In recognition of the Juneteenth holiday , MassLive asked readers to nominate Black leaders doing important work across the state. Juneteenth celebrates the date of June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger and soldiers from the Union Army entered Galveston, Texas, and informed the remaining enslaved African Americans that they were freed under the Emancipation Proclamation, and has been celebrated as a state holiday in Massachusetts and a federal holiday since 2021. Over the course of June, MassLive has published profiles of the nominated Black leaders on its website and social media pages.
Here they are collected in one place. The list includes business owners, advocates, educators, artists and a quick-thinking Uber driver-turned-hero. They were identified for their inspirational leadership in their communities and organizations and are being recognized for their accomplishments and commitment to inspire change.
If you know of a Black leader in Massachusetts you think deserves to be recognized in the future, please fill out this form . Below is the full list of 2024 Black leaders of Massachusetts selected by MassLive readers. Della Blake Sebastian Restrepo Della Blake Age: 64 Community: Hampden County Her Story: Della Blake is the director of the Black Behavioral Health Network (BBHN), whose mission is to help people in Hampden County access culturally-appropriate, community-based behavioral health services and achieve better treatment outcomes.
Founded in March 2017.