June 15, 2024 ALL

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JCU Celebrates Juneteenth!

Dear JCU Campus Community,

As we approach Juneteenth, a day of immense historical significance, we invite you to join us in commemorating this vital milestone in our nation’s journey toward freedom and equality. This year, Juneteenth will be observed on Wednesday, June 19th, and it marks the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans in the United States in 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

This year, we want to share some community events that aim to honor this important day. We encourage everyone to participate in these celebrations if you can. These events will allow us to reflect on our shared history, celebrate African American culture, and continue the conversation about racial justice and equality.

Here are some of the events:

On Saturday, June 16, 2024, from 1:30- 8:30 pm, the City of University Heights will host a Celebration of Freedom at the Walter Stinson Community Park. This family-friendly educational and entertaining event features two stages with live music, dance, and spoken word performances; interactive educational and fitness programs; delicious foods and beverages; and select vendors, artists, and craftspeople.

On Wednesday, June 19, 2024, from 4:00 -7:00 pm, the City of Beachwood will host a Juneteenth Community Celebration, at the Beachwood Family Aquatic Center. This free community event will have family activities, a movie truck, a DJ, vendors, food trucks, and tons of fun.

On Saturday, June 22, from noon – 4:00 pm, the Literary Cleveland has partnered with ThirdSpace Action Lab to present Culture, Community & Liberation: A Juneteenth Celebration, a one-day arts festival dedicated to Black history, freedom, and togetherness. Please visit the ThirdSpace Action Lab (1464 E 105th St, Cleveland OH 44106) for their celebration of culture, community, and liberation with poetry, music, and more!

As a reminder: Juneteenth is not just a celebration of the past but a call to action for the future. Let us come together to honor the resilience, contributions, and enduring spirit of African Americans. Your presence and participation in these events will help foster a stronger, more inclusive community.

For more information about these events and how you can get involved, please contact me at JRobinson@jcu.edu.

Regards,
John Paul “JP” Robinson (he/him)
Director for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging