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Juneteenth Freedom Awards Celebrates Black Leaders

Juneteenth Emancipation Day Celebration, June 19, 1900, Texas.
Mrs. Charles Stephenson (Grace Murray)
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The Portal to Texas History Austin History Center, Austin Public Library

Tallahassee celebrated African American leaders with soul food and music Wednesday at the Juneteenth Freedom Awards.

Kim Moore was the first African-American and first woman Chief Executive Officer of Workforce Plus—a nonprofit that helps connect jobseekers and employers.  

“She has made her career on making sure that people are working and we all know that a person who is working is a person who can support their family and that leads to a better and stronger community,” says Juneteenth Committee Chairwoman LaToya Hunter.

Dr. Alexander Brickler received the Juneteenth Lifetime Achievement Award. Hunter says Brickler has delivered more than 30,000 babies during his 60- year career.

“He also has been instrumental in developing midwifery services for women who are not able to afford regular healthcare."      

Also honored was Thornton Williams, the first African-American general counsel for the Florida Department of Transportation along with aerospace engineer Raemonn Soto.

Juneteenth celebrations mark the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas in 1865 and broadly commemorates the emancipation of slaves in the United States.