Opal Lee & Dione Sims | Juneteenth: Reflections of Freedom | Talks at Google

In commemoration of Juneteenth, Educator and lifelong civil rights advocate Opal Lee and Founder of Unity Unlimited, Inc. Dione Sims join us to share Opal’s experience as a leader in the fight for social change and how making Juneteenth a federal holiday is just the latest step in the fight for equity.

Get the book here: https://goo.gle/3JfiDwo.
Participate in Opal's Walk Virtually: https://www.opalswalk2dc.com/opalswal....
To get more information or make a donation to the project: https://nationaljuneteenthmuseum.org/.

Known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” Ms. Opal Lee was present when President Joe Biden signed the bill that established “Juneteenth” as a federal holiday after her successful walking campaign and online petition that garnered over 1.5 million signatures for Juneteenth holiday awareness. She has received six honorary doctorates, has been named 2021 Texan of the Year by the Dallas Morning News editorial board, the 2021 Unsung Hero of the Pandemic, Fort Worth Inc.’s 2022 Person of the Year, is a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and most recently became the second African American to have her portrait hung in the Texas State Senate.

Dione Sims is the President and Founder of Unity Unlimited, Inc. a non-profit organization focused on producing educational activities and opportunities to support unity and understanding. She has produced the Annual Juneteenth Fort Worth Celebration with her grandmother Dr. Opal Lee since 2015, engineered the Opal’s Walk campaign for Juneteenth national holiday recognition, developed the Your Voice Unleashed Fine Arts Workshop and Concert unity programming, and sponsored the Opal’s Farm urban farming project that seeks to reduce food insecurity and provide a means for second chance training and employment. She was present at the White House signing of the bill that established June 19th of every year as a federal holiday. Dione served as the Founding Executive Director of the National Juneteenth Museum working to highlight the message of freedom that Juneteenth represents.

Moderated by Dalain Williams.

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