On a warm September morning in Greenville, South Carolina, volunteers gathered in the Nicholtown neighborhood to put the final touches on a new home—landscaping, painting, and cleaning up the build site.
But this wasn’t just any build day: It marked the completion of Habitat for Humanity’s first-ever Juneteenth Build, a milestone that reflects the organization’s commitment to building communities where every family has the opportunity to thrive, including those who have long faced systemic barriers. Juneteenth is recognized as the nation’s second independence day, commemorating the day that freedom for enslaved people in Texas was officially announced on June 19, 1865.
This build was a milestone that celebrates not only the construction of a home but the power of sustained community partnership. The build was made possible by the Team Up Project, a national partnership between Interfaith America, Catholic Charities USA, Habitat for Humanity International, and YMCA of the USA, which champions bridgebuilding through service and supports communities in building connection across meaningful lines of difference.
At the heart of this build’s effort was Miss Gwen, a 70-year-old woman who never imagined homeownership would be possible for her. Living on a fixed income and facing rising inflation, she had long accepted that stability might remain out of reach. But on this day, surrounded by neighbors, volunteers, and community leaders, Miss Gwen saw her dream take shape — brick by brick, and hand by hand.
At the heart of this build’s effort was Miss Gwen, a 70-year-old woman who never imagined homeownership would be possible for her. Living on a fixed income and facing rising inflation, she had long accepted that stability might remain out of reach. But on this day, surrounded by neighbors, volunteers, and community leaders, Miss Gwen saw her dream take shape — brick by brick, and hand by hand.
The Juneteenth Build is the result of months of intentional collaboration across racial, economic, and cultural lines. It began with a Team Up-sponsored lunch-and-learn session, where Habitat Greenville and Juneteenth GVL, SC’s largest Juneteenth Celebration’s committee, first came together to explore how service could bridge divides and build lasting relationships. From that conversation, the idea of a Juneteenth Community Build was born — a project that would honor the legacy of freedom and equity while creating tangible change in a historically Black neighborhood.
For those involved, including Rueben Hays, Founder and Chair of Juneteenth GVL, the partnership represents so much more than just the building of a home — it’s about building a stronger and more equitable future.
The build unfolded throughout the summer, with volunteers from Habitat Young Professionals, Juneteenth GVL, the Greenville Gardening Club, and local churches contributing their time and energy. The effort was guided by a dedicated Juneteenth Committee, whose long-term collaboration helped shape the project’s impact. Along the way, participants gathered for lunch and learn session(s) that covered topics ranging from the history of the Nicholtown neighborhood to economic mobility – designed to deepen understanding and connection through guided conversations and shared meals.
This particular build site in Nicholtown holds deep significance. Many of the volunteers and committee members grew up in the neighborhood and spoke about the importance of returning to invest in its future. Churches and local organizations played a key role in ensuring that residents like Miss Gwen can remain in their communities, even as gentrification pressures mount.
In other words — this neighborhood is a sacred ground. It’s a community where relationships, trust, and belonging are being built alongside homes.
Joseph Fields, Vice President of Equity for Habitat Greenville, served as a personal tour guide during the event, helping visitors understand the layers of history and hope embedded in the project. Interviews with attendees revealed a shared sense of pride and purpose. Many noted that they would never have met one another outside of this initiative, and that the build had created new bonds across lines of difference.
The Juneteenth Build is part of Habitat Greenville’s Bridge Building Series, a string of projects designed to bring together people from various backgrounds to create more affordable housing. It also aligns with the organization’s Advancing Black Homeownership Project, launched in Fall 2023 with support from Habitat for Humanity International, which aims to develop a racial-equity lending strategy and property acquisition program across the country. During the build’s final day and their last lunch-and-learn, participants were invited to explore a museum-quality exhibit titled Advancing Black Homeownership (ABH) showcased the history of redlining and the ongoing struggle for housing justice. The exhibit was the result of a years-long effort to bring this experience to Greenville, and it offered attendees a chance to reflect on the systemic barriers that have shaped their communities.
As the day drew to a close, as Miss Gwen stood on the porch of her new home, surrounded by the people who helped make it happen, we observed proof that when we work together across lines of difference, we can create more than homes.
We create belonging, celebrate resilience, and build the kind of communities that our nation is longing for.
