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About Juneteenth GVL

OUR VISION

We envision a community where dignity, economic opportunity, and wellness are within reach for everyone.

OUR MISSION

We honor Juneteenth by doing the work it calls us to do – creating programs andpartnerships that teach, equip, and lift people up.

OUR CORE BELIEFS

Our values shape how we serve, how we lead, and how we turn the spirit of Juneteenth into meaningful, year-round impact.

Equity
We are committed to racial and gender equity, ensuring fair access, opportunity, and outcomes for those who have been historically underserved.

Economic Empowerment
We believe freedom should show up in real life. Through education, resources, and partnerships, we help people build stability, ownership, and generational wealth.

Visibility
We elevate voices, stories, and contributions that deserve to be seen, heard, and remembered. Representation is not optional. It is necessary.

Collaboration
We partner with purpose. Lasting impact happens when organizations, leaders, and communities come together and move in alignment.

Authenticity
We show up real. Honest. Grounded. We lead with integrity and create spaces where others feel safe to do the same.

Leadership
We lead with intention and responsibility. Our work is about developing leaders, opening doors, and creating pathways for others to walk through.

Resilience
We honor where we’ve come from while building what’s next. We don’t fold under pressure. We grow through it.

Community
Everything we do is rooted in people. We are committed to strengthening connections, supporting one another, and building a community where everyone can thrive.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

In 2022, Juneteenth GVL, Inc. made history with its inaugural celebration of African American culture, freedom, and community impact. Hosted over 3 days in downtown Greenville, this region-wide experience brought together thousands of people to celebrate heritage, elevate important issues, and invest in the future of our community.

Our efforts centered on education, the arts, veterans, and meaningful local impact and the response made one thing clear: this work matters.

By the Numbers

  • 10,000+ festival attendees and participants
  • $20,000+ in educational scholarships awarded
  • $20,000 donated to nonprofit organizations
  • $150,000 raised in sponsorship support
  • 500 attendees at the yearly Juneteenth GVL Gala

Our first year set the tone. Purposeful. Powerful. Community-centered.

    OUR EFFORTS EXTEND TO

    We create opportunities that make freedom feel tangible in everyday life. Our work includes:

    • Supporting veterans with care, connection, and practical resources
    • Awarding scholarships that help students keep moving forward
    • Uplifting the creative arts as a vital part of culture and community
    • Advancing economic empowerment through job access, education, and exposure
    • Partnering with nonprofits that are helping young people thrive
    • Addressing health inequities through wellness events, outreach, and community support

    Meet the Team

    Rueben Hays Jr.

    Chairman & JGVL Co-Founder

    Co-founder and Chairman of Juneteenth GVL 
    CEO and Founder, Crescent Surgical Supply 

    VanDavid Vernon

    Board Member & JGVL Co-Founder

    Co-Founder, Co-Founder
    CEO & Founder of Vernon Veteran Services Inc.

    Tracy Fleming

    JGVL Treasurer

    Pastor, Power4 Living Worship Center
    Owner and Founder, Business and Such Accounting & Tax Services, LLC
    2nd Vice Moderator of the Reedy River Baptist Association

     

    April Evans

    Executive Director

    Founder and Event Flow Maestro, April C. Evans, Limited Co.
    Board Member, Greater Greenville Mental Health Center 

    Sean Dogan

    Board Member

    Pastor, Long Branch Baptist Church
    Director of Community Health, Bon Secours St. Francis

     

     

    Lt. Emanuel Flemming, Sr.

    Board Member

    President, Greenville NAACP
    Founder and Pastor, REAL Church Upstate (Anderson, SC)
    Executive Director, Southernside Economic Development (SSED)

    Tim Hall

    Board Member

    Founder & Owner, Dunamis Group
    President, 100 Black Men of the Upstate

    Babette B. Jones

    Board Member

    CEO & Founder, Six Nineteen Spirits, LLC, A Spirit of Excellence

    Joshua Knuckles

    Board Member

    CEO & Founder, Knuckleup Entertainment
    CEO & Founder, Knuckles Travel