Juneteenth: Central Oregon Celebrates Freedom Day

Juneteenth commemorates the anniversary date of the June 19, 1865 announcement by Union Army General Gordon Granger, proclaiming freedom from slavery in Texas. Also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day, this will be a great opportunity for local residents to learn about and celebrate the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States. This type of community gathering is particularly relevant now given the increased awareness and widespread protests that have occurred over the past 12 months around longstanding injustices and inequities in our society. This year we will be highlighting the systemic barriers within Central Oregonians’ current housing crisis, from our houseless community to affordable rent to equitable homeownership. This opportunity will allow service providers, city representatives, land trusts, and others to come together and communicate their strategies and resources.

This fun, family-friendly event will feature dynamic speakers who will share the history of Juneteenth, music, food (both island and American), dancers, face painting for the kids, a variety of educational exhibits and artistic displays, and sports. It will benefit the community and especially the youth as most of the day will be spent learning about Juneteenth and its history. Our secondary goal is to increase our collective impact around our housing challenges by providing our community members with access to information.