Team Members: UNITY!

The team of Juneteenth Atlanta is comprised of those willing to volunteer their time and expertise to producing a major Juneteenth festival and parade that can represent the Southeastern United States.

​Our collective goal is to build one of the largest black history parades in the world.  Our festival and parade is 100% free to the public and brings education, history, music and the arts to display the past, present and futrure aspirations of a people determined.

​Please support the efforts of our team members as we strive to be worthy to the memories of those who sacrifice all for what we so often take for granted. We give thanks to our ancestors by working in our communities. We appreciate your interest and support.

​Important Note: We have other team members who are not yet mentioned so please check back often for updates. Are you interested in being a team member, ambassador for your city or a volunteer. Send us an email: Juneteenthatlanta@gmail.com

J. K.Smith Jr.

Event Operations

Meet J. K. Smith Jr. : Julian K. Smith,  is a musician, educator, and entrepreneur. The trumpet is his Instrument, history is his subject and the music business is his Industry. As Founder & CEO of Groove Master Enterprise LLC his life’s work is empowering community youth through musicianship, scholarship, and entrepreneurship. A native of Decatur, GA he graduated from Southwest Dekalb Highschool (03) and Bethune-Cookman University earning his Bachelors of Accounting (08). Since graduation Julian has worked in corporate America, performed Internationally, is a classroom educator and earned membership into Omega Psi Phi, Fraternity Inc.​
We are so blessed to have Jullian K. Smith Jr. on board with the Juneteenth Atlanta Team. He is a true champion for the interest of HBCU every where. Julian is always reaching out and encouraging our youth to learn an instrument and notably the trumpet. That's why we call him the General!

Wilene Smith

HBCU Ambassador

  Sister Smith was born and reared in the “Dear Ole Summerhill” neighborhood in Atlanta.  She attended and graduated from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, Henry W. Grady High School and Morris Brown College.  She has done additional studies at Oglethorpe University & Columbus Command College/GBI.
Sister Smith earned her B.S. degree in Business Management from Morris Brown College on May 15, 1977.
  She enjoys organizing worthwhile and beneficial programs/activities, deep-sea fishing, reading, and listening to gospel, jazz and classical music.  The (34) year Retiree from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), as the Manager for Georgia’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) & Family Violence (FV) Programs.  This unit compiles and disseminates all of the FBI’s Part I & Part II, Family Violence and Hate Crimes reported from the 700+law enforcement agencies throughout the state of Georgia. She a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. – Kappa Omega Chapter, Atlanta, Ga., member of the Atlanta HBCU Alliance, member of the AIAC-UNCF Chapter, 8th  & 10th President of the Women for Morris Brown College, Inc. and currently serves as Parliamentarian for the MBCNAA.

Caramel R. Clark

Event Operations

Caramel R. Clark is a passionate, experienced native of Detroit and loyal community leader in the City of Atlanta. She has many talents and aspirations including mentorship for middle school girls, entreprenuership, photography, motivational speaking, book publishing and building a community center.  Her Education includes Associate Degrees in Criminal Investigation, Medical Assistance and Certification in Phlebotomy. One factor that makes Caramel Clark an exemplary leader is being a United States Marine. Caramel also worked as a Financial Advisor representing Griggs & Associates in Atlanta, Ga and is a staunch supporter of Veteran Affairs.  With a personality that is warm yet stern, Caramel Clark is ready to help lead people and uplift community.  Caramel Clark strongly believes Loyalty & Consistency are the key principles to Establish & Sustain Teamwork & Success!

LaQuana Alexander

Youth ADMINISTRATOR

​LaQuana Alexander of Unity in Our Community ATL LaQuana Alexander is a resident of Douglasville, GA and no stranger to the Atlanta Community. She began her journey in humanitarian works through her very own personal experiences. LaQuana once experienced being homeless, and while homeless was helping in feeding the homeless. She witnessed for herself the needs, emotions, and support that were longed for by her and others. Through her personal experience, LaQuana instantly knew that one day she would implement a support system for individuals in need, homeless, or just without the bare necessities in life. In July 2016, LaQuana started Unity in Our Community ATL which is a support system comprised of over 15 organizations with one common goal. That goal is to encourage and offer for those in need by providing education, shelter, meals, clothing, personal grooming, and toiletries. 

James Swanson

Special Operations

Meet James "Dredd lox" Swanson "Race First"! Giving all praise to Father, Mother Creation. Brother Dredd is a parent, entrepreneur, instructor, activist, and one of the best kept secret's when it comes to getting the job done behind the scenes has anchored him with community organizations, local black owned business, and Afrikan centered private and home school environments. James has a strong desire to participate and encourage others in excellence. He has been a consistent supporter behind the efforts of Junenteenth Atlanta from the beginning. His knowledge, ambition, drive, protections, unity, and self determination is the motivation for his efforts. We are happy to have him on our Juneteenth Atlanta team because of what he represents in the community. James is also a coach and coaches a community youth basketball team. He is teaching the youth life skills through teamwork and athletics.

 Sam  Dunham

Parade Operations

Major Sam Dunham, Civil Air Patrol, GA-109 Fulton Composite Squadron Battalion Chief for Atlanta Fire Rescue, Retired.  Second Year with the Juneteenth Atlanta Steering Committee. On board to shift the paradigm of African-American Independence. Served as Shift Commander of Emergency Operations at Atlanta’s Hartsfield – Jackson International Airport, managing the five fire stations, over seventy five personnel and over thirty pieces 
of specialize aircraft firefighting apparatuses.Retired from the U.S. Air Force after serving in Southeast Asia Earned the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Ribbon. Served as the Unit Coordinator for the National March of Celebration, honoring Dr. Martin L. King Jr. 
here in Atlanta. I am a FAA License Pilot and member of Black Pilots of America. Past Commander of The Fulton Composite Squadron, (GA-109) of the Civil Air Patrol, Which provides Aerial Search and Rescue for down or lost aircraft and air photography for disaster damage evaluation. Other than that, I’m just a regular guy.

Stephen Thomas

INTERNATIONAL Affairs 

Meet Stephen Thomas: Stephen completed Central State University in Wilberforce Ohio, and found himself in Douglassville, Georgia. Stephen has served for over 35 years in the Financial Services Industry. His business accomplishments include building several entities into major businesses such as Thomas & Williams LLC a (major financial services Provider), Tito, Steinberg & Associates LLC  (a major Financial Services Firm), Imperium Management Group, LTD  ( a major Financial services provider), Mavazzi International (a major international Import & Export Company with offices in Atlanta, Georgia and Nairobi, Kenya) and his very own and special Splendors of Africa Inc. a International & Domestic Non-Profit with offices in Douglasville, Georgia and Nairobi, Kenya. 

Sidney A. Robbins Esq.

Wise Counsel

Meet Sidney A. Robbins, Esq. Sidney A. Robbins, Esq., is a solo practitioner in Atlanta, GA. His law firm specializes in Intellectual Property law, Entertainment and Media areas, Sports Representation, Juvenile Law, and General Practice. He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia. He is a member of several legal organizations, including the National Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Gate City Bar Association and the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association. As a transactional attorney, Mr. Robbins’s practice includes the drafting and negotiating of contracts, including various music agreements for gold and platinum albums, artists, and producers; major television agreements and film agreements; agreements for film directors, film composers, actors, and screenwriters; and agreements for book authors. Mr. Robbins was formerly the General Counsel for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and a licensed contract advisor with the National Football League. He has served as the Co-Director of the Harvard Law School Recording Artist Project and interned with So So Def Records in Atlanta prior to attending law school. His writing focus and personal interests include topics pertaining to public policy, juvenile justice, and education; the intersection of entertainment & sports and the law; and civil, economic, and social rights. Mr. Robbins earned an undergraduate degree from Morehouse College (Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 2000) and his law degree from Harvard Law School (2003). 

Candy Tate

Executive Operations

​Meet Dr. Rachanice Candy Tate:
​Candy is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University’s History Department where her dissertation was titled "'Our Art Itself was Our Activism': Atlanta Neighborhood Arts Center, 1975-1990.". Her research interests include cultural politics in Atlanta, black photographers, Ancient Nubia and Kemet (Egypt). A native of Atlanta, she finished her undergraduate work at Emory University in Art History. Her Masters degrees are from Georgia State University in Public Administration (Non Profit Management) and from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Art History. Her master's thesis there was on a Harlem Renaissance painting by Lois Mailou Jones, titled The Ascent of Ethiopia (1932).

Candy is currently the Assistant Director of the Emory College Center for Creativity & Arts and owns a fine arts consulting business. Her service in the community include chairing the Education Advisory Committee of Hammonds House Galleries, serving as Historian for the Atlanta Branch of ASALH and chair of their Veterans Oral History Project, as Secretary for the Georgia Chapter of the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE), Treasurer of the Visual Arts Ministry at Ben Hill United Methodist Church, and as Vice-President of Programs for the Buckhead/Cascade City Chapter of The Links, Inc. She is a proud Silver Star member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Pi Alpha Omega Chapter.

Kebbi Williams

Artists Management

​Grammy award winning tenor saxophonist Kebbi Williams is one of contemporary music’s whirlwind improvisers. The imaginative multi-instrumentalist/ composer/producer/arranger/teacher resists categorization. His innovative sound dives, blends and jumpstarts all music genres. Kebbi bends it to his will with his robust, distinct blasts.  His playing and compositions create a sound that is uniquely and undeniably his own. Avant-garde jazz, hip-hop, Afro-beat, gospel, electronica, classical and fiery rock are all loops that Kebbi interweaves with passion and edge. 
The Atlanta native received both an undergraduate degree and Master's in Jazz Studies from prestigious Howard University. At the age of 22, he won the Jazz Instrumental Soloist Category (college division) award from Downbeat Magazine. Kebbi launched his professional career as a much in demand studio and touring musician.  Outkast, the legendary Donald Byrd, Cee-lo Green, Mos Def, drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, Bilal, Oteil Burbridge, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Russell Gunn, Julie Dexter and iconic Betty Carter are among the elite musicians and vocalists who jumped off of Kebbi’s unique horn. He is also an original member and presently touring for the sixth year with the Tedeschi Trucks Band with whom he won the Grammy in 2012.

Brad Lewis

EVENT MANAGEMENT

Meet Brad Lewis: A true renaissance man, Brad Lewis is a creative writer, music producer, filmmaker, and serial entrepreneur. With over 17 years in the entertainment industry, Brad has acquired extensive knowledge in the creative process ­­ from managing Grammy Award winning artists to developing educational products for children. Brad’s passion for inspiring others has been the driving force for his personal mission ­ “to empower individuals and communities through the arts and financial literacy.” These themes are adequately addressed in the new film, The Film Black Friday ­ which he
​co­wrote and co­produced. With such a diverse skill set, and new projects on the horizon, Brad still finds time to homeschool his 3 year old son and is a major asset for the continued developement of Juneteenth Atlanta.

Jibril Waajid

Event Operations

Meet Jibril Waajid: Jibril is a natural hair care specialist and educator who has shared his passion for natural hair for over 25 years and is one of the first male
​pioneers of the natural hair industry. Having a passion for natural hair he has used that platform to share the importance and significance of embracing natural hair with women, men, and children of African descent. Understanding the value of culture and how our hair throughout time has shaped the world and who we are, must continue. Being apart of Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival has given Jibril Waajid a platform to continue to share the importance of knowing oneself through culture and knowing our story is the foundation in creating true collective, productive and economic growth in our communities.

Bob Johnson

Event Operations

Meet Bob Johnson: Bob has been bringing cultural events to the Atlanta Metro for three decades. He founded and developed the World Natural Hair, Health & Beauty Show (the first natural hair convention that asked women to remove themselves and their young children from relaxer products) and helped to put natural hair on the map as a professional business and an industry. Bob started the Juneteenth Atlanta non-profit organization in 2012. His goal is to offer a Juneteenth celebration in Atlanta Georgia that can accommodate the Southeastern United States. Bob, along with his team, is on track in pursuing his vision of building the Juneteenth Atlanta Black History Parade into one of the largest and most significant parades anywhere. He is always on the lookout for those who can share the vision and want to get involved..
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