Juneteenth’s Home Master-Planning Process to Kick Off with Community Engagement Sessions Oct. 24-25
New Committee Members Announced, Bringing Multi‑Generational and Descendant Family Representation to Initiative’s Community Advisory Team
GALVESTON, TX (October 8, 2026) — Juneteenth’s Home will launch the first major milestone of its master‑planning process this month with two days of community engagement sessions designed to introduce the planning team, gather public insight, and begin shaping a national home for Juneteenth history and culture in Galveston.
The sessions, led by SmithGroup and Sources Cultural Resources Management (CRM), will take place at Ball High School’s cafeteria (4115 Avenue O) on the following dates:
Saturday 10/24 | 10am – 2pm
10 - 11am | Open house, team meet and greet
11:30am - 1 pm | Presentation / focus and feedback engagement
1pm - 2pm | Open house, team meet and greet
Sunday 10/25 | 2pm – 6pm
2 - 3 pm | Open house, team meet and greet
3:30pm - 5 pm | Presentation / focus and feedback engagement
5pm - 6pm | Open house, team meet and greet
The community sessions are open to the public. All are welcome and invited to attend.
Dr. Calinda Lee, Principal of Sources CRM who serves as Interpretive Project Lead for Juneteenth’s Home, said the goal is for the community to help shape the project from the start. She said:
“Juneteenth is a living tradition that Galveston's community has practiced, protected, and reimagined across generations. Its truth lives in families, churches, and neighborhoods as much as in any archive. Our job is not to arrive with a story already written, but to listen and to help residents shape which stories are told and how.”
The October sessions mark the beginning of a year‑long, community‑driven master‑planning process that will guide the future of Juneteenth’s Home – an initiative established to ensure Galveston, the birthplace of Juneteenth, becomes the national center for Juneteenth storytelling, education, and cultural preservation.
Juneteenth’s Home is being facilitated by Galveston Historical Foundation’s African American Heritage Committee in partnership with city and state leaders. In August the initiative announced it had hired an award-winning team of cultural‑planning and museum design firms – SmithGroup, Sources CRM and The Projects Group – to lead the master-planning process.
“We are approaching this first round of engagement with curiosity and a commitment to listening,” said Dayton Schroeter, Vice President and Design Director at SmithGroup and Architectural & Master Plan Design Lead for Juneteenth’s Home. “We want to introduce our team, establish an open dialogue, and listen closely to the aspirations, ideas, hopes, and questions that matter most to the community. What we hear will help shape the values and guiding principles that anchor the master plan.”
New Committee Members Announced
Juneteenth’s Home also announced the addition of new committee members who will help strengthen community connections, and support the development of a clear, community‑aligned master‑planning framework. These new members include:
Rev. Lernette P. Patterson – As pastor of Galveston’s Historic Reedy Chapel A.M.E. Church – one of the original sites where freedom was first announced in 1865 – Rev. Lernette P. Patterson is a key steward of Juneteenth history on the island. Under her leadership, the church has continued its 161‑year tradition of honoring emancipation through an annual march and historical reenactment.
Dazya Mitchell – An emerging leader who works in community engagement roles for Galveston Housing Plus and Groundswell, Dazya supports residents through outreach, connection, and programs that expand access to fresh food, housing resources, and opportunity across the island. A proud Galvestonian, she brings a grounded perspective shaped by direct service, youth‑focused engagement, and a deep investment in the island’s future.
Jason Edwards – A dedicated advocate for Juneteenth history and cultural preservation, Jason Edwards is President of Juneteenth USA and continues the legacy of his father, the late Texas State Rep. Albert “Al” Ely Edwards – known as the Father of Juneteenth for making the holiday official in Texas and championing its recognition for more than 40 years. Jason brings decades of stewardship, advocacy, and community leadership to the initiative’s ongoing work.
Dr. LaDora Matthews – A seasoned educator and licensed professional counselor, Dr. LaDora Matthews has spent her career supporting students and families in the Houston area. A descendant of one of Galveston’s early African American families and the niece of former Galveston City Manager Doug Matthews – whose leadership helped pave the way for Juneteenth to become a state holiday – LaDora brings a deeply rooted community perspective that strengthens the initiative’s historical and cultural grounding.
David Mitchell – A longtime advocate for health equity and community empowerment, David is a nonprofit leader whose work has created vital programs addressing disparities across Galveston and reflects the legacy of his ancestors, early contributors to the island’s Black business community after emancipation. As chair of Galveston’s African American Beach Lifeguard Memorial Project, he brings a deeply rooted perspective to honoring local history and community care.
Mary Patrick – Mary Patrick is a veteran Galveston Independent School District leader whose career spans decades of service. Her deep experience addressing equity and opportunity in childhood education makes her a vital community advocate and voice in shaping inclusive, community‑centered initiatives.
Courtney Thomas – A dedicated advocate for education and cultural preservation, Courtney is an 18‑year Galveston County educator whose work sits at the intersection of history, learning, and community empowerment. She serves on GHF’s African American Heritage Committee and is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Kevin Cobbs – A proud Galvestonian with a deep commitment to service, Kevin Cobbs has dedicated his time to mentoring young people, supporting local schools, and strengthening community resources, including developing adult financial‑literacy workshops. An active member of Alpha Kappa Psi, he brings a steady focus on empowerment, practical support, and generational growth to his work with the community.
These members, who will serve in community advisory roles, were selected by Juneteenth’s Home leaders, with guidance from master‑planning consultants, based on the following criteria and considerations: connection to Galveston’s African American history, community leadership, cultural or educational experience, diversity of perspectives, demonstrated character, collaborative spirit, alignment with Juneteenth’s Home values, commitment to equity, and the ability to support the broader national vision of the initiative.
“What encourages me most is seeing descendant families, elders, young leaders, and so many trusted community voices come together in this phase of the work,” said Stephen Holmes, spokesperson for Juneteenth’s Home. “Their lived experience and deep care for Juneteenth give this initiative its strength, grounding the master-planning process in the people who have carried this history forward for generations.”
About the Master‑Planning Process
The master‑planning process will span approximately one year and include community and descendant engagement, interpretive and visitor‑experience frameworks, site evaluation, governance modeling, and an implementation roadmap. The process will culminate in a Future State & Recommendations Report and a Final Master Plan outlining a clear, community‑aligned path forward for Juneteenth’s Home.
About Juneteenth’s Home
Juneteenth’s Home is a national initiative that honors Galveston as the birthplace of Juneteenth and seeks to build a home for its history, stories, and future. The effort is facilitated by Galveston Historical Foundation’s African American Heritage Committee (AAHC) in collaboration with city leaders and state officials. Juneteenth’s Home is guided by a community‑driven master‑planning process led by SmithGroup — in collaboration with Sources CRM and The Projects Group — one of the nation’s leading cultural‑planning and museum‑design teams. Together with local residents, descendants, cultural organizations, historians, and partners, the team is shaping a vision for how Juneteenth’s history, stories, and future should be honored. The initiative explores a range of possibilities, from programs and public spaces to the potential development of a landmark institution or cultural anchor. For more information, visit www.juneteenthshome.com.
About Galveston Historical Foundation’s African American Heritage Committee
For more than two decades, Galveston Historical Foundation's African American Heritage Committee (AAHC) has been a driving force in preserving, documenting, and elevating Galveston’s African American history, especially the story of Juneteenth. Founded in 2002 at Ashton Villa, the AAHC has protected historic sites like Rosewood Cemetery; developed Galveston’s Juneteenth exhibit And Still We Rise…; and secured multiple Texas Historical Commission markers honoring Juneteenth, the Middle Passage, and local pioneers. Publications by the AAHC and its members – Galveston’s African American Historic Places & Pioneers (2005), African Americans of Galveston (2013), Lost Restaurants of Galveston’s African American Community (2021), and Galveston’s Juneteenth Story (2024) – form a growing archive of the island’s Black history and cultural memory. As facilitator of the Juneteenth’s Home initiative, the AAHC brings this long-standing record of stewardship, research, and community leadership to the ongoing work of honoring Galveston’s Juneteenth story.