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JAMESTOWN – Plans for this summer’s Juneteenth festivities are now in the works while the community gears up to reflect on the historic day commemorating the emancipation of African-American slaves.
From a walk to city hall, to a community wide celebration at Jackson-Taylor Park, Juneteenth in Jamestown is becoming a tradition that celebrates black culture and freedoms.
The community coming together to make the event possible, is yet again on display this year according to the planning committee Sergeant at Arms, Paulm Leon.
“It’s very heartwarming to see the turn out and to see the number of people willing to volunteer for positions in the planning at this first meeting,” said Leon.
The group tasked with putting on the festival, held their first meeting of the year on Thursday night at Love Elementary School.
“There will be a wide variety of events many of which will be fun events, musical events, and also educational events,” Leon explained.
One of the main aspects of the holiday is to keep history alive, as William Avery and Burnetta McCargo-Lepper tell us.
“It’s easily lost, but it’s something that I think is very important that we continue to express why we do this,” Avery continued “This is apart of our culture being in the United States and the United States history being what it is we don’t want to lose that history.”
“I want to celebrate my ancestors and let them know what they went through was worth everything for what we have today and for us to make it even better for ours to come,” McCargo-Leeper.
As Jamestown City Councilwoman Regina Brackman explains, the committee is looking forward to gathering more input on ideas for this June’s get together. They plan to take public input in a variety of ways.
“We will also look as far as trying to set up a zoom. So we can do a hybrid, you can be in person or be via zoom to attend these meetings,” Brackman furthered. “We were encouraging people to come out in any way that they possibly can to participate in the planning of this event.”
The Juneteenth festivities won’t just be limited to the month of June. The committee is looking to host several events leading up to the month.
The group will meet next at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, February 10 at Love Elementary School. Anyone is welcome to attend.
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