. When I went to Jamaica, I saw women doing what I considered a man’s job, and I was inspired by that,” she shared.
Davis emphasized that the renaming was not just about her personal accomplishments. “I accept this honor not as a symbol of what I have done but as a reminder of what we can achieve together. May this building always stand as a testament to perseverance, collaboration, and the belief that one person’s contributions are multiplied when shared with others.”
The program included remarks from Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Commissioner Hazelle Rogers, former Commissioner Barbara Sharief, Commissioner Avril Cherasard, and Commissioner Carson “Eddy” Edwards, along with a video tribute highlighting Davis’s impact. Opening and closing remarks were made by Shaun D. Gayle, Assistant City Manager in Miramar.
Opened in 2009, the complex has long served as a hub for community resources, offering meeting spaces, a banquet hall, and a wide range of programs for residents of all ages. Its renaming, city officials said, ensures that Davis’s legacy of service and advocacy will remain deeply tied to Miramar’s history.
A distinguished career in public service
Born in England and raised in Jamaica, Davis earned a degree in Zoology and Chemistry from the University of the West Indies before beginning a career that spanned international and local government. She has worked for Jamaica’s Ministry of Agriculture, London’s Capital Taxes office, Miami-Dade County, and most prominently, the City of Miramar, where she first won a City Commission seat in 2010.
During her years in Miramar, Davis championed youth apprenticeships, expanded school resource officer programs, built the city’s first dog and skate parks, and created cultural mainstays such as Caribefest and the Afro Caribbean Festival. Her return to office in 2019 reinvigorated her push for public safety initiatives, including body-worn cameras for police officers and funding Florida’s first Police Social Worker program.
Elected unopposed to the Broward County Commission in 2024, Davis now represents District 7, which includes Miramar, Pembroke Pines, and Hollywood. She continues to focus on affordable housing, economic development, and public safety, while serving as a delegate on countywide committees.
Her work has earned her recognition as one of South Florida’s “100 Most Accomplished Caribbean Americans” and “50 Most Powerful Business Leaders,” as well as awards from the Jamaica Consul General and African Diaspora organizations.
For Davis, Thursday’s ceremony was both a celebration of her journey and a pledge to continue her work. “This honor is not about one person,” she said, “but about the collective spirit of community that drives us forward.”
