JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jax Melanin Market celebrates Juneteenth with more than 150 Black-owned businesses, educational experiences and a variety of entertainment for the whole family.
The Juneteenth Melanin Market will be held on Saturday, June 17th from 3pm to 9pm at 822 A. Philip Randolph Blvd.
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June 1st is Emancipation Day. This national holiday commemorates the emancipation of all people from slavery on June 19, 1865. On this day, more than two years have passed since the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in Galveston, Texas, where more than 250,000 slaves were freed.
Jack’s Melanin Market will include vendors from local Black-owned businesses, carnival stilts, a kids zone, food trucks and entertainment from local artists including Genesis Archer, The Cuts Downstairs, Broadway Louie and Shake Culture Dance.
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Melanin Market will also have educational booths and tours during the celebration to share the history of Juneteenth.
During the celebration, Melanin Market will also recognize four influential women in Jacksonville.
-Joyce Morgan: Duval County’s first African American female real estate appraiser. She proudly serves District 1 and has launched many new projects for the area.
-Glenda Hopkins: Jacksonville’s first African American female firefighter. She has been in this job for her 27 years and hopes to encourage more women to join the sector.
· Donna Deegan: A Jacksonville native who was recently elected the city’s first female mayor. Deegan aims to bring “positive change” to the city of Jacksonville.
· Pat McCollough: Donna Deegan’s campaign manager and the first African American female campaign manager to win a Jacksonville mayoral election.
To support its mission to help minority-owned small businesses grow and thrive in local economies. Jack’s Melanin Market has committed to distributing $10,000 in grants to 20 small businesses this year.. Every quarter, Melanin Market selects five business owners who receive a small grant of $500 for business-related expenses to improve their business. Thanks to a new partnership with Coca-Cola Beverage Florida LLC., Jack’s Melanin Market will double the number of microgrants distributed at Juneteenth Melanin Market.
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