They are women of purpose and power — servant leaders striving to make a meaningful difference in the Broward County cities they proudly call home.

Denise D. Grant, Mayor of Lauderhill and Veronica Edwards Phillips, Mayor of Lauderdale Lakes, are crafting policies, uplifting people and elevating the quality of life for the residents they were elected to serve.   

Both mayors say they want to be known as leaders who care deeply about people and demonstrate that commitment daily in both words and deeds.

“This isn’t a job, it is a calling,” said Grant, 48, who has lived in Lauderhill for 18 years. “I want to lead with empathy…to help people live their best lives. I don’t want the residents of this city to look up to me; I want to be on their level and understand their reality and what they want and need.”

Grant prides herself on listening and hitting the streets to meet residents where they live, work and play. She has focused on public safety, infrastructure, economic development, mental wellness and giving the city’s parks a makeover.

Lauderhill is a city of approximately 75,000 residents who are mostly Black and Brown with a large Caribbean population. Grant believes its cultural diversity – 35 languages are spoken in the city – and rich history make Lauderhill special. 

On November 5, 2024, Grant, a Jamaican-American, made history as the first Black woman elected mayor of Lauderhill. Prior to becoming mayor, Grant served as vice mayor and was elected city commissioner in 2018.

Phillips, 74, who was appointed mayor by Lauderdale Lakes Commissioners in 2022. In 2024, residents of Lauderdale Lakes, affectionately called the “We Care City” elected Phillips to a
four-year term.

A hands-on leader, one of her primary initiatives involves walking the city to hear directly from residents and encouraging them to share their thoughts and become an integral part of shaping the city’s future.

“We talk, we walk, we build together,” said Phillips, who has been a resident of Lauderdale Lakes since 1997. “I lead by listening. I’m open, I have an open-door policy and I give my cell phone out to residents. To me it’s about empowering people.”

Shaping the city’s past, present and future is not new to Phillips. She has served in a variety of capacities including city commissioner, former chairman of Lauderdale Lakes School Advisory Board and member of the Economic Development Advisory Board.

A social worker by training, she has a heart for people. The city boasts about 36,000 residents who are 80 percent African American with a significant West Indian/Caribbean ancestry. 

“My goal is to motivate, inspire and demonstrate that I do what I say because I care,” Phillips said. “This is my city, too. It’s important to me to not only have a great work ethic, but great ethics, too.”

For Grant, her business consulting experience taught her to be strategic and efficient. Before ascending to the role of mayor, Grant served as director of Operations and Business Development at a boutique commercial litigation law firm, leveraging her acumen in legal and business strategy. Her prior professional experience includes tenures at McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, and Trinity Broadcasting Network, where she honed her skills in strategic advisory, organizational transformation, and stakeholder engagement.

Both leaders admit to being workaholics, but say public service is a labor of love. They both say they lay awake at night reviewing their to-do lists, contemplating how federal and state policies will impact their respective cities, and praying they are doing everything they can to make a difference in the lives of the people they have been entrusted to serve.     

They also credit their steadfast faith for helping them to lead with a potent mix of humility, empathy, and strategy.

“God, family and community guide me in my resolve to form a more perfect union for a safe, growing, developing and prosperous Lauderdale Lakes,” said Phillips, who was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale and is the mother of four adult sons, a grandmother and great-grandmother.

Grant, the mother of an 18-year-old son, reflected, “Serving people is my purpose and my passion. I’m a God-fearing woman and my love for what I do is part of my divine assignment.”