MARQUETTE, Mich. – While Juneteenth is officially recognized on June 19, Northern Michigan University extended its celebration throughout the week with a series of community-centered events hosted by the university’s Center for Community and Connection.
The week included a community picnic, African drum and dance workshops, and culminated with a Juneteenth Festival held Wednesday at Lakeview Arena in Marquette.
“It was just a way for us to just continue on the learning and the awareness of Juneteenth,” said Freddy Siums, coordinator of the Center for Community and Connection. “Most people don’t know about what Juneteenth is and giving folks different moments and different ways to connect with Juneteenth would allow them to come as they are, whenever they are.”
Organizers said the events were designed to be inclusive and educational, while also providing space for joy and community connection. Siums added that after weeks of planning, it was rewarding to see the event come together.
“There’s always a lot of moving pieces,” said Siums. “So when all those moving pieces are moving around it feels like a machine, but then when you get to see the fruition of it all it’s very beautiful and heartwarming. I’m very grateful for what it is and how it turned out, and to everyone that supported us. It’s been super great.”
Bay College also partnered with NMU for the celebration. Bay College President Dr. Nerita Hughes, who served as the festival’s keynote speaker, said holding a Juneteenth event in the Upper Peninsula represents a meaningful step forward for inclusion.
“To be able to come together for the UP and knowing that we’re in a diverse area right now, and diversity is defined broadly it’s not just racial and ethnic diversity, and that’s what this is all about, it’s how do we celebrate all of the skills we bring together,” said Hughes. “For this to be in the UP is amazing.”
Though Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, Siums emphasized that the holiday is meant to be shared by all.
“We’re all trying to be liberated from something, and as we’re pursuing that liberation if we do it in community it feels a little less lonely,” said Siums. “So our goal is to have Juneteenth be that moment of , yes we’ve been fighting and yes we’ve been doing all the things we need to do to pursue liberation but what about the joy in all of it? So I wanted to commemorate that today.”
The weeklong celebration concludes Thursday with a free public screening of the film Miss Juneteenth at 6 p.m. in NMU’s Mead Auditorium.