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Welcome
to Our Site

 With 2024 being our formation year, the Juneteenth Association of Louisiana leaders are honored by your visit to our website.  We have established goals to achieve in our first year and maintain as we grow.

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in case you are wondering about us:

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Our Logo :

The graphics and colors in the Juneteenth Association of Louisiana logo bring together what we are about, representing the state of Louisiana, the flag and the Juneteenth flag in the boot of the state.

 

The Juneteenth flag uses the red, white, and blue of the United States flag to signify that enslaved people in the United States and their descendants all were and are Americans. The colors and symbols on the flag are representative of freedom and the end of slavery. The date on the flag represents that of General Order No. 3 issued in Galveston, Texas in 1865.


According to Author Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League, the red, black and green flag was created by the members of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League at their convention held in Madison Square Garden on August 13, 1920.

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Our Leaders:

  • Acting Director - Abram Freeman

  • Acting Secretary - Jennifer Thorpe

  • Board Members (See below)

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Acting Director's Message

The Juneteenth Association of Louisiana aims to unite our state in celebrating the dawn of freedom for all people. Our mission is to advocate for opportunities that allow all people to partake in the blessings of liberty, rather than merely seeking equality. We strive to enlighten Louisianians about the contributions of African Americans and to inspire African Americans to celebrate, educate, and empower their youth to support one another and to open doors that were once closed. Through implementing the Juneteenth 101 curriculum in summer camps, promoting our pageants, hosting the annual essay contest, and organizing voter registration drives, we believe we can alter the course of our state.

Meet Members of the Board

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Abram Freeman - Acting Director of The Juneteenth Association of Louisiana and one of the founders of the SWLA Juneteenth Committee, which started Juneteenth celebrations in Lafayette and helped promote recognition to become a state holiday in Louisiana before it became a federal holiday.  Owner of A Freeman Insurance Agency, LLC and A Freeman Driving School.

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Jennifer Thorpe - Acting Secretary, Executive Director of Meaningful Minds United, Inc.

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Derek Alexander

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Connie Cooper

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Patricia S. Deal, a single mother from Alexandria, loves being of service to others by advocating and empowering them to get their needs met.  She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in the Field of Social Work and a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Northwestern State University. She began her professional career in 1984 as a substitute teacher, then a detention worker, and as a Human Service Worker in the Department of Children and Family Services in Alexandria. She also worked part-time as a Crisis Counselor and case manager, for the Family Counseling Agency and Volunteers of America.

 

Her Masters of Social Work was obtained from Grambling State University in August of 2009, while employed with then named Office of Community Services.  She was also employed at Hampton Inn & Suites as a Night Auditor for eight years.  Ms. Deal retired from the Office of Community Services as a Child Welfare Supervisor in December 2011.   After retiring, she worked as a Mental Health Professional with Phoenix Family Life Center from 2011 until 2022 and then as an Advanced Medical Support Specialist for the Alexandria Veteran Administration from December 2022 until September 2023.  Currently, she is very active in several ministries at Pleasant Green Baptist Church.  She is past president of Zeta Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc,  and has served on the Homeless Coalition Board and the Cenla Community Education Foundation.

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Sandra Franklin

 

Maria Giles

 

Tiffany Sanders

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Amanda P. White, is a Colfax, Grant Parish, Louisiana native who is deeply in love with the stories and songs of her ancestor’s struggles, triumphs and brilliance. Her love of story is employed in her work as Grant Parish DV Survivor Advocate for Domestic Abuse Resistance Team (DART), where she stands with and for survivors of domestic and dating violence as they reclaim their power, become acquainted with their authentic selves and find personal healing in sharing their stories and giving hope to others.  As an actor, singer, storyteller, and writer, she invokes the arts to promote family literacy, honor and preserve personal and collective history and make learning exciting.

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Jerry Williams is the President/General Manager of JWBP Broadcasting, LLC in Alexandria, LA.  He owns and operates two radio stations in Central Louisiana:  KMXH-FM MIX 93.9 & KBCE-FM 102.3 JACK FM.  Mr. Williams comes to the board with a successful track record in growing revenue, sales, advertising, and team-building leadership. He’s also a Southern University graduate with a B. S. in Business Management, 1978.

 

Mrs. Felicia M. Williams is a retired U. S. Mail Carrier and Notary Public from Abbeville, LA.  She has been in the customer service industry for over a decade and has since branched off to focus on serving her community.

 

Mrs. Williams has volunteered for multiple nonprofits and was the 2013 recipient of the United Way of Acadiana “Live United Award”.  She facilitates and IRS VITA Program, which prepares income tax returns for low to moderate income earners.  She is also a Commissioner-in-Charge for the Louisiana State Election Commission where she helps certify election commissioners.  Lastly, Mrs. Williams recruits teens and adults for the Louisiana Workforce Summer Youth Program and the Second Chance Program.  As an advocate who is passionate about promoting a happier, healthier, and sustainable lifestyle, Mrs. Williams believes in having responsibility and awareness, emphasizing that everyone has a duty to the community in which they live.  Mrs. Williams’ upbringing as the oldest child compels her to be involved in her community, drawing inspiration from her parents by doing her part to create equality, inclusion and diversity.  Mrs. Williams and her husband of 40 years, Mr. Michael Wiliams, Sr., have two children, Latoya (Eugene) and Michael, Jr. (Ishemia) and three grandchildren – Jaiden, Khari, and Omari.

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Juneteenth:  The Story and the Rest of the Story

Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States.  Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with the news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Juneteenth today celebrates African American freedom and achievement while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures.

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In Louisiana, Juneteenth became recognized as a holiday in 2005 and in 2021, as a national holiday.

1st Annual Conference of the Juneteenth

Association of Louisiana

July 27, 2024, 
Lafayette, LA

Mission Statement & Goals for Juneteenth Association of Louisiana

 

The Juneteenth Association of Louisiana will focus on bringing the Juneteenth organizations within the state of Louisiana together to have a strong voice and strong membership footprint to make a difference; and will support regional organizations within Louisiana as they commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States of America.

 

 

Goals:

  1. Build membership in local organizations, as well as this state organization by making the organizations and events more visible and increase awareness of what Juneteenth is and the presence of organizations around the state welcoming members and offering educational and entertainment type celebrations of Juneteenth.

    1. a.  Provide information and links to Juneteenth celebrations around the state on the website.

  2.  Achieve a 501C status by building up membership to create a strong footprint and lobbying on behalf of the organization.

  3. Build the festivals up by engaging community and other leaders in Juneteenth events and in promoting the events.

  4. Provide experiences to help people develop in many areas to realize they have the power to make a difference in both their lives and community.

  5. Host annual Juneteenth conference and state Pageant.

  6. Send state pageant winner to compete on national Juneteenth Stage.

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This association is in its early stages and those involved are striving to involve all areas of the state. 

About the
Conference

Join us on July 27, 2024 for the First Annual Conference of the Juneteenth Association of Louisiana from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Downtown Convention Center in Lafayette, LA.  

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Registration fees for the conference also include a seat for a play, "The Juneteenth Story",

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Look for information on topics and  the keynote speaker on the conference page.

Hybrid experience

1st Annual Conference of the  Juneteenth Association of Louisiana

Learn.  Network.

Make a Difference.

The Juneteenth Association of Louisiana Conference Speakers

The Rest of the Story

This year, the Conference of the Juneteenth Association of Louisiana features dedicated professionals and community leaders who encourage others to grow in many aspects of their lives and help others learn to do the same.

The Juneteenth Association of Louisiana Conference Sessions

Learn From Community Leaders. Engage with Others who are committed like You.

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