Resources for Celebrating Juneteenth Freedom Day 2021

Last year during our summer biannual, our team committed to a more purposeful approach to diversity and inclusion, identifying ways we can further the cause of justice at Identity and in our broader community. This included celebrating and remembering Juneteenth, with company-wide efforts to honor the spirit of this day through service and community improvement.

As part of our commitment to acknowledge and celebrate the significance of Juneteenth, we curated a list of local resources to help our team and others commemorate Juneteenth. With in-person and virtual celebrations and ways to support Black businesses, to educate ourselves, and to volunteer, our hope is that this list provides an opportunity to celebrate in a manner most meaningful to each individual. Our curated list also contains vetted organizations to support financially, all working to promote justice, equity and inclusion. As a company, we made a donation to the Detroit Justice Center to further their efforts of creating opportunity and transforming the justice system while promoting equitable and just cities.

We hope this guide helps you to join us in celebrating Juneteenth and making an impact on your community, whether big or small.

Virtual and In-Person Celebrations

June 4-30 

Emagine Theater Royal Oak—Juneteenth Film Festival

• Various Times
• $5. Tickets can be purchased here with all net ticket proceeds going to the UNCF
• Emagine Theater 200 N. Main, Royal Oak
• The film festival will run during the month of June with different films showing each week that honor Black actors and actresses, writers, directors and filmmakers as well as showcasing films that present compelling moral stories and educate on racism and black history. 

June 15

Wayne State University—Generations of Educational Struggle: Anti-Apartheid and Pan-Africanism in the life of Cedric Robinson, Abebe Zegeye and Shelby Lewis

• 6-7:30 p.m.
• Free
• Register here for this virtual event
• Dr. Tiffany Willoughby-Herard, Associate Professor of African American studies at UC Irvine, has been appointed to the positions of equity advisor for UCI’s ADVANCE Program for Equity and Diversity, and advisor to the dean of the UCI School of Humanities on equity, diversity and inclusive excellence. 

June 16

Wayne State University—1921-2021: The Centennial Discussion on the Tulsa Black Wall Street Massacre

• 7-9 p.m.
• Free
• Register here for this virtual event
• WSU is marking the centenary of the Tulsa Black Wall Street Massacre with Hannibal B. Johnson, Esq., the author of ten books, including Black Wall Street 100: An American City Grapples With Its Historical Racial Trauma (2020).  A graduate of Harvard Law School, Mr. Johnson is an attorney and independent consultant specializing in diversity & inclusion/cultural competence issues and nonprofit governance, and is a renowned expert on the history of Tulsa’s African-American community.  

June 17

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Juneteenth Jubilee Freedom Weekend—Juneteenth: Lift Every Voice Film Viewing

• All day
• Free
• Streaming on the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History’s website
• The museum will stream “Juneteenth: Lift Every Voice,” a film documenting the anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” through the eyes of historic museums and anthropologists from across the U.S.

Brilliant Detroit—2021 WSU Juneteenth Celebration: Virtual Volunteering

• 5-6 p.m.
• Free
• Register here for this virtual event
• Engaging with the history of Black Bottom, and working with local youth, volunteers will facilitate activities that introduce Alice Randall’s Black Bottom Saints playing cards. Volunteers can attend a brief training session prior to the event which is TBA. 

Repair The World Detroit—Juneteenth Celebration

• 5:30-7 p.m.
• Free
• Register here for this virtual event
• Join Repair the World Detroit for this virtual mixed media interactive event to learn about the holiday, its importance, and create work in honor of it.

Wayne State University—Dr. Muhammad Khalifa: Education for Liberation

• 6-7:30 p.m.
• Free
• Register here for this virtual event
• Dr. Muhammad Khalifa is a Professor and Executive Director of Urban Schools and Communities at The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. His research examines how urban school leaders enact culturally responsive leadership and anti-oppressive schooling practices. He is the author of the highly acclaimed book, Culturally Responsive School Leadership.

June 18

City of Denver—Juneteenth Eve Music Festival

• 4-10 p.m.
• Free
• Register here for this virtual event
• JMF Corporation and Denver Community Media will host a 6-hour broadcast. Tune in from your phone or on your TV for live performances, music, entertainment, panels, and our 2021 Dream Big Awards.

Juneteenth Freedom Rides—Black History Game Night

• 7-9 p.m.
• Free
• Register here for this Zoom virtual event
• Come test your Juneteenth & other Black History knowledge with our online pre-GAME Black History Game NIGHT. Please note this event is open for adults 18+.

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Juneteenth Jubilee Freedom Weekend—Concrete Cowboy Film Viewing

• 7-10 p.m.
• Free. Find more information here
• Campus Martius Park, 800 Woodward Ave., Detroit
• The museum will screen the film “Concrete Cowboy” at Campus Martius Park. 

June 19

City of Southfield—Juneteenth Family Reunion

• 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Free. Find more information here. 
• Catalpa Oaks County Park, 27705 Greenfield Rd, Southfield
• There will be food, Black vendors, live music, entertainment, free giveaways and more.

City of Dearborn—Juneteenth Mobility Stroll and Roll Celebration

• 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Free. Registration is required to attend
• City Hall Park and City Hall Artspace Lofts, 13615 Michigan Ave, Dearborn 
• The event will include activities geared toward all ages, including a Kids Zone and a Mobility Zone. The program begins with dignitary speakers, music and a stretching session. Vendors and voting stations will be along the route.

Greater Morning Star Baptist Church—Juneteenth Celebration

• 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Free. Find more information here.
• 87 Robertson Street, Mt. Clemens
• This event will feature spoken word, the crowning of Mr. and Mrs. Juneteenth 2021 (senior citizens from local churches), skit “What did Juneteenth look like,” singing, raffles, food truck, speech to the young people, vendors, soloist, and a full a cappella choir.

Juneteenth Jubilee Detroit—Stroll on the Historic Avenue of Fashion

• 12-6 p.m.
• Free. Find more information here. 
• BAM Best Artist Management, 19954 Livernois, Detroit
• This unique shopping experience supports Detroit Black Businesses along the Livernois Avenue of Fashion. The stroll will include pop-up artists and entertainment, live podcast, black wellness hub with physical, mental, and emotional resources, raffles, and a VIP reception with proceeds benefiting Juneteenth Jubilee Detroit educational initiatives and Black-owned partner orgs.

As in Heaven—Juneteenth in the D Festival

• 12-10:30 p.m.
• $0-25. Tickets can be purchased here
• Dabls MBAD African Bead Museum, 6559 Grand River Avenue Detroit
• Juneteenth in the D is a festival and concert experience fueled by education and reconciliation in order to Celebrate Blackness. 

Detroit Black Wall Street—Juneteenth Celebration

• 1:45-6 p.m.
• Free. Find more information here
• DLoft Lounge, 21380 Coolidge Highway, Oak Park
• Stop and Shop with Detroit’s finest vendors and enjoy the atmosphere with food and drink specials and sounds by DJ YNot.

Ypsilanti—Buy Black Juneteenth Pop-Up Shop

• 3–7 p.m.
• Free. Find more information here
• Ypsilanti Freighthouse, 100 Market Place, Ypsilanti
• This event will feature the hottest Black-owned fashion brands in the area. 

Lathrup Village—Unity in the Community: A Juneteenth Celebration

• 4-8 p.m.
• Free. Find more information here 
• Municipal Park, behind City Hall 27400 Southfield Rd., Lathrup Village
• A celebration of cultural diversity that will feature performers and entertainers, a panel of community leaders, food trucks, and more. 

REO Town—Juneteenth Festival

• 4-10 p.m.
• Free. Find more information here and here
• The event takes place on South Washington Ave (between South St & E. Elm) in Lansing 
• This festival will feature electric live performances, black-owned food and business vendors, informational booths, activities, panel discussion, and more in a unique opportunity for the Mid-Michigan region to celebrate black art, culture, and experience. 

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Juneteenth Jubilee Freedom Weekend—Citywide Treasure Hunt

• 9 p.m. Saturday to 5 p.m. Sunday
• For details and ticket information, visit their website
• The museum will join the City of Detroit’s citywide treasure hunt across several historical sites, including at the museum.

Organizations Involved in Promoting Justice, Equity and Inclusion

Local

• Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program—A non-profit organization with more than 40 years of experience partnering with universities, training programs, and K-12 school systems in order to connect youth to the best science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) educational experiences in Michigan and beyond.
• A. Phillip Randolph Institute— A non-profit organization serving the Downriver and Detroit area in Michigan involved in voter registration, political and community education, lobbying, legislative action, labor support activities, and helping the less fortunate.
• Detroit Justice Center—A non-profit law firm working alongside communities to create economic opportunities, transform the justice system, and promote equitable and just cities.
• 482Forward—Works with existing neighborhood-based organizations to help them build educational organizing programs.  
• New Detroit—Brings together a coalition of leaders from civil rights & advocacy organizations, human services, health & community organizations, business, labor, foundations, education, and the media to impact the actions of individuals and institutions by serving in a number of roles: advocate, catalyst, convener, and facilitator. 
• Ruth Ellis Center—Founded in 1999, Ruth Ellis Center (REC) has established a national reputation for quality and innovation in providing trauma-informed services for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults with an emphasis on young people of color experiencing homelessness, involved in the child welfare system, and/or experiencing barriers to health and wellbeing.
• Detroit Phoenix Center—Provides critical resources, support and a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment to high risk and homeless youth in Detroit.
• We the People Detroit—Dedicated to community coalition building and to the provision of resources that inform, train and mobilize the citizens of Detroit and beyond to improve their quality of life.
• Focus: Hope—In partnership with federal and state agencies, Focus: Hope provides over 42,000 seniors with monthly food packages to help meet basic needs. They also provide opportunities to obtain health screenings, income support, tax preparation and utility assistance.

National

• The Bail Project—Provides free bail assistance, support in coming back to court and wrap-around services if needed to thousands of low-income people every year. 
• BOLD—BOLD (Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity) is a national training intermediary that provides training programs, coaching and technical assistance focused on transforming the practice of Black organizers in the U.S.
• BlackOUT Collective—Provides on the ground support to activists & organizers who are looking to execute creative and effective direct actions in service to their work. 
• Color of Change—Designs campaigns powerful enough to end practices that unfairly hold Black people back, and champion solutions that move us all forward. 
• The Loveland Foundation—Brings opportunity and healing to communities of color, and especially to Black women and girls, by providing therapy support, fellowships, residency programs, listening tours, and more.
• Organization for Black Struggle—One of the oldest Black-led, mass organizations fighting for political power, economic justice and cultural dignity for African Americans, especially the Black working class.