The two students from Norland Middle School in Miami Gardens had starring roles in the Oscar-winning film \u201cMoonlight,\u201d with Alex playing young Chiron and Jaden playing Kevin, Chiron\u2019s best friend.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe think it\u2019s a great opportunity for us to acknowledge what they\u2019ve done at a young age, and tell them how proud we are of them,\u201d shares\u00a0Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver G. Gilbert III.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause so often when you hear about young black kids, people don\u2019t want to tell you the stories of these kids and areas that they excel in,\u201d continues Mayor Gilbert. \u201cWe aren\u2019t talking about them most times. Most times we\u2019re talking about young black boys in a negative context, so anytime we get an opportunity to tell them how extraordinary they are, we will do it. And \u2018Jazz In The Gardens\u2019 is the biggest stage that we can offer in the city.\u201d<\/p>\n
The key ceremony will be just one highlight of the highly-anticipated weekend.<\/p>\n
As the staple event each year in the city of Miami Gardens, Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival is back for its 12th year and is quickly growing beyond its borders.<\/p>\n
Hosted again by veteran comedian Rickey Smiley, the city can expect more than 70,000 music lovers from all over the United States and Caribbean Islands.<\/p>\n
The festival will take place this upcoming weekend, March 17-19 at Hard Rock Stadium. With previous lineups that have included Usher, Trey Songz, Kelly Rowland, R. Kelly and more, one can only wonder how this year will top years prior.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s definitely the diversity of the lineup,\u201d says Mayor Gilbert. \u201cThere\u2019s people like Herbie Hancock, Marion Meadows, Jill Scott, LL Cool J, and Common<\/a> and The Roots. It\u2019s literally the music. If you came for nothing else, the music will get you this year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s something for everyone here,\u201d he continues. \u201cThat can\u2019t be overemphasized. You can go to a concert and hear one of these superstars, but to be able to come for a two-day period and essentially hear people like Jill Scott who are contemporaneous superstars, along with people who have stood the test of time like LL Cool J, next to homegrown legends like Betty Wright who is making her first appearance.\u201d<\/p>\n Along with the two days of concerts, the festival will include the Film, Music, Arts and Culture Conference, which will take place in the two days leading up to the festival. The purpose of the conference is to educate, showcase and celebrate the diversity of art forms and artists in and around South Florida.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/thegrio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/GettyImages-516741774-300x200.jpg?resize=300%2C200\")