Saturday: JLD Community Solutions to Host Community Cookout & Candlelight Vigil
Free community event will include free food, music, resources, free gun locks, a Memory Wall display, a community pledge, and a 2:30 p.m. candlelight vigil
Lexington, NC — Saturday, June 6, 2026 — JLD Community Solutions invites the community to attend its Gun Violence Awareness Month Community Cookout & Candlelight Vigil on Saturday, June 6, at 900 Dixie St., Lexington, NC in the open field across from Files Chapel Baptist Church.
The free community gathering will bring together families, neighbors, vendors, community organizations, and volunteers for an afternoon of food, fellowship, remembrance, safety awareness, and hope. The event will include free hamburgers and hotdogs while supplies last, music, games, community resources, firearm safety information, free gun locks while supplies last, and a Memory Wall display honoring loved ones impacted by gun violence.
A candlelight vigil will take place at 2:30 p.m. to honor lives lost to gun violence. During the vigil, attendees will also be invited to take JLD’s “See Something. Say Something. Do Something.” pledge — a community commitment to pay attention when someone may be struggling or heading down a dangerous path, speak up with wisdom and compassion, and take responsible action when possible.
A drawing for a gift basket provided by Davidson Local will take place at 3:00 p.m.
“Gun violence has touched too many families, including our own,” said Dia Nyarko, Executive Director of JLD Community Solutions. “This event is about remembrance, healing, safety, personal accountability, and community connection. This is not about politics. It is about people — and choosing to care enough to act.”
As part of Gun Violence Awareness Month, JLD Community Solutions has also launched a Virtual Memory Wall, an ongoing online space where community members can submit the name, photo, and/or message of a loved one impacted by gun violence. The Memory Wall serves as a lasting tribute and space for reflection, remembrance, and love.
Community members are also invited to tune in to a special YouTube conversation featuring a local gun range professional discussing firearm safety, responsible storage, and practical ways families and communities can help prevent tragedy.
For more information, to submit a loved one to the Virtual Memory Wall, volunteer, or learn more about the event, visit: https://jldscholarshipfund.org/gun-violence-awareness.
Event Details
What: Gun Violence Awareness Month Community Cookout & Candlelight Vigil
When: Saturday, June 6 @ 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Where: 900 Dixie St, Lexington, NC (open field across the street from Files Chapel Baptist Church)
Cost: Free and open to the community
For more information, to participate as a vendor, or to volunteer, visit www.jldscholarshipfund.org/community-cookout-candlelight-vigil or contact Dia Nyarko at dianyarko@jldscholarshipfund.org.
About JLD Community Solutions
JLD Community Solutions, also known as the Johnny Leroy Dawkins Jr. Scholarship Fund, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in honor of Johnny Leroy “Lee-Lee” Dawkins Jr., whose life was taken by gun violence. The organization exists to turn pain into purpose by empowering young men of color through scholarships, leadership development, community engagement, and initiatives that support healing, safety, and opportunity.
