Over 500 community attendees. 93 enthusiastic volunteers. 6 supporting sponsors. More than 30 Black-owned local businesses. These are the key players who made our fourth annual Juneteenth for the City a smash hit, and we thank all who showed up and showed out!

We are so proud to host this beautiful celebration of Black joy for our Anacostia neighbors. Here’s what went down: 

We GROOVED. Traditional African drummers and dancers bounced down the street, local youth marching band Fusion Cadets inspired us with their skills, and jazz musicians got us moving to the rhythm. 

We ALL JOINED IN. Shout-out to the 40+ Double Dutch Club and Lamond Line Dancers for bringing everyone into the fun and showing us the ropes.

We REFLECTED. Local voices in activism and advocacy, including Bread’s own CEO, George Jones; Empower DC’s Organizational Historian, Corey Shaw Jr.; and and DC Justice organizer Robert Harvey, spoke on the state of reparations today. The Maryland Chapter of Buffalo Soldiers reminded us how far we’ve come with a reading of General Order No. 3, which, 159 years ago, was read to the people of Texas to announce that all enslaved peoples were now free.

We ATE. From London Chippy’s fried fish goodness to a blend of African and American Southern cuisine from The Diaspora, there was a plate (or two!) for everyone. Plus, our food team handed out apples, bananas, cucumbers, red potatoes, lettuce, limes, and watermelons at our free farmer’s market stand.

We SHOPPED til we dropped–or, until we got rained out! From bath bombs and houseplants to apparel and accessories, we collectively brought thousands of dollars into the local, homegrown economy. More than 30 Black-owned, DMV-based businesses participated in our marketplace.

Even though the weather cut our celebration short, we had a beautiful event that brought the community together. Joy is an important part of our work and another way we can give back, by giving the community we serve a welcoming space to relax and celebrate together. We all deserve special moments like this, especially in celebration of Black liberation. We can’t thank our sponsors enough for allowing us to continue this event every year. We hope to see you next year!