Juneteenth 2025: Together We Rise: A Community Celebration of Juneteenth
This year’s Juneteenth celebration will offer a space for the Tufts community, in collaboration with the cities of Medford and Somerville, to learn about the historical struggle for liberation and unification of people who identify as coming from the African diaspora. This community celebration will feature local artists, vendors and educators as we seek to recognize the resilience of the Black community through a range of mediums. Join us to reflect, rejoice, and shine a light on the importance of unity during this time.
DATE & TIME: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 | Doors Open: 8:15 AM | Breakfast Served: 8:30 AM | Program: 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
LOCATION: Joyce Cummings Center | 177 College Avenue, Medford 02155
PARKING: Free event parking is available to ALL Medford and Somerville community members, external vendors, speakers and facilitators (non-Tufts) at the Cousens Parking Lot located at 166 College Avenue, Medford. Across the street from the Joyce Cummings Center.
Event Program:
8:15: Doors Open
8:30 - 9:00 am: Breakfast (with live music)
— Livestream Begins —
9:00 - 9:05 am: Welcome & Introduction of President Sunil Kumar, Monroe France, Vice Provost for Institutional Inclusive Excellence
9:05 - 9:10 am: Opening Remarks – President Sunil Kumar
9:10 - 9:15 am: Musical Selection “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
9:15 - 9:20 am: Juneteenth History Video
9:20 - 9:25 am: Introduction of Keynote Speaker - TBD
9:25 - 9:50 am: Keynote - TBD
10:00 - 11:00 am: Breakout Sessions
11:10 - 11:30 am: Where Do We Go From Here & Closing, Alaina Macaulay, Assistant Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence and Leadership
About Juneteenth
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day and Emancipation Day, is a significant African American holiday commemorating the emancipation of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of slavery and that enslaved Black people there were finally free. Juneteenth has been celebrated annually by the African American community since that day.
Today, Juneteenth is celebrated in various ways across the nation. Communities come together to honor African American culture, heritage, and achievements. Festivities include parades, barbecues, concerts, family gatherings, educational programs, and art exhibitions. Juneteenth serves as a time for reflection on the struggles and resilience of African Americans throughout history and an opportunity to celebrate and uplift their contributions.
Tufts University began observing Juneteenth in 2020, with the intention of providing the university community an opportunity to pause, reflect, and contextualize the purpose and legacy of this holiday within the ongoing struggle for Black liberation. Juneteenth serves as a reminder of the need to educate ourselves, foster inclusivity, and work towards a more equitable and just society.
On June 17, 2021, President Biden signed the “Juneteenth National Independence Day Act” into law, designating Juneteenth as a federally recognized holiday. This significant milestone further solidifies the holiday's rightful place in American history and underscores the importance of understanding and celebrating its significance.
You can honor Juneteenth by learning about institutional racism, supporting the Black community, and collectively seeking pathways forward to challenge oppression. Juneteenth serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made and the work that still needs to be done to achieve true freedom, equality, and justice for all. By embracing Juneteenth and its historical context, Tufts University aims to foster a community that actively confronts the challenges of the past, recognizes the contributions of the Black community, and works towards a more inclusive and equitable future.
