Springfield Unity Project

Looking forward to another great Hispanic Heritage Month event at the Summit Area YMCA Berkeley Heights Y on October 13th from 4 - 6 PM! Remember to register: https://thesay.org/hhc-24

Today we celebrate Juneteenth Freedom Day, a holiday that commemorates the date all black Americans were free in the United States. The Emancipation Proclamation took effect in 1863, freeing slaves in Confederate states, but it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control. On June 19, 1865, two thousand Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas and announced that the 250,000 enslaved black persons in the state were freed by executive decree.

This holiday has long been celebrated in the African American community, but it was largely unknown to most Americans. It gained recognition as a federal holiday on June 17, 2021.

To learn more about Juneteenth, please visit https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth

Our neighbors in Summit and Springfield are each hosting Juneteenth celebrations on Friday, June 21. We invite you to join us in celebrating this important day with them.

Join the Summit Area YMCA on Tuesday, May 21 to celebrate Holi at the Springfield Community Pool in partnership with Springfield Unity Project ! Everyone is encouraged to participate in this free, fun and joyous outdoor color-throwing festival with music, dancing, arts & crafts, and more! White attire recommended.

Learn more: thesay.org/holi