Dancers from the Brooklyn United Marching Band performing at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s Juneteenth celebration at Brower Park on June 19, 2026.
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Brooklyn Children’s Museum and a coalition of community partners marked Juneteenth with a vibrant, daylong celebration at Brower Park on June 19, bringing together music, dance, art and reflection under the theme “I Am Somebody.”
Held at Shirley Chisholm Circle, the annual event — now in its fifth year — drew families, local leaders and neighborhood organizations for a communal observance of freedom and Black history.
Dylan House, director of public programs at Brooklyn Children’s Museum, said the gathering was both a celebration and a reminder of Juneteenth’s significance.
“Juneteenth is a holiday that we mark the end of slavery in America, and it’s really important for us to come together in a public space like Brower Park to celebrate joy and freedom together as community,” House said.
The program featured a steady lineup of performances and interactive activities throughout the afternoon. The Brooklyn United Drumline opened the festivities, followed by a performance from the Medgar Evers College Preparatory School Choir, which included “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often referred to as the Black national anthem. Brooklyn Ballet presented excerpts from its “Take Ballet to the Streets” initiative, along with an interactive lesson for attendees, while the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music’s Jazz Fellows delivered a live set later in the day.
Art-making and educational programming were also central to the celebration. Families participated in printmaking, drawing workshops led by the museum’s ColorLab, and a large-scale community mosaic project organized by St. John’s University students. The mosaic, inspired by civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, reflected the event’s “I Am Somebody” theme, a chant popularized during the civil rights movement.
Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Kim Council addressed the crowd, emphasizing the importance of preserving history and honoring resilience.
“It is so important that we let everybody know the true history of this country, and that we don’t hide from our past, but we learn from our mistakes and move forward,” Council said. “Let’s continue to celebrate. Let’s continue to educate, and let’s continue to work together.”
Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Kim Council with members of the Crown Heights North Association at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum Juneteenth celebration on June 19, 2026.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud 
Dylan House, director of public programs at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, with Marva Henry, president of the Friends of Brower Park.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud 
Dancers from the Brooklyn United Marching Band.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud 
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud 
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud 
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud 
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud 
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud