“Grandmother of Juneteenth” & Nobel Peace Prize Nominee
Ms. Opal Lee: Biography at a Glance
- Dr. Opal Lee, often referred to as Ms. Opal, is known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth.”
- Ms. Opal is the oldest living board member of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) and was present when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act bill that established June 19 or “Juneteenth” as a federal holiday.
- At 90 years of age, she started a walking campaign from Fort Worth, TX to Washington, DC to bring awareness to the need to celebrate Juneteenth nationally.
- Ms. Opal was recently presented with a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for her efforts in establishing Juneteenth as a national holiday.
- She was also nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her work to bring awareness to the contributions and struggles of African Americans in the United States, as well as her mission to create a more equitable society for humanity.
- She served as Chairman of the Community Food Bank and has worked with organizations including Citizens Concerned with Human Dignity (CCHD), Habitat for Humanity, and the Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society dedicated to the preservation of the history of the Fort Worth Black populace.
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Biography
Known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” Ms. Opal Lee was present on June 17, 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act bill that established June 19 or “Juneteenth” a federal holiday. Ms. Lee said on that day, “Now we can celebrate freedom from the 19th of June to the 4th of July!” Opal Lee was born in Marshal, Texas in 1926 and moved to Fort Worth, Texas in 1937. At the age of 12, her family’s home was destroyed on June 19, 1939, but she nor her family allowed that to deter them from making an impact in the community. Instead, it inspired her lifelong journey of establishing June 19th as a federal holiday.
Ms. Opal was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her work to bring awareness to the contributions and struggles of African Americans in the United States, as well as her mission to create a more equitable society for humanity.
Ms. Lee is the oldest living board member of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) a national movement started by the late Dr. Ronald Myers to have Juneteenth declared a National Holiday. At 90 years of age, she started her walking campaign from Fort Worth, TX to Washington, DC to bring awareness to the need for celebrating Juneteenth nationally. She walked 2.5 miles in cities across the country to represent the 2.5 years it took after Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation for enforcement to reach Texas to free the enslaved. In 2019, she launched an online petition campaign that garnered over 1.6 million signatures to continue the crusade for holiday observance.
She has served on many boards and with many organizations including Citizens Concerned with Human Dignity (CCHD), Habitat for Humanity, and the Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society dedicated to the preservation of the history of the Fort Worth Black populace. During her tenure as Chairman of the Community Food Bank, the organization received the 1.3-million-dollar 33,000 sq. ft. facility that now serves 500 families a day.
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FAQs
How do I book Ms. Opal Lee for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Ms. Opal Lee to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Ms. Opal Lee's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Ms. Opal Lee’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Ms. Opal Lee in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Ms. Opal Lee's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Ms. Opal Lee's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Ms. Opal Lee, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Ms. Opal Lee's speaking fee?
Ms. Opal Lee's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Ms. Opal Lee's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Ms. Opal Lee's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Ms. Opal Lee as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Ms. Opal Lee as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Ms. Opal Lee's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for Ms. Opal Lee's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Ms. Opal Lee for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Ms. Opal Lee speaking engagements.
Official contact for Ms. Opal Lee bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/opal-lee
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Ms. Opal Lee.
Is Ms. Opal Lee available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Ms. Opal Lee speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Ms. Opal Lee's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining Ms. Opal Lee's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Ms. Opal Lee's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Ms. Opal Lee for?
Book Ms. Opal Lee for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Ms. Opal Lee customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
- Educational institution events
- Virtual and hybrid conferences
Ms. Opal Lee engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Ms. Opal Lee can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Ms. Opal Lee booking information and availability
Check Ms. Opal Lee's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Ms. Opal Lee for your preferred event date.
Book Ms. Opal Lee keynote speaker through CAA
Book Ms. Opal Lee through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Ms. Opal Lee, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Ms. Opal Lee's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
- Professional contract negotiation
- Full logistics coordination
- Industry-leading client service
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Ms. Opal Lee for your next event.
Will Ms. Opal Lee speak at private events?
Yes, Ms. Opal Lee speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Ms. Opal Lee's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Ms. Opal Lee?
CAA Speakers responds to Ms. Opal Lee booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Ms. Opal Lee?
Book Ms. Opal Lee 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Ms. Opal Lee pricing information?
Get Ms. Opal Lee pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.