By AFRO Staff
AFRO News will honor nine Baltimore-area institutions during its 2026 Juneteenth “Stewards of Legacy” Breakfast, recognizing organizations helping preserve the stories, struggles, achievements and cultural contributions that shape both Black history and the broader American experience.
Credit: AFRO Photo
The organizations will be recognized Thursday, June 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Highway in Baltimore.
This year’s honorees are the Maryland State Archives; the Baltimore Museum of Art; The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum; the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum; the Reginald F. Lewis Museum; the Baltimore Museum of Industry; the Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights Museum; the Maryland Center for History and Culture; and the Sankofa Children’s Museum.
Leaders from each institution will join guests from across the region to celebrate the vital role these organizations play in preserving historical records, amplifying Black voices and fostering a deeper understanding of the nation’s shared history.
Together, the institutions represent a broad commitment to preserving history, educating communities and ensuring future generations understand the complexity, diversity and richness of the American story.
The recognition comes during a particularly meaningful season. Juneteenth commemorates the delayed announcement of freedom to enslaved African Americans in Texas in 1865 and has evolved into a national observance celebrating liberation, resilience, truth-telling and continued progress.
For AFRO News, this year’s “Stewards of Legacy” theme reflects the continuing importance of protecting historical narratives and supporting institutions that preserve stories which might otherwise be lost, overlooked or erased.
“For generations, these institutions have helped safeguard stories that might otherwise be forgotten, overlooked or erased,” said Frances “Toni” Draper, CEO and Publisher of AFRO News. “We must continue supporting the organizations that preserve truth, protect memory and help tell the full American story.”
According to Draper, the breakfast is intended not only to recognize the institutions themselves, but also to encourage the public to engage more deeply with museums, archives and cultural organizations that serve as custodians of history and culture.
The breakfast’s special guest speaker will be Savannah Wood, executive director of Afro Charities.
Several honorees expressed appreciation for the recognition and the opportunity to participate in the Juneteenth observance.
“This is a true honor! Thank you, and I look forward to the occasion,” said Chanel Compton-Johnson, executive director of the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum.
“We are truly honored to be recognized at the Juneteenth Breakfast,” said Lisa Mitchell-Sennaar, advisor to the Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights Museum.
“Again, thank you and I am truly honored,” said Corey Lewis, assistant deputy state archivist for the Maryland State Archives.
The event will take place at the Baltimore Museum of Industry, and free, easily accessible parking will be available onsite.
Tickets are $100. Advance registration is required and limited seating is available.
Tickets may be purchased at afrotix.live.
