Tracy African American
Association, LLC

Hello Tracy Community,

I am super jazzed to be here again with such a great team of women and men who are willing to give of themselves and their time to push forward with Joy the mission of this organization.

I remember the words of Dr. Nancy Young at the Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast on Monday where she said we are to Cultivate and Exercise our minds, be creative and most importantly worry about yourself. When we think of the last 3 words worry about yourself, it may at first appear to be a rather crash statement. However, these are the words of a maybe 3-year-old girl in a car seat who is struggling to get her seat belt on and her father is trying to help her. However, she ain’t having it. Even though she is struggling she has this inner fire to take care of herself. She appreciates the ask but she told her dad who is turning around to help her in the car to worry about yourself.

Regardless of our individual struggles in life those that succeed have an inner drive to get that thing done and will do it even by themselves. This is a cute sentence; but, in the real world that makes anything that is achievable a little harder. Here, we are a team. A team together can make anything happen. This team’s oars must push through the current of the waves and move this boat forward. There is no time to go backward. This year will be our 30^th year of hosting the Juneteenth Festival and will be the year where we introduce our community to the Black Student Union at Williams Middle School.  

We must lead with joy and run on respect. We will continue to be a positive influence on our community and seek to live out its mission.

Thanks again,

Yolande Barial Knight

TAAA President 2025-2026