{"id":256091,"date":"2026-06-05T03:55:47","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T03:55:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/256091\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T03:55:47","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T03:55:47","slug":"we-outside-a-brooklyn-juneteenth-vol-iv-to-return-to-downtown-brooklyn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/256091\/","title":{"rendered":"WE OUTSIDE! A Brooklyn Juneteenth, Vol. IV to Return to Downtown Brooklyn"},"content":{"rendered":"

\ud83c\udfad NEW! Brooklyn Theatre Newsletter<\/p>\n

\n Get all the top news & discounts for Brooklyn & beyond.\n <\/p>\n

For its sixth annual Juneteenth Celebration, 651 ARTS will once again join forces with The Soapbox Presents for We Outside! A Brooklyn Juneteenth, Vol. IV, a special Juneteenth celebration that has become one of Downtown Brooklyn\u2019s signature community gatherings<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfad NEW! Brooklyn Theatre Newsletter<\/p>\n

\n Get all the top news & discounts for Brooklyn & beyond.\n <\/p>\n

Taking place Saturday, June 20, 2026 from 2pm to 8pm, the free all-day event will transform The Plaza at 300 Ashland into a vibrant hub of music, movement, artistry, and fellowship commemorating Freedom Day through live performance, storytelling, food, and\u00a0community.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Curated with The Soapbox Presents as part of their expansive Juneteenth celebration, We Outside! continues the exploration of Black freedom, Black joy and the concept of using public space as a living expression of community and for cultural exchange. At a time when opportunities for meaningful connection, cultural visibility, and communal gathering feel more necessary than ever, the event serves as both a celebration and affirmation of the enduring power of Black community. Dubbed \u201cDowntown Brooklyn\u2019s biggest stoop,\u201d the annual gathering draws inspiration from the longstanding traditions through which Black communities have cultivated connection, resilience, creativity, and celebration – from neighborhood block parties and front\u00a0porch conversations to music, movement, and shared cultural rituals passed across generations.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

At the center of We Outside! is The Soapbox Presents\u2019 celebrated Stoop Sessions series.\u00a0Originally popularized on the stoops of Harlem, the series reimagines the tradition of gathering outside as a communal cultural experience rooted in music, storytelling, and joy. This year \u2018s\u00a0edition – Stoop Session: Freedom Songs – will serve as a soundtrack of liberation, moving\u00a0through protest songs, soul classics, party anthems, and contemporary sounds that reflect the\u00a0depth, brilliance, and enduring spirit of Black musical traditions.<\/p>\n

Featured artists and participants for the full day We Outside! celebration includes Black Buttafly,\u00a0Jillian Grace, Bel-Ami, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, JSWISS, Brooklyn United, Jeff Selby, and many more.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Additional programming highlights for the day include:<\/p>\n


\n\tThe Cypher: Rep Your Style \u2013 Dance becomes dialogue as participants represent their styles, cities, and cultures through movement, rhythm, and collective expression.\u00a0
\n\tYoung, Gifted and Black \u2013 Inspired by HBCU culture, Young, Gifted &Black celebrates the traditions born out of necessity at educational institutions made for African Americans by African Americans and the young people continuing the legacy. This segment will showcase a mix of marching bands, drumlines, and majorette squads.
\n\tWord on the Street \u2013 Poets and musicians come together for an immersive exploration of freedom, resistance, memory, and Black imagination through spoken word and live performance.\u00a0
\n\tMade Black: A Juneteenth Marketplace \u2013Curated by Brooklyn Pop-Up, this unique Black Artisan market will showcase Brooklyn-based Black artisans, designers, and\u00a0entrepreneurs through fashion, handcrafted goods, wellness products, art, and more in a\u00a0vibrant community-centered marketplace experience <\/p>\n

Now entering its fourth year, We Outside! continues to evolve in response to the community that\u00a0has embraced it. Organizers have expanded food offerings, increased visibility throughout the\u00a0plaza experience, and deepened opportunities for community engagement through this year\u2019s visual identity campaign. The 2026 artwork was selected through a community sourced\u00a0commission process and created by Harlem-based artist Jocelyn Goode whose work will also be\u00a0exhibited as part of this year\u2019s celebration.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe Outside was created to claim space for the collective practice of Black expression through\u00a0joy, Black art and culture, and community,\u201d said Toya A. Lillard, Executive Director of 651 ARTS. \u201cEach year, we continue to witness how deeply people value opportunities to gather intentionally in celebration of freedom, creativity, and togetherness. In this moment especially, creating spaces where Black communities can be visible, connected, and celebrated feels profoundly important. What makes this event so powerful is that it not only commemorates Juneteenth but also reflects the longstanding traditions of how our communities come together through music, storytelling, movement, and collective joy. We\u2019re proud to continue our partnership with The Soapbox Presents, whose commitment to community-centered cultural experiences aligns so deeply with our own mission, and excited to welcome audiences back to\u00a0The Plaza for another unforgettable celebration.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt a time when so many of our rights & liberties are being threatened, Saturday, June 20th we\u2019ll gather on Ashland Plaza to celebrate freedom, but also to manifest freedom,\u201d Founder & Executive Director of The Soapbox Presents Marija Abney<\/a> added. \u201cWe have intentionally curated an intergenerational celebration that\u2019s free of charge with the aim of giving access to all. And this year we are thrilled to expand our community to welcome those who are deaf and hard-of-hearing, by including ASL interpretations for noted segments. We Outside! is a declaration of resilience and a collective practice of protest through joy, unapologetic Black expression, and of course community. Here we will stand on our soapbox to sing, dance, and speak our stories. And because we believe in building coalitions to build community, we are proud to join forces for the 4th consecutive year with 651Arts to bring a\u00a0Freedom Day celebration like none other to downtown Brooklyn.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n

Juneteenth is an annual commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. Though the Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves was signed January 1, 1863, enslaved African Americans in Galveston Bay, Texas learned of their freedom from the Union Army, June 19, 1865, after the Emancipation Proclamation was announced. Juneteenth is the longest standing African American holiday observed in the United States.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe Outside! A Brooklyn Juneteenth, Vol. IV,\u201d is a free event; Registration is encouraged.\u00a0To RSVP for \u201cWe Outside! A Brooklyn Juneteenth, Vol. IV,\u201d click HERE<\/a><\/p>\n

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