The Hyde Park Organization for Empowerment, in partnership with U.S. Bank and Villarreal Market, proudly presents “A Celebration of Legacy: Honoring Etha Robinson”, a special community gathering taking place on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 12:00 noon at the U.S. Bank Community Center, located at the iconic Crenshaw and Slauson intersection.
This heartfelt tribute celebrates Etha Robinson, Tea Cake Commissioner of the National
Juneteenth Observation Foundation (NJOF), founder of the African American Food Association, and creator of Mrs. Robinson’s Tea Cakes—now officially recognized as the cookie of Juneteenth. Mrs. Robinson’s cultural impact is so profound that her likeness is permanently memorialized in a mural on the side of the U.S. Bank branch at Crenshaw and Slauson, depicted alongside South LA icon Nipsey Hussle.
The mural symbolizes generational Black entrepreneurship, cultural pride, and community leadership. Hosted by LaTonya Haven as Mistress of Ceremonies, the event will feature a keynote by Muriel Shabazz of the local Toastmasters chapter on the significance of Juneteenth and the role of food in preserving Black heritage. Citations honoring Etha Robinson’s legacy will be presented by both the City and County of Los Angeles, celebrating her contributions to African American culture, culinary history, and economic empowerment.
Guests will enjoy complimentary samples of Mrs. Robinson’s famed Tea Cakes—provided by Vallarta Supermarket —and learn about the cookie’s role in raising funds to open a commercial kitchen to create jobs and business opportunities.
“Etha Robinson has built a legacy with ingredients passed down through generations and a
vision rooted in cultural dignity,” said a representative of Hyde Park Organization for
Empowerment. “Her work bridges history, entrepreneurship, and celebration—and her mural placement beside Nipsey Hussle is a powerful testament to that legacy.”
The event is free and open to the public, with community members, leaders, and media invited to take part in honoring a true cultural pioneer.