HHOMA Announces First Annual Juneteenth Celebration

​CHARLESTON, WV – The Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs (HHOMA) announced today the 1st Annual Juneteenth Celebration to be held as part of the FestivALL entertainment on Monday, June 19, 2017 at 3:30 p.m. at the Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston. The event is free and open to the public.
 
“This is a wonderful educational event for West Virginia that will highlight the rich history that we offer," said Dr. William M. White, executive director for HHOMA. "This is the first time that our office is holding such an event for the community and I invite everyone to join us and partake in the festivities for the day. The Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs not only wants to highlight the diverse communities in our Almost Heaven state, we want to educate others on the traditions that are celebrated in a fun and innovative environment.”
 
Juneteenth, or Freedom Day, is a holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865 announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas, and more generally the emancipation of African slaves throughout the Confederate South. This Juneteenth celebration features headliner Step Afrika! This electrifying dance company from Washington, D.C., promotes an appreciation for stepping as a contemporary dance genre and its use as an educational, motivational and healthy tool for young people. Juneteenth also features live entertainment from Unity in the Community Choir, the MLK Male Chorus, Mrs. Jean English from Harlem Heights, the W3 Dancers, spoken word by Ms. Crystal Good and Mrs. Janet Williams, live DJ Woody Woods from 98.7 The Beat, games and much more.
 
 For more information on HHOMA, visit www.minorityaffairs.wv.gov.

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