Celebrating Juneteenth and Black Excellence

On June 19, 1865, Union Army General Gordon Granger proclaimed freedom from slavery in Galveston, Texas. This marked the moment when all of the South’s slaves were finally informed of President Lincoln’s Emancipation Declaration, and their freedom was enforced by the Union Army. 

These days, June 19 – Juneteenth – is celebrated across the country as a powerful reminder of what Black Americans have endured, how far they’ve come in their struggle for a dignified life, and how far our country must still go to provide all its people with equal opportunities to thrive. Today, President Joe Biden marked a historic day as he signed the bill that establishes Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

This year at CAMEO, we want to celebrate Juneteenth by highlighting the work of Black leaders within the small business and economic development sector. Progress towards a fairer, more inclusive system would not be possible without their hard work and dedication.

If you know of someone who should be on this list, please email Daniela.

Jodie Harris blog post
Jodie Harris
Director
CDFI Fund
Tara Lynn Gray headshot
Tara Lynn Gray
Director
Office of the Small Business Advocate, GO-Biz
Connie Evans headshot
Connie Evans
CEO
Association for Enterprise Opportunity
Lisa Mensah headshot
Lisa Mensah
President and CEO
Opportunity Finance Network
Moses McCutcheon headshot
Dr. Moses McCutcheon, Jr.
Executive Director
Bethel Los Angeles CDC
Gary Cunningham headshot
Gary Cunningham
President and CEO
Prosperity Now
Tate Hill headshot
Tate Hill
Executive Director
Access Plus Capital
Hilda Kennedy headshot
Hilda Kennedy
President
AmPac Business Capital
Steve Dial headshot
Steve Dial
CEO
Anew America
Edwin Lombard headshot
Edwin A. Lombard III
President and CEO
California African American Chamber of Commerce
Ellis Carr headshot
Ellis Carr
CEO
CDC Small Business Finance
Jay Diallo headshot
T. Jay Diallo
President and CEO
First Community Capital
Cassandra Little headshot
Dr. Cassandra Little
Interim CEO
Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce
Everett Sands headshot
Everett K. Sands
CEO
Lendistry
Cathy Adams headshot
Cathy D. Adams
President & CEO
Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce
John Hope Bryant headshot
John Hope Bryant
Founder, Chairman and CEO
Operation HOPE
Azizza Davis Goines headshot
Azizza Davis Goines
President and CEO
Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce
Joe Rouzan headshot
Joe Rouzan III
Executive Director
Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation

Special shout out to retired CEO of California Capital Financial Development Corporation, Clarence Williams – a true pioneer.

Support Black-Owned Businesses

Let’s celebrate Juneteenth by putting our money where our mouth is! We’ve been working on a list of directories of small businesses owned by people of color in the Bay Area. If you have your own directory and would like to add it, whether you’re in the Bay or elsewhere the state, please email Daniela.

Also, please check out our list of Success Stories from Black entrepreneurs, a couple of whom have won CAMEO’s Faces of Entrepreneurship Awards!

Juneteenth Events around the State