DOGE DEI Desist Leaves MDEAT’s Award Gala & Ms. Byrd’s Vision High and Dry
- Knowledge Born Allah
- Sep 7
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 14
MIAMI – The inaugural Arthur Lee McDuffie Activist Awards Gala, envisioned as a transformative celebration of justice and community resilience, has hit an unexpected roadblock. The recent Department of Government Equity (DOGE) decision to halt Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) funding has left the Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust (MDEAT) scrambling to secure resources for the event.
Adding to the challenges, the family of Arthur Lee McDuffie has issued a formal desist request, prohibiting the use of McDuffie’s name, image, or likeness in connection with the gala. The family expressed concerns about the event’s alignment with McDuffie’s legacy and their lack of involvement in its planning.
Impact on the Gala and MDEAT’s Mission The gala was originally planned as an immersive experience featuring portraits, live music, and stories of McDuffie’s life and legacy. It aimed to connect his story to MDEAT’s mission of fostering economic equity and justice. However, the family’s request has forced MDEAT to reconsider the event’s branding and content.
“This isn’t just about one event,” said Latoya Byrd, MDEAT’s Business Expansion Specialist and the visionary behind the gala. “Arthur Lee McDuffie, from my research and what I’ve learned, he was a stand-up guy in the community and his family. He was definitely a model citizen. He was a leader. He was a business owner. He was a veteran.”
Standing in front of the Arthur Lee McDuffie mural on 67th Avenue, Byrd shared the significance of its location. “This mural is special to me, especially considering the strategic positioning. It’s right across from, you know, the precinct or the police station. This is exactly where rioters came to first, they wanted to burn it down. And now you have this symbolic reminder of injustice and that we’re going to stand up and fight, right? And make sure his memory is always interwoven into the Miami community.”
Byrd also reflected on the origins of MDEAT, stating, “In 2023, I was blessed to be a part of the Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust family, and I had the opportunity to learn about how the agency actually got started. It’s a county department with a unique makeup, a unique foundation actually being born from the riots that took place, you know, in the 80s because of the injustice that happened to Arthur Lee McDuffie.”
She continued, “Learning the different layers about this event and how it affected the city and then how our agency was actually born, I was like, ‘Wow, that’s powerful. We should do something in the name of honoring Arthur Lee McDuffie.’”
DOGE’s move to cease DEI funding has further compounded the financial challenges, leaving MDEAT to explore alternative funding sources and reimagine the gala’s focus. According to a Fast Company report, 19% of companies have reduced DEI funding, reflecting a broader trend that threatens the progress of equity-focused initiatives.
Additionally, Miami-Dade County’s proposed budget cuts have sparked concerns among community groups and advocates. A WLRN report highlights fears that these cuts will disproportionately harm the county’s most vulnerable populations, including minority-owned businesses. Similarly, Catalyst Miami warns that the proposed cuts could undo years of progress in economic development and public safety, further exacerbating challenges for small businesses.
For more context on the broader implications of DEI funding cuts, see “Ron DeSantis Sends Florida DOGE Audit Notice to Miami Mayor” - Florida Daily.
Despite these setbacks, Byrd and MDEAT are rallying community support to keep the event on track. Local businesses and community leaders have stepped forward, offering donations and in-kind contributions to ensure the gala’s success.
“We wanted to make sure that the family was at least involved and aware of what we wanted to do, providing grant programming to business owners, to nonprofits here in the Miami-Dade County community,” Byrd explained.
However, she acknowledged the family’s decision, saying, “Because we want to honor the family’s wishes, who currently has not given us the go-ahead or the thumbs up to use Arthur Lee McDuffie’s name and likeness in this activist award that we’re doing, which is totally fine and okay, we’re now pivoting just a little bit.”
Byrd emphasized MDEAT’s commitment to its mission, regardless of funding challenges. “We can’t run away from our mission, our vision, and those who we advocate for and serve. Whether DEI is in the mix or not, we are who we are as an agency.”
She also highlighted MDEAT’s recent accomplishments, sharing, “Since 2023, we have given out upwards of, uh, what, $600,000 to $700,000 in grants, uh, about 300 applicants over the last three years. And we’ve been actually able to fund about 120, 130 business owners here in Miami-Dade County. Some of them actually from Overtown, from Liberty City, from these targeted urban areas.”
A Call to Action The Arthur Lee McDuffie Activist Awards Gala, now undergoing a rebranding process, is more than an event, it’s a call to action. Byrd hopes the community will continue to support MDEAT’s efforts to advance economic justice and honor the broader legacy of activism in Miami-Dade County.
“We want to hear from you,” Byrd said. “We’re looking for nominations for activists, a youth activist as well, and we want to actually provide them programming, um, as well as a grant to the person who has the most nominations. So, in order for us to do that, we’re looking for your support as well. We’re looking for sponsorships and any donations. We want to make this to be the first inaugural, you know, activist awards, and we want to make it historical.”
For more context on Byrd’s vision for the gala, read the previous story: “A Vision for Legacy, Activism, and Empowerment: Latoya Byrd on the Arthur Lee McDuffie Gala” - VOD Newz.
For those interested in contributing to the gala or learning more about MDEAT’s programs, visit MDEAT’s official website.
🚨 NEW STORY ALERT! 🚨
The Arthur Lee McDuffie Activist Awards Gala faces unexpected hurdles as DEI funding cuts and a family desist request reshape the event. But the fight for justice and equity in Miami-Dade County is far from over!
Read the full follow-up story here:
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Let’s keep the conversation going! What does McDuffie’s legacy mean to you? Drop your thoughts below 👇
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