Celebrating Juneteenth: A Conversation with Dr. Opal Lee and Mrs. Dione Sims

This Juneteenth, we are taking a moment to reflect on the long journey toward freedom, justice, and community. While Juneteenth marks a vital turning point in American history, it is also a powerful reminder of the impact of grassroots persistence—and no one embodies that spirit quite like the "Grandmother of Juneteenth" herself, **Dr. Opal Lee**.

We are incredibly proud and deeply humbled to have had the absolute honor of speaking with Dr. Opal Lee on the podcast, alongside her brilliant granddaughter, **Mrs. Dione Sims**, the Founder of Unity Unlimited, Inc.

If you’ve ever wondered how a vision transforms into a national holiday, look no further than Dr. Opal. At 89 years old, she decided to walk from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C.—two and a half miles at a time—to ensure Juneteenth received the national recognition it deserved. Her strength, joy, and unwavering belief that "freedom is for everyone" left us entirely inspired.

Behind every great movement is an equally dedicated team. Through Unity Unlimited, Inc., Mrs. Dione Sims has been the driving force helping to bring her grandmother's monumental vision to life, while continuously producing projects that foster community unity and historical education.

Hearing this powerhouse grandmother-granddaughter duo share their stories, their laughter, and their vision for a more unified future was a definitive highlight for our show. As we celebrate today, we challenge our listening family to remember Dr. Opal’s words: *we still have work to do.*

Happy Juneteenth, everyone. Let’s keep walking together.

 **Want to listen back?** You can find our full interview with Dr. Opal Lee and Mrs. Dione Sims in our visual episode E 166

https://www.youtube.com/live/LDCF60G3fTo?is=vTzxX1NVNf7BcPf0