28 Feb The Unbreakable Virgin Islanders will take center stage at star-studded Jazz in the Gardens FMAC Conference

South Florida is where acclaimed author and journalist Peter Bailey carved his brand of authentic journalism that’s won him a very devoted global following. 

Now he brings his latest cultural tour de force “Paradise Discovered: The Unbreakable Virgin Islanders” – a film based on his New York Times Op Ed “Has America Forgotten the Virgin Islands” – to Jazz in the Gardens, one of South Florida’s premier events. Bailey penned the now infamous Op Ed while building a makeshift roof.

Recently praised by Essence magazine as being one of the nation’s best R&B music festivals, Jazz in the Gardens has helped to stir a political and cultural renaissance in America’s fourth largest predominantly black city. 

Bailey will headline the festival’s FMAC (Film, Music, Arts and Culture) Conference by showing scenes from “The Unbreakable Virgin Islanders” the second first film from his Paradise Discovered series on surviving both hurricanes Irma and Maria in his native St. Thomas. After which, Bailey discuss the political, cultural and environmental impact of the series. The first film from Paradise Discovered debuted on the island of Anguilla in July. 

The one day conference brings together leaders in arts and entertainment with residents and festival attendees to share insight on breaking into show business. 

The event marks Bailey’s first South Florida stop on his nationwide Unbreakable tour since his most recent screening at the University of South Florida in Tampa. The series has also screened at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, the University of Delaware and was recently named as an official selection at Indie Night Film Festival at Hollywood’s world famous TCL Chinese Theater. 

Other FMAC panelists include R&B icon Betty Wright, Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell and muralist Addonis Parker. Wright is also slated to perform alongside Lionel Richie, Bobby Brown, Brandy, Teddy Riley, Blackstreet, the O’Jays and other music legends over the four day festival.  

It’s a homecoming of sorts for Bailey who more than two years ago hosted his critically-acclaimed “NiteCap Live” series in Miami Gardens featuring the city’s Mayor Oliver Gilbert.

“My work is forever etched into the fabric of Miami Gardens’ history and that of larger South Florida so this stop on the tour holds a special place in my heart,” says Bailey. “I’m proud to see just how much the city has evolved from a space of urban blithe to now burgeoning metropolis.”