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Celebrate Juneteenth this summer by attending the Juneteenth Jubilee hosted by the Imani Edu-Tainers African Dance Company. This non-profit organization promotes awareness, appreciation and understanding of African culture. The celebration will be on Saturday, June 22 at the Ware Center in Downtown Lancaster in collaboration with Millersville University. There will be an assortment of cultural foods, auctions, vendors and traditional performances.
Additional community partners include The Lancaster Community Foundation, YWCA Lancaster and The Giant Community. The Dr. Rita Smith Wade El Intercultural Center and The Department of Campus Life are working closely with the Ware Center to bring this event to the Lancaster/Central PA community.
Whitlow, director of campus life, explains that Millersville’s collaboration with Imani has been taking place since 2021, “Lancaster and Central PA community members come out to support this annual event, Imani’s biggest cultural event each year.”
Juneteenth is recognized as the second Independence Day, celebrating the freedom of African Americans and recognizing the continuing fight for social justice and racial equity. Many Juneteenth celebrations today are held through art, performance and providing an educational platform.
Whitlow expresses the significance of Millersville partnering to hold this celebration, “Aligning with our EPPIIC Values, specifically public mission, and inclusion, this cultural celebration is important for many reasons. While Juneteenth has been celebrated in the African American community, prior to it becoming a federal holiday and being celebrated more broadly across various communities, Juneteenth is a reminder of freedom, freedom that we fight for every day. It serves as an opportunity for reflection and celebration, which is exactly what folks will get when attending the Juneteenth Jubilee celebration on June 22, 2024.”
“Partnering with a community organization and being visible in the community aligns greatly with our public mission. We also know that we have daily examples of communities of color fighting to be seen and heard. This event is a chance to celebrate the beauty of our community, think about how we acknowledge the history of slavery in this country and actively work to center the experiences of the most vulnerable,” Whitlow concludes.
Celebrate traditional West African culture with Millersville at this unique event, which will feature drum and dance performances, art and an educational museum.
5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Educational Museum, Cultural Vendors & Silent Auction in Lobby
6:45 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Performance in Steinman Hall
*8 – 9 p.m. VIP Meet the Artist’s Dessert Reception*, sponsored by Giant.
There are 30 complimentary tickets for MU community members. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084BACAD23A6F5C16-49980426-juneteenth.
General Ticket Link: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/30160138/.
