Wilkine Brutus 

Wilkine Brutus is an award-winning Haitian-American journalist and the founder of Maps & Diaries, a platform he launched in 2018 to uncover overlooked family histories and human migration stories.

The project was inspired by his 2018 podcast A Boat A Voyage, which grew out of an intimate interview he conducted with his mother during her visit to see him in South Korea in 2013.

That one-on-one conversation revealed a profound truth: most children don’t truly know their parents as individuals, a gap that can shape how we understand ourselves, our culture, and our history.

When he’s not advocating for these kinds of conversations, Brutus, a Florida native, produces in-depth local and national stories for WLRN, South Florida’s NPR station — on topics surrounding current affairs, government accountability, arts and culture across radio, podcast and web.

Brutus was named 2023 Reporter of the Year by the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists. He also received a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for covering underrepresented communities, particularly immigration.

Before joining WLRN, Brutus was the Digital Reporter for the Palm Beach Post, producing print and video-based profiles of artists and entrepreneurs.

Prior to that, he spent four years in South Korea as freelance cultural journalist and English educator, amassing millions of views on his YouTube channel.

His work includes localizing national topics, such as profiling Coco Gauff’s grandmother, who helped integrate Delray Beach schools, and profiling ethnic enclaves ranging from Finnish and Hungarian communities to indigenous Mayans.

Brutus is known for leading panels and community events around South Florida, teaming up with museums, public libraries, and local collectives to bring people together and spark genuine conversation.