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