When one thinks of Juneteenth, the national holiday that commemorates the end of slavery, “networking” probably doesn’t come to mind.
But for Sharea Ayers and her team at Black Leaders Detroit, the goal for an upcoming event is to connect entrepreneurs with like-minded people in the community and potentially investors.
“In the age where we don’t even have to talk to each other because everybody can stay online, it’s definitely important to create those spaces where we can connect and talk,” she said.
Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Officially recognized as a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, Juneteenth Independence Day serves as both a celebration and a moment of reflection on the continued struggle for justice and equality.
Black Leaders Detroit, a nonprofit organization that provides an avenue for Black entrepreneurs to access capital, is hosting “The Liberation Link Up” at 7 p.m. Friday at Hotel Saint Regis in New Center. Guests will get the chance to dress up, network with people across the city, enjoy some hors d’oeuvres and listen to live music. The event is a partnership between Black Leaders Detroit, Juneteenth Jubilee Detroit and the financial literacy organization Bullish Institute. Tickets are $28 on Eventbrite.
On Saturday, Juneteenth Jubilee is teaming up with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy for the family-friendly festival “Roots, Rhythm and Flow.” Held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Robert C. Valade Park, the event will feature a “liberation” fun run, a Detroit mayoral forum and performances by Detroit singer Lolly Mariah, the Stilt Dance Project and George Crockett Academy marching band. Tickets are free, but people can register on Eventbrite.
Ayers, the COO for Black Leaders Detroit and founder of Juneteenth Jubilee Detroit, said she got the inspiration for the networking event from her own experiences, which led to the organization receiving a $200,000 grant from a funder.
“It just really dawned on me that your network really is your net worth because had I not known this woman or got acquainted with her, then we never would have been referred to receive a grant,” she said.
Some entrepreneurs, she said, may not have the time or the money to be in the right spaces in order to grow their businesses.
“It just really made me think about what we do with Black Leaders Detroit with accessing capital,” Ayers said. “I wanted to create a space where people could literally come together. We’re also going to have a couple of special guests in the room that are within the business ecosystem for Black entrepreneurs, just to show the importance of it matters who you talk to, and connection can actually lead to capital.”
Some of those special guests include representatives from Bank of America, Wayne State University’s entrepreneurship program, the Gilbert Family Foundation and DTE Energy Foundation.
Celebrating Black culture and excellence
For the festival, Ayers said Juneteenth Jubilee will continue to offer its annual 5K, which supports literacy initiatives in Detroit. That will be built into the program along with new activities like yoga, Zumba and field games.
The mayoral forum will start at 2:30 p.m., with nonprofit CEO Saunteel Jenkins, Council Member Fred Durhal III, Attorney Todd Perkins and businessmen Jonathan Barlow and Joel Haashiim set to participate.
As Ayers marks her seventh year of hosting Juneteenth events, commemorating the holiday continues to be a source of pride.
“When you think about being in one of the Blackest cities in America, it needs to be something inclusive to highlight the culture and spread the message of what organizations like ourselves, as well as others, are doing throughout the year to uplift the community,” she said. “There’s so many people who haven’t even heard of Black Leaders Detroit, and so, this is how we continue to not only increase awareness, but celebrate Black excellence and Black culture and create a space for us again to come together and connect so that we can continue to build community.”
Here are some other Juneteenth festivities happening in Detroit:
Juneteenth Freedom Festival
Drop by Marygrove Conservancy Campus June 20-22 to celebrate culture, community, and legacy at the Detroit City Lions Youth Club’s first three-day Juneteenth Freedom Festival. Enjoy music, food, art, and more.
Juneteenth on Livernois
Celebrate freedom, culture, and community with LightUp Livernois (between 6 Mile and 8 Mile). The June 19 event runs from noon to midnight and features grand openings, live entertainment, exclusive deals, and family fun.
Hart of Detroit Summer Fest x AfroFuture x DVE Juneteenth Block Party
Celebrate Juneteenth with Hart of Detroit, AfroFuture, and DVE. The June 19 event at Hart Plaza runs from noon to 5 p.m. and will feature live performances and a curated marketplace with Detroit’s most creative vendors and local food artisans, plus interactive games and community activities. Tickets are $18. Following the block party, there will be a Summer Fest Concert from 6-11 p.m. Tickets are $45.
Juneteenth 2025 at The Wright
June 19 | 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Experience an unforgettable Juneteenth at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. The June 19 event will include remarks from the museum’s President and Chief Executive Officer Neil A. Barclay, a reflection of Juneteenth by the City of Detroit’s official historian, Jamon Jordan, a bike ride, dance, live music, and more. “This event is a space for all to come together—across generations and backgrounds—to honor the resilience of our ancestors, uplift our stories, and carry forward the fight for equality and liberation,” the museum said in a statement. The program runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Detroit Association of Black Organizations Juneteenth Food Giveaway
The DABO has partnered with DoorDash to host a food giveaway from noon to 3 p.m. June 19 at the Bridge Center Library, 9928 Grand River Ave. The Juneteenth Food Giveaway will provide attendees with essential resources, like free food packages, fresh fruit and produce and wellness health screenings as well as family-friendly activities. There are no income or age restrictions. Registration is required. To sign up, click here or call (313) 491-0003.
Faith & Freedom Listening Party and Ice Cream Social
Our Daily Bread Ministries’ VOICES is inviting the Detroit community to attend a listening party and ice cream social to recognize and celebrate Juneteenth. Visitors are encouraged to stop by the open-house, limited-time pop-up event space at 1442 Brush Street throughout the summer to connect, reflect, co-work, and host gatherings. Attendees can access free and culturally relevant Christian resources, get a peek at the Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom film and soundtrack, and learn about how they can utilize the space while enjoying snacks, music, and more. The first 50 attendees will also get a free commemorative Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom vinyl album. The June 19 event runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Detroit Public Library Juneteenth Rodeo
The main branch of Detroit Public Library is hosting a Juneteenth rodeo and summer reading kickoff from 3-6 p.m. on Friday. The Midwest Invitational Rodeo will be there, supplying pony rides for kids, and there will also be a petting zoo, line dancing, lawn games, arts and crafts, face painting, and more.
Hamtramck Stadium Juneteenth Celebration
The stadium, located at 3201 Dan Street, is hosting its fourth annual event Thursday from 12-5 p.m. The venue is is one of only 12 remaining Negro league baseball stadiums in the country. The event will feature keynote speaker Dale Hale, the grandson of Detroit Stars and Detroit Cubs player Eulyn “Red” Hale. At 3 p.m., a tribute game between the 15U and 18U Nike Detroit RBI teams will start.