An Instrumental Start: A Model for the Nation

Located in the heart of Miami’s Liberty City, the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, under the visionary leadership of Marshall Davis Sr., has spent over 50 years shaping young lives through a rigorous and transformative arts education. Its students have gone on to perform on Broadway, win Academy Awards, and appear in films and productions around the world—while others have carried that same discipline and purpose into careers as lawyers, police officers, and community leaders. This film is a powerful testament to the impact of arts education in underserved communities, featuring contributions from Phylicia Rashad, Savion Glover, and Tarell Alvin McCraney, alongside alumni, current students and educators from the Center, and dedicated members of the broader community.