On Sunday, June 19, BASE will host the 2nd Annual Southern Oregon Juneteenth Celebration at Pear Blossom Park in Medford from 11am – 7pm. This family-friendly event will be an outdoor cultural celebration for the entire community of Southern Oregon featuring food, education, music, and live entertainment.
This year’s celebration will showcase a robust marketplace of Black-owned businesses, highlight local Black artists and creatives, share Black culture, provide a platform for community leaders, and create a fun environment for both youth and adults to enrich understanding of our collective journey towards equity. It will be a celebration where the whole community can come together.
The event will include fun and educational activities for grownups and children throughout the day. There will be a Kid’s Zone featuring bouncy houses, water play, music, and games.
The main stage will feature entertainment from Tyrone Hendrix and The Love Train Band, local stars DJ Triple C and the Bishop Mayfield Band, African drummers, and talents from across Southern Oregon including performances from the AfroScoutz youth program. Community leaders including Toya Cooper, VP of DEI at SOU, will offer history and inspiration.
There will also be vendors, food trucks, community organizations, and resources to recognize the longest-running holiday that celebrates the end of American slavery. The event will feature many Black-owned businesses while also highlighting community organizations interested in furthering their focus on cultural agility, equity, and inclusion.
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, was declared a national holiday in 2021, and celebrates the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States. Juneteenth commemorates the anniversary date of June 19, 1865 when Union Army general Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and issued General Order Number 3, effectively freeing enslaved people in the South.
The event is brought to the public by Black Alliance for Social Empowerment (BASE) Southern Oregon together with the Oregon Department of Human Services Black Employee Support Team (B.E.S.T.).
Organizers say they could still use some volunteer support for the event. Perks include BASE merch, Free Food, and drinks during the event. If you are interested in helping support, contact BASE at community@baseoregon.org
Courtesy of BASE – Southern Oregon
