June 24, 2021 | UrbanMain Communities Commemorate Juneteenth: Events from Around the Network |
 

Above left: A dance class at the Juneteenth Family Festival and Black Business Crawl in Morgan Park/ Beverly Hills in Chicago. Photo credit: Beverly Review. Above right: Nakeisha Turner, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Ave. Main Street in Baltimore is interviewed about the city's Black Business Crawl. Photo courtesy of Baltimore Main Streets.

Last weekend, UrbanMain communities across the country celebrated Juneteenth, the oldest national commemoration of the ending of slavery in America and a new federal holiday. On June 19th, 1865, Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and announced that the Civil War had ended and that enslaved Black people were now free. This was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. To ring in the holiday, UrbanMain communities hosted Black-owned business crawls, parades, and other celebrations. Keep reading to learn more these events across the network.

Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association (Chicago, Illinois): Juneteenth Family Festival and Black Business Crawl
The Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association helped sponsor a local Juneteenth Family Festival and Black Business Crawl. The event featured a range of activities, including storytelling, live music, a drum circle, dance lessons, art vendors, a workshop on the history of Juneteenth, and much more. Attendees received a directory of businesses with promotions, and could turn in a business passport for a chance to win prizes. To coincide with Juneteenth, a mosaic installation that highlights the medical legacy of black doctors was unveiled June 18. The mural is just outside the office of a father-daughter obstetrics and gynecology practice. Learn more here.

Richmond Main Street (Richmond, California): Juneteenth Caravan and Rally
Richmond, California commemorated Juneteenth with a celebratory caravan on June 19th. Attendees were encouraged to decorate their cars and parade down a designated route through the heart of Richmond. While Richmond Main Street was not an event organizer, they shared the event with their social media followers and showed up along the route to support the caravan as it came through downtown. After visiting local Black-owned businesses, community members gathered for a rally at a local high school. Check out a video of the caravan here. 

Baltimore Main Streets (Baltimore, Maryland): Juneteenth Black Business Crawl
Baltimore Main Streets (BMS) and their eight Main Street programs organized a Black Business Crawl to commemorate Juneteenth last weekend. With a $5 ticket, Black Business Crawl attendees received a bag of goodies from local Black-owned businesses, as well as a passport with a list of participating Black businesses, special sales, and exclusive offers. Attendees turned in their completed passports for a chance to win BMS prizes. The business crawl was featured on a local TV station. Check out Baltimore Main Street’s Facebook page for select photos from the event.

Salt Lake City Economic Development (Salt Lake City, Utah): Salt Lake Juneteenth
The Salt Lake City Department of Economic Development, along with other partners, will host a free community event on June 26 in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. The all-day event will feature a Black-owned businesses expo, art exhibits, roller skating, movie night, music, and other family-friendly activities. “Coming out of the Pandemic, where Black owned businesses were disproportionately negatively impacted, this community centered event will allow these businesses the opportunity to showcase their goods and services, receive networking opportunities and receive access to resources,” organizers said. Learn more.

U St Main St (Washington, DC): “Million Moe March”
U Street Main Street, a program of Washington, DC’s District Bridges, was one of the sponsors of the “Million Moe March” on June 19 and 20. With go-go music leading the way, the group gathered on Saturday at Black Lives Matter Plaza and marched to the intersection of 14th and U Streets in the U Street corridor. On Sunday, a Unity Fest featured music, food trucks, vendors, and kids activities.

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