Of the many local and regional businesses and organizations represented at the Homewood Flossmoor Juneteenth Festival, one common theme stood out. Many were founded, owned or managed by Black women.
Below is a brief sampling of these, along with what Juneteenth means to the women and leaders.
The Jassac Charitable Foundation, also known as JCFI, was established in 2013 as an Illinois nonprofit. For twenty years, JCFI, which started within the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, has successfully strengthened the community through education and improved the well-being of its residents. This Flossmoor-based organization has been a sponsor of the Juneteenth festival for the last three years.
JCFI’s president, Kimberly Rowe-Barney said that the Juneteenth holiday is important because of the “rich legacy and history that a lot of people don’t know about. It is a great way to come together and celebrate.”
Haven Morris, founder of the It’s Okay Foundation, started the organization in 2018 “to help women of color realize that they are not alone in the struggles and experiences they are facing.”
Eunice Onyelobi, part of the It’s Okay crew, said that Juneteenth “is a monumental part of how we developed as a community. It is important to celebrate the day and take the opportunity to repair our mental health.”
Kara Scott Dentley of Life By Kara teaches hula hooping, designs clothes and has even created her own brand of light-up hula hoops. Scott Dentley said that she thinks celebrating Juneteenth is important because she doesn’t want anyone to lose sight of history. “It is important to teach kids what happened,” she said.
Patricia Wallace, an author who published books for children, said that awareness is the most important part of the Juneteenth holiday for her. “Understanding all aspects of history is [essential] to understanding who we are,” she said. “It is important that we come together, enjoy the day, and celebrate what it means.”
Self Edit Experience, an Olympia Fields-based organization, handed out backpacks to kids in need at the Juneteenth festival. Self Edit supports youth and young mothers in Chicago and the south suburbs by identifying their challenges and building on their strengths.
Monica Monique, an integrated wellness psychologist and the founder of Self Edit said that the most important part of the Juneteenth holiday for her is “the gathering of people with common interests.”
You Matter 2, is a nonprofit organization focused on “engaging youth and transforming communities. You Matter 2 Founder and CEO Destiny Watson created the Homewood Flossmoor Juneteenth event four years ago. Watson said that purpose of the event is to “celebrate Juneteenth and what it means to be Black.”
Watson and her team at You Matter 2 also organize the Juneteenth parade in Flossmoor, which was held Wednesday, June 19.
