Brooklyn Park Readies for Second Annual Juneteenth Celebration

Brooklyn Park Juneteenth organizing committee member Claudia Diggs talked with Rusty Ray on CCX’s Newsmakers segment.

Brooklyn Park’s second annual Juneteenth celebration is Saturday, June 17, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at North Hennepin Community College. 

The theme of this year’s celebration is “Black Health is Wealth: Change Your Diet.” Organizers say there will be an array of activities and speakers to create what the city hopes is an “immersive educational experience.”

“We’re going to have many activities for all people to come and and enjoy the day and learn about American history through Juneteenth,” said organizing team member Claudia Diggs, the equity and housing director with Community Mediation and Restorative Services.

“Everyone is welcome: family, children, adult seniors–there’s something for everybody,” said Diggs. “We’re going to cram as much education as we can into everybody.”

The headlining speaker will be Dr. Joy Degruy, a professor and author.

The event is put on by the city of Brooklyn Park.

“These first two events we could not have done without the city’s support and backing,” said Diggs. “We’re also looking for more and more community members to step up and kind of take more control of what the activities include.”

Other Juneteenth events in the northwest metro are also taking place this weekend.

Brooklyn Center will host a celebration on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Centennial Park. It will include music, speakers and a variety of food vendors.

In Maple Grove, the Town Green (located between the library and city hall) is hosting a celebration that features speakers, music and food vendors. That event is on Monday and goes from 3 to 8 p.m.

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