Join us on Saturday, June 19th the Elting Memorial Library and Historic Huguenot Street are teaming up to celebrate Juneteenth!
At 11am, June 19th, a kick off and benediction will be held at the Hasbrouck Park playground. This includes a placard dedication in honor of Julia Jackson, the last surviving enslaved woman to live in New Paltz and a revered historian, storyteller and beloved friend of the community. An important announcement will be made as well. Speakers will include: Mayor Tim Rogers, Rev. Jennifer Berry, New Paltz Town Historian Susan Stessin-Cohn, and Albert Cook with a performance by Resisterhood: New Paltz.
Next, join us at Huguenot Street 3 - 7 PM for live, local music and a family-friendly pot-luck or bring-your-own-picnic lunch on the lawn. Light refreshments will be provided.
Live music at Historic Huguenot Street include the following: Kyle G. Carlson, 7he 7eam, Dorian Randolph, Anthony Winn, Rich Kelly & Friends, and an open Jam/Floetry Session: featuring Cosmal, who will be making both music and art; with the art work created at the event to be raffled and the proceeds donated to: the historic Pine Street African Burial Ground in Kingston.
Organizer and local musician, Dorian Randolph shared that “There are some things that are just bigger than all of us as individuals, which inspired me to shed more light on an important holiday like Juneteenth, which, more often than not, is overlooked and not widely celebrated. As a community, and together with neighboring towns, I truly believe we can change that through education, music, film, love, and togetherness in the future.”
At 7:30 PM, gates open at the Elting Memorial Library's Vera Rushforth Reading Garden in the historic courtyard for an 8 PM guest speaker, Dr. Zelbert Moore, Professor Emeritus, SUNY New Paltz, who will address the origins of Juneteenth and introduce the documentary film Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre, to be screened in the courtyard at dusk. First-come-first-served, free and open to the public.
Organizer Anthony Winn stated “My hope was to create an experience that not only acknowledged the history, but celebrated the community and its commitment to social justice. Commemorating the end of our national horror, and the growth of our society in the efforts over time to bend the arc toward justice, freedom and equality for all people. Our community has stood up for its neighbors to show that injustice is not acceptable, and we will not be silent when we face it, in any form. On the other side of this struggle is the need and value for celebrating this core sentiment, which I hope this event will represent; a celebration of our collective strength and shared appreciation
for all that it has taken for society and communities like ours to stand and thrive in the spirit of unity and cross-cultural harmony.”
Unison Arts is also celebrating day with the Juneteenth Prejudice Project Launch, taking place on Saturday evening, June 19, 6-9 PM at Unison Arts & Learning Center, New Paltz. A pair of tickets to this event will be raffled off at the Elting Library; stop in and visit the Library to enter your name and contact information! The raffle will take place during library opening hours Monday - Thursday, with the winner being selected and notified on Thursday evening!
This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.