A group of Washington, DC professionals formed a tax-exempt organization (501(C)3) to focus on freedom from slavery for Black people all over the nation and the world.
Their Juneteenth Foundation Freedom Festival starts June 18 and continues through to June 19. You still have time to register for events. The link is at the end of the article.
“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.”
― Maya Angelou
Day 1 - June 18th
Day 1 starts with major corporations sharing what they are doing to understand and support Black people in their workspaces and outside. Then virtual panels evaluate the corporations and the way they handle tough subjects such as education, access to equity, and criminal justice reform.
Another panel with industry experts want to hear from Black people about what's preventing their liberty. They want to know why Blacks still have to fight for their freedom.
The Juneteenth Freedom Reception will be celebrated in a face to face event in Washington, DC. Attendees will range from members of Congress, celebrities, CEOs, to community leaders.
Scholarships to Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) for Black scholars will be handed out to the next generation of students.
Top of their game African American community movers and shakers will be mingling with the other guests, nibbling on the catered food, swaying to the live music and enjoying the entertainment.
Day 2 - June 19th
The second day presents job seekers with some of America's most famous brands and corporations at the Virtual Career Panel and Fair. Brand spokespeople look forward to sharing their industry's awareness and resources specifically attuned to African American candidates.
First, a career panel will look at the challenges experienced by Black employees in corporations. Next, an opportunity for experts and attendees to dive deeper into available resources through discussion and detailed question and answer sessions.
Ending the Juneteenth Festival panels, discussions and evaluations, the Juneteenth Freedom Concert will be some of the music industry's outstanding entertainers. What better way to conclude the festival than celebrate with song and dance.
“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.”
― Bob Marley
The concert will be streamed virtually to tap into a national audience and thus creating an inclusive social platform for the nation to celebrate together through music, dance, and artistry.
You can register for Juneteenth Festival Weekend, take part in discussions from the Washington, DC Juneteenth Foundation. Also, find out what it is doing about making Juneteenth the second American Independence Day.
Let's hope the environment filled with the right mix of battle-hardened change-makers, celebs, CEOs and fresh students build strong connections and continue the movement to declare Juneteenth a paid holiday for all.
Recognizing the significance of Juneteenth, our team is dedicated to pioneering the strategy that will make Juneteenth a federal holiday and champion corporate and citizen engagement for healing and advocacy for Black Americans. The Juneteenth Foundation
Celebrating the day in 2019 with ONE DC Black Workers & Wellness Center, 2500 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, Washington, DC. A liberated black space in DC is a shining light to cities all over the States.
They bought their own community building.
Let's get dancing to celebrate emancipation from slavery with a fantastic song from Pharrell Williams.
Freedom
Hold on to me
Don't let me go
Who cares what they see?
Who cares what they know?
Your first name is Free
Last name is Dom
We choose to believe
In where we're from
Man's red flower
It's in every living thing
Mind, use your power
Spirit, use your wings
Freedom!
Freedom!
Freedom!
Freedom
Freedom
Freedom
Hold on to me
Don't let me go
Cheetahs need to eat
Run, antelope
Your first name is King
Last name is Dom
Cause you still believe
In everyone
When a baby first breathes
When night sees sunrise
When the whale hunts in the sea
When man recognizes
Freedom!
Freedom!
Freedom!
Freedom…
Source: Musixmatch
“If the cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition we now face will surely fail. Because the goal of America is freedom, abused and scorned tho’ we may be, our destiny is tied up with America’s destiny.” — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.