Aurora to Host Juneteenth Celebration Event
Singer-songwriter Toney Rocks among the performers
AURORA, Colo. - A Juneteenth celebration featuring live entertainment, kid's activities and community resources will be held Saturday, June 19, at Town Center at Aurora, 14200 E. Alameda Parkway. The event, which runs from 1 to 5 p.m., is sponsored by the Aurora Police Department, city of Aurora, Town Center at Aurora and ReACT (Responding to Aurora's Critical Topics), a volunteer group.
Aurora’s Juneteenth celebration is a family event that will include youth performances, a storyteller, local exhibitors, and musical acts, including Las Vegas singer-songwriter Toney Rocks.
The event will be located inside the shopping mall. "Town Center at Aurora is honored to partner with the City of Aurora to provide a free event in celebration of Juneteenth. We invite the community to join us as we work to create an equitable future for all based on empathy, love and respect." Joel Boyd, General Manager of Town Center at Aurora.
"Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom and an opportunity to promote an inclusive community," said Claudine McDonald, Aurora Police Department's Community Relations Chief Executive. "When a community member brought the idea for this event to our ReACT group, we knew this fit right in with Chief Wilson's 'New Way' plan to elevate community voices and show our commitment to a collaborative and community-based future."
"A New Way" is Police Chief Vanessa Wilson's plan for restoring community trust.
"Planning a community event during the pandemic has been a challenge. But our desire to bring Aurora together to learn more about each other, recognize our humanity and where our lives may connect in surprising ways - this is what made us push forward with the event. We invite everyone to come learn more about history and grow together as a community," said Gerald Brewer, Chair, ReACT.
Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when news of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation reached African Americans in Texas and commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. The historical significance of the event is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate Aurora's diverse cultures.
For scheduled line up of events and exhibitors, please visit www.auroragov.org/Juneteenth.
Agent Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Aurora Police Department
720.432.5095