In honor of the nation’s seventeenth Independence Day, a Carroll County nonprofit organization will host its third annual Juneteenth to Carroll Freedom Day at Carroll Community College this Saturday.
Featuring children’s activities, entertainment, food vendors, live music and more, the Speak On It Act on It event will be a day to commemorate the liberation of African Americans from slavery and highlight emphasis on success and education, according to its website.
Speak On It Act On It is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to encourage county residents of African descent to embrace and share their culture and history. The organization plans to bring cultural awareness to the community through education and awareness.
“Our goal has always been to produce an educational article and we call it our ‘focused conversation,’” said Diane Hurd, co-founder and president of Speak On It Act On It. “This year our conversation will be, ‘Is racism over and we just haven’t gotten the memo?’ » So we hope it will be a lively conversation.
Speak On It Act On It will also name its 2024 James Baldwin Award winner at the event. The annual award honors county residents or residents of neighboring counties who speak and act on the themes of author James Baldwin.
Hurd said she hopes the event brings the community together.
“The goal is to bridge the gap, put aside differences and come together to be accepted,” she said. “That’s what’s important here in Carroll County, that the African American community is accepted for who we are and what we can bring to the community.”
On June 16, Carroll Freedom Day will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Carroll Community College, 1601 Washington Road in Westminster.
June 19 is this Wednesday, June 19.
For more information, visit speakonitactonit.org.
