February 13, 2006

2006 Carrie P. Meek Award
NSU commemorates Black History Month,
honors those who ‘give back’ to the community

FORT LAUDERDALE-DAVIE — Nova Southeastern University’s Black Heritage Council will salute the man who brought a $12.5 million African American research library to Fort Lauderdale and the woman who has systematically improved the Broward school system at a ceremony to be held at 6:30 p.m., Feb. 25, at The African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.

Samuel F. Morrison, director of the Broward County Library, and Earlean C. Smiley, Ed.D., deputy superintendent of Broward County Public School System, will each receive the Carrie P. Meek Award for demonstrating a track record of giving back to their communities and embracing and encouraging the celebration of Black History Month.

“The Black Heritage Council of NSU is very proud to honor the accomplishments of two pioneers of leadership and commitment to community,” said Delores Smiley, Ed.D., Dean of Community Education and Diversity Affairs (no relation to Earlean C. Smiley). “As I think about our honorees, I am reminded of a quote from Alice Walker’s The Temple of My Familiar:  ‘People are called 'stars' not only because they shine--with the glow of self-expression and the satisfaction this brings—but because the qualities they exemplify are, as far as human lives are concerned, eternal.’”

Morrison brought the concept for the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center to the Broward County commission (which contributed $5 million to the project) and led a community fundraising campaign to raise more than $7 million to complete the project. The 65,000-square-foot library opened in the fall of 2002 as only the third museum in the country dedicated to the history and culture of blacks in America and abroad.

As Deputy Superintendent of the sixth largest school district in the United States, Smiley has worked to systematically improve curriculum and teaching at all levels by coordinating the efforts of all instructional personnel. Smiley has implemented extensive education reform for a diverse community of learners throughout the district. She received the NSU award for leadership in 2002 and the 1998 Outstanding Commitment and Dedication to the Haitian Community award.