With the West Medford Community Center closed due to Covid-19, this month’s Words and Music program will be again presented online. The “Words” portion of the program, titled “Juneteenth: It’s About Time,” will feature a conversation about Juneteenth and its relevance today. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Juneteenth independence day, commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas, which generally marked the end of slavery nationwide in the U.S. Host Terry Carter will talk with Nicole Mcclain and Jacquelyn Fitzhugh of the the North Shore Juneteenth Association; Penny Outlaw of the Royall House and Slave Quarters; and Leona Martin of the African American Historical Genealogical Society, New England.

The “Music” portion of the evening will feature folk stylings by singer/songwriter and guitarist Pamela Means. In addition, Toni Bee, an educator, activist, journalist and poet will share poetry in the voices of those enslaved at the Royall House in Medford.

View the event by going to the West Medford Community Center’s Facebook page, where it will be streamed live. Medford residents with cable TV can also watch the program live (Ch. 3 on Comcast and Ch. 47 on Verizon).

West Medford Community Center launched Words and Music in 2017. Usually presented on the first Friday of every month, the event starts off with a discussion on a valuable aspect of the community, followed by a performance by a local musician or musicians. For more information on this or other WMCC programs, visit the center’s website.