The West Medford Community Center presents its second annual Juneteenth Festival, a cultural celebration of African American emancipation and freedom. Juneteenth, a contraction of June 19th, is the day in 1865 when the last of enslaved African Americans were freed, more than two years after the Emancipation proclamation. The day celebrates Black excellence, leadership, community and culture.

The program will include video of the raising of the Juneteenth Flag at Medford City Hall and a proclamation from Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn; an introduction to Juneteenth by Tufts University student Marc Alenn Jean Mary; a children’s book reading by Gullah Geechee storyteller Kyndra Joi; dancing by Imani Deal; music by Derronda Williams; and reflections by Medford resident Georgiana Chevry.

The program will be presented on Facebook and YouTube as well as Medford Community Media channels 3 (Comcast) and 47 (Verizon).