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Parents, Educators/Teachers & Students in Action

June 20, 2024

CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH

PESA joins the Antelope Valley community to celebrate African American resilience

Yesterday, over 1,200 community members gathered in Palmdale to celebrate a vibrant Juneteenth festival. This date holds profound historical significance as it marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned of their emancipation – two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

The collaborative event was held by the Antelope Valley Educational Alliance  (PESA and Future Leaders California), the Antelope Valley Black Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Palmdale. 

Attendees enjoyed an array of activities designed to engage all ages. The festival featured live performances, delicious food, visual arts, poetry, plays, paint and sip sessions, face painting, game trucks, and numerous games. A standout performance, produced, written, and acted by high school students from the Justice Sunday Arts Initiative, poignantly addressed the history of Black Wall Street, showcasing the immense talent and dedication of the youth involved.

A fun fact, underscoring the significance of local youth involvement, is that plays from the Justice Sunday Arts Initiative were instrumental in the campaign to make Juneteenth a federal holiday! This highlights the powerful role that youth can play in shaping and commemorating historical narratives. 

Nigel Holly, PESA’s Director of Youth Development and Social Justice, emphasized the event's importance, stating, “This collaborative process not only impacts students by fostering a sense of unity and family through writing, directing, producing, blocking, and choreographing, but also extends beyond. They take what they’ve created and share it with the community, teaching and inspiring others.” Holly further stressed the critical need to remember history, saying, “PESA, Future Leaders, and the Justice Sunday Arts Initiative play an imperative role in commemorating the legacy of BIPOC persons in America. They focus on educating our youth and reminding previous generations about our honest and transparent history.”

Through events like this Juneteenth celebration, PESA and its partners are not only honoring the past but also empowering the next generation to carry forward the lessons and legacies of history.



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