The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is geared up to host its third annual Juneteenth celebration on June 15, featuring a day packed with festivities, from Black vendors and workshops to live music and a petting zoo, aiming to reflect the vibrancy and diversity of the Black community. The event, which is free to the public, will take place in North Minneapolis, starting with a commemorative march from the University's Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center at 2001 Plymouth Ave. N., leading to a block party that will run from noon to 5 p.m.
Under the banner 'We are the Noise: The Echoes of Our Ancestors,' the event plans to offer not just a celebration but also reflection, with a variety of cultural expressions and educational opportunities—in workshops, attendees can imbibe knowledge and history and are encouraged to sign up ahead of time, while the block party itself is expected to amplify the echoes of a liberated past through the sounds of music and joy. Participants can look forward to a rose memorial and a moment of silence for Black lives lost before the festivities kick off, according to an article by the University of Minnesota.
Vice President for Equity and Diversity at the university, Mercedes Ramírez Fernández, expressed the excitement permeating the campus ahead of the celebration. "The Juneteenth Celebration at the University of Minnesota has garnered widespread support across our entire institution. From our leaders to our academic and administrative units, everyone has rallied behind this important initiative," Ramírez Fernández told the University of Minnesota. An impressive roster of speakers and performers has been announced, with names such as Dr. Rose Brewer, Jerome Richardson, and emcee Bianca Dennie set to grace the event.
Food will be plentiful, with vendors like Quiet Cat Bakery and Nai's Delight on the scene, and activities such as roller skating and an interactive kids zone propose a festive atmosphere, taken together, the offerings of the Juneteenth celebration promise a full day of commemoration, education, and jubilation. Reinforcing this sentiment, event director Terresa Moses asserted the importance of inclusivity: “We want Juneteenth to create a space that supports the various identities in the Black community, amplifying all Black genders, sexualities, abilities, economic statuses, educational levels — those whose identities are the most marginalized of us," she said in a statement reported by the University of Minnesota.
Among the partners listed for the event are campus-based and community organizations such as the UMN Black Faculty & Staff Association, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Program, and Black Garnet Books. The full list of partners, vendors, and scheduled activities can be accessed through the event's dedicated page on the University of Minnesota's website.
