Woburn’s 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration Welcomed Over 400 Guests

On Saturday, June 15th, over 400 people gathered for SCI’s 4th annual Juneteenth Woburn 2024 celebration at the Woburn Public Library. The event was held in partnership with the City of Woburn, St. John’s Baptist Church of Woburn, WMHS EmbRACE Club, WMHS Step Team, WMHS Black Student Union, the NAACP Mystic Valley Area Branch, and the Woburn Democratic City Committee.

The celebration ran from 12-5 PM, transforming the library's rear parking lot into a lively block party. The air was filled with music from DJ Larry D and the soulful blend of Reggae, Soca, and Calypso from the PanNeubean Steel Trio. Local Black-owned businesses, King Journals, Lash Beauty LLC, and Navana Creations, were present at Juneteenth Woburn as vendors. Attendees also engaged with numerous community organization tables and enjoyed festive food from Nzuko, Watertown--a Caribbean fusion restaurant.

Welcome remarks for Juneteenth Woburn were made by SCI Deputy Director Philip Gordon and Woburn Mayor Mike Concannon. Gordon thanked attendees for coming to the celebration and noted that events like Juneteenth that “build community here, matters everywhere.” Mayor Concannon echoed the sentiment by recognizing the progress made on issues of racism and civil rights, before wrapping up by giving the official Juneteenth Proclamation for the City of Woburn.

Inside the Woburn Public Library was an insightful presentation on the History of Emancipation and Juneteenth by Christopher Daley as well as interactive Juneteenth activities for children. SCI also made donations of $250 each to the WMHS Black Student Union, the WMHS EmbRACE Club and the WMHS Step Team.

The next Woburn Juneteenth celebration will be held on June 21st, 2025.

Juneteenth Woburn 2024 was supported by a grant from Woburn Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. Additional financial sponsorship was provided by Altair Engineering, Santander Bank, Reading Cooperative Bank, Winchester Hospital, the NAACP Mystic Valley Area Branch, and the Woburn Democratic City Committee. Major support for SCI Woburn provided by Cummings Properties.

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About Juneteenth:
Juneteenth is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of enslaved Black people within the United States – first celebrated on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas and has since been observed annually on June 19th. In July 2020, Governor Charlie Baker signed into law a bill designating Juneteenth as an annual state holiday in Massachusetts. Juneteenth was recognized as a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.

About SCI:
The mission of SCI Social Capital Inc. is to strengthen communities by connecting diverse individuals and organizations through civic engagement initiatives. Founded in 2002 in Woburn, SCI has grown to serve the Greater Boston area while continuing to have a significant impact in Woburn.

SCI projects include youth-led campaigns to promote mental health awareness and provide food assistance; community events reflecting the diversity of the population; and the SCI AmeriCorps program providing support to youth by increasing volunteerism and providing leadership training and community service opportunities for youth. SCI events you may be familiar with: the Summer Concert Series at Horn Pond, Juneteenth Woburn, Worldfest, and more.

Major support for SCI Woburn comes from Cummings Properties. Visit SCIWoburn.org to learn about local SCI programs and volunteer opportunities.