Growing up in a single-parent home, Darius Daughtry often wrestled with questions of self-worth, his young mind clouded by silence and self-doubt. At eight years old, a teacher noticed the sadness in his eyes, the kind of sadness that didn’t need words to be understood.
With quiet compassion, she encouraged him to write his feelings in a notebook, unlocking a world where his thoughts could finally breathe. That simple gesture sparked a lifelong love for expression through the pulse of hip hop, the rhythm of poetry, and the storytelling of acting. By high school, Daughtry’s raw talent met purpose when he crossed paths with Mrs. Elizabeth Bills at Fort Lauderdale’s Boyd Anderson High. She saw something powerful in him and urged him to use his voice not just for himself, but for the community. She believed in him, and because of that, so did he.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been all about elevating stories,” says Daughtry. “Elevating voices and elevating people. Someone believed in me and I believe in others, and that’s why I’m here to elevate the voices for ‘I Was Here’ and I’m honored to host this.”
Daughtry says that for the past few years he’s been involved with MAD Arts in Dania Beach.
“They’re a great space for the arts. But they reached out to me and asked me about if I’d be interested in ‘I Was Here’ and I was because it’s about storytelling, preserving legacy, and I was excited about the process and the program.”
What began in 2016 in Kentucky, “I Was Here” emerged as a public‐art and history initiative that blends photography, poetry, technology, and storytelling to unearth the hidden contributions of African-American ancestors.
Its signature “Ancestor Spirit Portraits” shows photographic installations of contemporary Black subjects imagined as ancestral spirits and are installed in historic sites across America, inviting viewers to reimagine spaces scarred by enslavement and to honor those whose stories were erased.
Originally conceived in Lexington as part of healing journeys through civic spaces, the project quickly expanded, touching areas like Washington DC, the Inwood neighborhood in New York City, the World Trade Center Podium, and beyond.
“Everyone has a story,” says Daughtry. “The stories of those who came before us having something to teach us. We’re making stories for them and the young people after us. I’m looking forward to speaking with young people and preserving legacies. I hope to help them realize everyone has a story and to show that their stories are powerful and I’m looking forward to hosting and being a part of a platform to help them be seen.”
Daughtry is bringing the mic and the momentum to “I Was Here” and he will serve as the official host during the opening reception on Friday, Aug. 29. Daughtry says he will review, motivate, and encourage the young storytellers who step forward to share their truths whether it’s through spoken word, personal reflections, or creative expression.
In March 2025, the recognition of “I Was Here” landed in Dania Beach thanks to a City Commission meeting that spotlighted youth empowerment and heritage awareness. Led by Marjorie Guyon and photographer Patrick Mitchell, its workshops— for teens aged 13–17—connect young residents with their heritage, help them explore ancestral legacies, and culminate in open-mic events where they find voice through storytelling and art.
“It started as a series of portraits representing African-Americans and their ancestors,” says Amanda DeRoxtra of MAD Arts. “It’s a creative visual that acknowledges our nation builders that came from America’s slavery movement and how they were reshaping some of the most historic buildings in America and understanding that they were built with slave labor.”
DeRoxtra says that MAD Arts became linked with the project because of a grant.
“We’ve helped support them as they grow across the country and for the next couple of months, we’ll also be doing the workshops. The workshops will take place from Friday, Aug. 15 to Friday, Aug. 29 with the opening showcase for everything happening in September where we will be opening that to the public,” says DeRoxtra. “
To participate in the “I Was Here” project at Mad ARTS, you can sign up for one of the immersive community workshops offered in August. These workshops, held on August 15, 22, 28, and 29, focus on exploring ancestry, identity, and storytelling through art, technology, and dialogue, for youths ages 10 to 17. To register, email amanda.deroxtra@yeswearemad.com with your name and age.
Inside a sunlit room in Dania Beach, the past and present will converge. Not through textbooks or lectures, but through poetry, portraits, and powerful self-expression. The “I Was Here” workshop series invites local teens, ages 13 to 17, to do more than just learn history, they’ll be asked to feel it, wear it, and speak it aloud.
“With Dania being the oldest city in Broward, it made sense for us to have it here,” says DeRoxtra. “The workshops will be a four-set series and allow them to create a narrative and an open mic opportunity to share what they’re written.
Students can sit in quiet circles, reflecting on their roots, flip through archival images, meditating on the legacies of those who came before, and considering what it means to be the descendants of the unheard.
“Tons of people are so excited and nothing but positivity, especially in a time where we can continue these types of conversations on history and emphasis being placed on understanding our roots.”
In a time when headlines rewrite the past and classrooms tiptoe around truth, “I Was Here” dares to stand tall in the shadow of erased stories. The traveling public art project doesn’t whisper about history, it speaks it boldly, reclaiming voices long silenced and shining light on the lives textbooks often reduce to footnotes.
“Just because we’re not linking people to historical figures, doesn’t mean you still can’t feel the ties and importance of the past,” says DeRoxtra. “You can still feel roots to your own community to grow and build and grow your love of the arts like how Darius has.”
With a deep love for storytelling, history, and elevating underrepresented voices through the arts, Daughtry sees this project as an essential platform for truth-telling. Whether on the stage, the page, or in the classroom, he has always been rooted in the belief that art is a vehicle for memory and justice.
“Once you have the opportunity to learn about your past and connect with who you are and say it aloud, it’s lifechanging,” says Daughtry. “It’s transformative. It’s a crowning achievement to engage with young people and help them realize their worth. It happened to me as a child and now it’s coming back full circle.”
WHAT: “I Was Here”
WHERE: 481 S. Federal Highway, Dania Beach
WHEN: 5 p.m., Friday, Aug. 29 opening reception
TICKETS: Included with museum admission at $24.99 per person for adults ages 13 and older; workshops are free
INFORMATION: 754-239-0707 or www.yeswearemadarts.com
