GREEN BAY – We All Rise: African American Resource Center expanded festivities for its fifth annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday.
This year’s theme, “Black Men Are Caregivers,” aims to highlight the impact Black men have on their communities and on society. We All Rise wanted to shine a light on the mental health of Black men and be mindful of honoring “their contributions to Black culture, Black safety, Black caregiving, and Black love,” said Robin Scott, executive director of We All Rise.
“Society has portrayed black men in a certain stereotypical way, and black men are not often seen as tender, soft, complex people,” said Ivy Summers, the special events coordinator for We All Rise. “It’s important to realize that black men in particular care for the community, care for their families and care for children. The list is enormous of Black men in our community showing up and caring for others.”
We All Rise has asked community members to nominate local Black men who are leaders and caregivers. On the day of the celebration, signs and images of these men will be displayed throughout the park so community members can learn about local leaders, Summers said.
“People can reach out and get to know the people who are here in our community who are doing incredible work, but who may not always get the recognition that others do,” she said.
Here’s what you need to know about Green Bay’s 2024 Juneteenth celebration.
When is June 2024?
Celebrated annually on June 19, Juneteenth commemorates the anniversary of the arrival of Union troops in Galveston, Texas to free the last enslaved people on June 19, 1865.
In 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday in the United States.
According to Scott, the holiday is typically celebrated on the Saturday before the holiday.
When and where is the Juneteenth event in Green Bay?
The We All Rise Juneteenth celebration will take place June 15 at Joannes Park, 215 S. Baird St.
This year, the event hours have been extended from noon to 9 p.m., giving the community more time to celebrate.
What’s new in this year’s Juneteenth celebration?
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Procession: This year, a parade will lead participants to Joannes Park to kick off the celebrations. The parade starts at 11:30 a.m. at We All Rise: African American Resource Center, 430 S. Webster Ave. The group then walks down Chicago Street, turns left onto Roosevelt Street and then right onto East Walnut Street. This will lead the group to the park, where the party will start at noon.
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Car giveaway: In partnership with Specialty Auto in Suamico, We All Rise will also be giving away a car during this year’s celebration.
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Fireworks: The extended Juneteenth celebration will conclude with a fireworks show at 9 p.m. in Joannes Park.
What else happens during the Juneteenth event?
The park will bring together artists, poets and music groups from across the state for performances to showcase the richness of the Black community, not just in Green Bay, but in Wisconsin as a whole, Summers said.
In addition, 60 local vendors will set up booths during the event. Summers says this event helps highlight the vast array of local Black-owned businesses. Vendors include food trucks and restaurants.
“There’s no good directory for Black-owned businesses… and this is really one of those days where we can spread the word, connect people with suppliers, connect suppliers with the community, and our suppliers are really enjoying it of,” said Summers.
We All Rise will provide the annual community meal during the celebration at 5:30 p.m. They will also host a variety of activities for the younger members of the community, including sports tournaments and bounce houses, Scott said.
“It’s about people standing in solidarity and seeing the rich history of the African American community being celebrated,” Scott said. “The opportunity to break bread together. The opportunity to play sports, games and activities for the whole family. To enjoy indigenous music and instruments, and performances… it is a celebration of the humanities of the arts and the black expression.”
This article originally appeared in Green Bay Press-Gazette: What to know about Green Bay’s fifth annual Juneteenth celebration
