I AM Academy, a Lakeshore mentorship and education partnership, is hosting its fourth annual Juneteenth Freedom Festival on June 15 from 2-7 p.m. at Kollen Park in Holland. The event will celebrate and lift Black voices leading West Michigan.
The event will honor history, celebrate resilience, and embrace the spirit of Juneteenth.
Juneteenth represents the beginning of freedom. June 19, 1865, is considered the date when the last enslaved people in America were freed. While its roots are in Texas, Juneteenth has become a federal holiday and a day to celebrate freedom all over the United States.
The 2024 Juneteenth Freedom Festival activities include live music and local talent, community speakers, food vendors and I Am Kids Experience.
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CourtesyDozens of community partners and vendors come together for Juneteenth Freedom Festival.
This year's theme is “I AM The Dream.” Local businesses, artists, and students will foster and coach guests into discovering their inner dreamers. All funds raised will help I AM Academy provide representation, mentorship, and opportunities for Black and multiracial youth in West Michigan and offer more than 20 student scholarships for its annual Summer College Tour.
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CourtesyThe Juneteenth Freedom Festival includes musical performances.
“Juneteenth is an opportunity for the community to celebrate our nation’s history while funding our future,” says
Lindsay Cherry, co-founder and co-executive director. “We’ve accomplished a lot since June 19, 1865, but we still have a lot of work to do. We must continue to give upcoming generations the tools and resources we didn’t have growing up. That’s how we continue to break cycles and create progress.”
For more information about Juneteenth activities and tickets, visit the I AM Academy website at
https://iamacademymi.org/juneteenth.
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