Mission. To entertain, educate, enrich and empower communities of artists and audiences by developing and producing new and original works about the African-American experience and its legacy. The company derives its name, “Juneteenth” from the traditional African-American holiday, June 19, 1865, when slaves in the western territories learned of their freedom.

Goals. 1) To provide creative opportunities and mentoring relationships for artists, especially African Americans and women, marginalized by mainstream arts. 2) To promote theatre art as a force for social change, 3) To promote theatre as a career choice for African-Americans, especially women and youth.

Objectives. 1) To diversify the cultural landscape of Metro Louisville and to enhance the city’s cultural reputation. 2) To enhance ethnic-specific theater in New York City.

Services and Programs. The company’s signature cultural program- the annual Juneteenth Jamboree of New Plays, hosted by Actors Theatre- is a three-week summer festival of new play readings, arts development workshops, Juneteenth@Apollo, a community talent showcase, and DARASA: A Civil Rights Tribute.

Bold Journey Tour celebrates Black History and Women's History with cabarets and bio-dramas about outstanding African Americans. Venues can be traditional theater spaces or libraries, churches, community centers, restaurants, and school auditoriums.

JLT@NYC is a Mainstage production in New York City.

Peer Acknowledgments: Star Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Arts, Pleiades Theater Company, 2005 Arts and Humanities Award, Louisville Zora Neale Hurston Festival, 2004Pyramid Award of Excellence for Diversity, Center for NonProfit Excellence, 2003Sallie Bingham Award for Social Change, Kentucky Foundation for Women, 2002.

Memberships: ART/NY, Arts and Cultural Attractions Council of Greater Louisville, Inc., Southeast Theatre Conference.