North Miami Mayor and Vice Mayor Among Several South Florida Notable Haitian Americans to be…

North Miami Mayor and Vice Mayor Among Several South Florida Notable Haitian Americans to be Honored at Festival

April 27, 2023

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Haitian Compas Festival, organizers recently announced the return of the Haitian Compas Festival Hall of Fame and Living Legends Awards which recognizes two of the City of North Miami’s top elected officials. North Miami Mayor Alix Desulme, Ed.D. and North Miami Vice Mayor Mary Estimé-Irvin are among several politicians, community activists, and media personalities the organization is set to honor on Thursday, May 18, 2023, during a private opening ceremony for the festival.

‘I am quite humbled by the recognition from such a notable event as the Haitian Compas Festival,” Mayor Desulme shared. “To be honored by your own community is an achievement that I do not take lightly as a servant of the people.” 

Mayor Alix Desulme has been affectionately known as the People’s Councilman throughout his political career. In 2009, he became the first Black city clerk in North Miami, also making him the youngest and first Haitian American elected city clerk in the United States. He was elected to North Miami City Council in 2015, and in the following year, he became the youngest councilman to serve as vice mayor. Just a few years later in 2022, he became the mayor of the City of North Miami. 

North Miami Vice Mayor Estimé-Irvin was elected as the city’s District 3 councilwoman in 2019 and was appointed unanimously as its vice mayor in 2022. Throughout her stint in public service, she served as a member of several business and community boards, including North Miami PAL, North Miami Senior Foundation, North Miami Chamber of Commerce, North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board, and the North Miami Educational Foundation. 

Since his ascension to the top elected position in the city, Mayor Desulme has garnered many local achievements including Legacy’s Magazine’s Most Powerful and Influential Black Business Leaders of 2023 award while Vice Mayor Estimé Irvin also received awards since assuming office including an award from the Global Foundation. 

For more information regarding awards and recognition of North Miami elected officials, contact [email protected].

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About the City of North Miami

North Miami is a suburban city located in northeast Miami-Dade County, Florida. It is roughly 10 miles (16 km) north of Miami. The city lies on Biscayne Bay which surrounds the Biscayne Bay Campus of Florida International University. North Miami is home to a diverse demographic of residents. With more than 64,000 residents, North Miami is the sixth largest city in Miami-Dade County. We are home to the Oleta River State Park; the largest urban park in the Florida State Park System and the nationally accredited Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA North Miami).