As June comes to an end, Week of the Family reflects on an important community project that displays one of our greatest assets…community. This month we took one step forward in bringing the ‘unity’ back into commUNITY by participating with Mentors for Fatherless Children and Abused Families on their Juneteenth Mural project at 1118 W. Church Street.
The project was also in collaboration with Commissioner Shan Rose and Shuantae Bellamy, aka “Hope”, founder of Zapz Network and owner of the building that became the canvas for the community mural. Shuantae’s nickname is well earned as he has a history of providing hope for those in his community. He uses his platform to entertain and educate children in hopes of keeping them out of trouble. He learned from personal experience that going to jail and having a record closed many doors of opportunity for him. He also mentors those who have been incarcerated.
Suzanne Morgan planted the seed for a mural after meeting Leo & Samara Robinson and the kids from Mentors for Fatherless Children at their Juneteenth event last year at the Citrus Club. She was inspired by the impact of the event as it was the first time the Citrus Club had invited youth to be at the club. She suggested doing a mural to educate youth about the history of Juneteenth and an idea was born!
Maureen Hudas, the project’s lead artist and project coordinator, worked tirelessly with many other local artists and volunteers in the June heat and rains to complete the mural by the unveiling on June 19th. In addition to Maureen, other artists include David Michael Hudas (Spanky), Sabrina Desalines, Seven Charleston, Suzanne Morgan, Delia Miller, Natalia Savorotca, Samantha Guillaume, Jonathon McMullen, Jason D. Davis, Hamson Elyse (Assaf), Sophia Rivera (Sassy), Franny Martinez, and Jia Nicole. Their heART shines on this community!
Dr. Shanta Barton-Stubbs, founder of New Image Youth Center, was honored with her portrait which will be added the mural. This honor recognizes her 21 years of dedication to children in the Parramore area of Orlando. Since 2004, her youth center has given local children a safe place to learn and play and has helped many of them achieve their dreams of going to college. Her perseverance and determination to stick to her ‘true north’ is an inspiration to her community and anyone that knows her. Congratulations Dr. Shanta Barton-Stubbs!
What Juneteenth Means to Me
Many volunteers participated in the project in a variety of ways and we asked some of them to share what Juneteenth means to them. We hope you enjoy reading their perspectives and ponder how it relates to you personally and as a member of your community.
LaQwonna “Lady Q” Glaster
Cousin of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Speaker | Writer | Advocate for Faith, Freedom & Healing
“Juneteenth is more than a historic milestone, it is a living testimony of delayed justice, unwavering hope, and the ongoing fight for liberation. Though freedom was declared in 1863, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that enslaved Black people in Texas received word of their emancipation. That delay speaks volumes about the systems that have tried to silence our progress. As the cousin of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I carry the weight of legacy and vision. His dream wasn’t just about equality, it was about dignity, unity, and the complete liberation of the human spirit. Juneteenth reminds me that our freedom must not only be physical but also mental, emotional, and generational.
“Today, our youth are silently crying out for freedom—freedom from anxiety, from identity struggles, from generational trauma, and societal limitation. As leaders, mentors, and community builders, we must be the shoulders they can stand on, just as we stood on the shoulders of those who came before us. Juneteenth calls us to remember, but also to respond. It’s not just about where we’ve been, it’s about where we’re going. My challenge to you is simple: What does Juneteenth mean to you, and what will you do to keep the torch of freedom burning for the next generation?
“Freedom is not a finished story, it’s a living responsibility. This Juneteenth, don’t just remember. Rise. Rebuild. Reach back and pull someone forward.”
Antwain Henry
Youth poetry mentor with the Credible Messengers of Florida; youth poetry mentor with Mentors of Fatherless Children and Abused Families; Orlando Chapter Leader of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition; and Co-chapter Leader of Black Men Build Orlando. “Mass incarceration is the New Jim Crow and I work towards fighting to restore those that are justice-impacted and prevent others from forfeiting their rights and freedoms by becoming justice-impacted. I am a freedom fighter.”
“Juneteenth is a prime example of the process between de jure and de facto. That what’s right and what’s real is rarely the same. That legislation without enforcement is a meaningless proclamation. That freedom must be fought for and that fight is ongoing. Those who fight for it are precious and their memories should be honored. That we owe our predecessors for the progress we enjoy and we owe our successors the enjoyment of progress themselves.
“There are those who educate and inspire, those who lobby and legislate, those who build, enforce, and defend. The struggle continues . . .”
April Flowers
“The Juneteenth Celebration is new to some, but has been a familiar celebration in Black communities especially throughout the South.
“It is an honor to have Opal Lee, who is also known as the ‘Grandmother of Juneteenth’, displayed on the mural. Ms. Opal Lee is accredited for her works towards making it a national holiday. At 98 years old, she is the only living person on the mural.
“Juneteenth was formally recognized as a federal holiday after the bill passed Congress and was signed into law in June 2021.
“Juneteenth is not just a holiday; it’s a day to reflect on the history of slavery, celebrate Black culture, continue the fight for racial equality, and to increase awareness of racial injustice in America.”
