The 19th Annual Juneteenth Celebration

The 2019 Daytona Beach Florida, Juneteenth Hometown Heroes from L to R. Amina Wally, Narcissus Brown, Robert LIoyd, Robert Simpson, Francis Ann Mobley, Mary Flemming, Madison Mayo, Sandra Offiah - Hawkins, Marian Rivers, Seletha Bradley - Morris, Bonnie Cummings, George Ward, and Stehanie Speller

The JuneTeenth Festival Committee, Inc of Daytona Beach hosted the Celebration of the commemorate emancipation of slavery June 19th 1865 freedom of the Texas slaves. 

The 19th Annual Juneteenth Community Celebration of "Hometown Heroes Banquet" was held at the Mori Hosseini Student Union Center, Located on the beautiful campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. This years event was sponsored locally by Embry-Riddle University, Brown and Brown, Inc., The City of Daytona Beach and several other local businesses and organizations. The Juneteenth Committee credited the sponsorships and in-kind donations for the ability to Honor twenty (20) Hometown Heroes.

During the banquet, "Hometown Heroes" were recognized for their efforts and achievements in making our community better and stronger. Daytona Beach is home to one of the largest Hometown Hero Celebrations in Central Florida.

This year the host of the event was Dr. Claudette McFadden senior tenured professor in the Department Studies, Theater and Dance at Bethune - Cookman University along with host Richard "Rich" Black. Black is the publisher and CEO of ONYX Magazine, a 21 - year old publication that celebrates Florida's Black life while having seamless connection with other cultures.

The American tenor, Curtis Rayam, performed at the Juneteenth Celebration this year. For three decades Mr. Rayam has performed extensively in the USA, Germany, Austria, France, Israel, Vienna, and South Africa with major opera companies and symphony orchestras.

Mr. Robert LIoyd serves as Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Brown & Brown, Inc.