Jamaican-born Mark Douglas, the present deputy mayor of Dawn, Florida, has been honored by the Florida Panthers NFL staff in its “Celebration of Black Excellence” program.
For the previous three years, the Panthers have celebrated Black Historical past Month by recognizing Black and African-American residents of South Florida who’re making an impression of their native communities.
The honorees have included enterprise homeowners, lecturers, healthcare staff, and others, who’ve proven arduous work, dedication, and management of their group.
Douglas honored to be nominated
Douglas, a Clarendon native, made historical past in 2016 when he grew to become the primary Caribbean-American and first Black consultant to be elected to serve on the Dawn Metropolis Fee. Within the November 2020 elections, he was returned to workplace unopposed. He beforehand served as Deputy Mayor in 2019.
Douglas stated he’s “deeply honored” to be acknowledged as a Black chief in his group.
“As an immigrant who got here to this nation as an grownup, who has served this group in quite a few methods together with my now public workplace as Metropolis Commissioner, I really feel deeply honored to be singled out for recognition of the work that I’ve been doing in service of our group,” Douglas advised Caribbean Nationwide Weekly.
“There are lots of folks serving this group however being singled out as somebody who exemplifies Black excellence is one thing that encourages additional arduous work and repair,” he added.
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Life earlier than public service
Born in Rock River, Clarendon, Douglas grew up within the Kellits space and is a previous scholar of Clarendon Faculty in addition to each the UTech and the College of the West Indies.
He migrated to Florida in 2001 and pursued a legislation diploma on the Florida Worldwide College (FIU) Faculty of Regulation and litigates.
Whereas in Regulation faculty, he served as a Licensed Authorized Intern on the Miami-Dade State Lawyer’s Workplace, labored professional bono within the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Workplace, and took part in Pupil Authorities, serving as president of the Black Regulation College students Affiliation.
He additionally was a member of the Regulation College’s Board of Advocates, representing the college nationally in intra-mural negotiating competitions, and was named to the Dean’s Checklist of students.
As an legal professional, Douglas focuses on Felony Protection and Immigration Regulation and handles issues associated to unpaid minimal wage and additional time arising underneath the Federal Honest Labor Requirements Act (FLSA). He’s additionally a licensed realtor.
Earlier than getting into personal follow, Douglas labored as a Felony Prosecutor within the Miami-Dade County State Lawyer’s Workplace.
