MYndFrame MEdia

🎥 VOICES OF THE VILLAGE — Meet Monica Vann & Ms. Simmons! 🙌🏾

Fresh off our first Volunteer Orientation, we sat down with two incredible women whose reasons for showing up will move your soul. 💛❤️💚

Meet Monica Vann. Monica lost her mother the same week as the horrific Tops Massacre — and her mother was a devoted Juneteenth volunteer who never missed a celebration. Monica showed up to Orientation with one mission:

"She passed the torch and I'm here to carry it." 🕯️
There are no words. Just gratitude. Thank you Monica. 🫶🏾

And then there's Ms. Simmons, a Buffalo original who's been coming to Juneteenth since the days when the festival was held on Jefferson Ave! 🙌🏾

"This year I said, let me volunteer. I just wanna get everybody hyped up and excited about the parade. We love our community. We want to celebrate our community just like others do. So we're here." 🔥

Two different stories. One shared love for this community and this celebration. THAT is what Juneteenth of Buffalo is all about. 🟥🟨🟩

To Monica, Ms. Simmons, and every single person who came out to Orientation #1 — THANK YOU. You are the heartbeat of this festival and we are honored to have you on the team! 💪🏾

The 50th Anniversary of the Juneteenth of Buffalo Festival is going to be everything — because of people EXACTLY like these two. 🔥

📅 Festival: June 13–14, 2026
📍 Martin Luther King Jr. Park | 1517 Genesee St, Buffalo, NY 14211
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