As Austin continues celebrating Juneteenth, community members are invited to gather for a day of reflection, education, and celebration at the Carver Library.
As Austin continues celebrating Juneteenth, community members are invited to gather for a day of reflection, education, and celebration at the Carver Library. Outreach Productions is hosting its annual Community Juneteenth Celebration, a free, family-friendly event designed to honor the significance of the holiday while bringing people together.
Outreach Productions is hosting its annual Community Juneteenth Celebration, a free, family-friendly event designed to honor the significance of the holiday while bringing people together.
Sierra Waggoner and Trevor Scott welcomed Deborah Orr, Executive Director of Outreach Productions, to We Are Austin to share details about the longtime community tradition, which is presented in partnership with the Carver Museum, Carver Library, H-E-B, and the City of Austin.
Sierra Waggoner and Trevor Scott welcomed Deborah Orr, Executive Director of Outreach Productions, to We Are Austin to share details about the longtime community tradition, which is presented in partnership with the Carver Museum, Carver Library, H-E-B, and the City of Austin.
Orr explained that Juneteenth commemorates the moment African Americans in Texas learned they were free, months after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued.
“It’s important because it was a time that African Americans were given their freedom,” Orr said. “A lot of people say it happened in January, but in the South they didn’t celebrate it until June because there was a harvest that had to happen.”
“It’s important because it was a time that African Americans were given their freedom,” Orr said. “A lot of people say it happened in January, but in the South they didn’t celebrate it until June because there was a harvest that had to happen.”
To help younger generations understand the significance of the holiday, Orr often shares educational materials that break down the history step-by-step.
“It tells you what happened first, what happened second, and why it was important,” she said. “It’s closure.”
This year’s celebration theme is Past, Present, and Future, and attendees can expect a variety of performances and educational activities throughout the day. The event will feature dancers, poets, a puppet show designed to encourage reading among children, and a special keynote speaker.
This year’s celebration theme is Past, Present, and Future, and attendees can expect a variety of performances and educational activities throughout the day. The event will feature dancers, poets, a puppet show designed to encourage reading among children, and a special keynote speaker.
One of the highlights will be a presentation from Bessie Tutt, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday.
The free Community Juneteenth Celebration will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Carver Library and Museum. Organizers encourage everyone to come out, celebrate, learn, and honor the legacy of Juneteenth together.
“She is 100 years old,” Orr said. “She’s very clear, and she’s going to talk about things that happened in the past and how she grew up.”
Juneteenth honors both the struggles and triumphs of those who fought for freedom and equality.
Today, communities across the country celebrate Juneteenth as a time to reflect on the past while
Following Tutt’s remarks, younger speakers will discuss the present and share their hopes for the future, bringing the event’s theme full circle.
Honoring the past. Celebrating the present. Inspiring the future.
For nearly two decades, Outreach Productions has hosted Juneteenth celebrations at the Carver, a tradition Orr believes continues to resonate because of the community connections it creates.
Honoring the past. Celebrating the present. Inspiring the future.
“The library in itself is a connection,” Orr said. “It’s a safe place. You come to the library, you enjoy the festival, you get to see all these different things, and families like that.”
This year’s theme encourages attendees to honor the sacrifices of the past while embracing opportunities for the future.
The free Community Juneteenth Celebration will take place tomorrow June 20th from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Carver Library and Museum.
The free Community Juneteenth Celebration will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Carver Library and Museum. Organizers encourage everyone to come out, celebrate, learn, and honor the legacy of Juneteenth together.
Organizers encourage everyone to come out, celebrate, learn, and honor the legacy of Juneteenth together.
This year’s theme encourages attendees to honor the sacrifices of the past while embracing opportunities for the future.
“We want a lot of people to come out,” Orr said. “Celebrate with us!”
For more information about the event, visit OutreachP.com.