Brooklyn Council Member Farah N. Louis hosted the Fifth Annual Central Brooklyn Juneteenth Celebration and Teen Entrepreneurship Expo on June 19, the Juneteenth holiday. Hundreds of attendees gathered on the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library for a powerful afternoon of cultural pride and youth leadership.
In its fifth year, Louis, the daughter of Haitian and Bahamian immigrants, said the event has become one of Brooklyn’s premier Juneteenth celebrations, “honoring the legacy of Black freedom while amplifying the voices and talents of the borough’s next generation.
“Juneteenth is not just a day of celebration — it’s a reminder that the fight for equity and justice is ongoing,” said Louis, representative for the 45th Council District. “Today, we honored that legacy by putting young people at the center: their ideas, their creativity, and their political power.”
Louis said the program featured a youth-led demonstration, live performances from breakout artists like 41, 2Rare, Diany Dior, and Vina Love, and appearances by community performers, including the Brooklyn United Marching Band and Victory Music & Dance Company.
Juneteenth NYC presented a “showstopping fashion show, while youth vendors, food trucks, and interactive games added to the vibrant atmosphere,” Louis said.
She said the Teen Entrepreneurship Expo allowed young people to pitch their business ideas before a panel of prominent Black business leaders and influencers.
The council member said one standout idea received a $5,000 prize — part of the event’s mission to build Black economic empowerment from the ground up.
Notable dignitaries and guests included US U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman, Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams, and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo.
The event featured Dr. Jamila T. Davis and Dr. Meda Montana and was hosted by Brooklyn-based rapper Phresher.
Louis said this year’s celebration was made possible thanks to the generous support of a vast network of community sponsors and partners, including Hot 97, Partners Uplifting Our Daughters and Sons (PUDS), the Brooklyn Public Library, the Brooklyn United Marching Band, Juneteenth NYC, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, I Am Wonda Woman Foundation, The Brooklyn Bank, EmblemHealth, Our Tent Family Enrichment Center, Victory Music & Dance Company, Find Community Connections, the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, and Entertainers for Education Alliance – I Will Graduate.
“I want to thank everyone who showed up today and everyone who made this event happen,” Louis said. “Juneteenth is about remembering where we’ve been and pushing for the future we deserve. Seeing our young people lead like this gives me hope that the future is bright.”
