



2026 Juneteenth Unity Fest Honoree
Ms. Sadie Roberts-Joseph (1944–2019) was a beloved Baton Rouge activist, museum founder, and quiet force for justice whose life's work centered Black history, youth, and community pride. She founded the Odell S. Williams Now & Then African-American History Museum — now the Baton Rouge African-American Museum — and led Community Against Drugs and Violence (CADAV) to combat drugs, violence, and neighborhood blight in North Baton Rouge.

For decades, she organized the city's annual Juneteenth celebrations, using parades, education, and cultural exhibits to teach generations about emancipation and Black resilience. In honoring Ms. Sadie as our 2026 Juneteenth Unity Festival Honoree, we celebrate her enduring legacy of faith, freedom, and unity in Baton Rouge and beyond.
