AND HIS CASE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO DISTRICT COURT TO RIO RANCHO, NOW THE CITY CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH TODAY AT HAYNES PARK. THE EVENT HAD MUSIC VENDORS, FOOD TRUCKS AND LOTS OF SMILING FACES THROUGHOUT THE PARK. THERE WERE ALSO RESOURCE BOOTHS FOR SMALL, BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES. LIVE SPEAKERS ALSO RECOGNIZED FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS. ORGANIZERS TOLD US WHAT THE HOLIDAY MEANS TO THEM FOR JUNETEENTH IS ABOUT CELEBRATING A LIFE LEGACY OF HISTORY, OF FREEDOM, AND TO BE OUT HERE WITH ALL OF THESE PEOPLE IN RIO RANCHO TODAY. IT DOES MY HEART GOOD. THE EVENT WAS NOT ONLY A
Juneteenth in Rio Rancho both celebrates and educates
Beverly Gaines, a Black Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico administrator, brought a message of supporting Black businesses.
Updated: 9:52 PM MDT Jun 20, 2026
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Juneteenth came a day late at Haynes Park on Saturday, but it still was an occasion for celebrating the final emancipation from slavery for generations of African Americans. Beverly Gaines, chief administrative officer for the Black Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico, brought a message of Black communities working together to promote and nurture Black businesses. “We have grants available for professional development, we have micro loans for those who may need a little help getting their business started,” Gaines said. “We also have training for our small businesses, because we have a lot of things to keep their business going.”The day was about much more than business, Gaines said. “For me, Juneteenth is about celebrating life, legacy of history, of freedom, and to be out here with all these people in Rio Rancho today,” she said. “It does my heart good because it lets us know that where there’s unity, there’s strength.”Barbara Clinton, a patient advocate for Angels Above Home Care, said that taking care of injured veterans is her way of supporting the Black community. Having voter registration at the celebration is an important way to manifest positive change, she said. “Let me not get political,” Clinton said, “but you know, the midterms are coming up, and we want to make sure everybody has a chance to vote because this is so very, very important. And I’m glad to see so many people turning out because, previously, we would all have to go to Albuquerque to vote, and now we are here in Rio Rancho.”
Juneteenth came a day late at Haynes Park on Saturday, but it still was an occasion for celebrating the final emancipation from slavery for generations of African Americans.
Beverly Gaines, chief administrative officer for the Black Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico, brought a message of Black communities working together to promote and nurture Black businesses.
“We have grants available for professional development, we have micro loans for those who may need a little help getting their business started,” Gaines said. “We also have training for our small businesses, because we have a lot of things to keep their business going.”
The day was about much more than business, Gaines said.
“For me, Juneteenth is about celebrating life, legacy of history, of freedom, and to be out here with all these people in Rio Rancho today,” she said. “It does my heart good because it lets us know that where there’s unity, there’s strength.”
Barbara Clinton, a patient advocate for Angels Above Home Care, said that taking care of injured veterans is her way of supporting the Black community. Having voter registration at the celebration is an important way to manifest positive change, she said.
“Let me not get political,” Clinton said, “but you know, the midterms are coming up, and we want to make sure everybody has a chance to vote because this is so very, very important. And I’m glad to see so many people turning out because, previously, we would all have to go to Albuquerque to vote, and now we are here in Rio Rancho.”
