DIASPORA ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Malachi Smith’s: AA Miami-Dade College; B.Sc. and MSCJ – Florida International University (FIU); Mitchner Fellow Caribbean Writer’s Institute –University of Miami (UM). Married with two children.

• 2000 - Elected to Florida International University Student Government.

• Fred Mitchner Fellow, University of Miami Caribbean Writers Institute, studied poetry under Lorna Goodison and playwriting under Fred D’Aguiar.

• Recipient Great Seal of University of Miami.

• Honors Scholarship recipient and Dean’s List appointment two consecutive years at Miami Dade College. Graduate Cum Laude from the college.

• Gold and silver medalist winner Miami Dade College Speech Team.

• Winner Fred Shaw Poetry Competition USA community colleges.

• Poetry used in Florida State English Examination.

• FBAT Examination Test Question writer.

• Member Phi theta Kappa college honor society.

• First recipient WED Dubois Scholarship to Florida International University.

• Received proclamation from City of Miami on staging of play “Crosses” at Pan African Book Fest. Wrote, produced, and starred in the play.

• 1987- Staged benefit show for Jamaican Detective Victor Smith, who was critically injured in Jamaica by gunfire and was flown to the USA for urgent medical care. Event later led to the formation of the Jamaica Ex-Police Association of South Florida.

• Served as president of Jamaica Ex-Police Association of South Florida from 2002 to 2004, and from 2011 to present.  Developed the association’s annual “Jamaica Police Station Refurbishing Project,” annual “Jamaica High School Scholarship” JEPA’s annual “Jamaica Adopt a Basic School Project for a Day,” and JEPA’s “Annual Memorial Service.”  Presided over the steady growth of the association, and its integration of the association into the Jamaica Diaspora Community.

• Board member of Pan African Book Fest. Managed outside staging and children village for the event. Was instrumental in the booking and appearance of many celebrity authors at the book fair including UWI’s Prof. Mervyn Morris, Lloyd Record, Michael Record, Oku Oonura, Yasus Afari , and others.

• Board Member Caribbean Education Foundation.

• Board member Louise Bennett-Coverley Herirage Council.

• Worked with leading Jamaican Diaspora based cultural groups and civic organizations on many projects.

• Did benefit performances for JURA, South Florida Netball Association, Jamaica Awareness and others.

• Did benefit shows for Jamaican and Haitian hurricane relief.

• Appears annually at FIU’s Student for the Poor fundraiser for Haiti.

• Did volunteer work State Representative Hazel Roger’s election campaign when she ran for city office in Broward County.

• Did volunteer work for Lauderhill Commissioner Denise Grant .

• Served as master of ceremony for many Jamaican/Caribbean events including Culturama , Annual Jamaica Independence Show in Miami and other events in other cities and counties.

• Represented Jamaica Diaspora at Carifesta in St. Kitts and Nevis as a member of the Jamaican/American/South Florida team.

• Freelance writer Jamaica Daily Gleaner Extra (South Florida).

• Served as Poetry Editor Caribbean Sun Newspaper.

• Hosted three hour radio program “Music Lessons” on Saturdays on WKAT 790 AM.

• Hosted online radio show Strickly Roots, Dup Poetry and More.

• Wrote two winning songs for Jamaica Awareness Jamaica Miami Festival Song Contest.

• Wrote Jamaica Festival Competition third placed song “Get up and Dance” for the 1987 Jamaica Festival Competition.

• Play “Crosses” staged to sold out audience at Pan African Book Fest.

• Play “Yankee Affair” staged in Miami.

• 3-time winner Miami ReggaeSoca Awards –Best Dub Poet.

• 1-time winner Joe Higgs Music Awards – Best Poet

• 1-time IRAMA Awards – Community service. Multiple nominations – best poet including 2012.

• 2009 and 2014 Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s (JCDC) “Most Outstanding Writer.”

• 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 JCDC Gold Medalist.

• 2018 JCDC 4th Place Choice Writer Award (1 gold and 1 silver medal).

• 2011 Life Time Achievement Award – Independent Voyces, Jamaica.

• 2012 represented Jamaica at the world’s largest poetry festival in Medellin, Colombia.

• Documentary “Life and Work of Malachi Smith” released.

• Recorded 6 albums/ CD collections.

• Self published volume of poetry “Black Boy Blue.”

• Appeared twice at Miami International Book Fair.

• Headlined Dub Poetry Festival in Toronto, Canada.

• Appeared at Love in Jazz Festival in Miami, with music American music legend Richie Heavens and others.

• Has appeared/performed in: New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Baltimore, Toronto, Orlando, Tampa, etc.

• Represented South Florida twice at Jamaica Diaspora Conference as a delegate in Jamaica.

• Did successful 2017 and 2018 College and High Schools tour in Jamaica

• 2012 International Poetry Festival of Taiwan

• 2016 appeared at Poetry Africa, Durban, South Africa

• 2017 appeared at Polokwane Literary Festival I Limpopo, South Florida

• 2018 appeared at the International Poetry Festival of Honduras

• 2019 appeared at La Guagua Poetry Festival in Lowell, Massachauets

• Field Training Officer, Miami-Dade Police Department.

• Three term president of Jamaica Ex-Police Association of South Florida