Today The Juneteenth Foundation kicks off its inaugural 2021 Freedom Festival in honor of the oldest celebration commemorating the effective end of slavery in the United States. The festival is a two-day event celebrating the resilience, culture, and history of Black Americans and will start with virtual panel discussions featuring CEOs and executives from leading brands such as Ashley Stewart, DoorDash, General Motors, and Lyft, who will discuss what their companies have been doing to advance racial equity and to support the Black community within their workforce and societally.
A reception will be held this evening at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington D.C. with a keynote from renowned journalist and media commentator
Roland Martin. The night will bring together members of Congress, celebrities, business and community leaders, as well as next generation Black scholars to enjoy a special celebratory program. At the reception, five HBCU students will be awarded with a $10,000 scholarship each to support their academic journeys. The event will also feature live music, food, entertainment, and words from champions for the African American community, including Dr. Wes Bellamy from Our Black Party, Rashaad Lambert of For(bes) The Culture, and Vanessa Griddine from the Congressional Black Caucus, among others.Tomorrow, June 19th, the festival will continue with the Freedom Virtual Career Day. The day will consist of two components: 1) a career panel focused on the
cultural challenges Black professionals face in Corporate America and best practices that can be shared to address them; and 2) breakout sessions with industry leaders and experts who will share additional information, resources, and opportunities tailored to diverse talent. In the evening, the festival will conclude with the Juneteenth Freedom Concert, headlined by rap legend T.I. and rising young rapper Domani with special appearances from BLKBOK, singer-songwriter Shevonne Phillidor, and hip-hop artist Chill Moody. The concert will be aired on ABC and streamed on Veeps.To learn more and RSVP for any of festival activities, please visit: https://thejuneteenthfoundation.com/freedomfest/.
WHAT
Inaugural 2021 Juneteenth Freedom Festival
WHEN & WHERE
Day 1 – June 18
- Virtual Reflection Panels, 12 pm – 2 pm via Airmeet
- The Juneteenth Freedom Reception at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial (RSVP to get additional details)
Day 2 – June 19
- Virtual Career Panels, 12 – 2 pm ET via Airmeet
- Juneteenth Freedom Concert – will air at on ABC and Veeps (RSVP to get additional details)
WHO
Festival guests and participants include…
- Leading artists and musicians: T.I., Domani, BLKBOK, Shevonne Phillidor, and Chill Moody
- Video remarks by influential members of Congress: Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA-13), Representative Grace Meng (D-NY-06), Representative Nikema Williams (D-GA-05) and Representative Steven Horsford (D-NV-04)
- Executives from Ashley Stewart, Lyft, DoorDash, General Motors, Darkness to Light
- Corporate partners and sponsors: A2 Partners, Ashley Stewart, The Congressional Black Caucus Institute, CURA Strategies, Discord, Door Dash, Eaze, For(bes): The Culture, Forbes, General Motors, HBCU 20×20, Live Nation Entertainment, Lyft, MikeWorldWide (MWW), National Black Chamber of Commerce, The Obama Foundation, Our Black Party, Washington Football Team
About The Juneteenth Foundation
The Juneteenth Foundation is a 501(C)3 organization dedicated to the national recognition of Juneteenth and the celebration of freedom and black culture. The Foundation organizes initiatives and events that call attention to the historical significance of Juneteenth and supports corporate and citizen engagement surrounding healing and advocacy for Black Americans. To learn more, please visit https://thejuneteenthfoundation.com/freedomfest/.