The City of Lauderhill will honor a group of community leaders and trailblazers during its annual Heroes of Change Black History Month recognition on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, celebrating individuals whose leadership and service have helped shape and uplift the city.
The event will take place at Lauderhill City Hall, located at 5581 W. Oakland Park Blvd. A public reception will be held from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m., followed by a formal recognition ceremony at 6:00 p.m. during the Lauderhill City Commission meeting in the City Hall Chambers.
This year’s Heroes of Change honorees represent a wide cross-section of civic, educational, religious, athletic, and community leadership. Those being recognized include Dr. Hayward J. Benson Jr., Lauderhill’s first Black commissioner; Andrea Braynon, chief financial officer of the Early Learning Coalition of Broward County; and Willie Mae Cooper, a longtime community leader and president of the West Ken Lark Homeowners Association.
Also honored are the Rev. Dr. Marcus D. Davidson, senior pastor of New Mount Olive Baptist Church; Steven Davis, Broward County’s all-time winningest public high school football coach and a Miami Herald Lifetime Achievement Award recipient; and Earl Hall, the city’s first Black city attorney.
Additional honorees include motivational speaker and youth advocate Darrell Hardge, known as Mr. Hardge; community advocate Dr. Ruth Carter Lynch; William C. McCormick Jr., president of Florida Memorial University; Samuel F. Morrison, former director of the Broward County Library System and a key figure in the founding of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center; and former NFL cornerback Asante Tyrell Samuel Sr.
City officials said the recognition highlights individuals whose contributions, advocacy, and dedication have made a lasting impact on the Lauderhill community. Honorees will be formally recognized during the City Commission meeting following the public reception.
