Celebrate Juneteenth 2023: Events & Happenings – Greater Somerset County YMCA

Celebrate Juneteenth 2023: Events & Happenings

JUNETEENTH 2023

FREEDOM DAY

Juneteenth honors the day that news of emancipation reached the last group of enslaved people in America: June 19, 1865. On this day, we celebrate freedom, resilience, and the commitment to create lasting change together.

 

“Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory or an acceptance of the way things are. It’s a celebration of progress.” Barack Obama
BROWSE ALLHAPPENINGS

 

JOIN US…

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21st

MOVIE NIGHT: HIDDEN FIGURES

Join us for a special viewing of the movie – Hidden Figures – which educates us on the contributions of black females to the NASA space program during the Space Race days. See below for where and when you can join us for a very special movie night event for all:
  • HILLSBOROUGH YMCA: The movie will play starting at 7:30 PM inside either in the Gymnasium or the Group Exercise Studio
  • PLAINFIELD YMCA: The movie will play starting at 3:30 PM at the following elementary schools: Cedarbrook, Cook, Emerson, Evergreen
  • PRINCETON YMCA: The movie will play starting at 7:30 PM outside on the field or in the Gymnasium as a rain-day alternative
  • SOMERSET HILLS YMCA: The movie will play starting at 7:30 PM outside under the camp tent
  • SOMERVILLE YMCA: The movie will play starting at 7:30 PM inside in Room 10
This event is FREE and open to the entire community.
Please arrive 15-20 minutes early to find a comfy spot for you and your friends and family.
Not a YMCA member? Please bring a government-issued photo ID for entry to the facility.
RSVP is highly recommended for spacing and snack supplies.

 

THURSDAY, JUNE 22Nd

HISTORY KEYNOTE: PRINCETON IN PLAIN SIGHT

Join us at Princeton YMCA on Thursday, June 22nd at 10:00am for a very special history keynote, featuring Shirley Satterfield. Hear all about Princeton’s Black history which, for years, has been hidden in plain sight in the neighborhoods of the storied historical town.

  • PRINCETON YMCA: 10:00 – 11:00am at 59 Paul Robeson Place, Princeton, NJ 08540 (event will be held in the Gymnasium)

Shirley Satterfield, President of the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society, grew up in Princeton, NJ and attended a segregated school and YMCA. A self-proclaimed history lover, she returned to her hometown as an adult and became acutely aware of a significant gap in Princeton’s recorded history.

Satterfield’s work, in partnership with Albert E. Hinds – himself the grandson of a slave – raised awareness of the town’s rich Black history through presentations, speaking engagements, and the 40-stop Albert E. Hinds Memorial Walking Tour (also offered virtually at: https://www.princetonhistory.org/tour/index.html)

Not a YMCA member? Please bring a government-issued photo ID for entry to the facility.

Join us for this very special in-person event.

 

FRIDAY, JUNE 23rd

BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS POP-UP EVENT 2-6 PM AT THE Y!

Get acquainted with local Black-owned businesses serving our community. Gain an understanding of who they are, how they contribute to our richly diverse local economies, and even browse a sampling of their products and services firsthand! See below for where you can stop by the Y on Friday, June 23rd from 2-6 PM and connect to community in a whole new way:

  • HILLSBOROUGH YMCA: 19 E Mountain Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844
  • PRINCETON YMCA: 59 Paul Robeson Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
  • SOMERSET HILLS YMCA: 140 Mt Airy Road, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
  • SOMERVILLE YMCA: 2 Green St, Somerville, NJ 08876

This event is FREE and open to the entire community.

Not a YMCA member? Please bring a government-issued photo ID for entry to the facility.

 

Are you a Black-owned business interested in joining us?

Local Black-owned businesses are invited to partner with the Y on this event by hosting a table. Partner participation details include:

  • There is no cost for partner participation in the event
  • Partners may sell their products or services at the event
  • Partners are permitted to offer an activity at their table that provides a community benefit and aligns with the theme of Juneteenth and strengthening community
  • Partners must submit any intended activity to the Y for prior approval
  • Partners must bring a government-issued photo ID them for entry to the facility on the day of the event
  • Partners must bring their own table to the event and are responsible for set-up and take-down
  • Deadline to participate is June 21
INTERESTED?

Signing up is simple and free:

  • Click here to download the Y’s Juneteenth Pop-Up Community Partner Participation From
  • Complete the form and email it to Alesha Clayton at [email protected] along with a copy of your business’s current Certificate of Insurance
  • You’ll receive quick and easy instructions to finalize your participation and when and where to set up for the event
GET STARTED

 

 

THE Y IS FOR ALL

The Y is made up of people of all ages and from every walk of life working side by side to strengthen communities. Together, we work to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, age, cultural background, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender identity, ideology, income, national origin, race or sexual orientation has the opportunity to reach their full potential with dignity.

Our core values are caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility — they guide everything we do.