June 19, 2021 juneteenth in the commonwealth Office of the Secretary of Natural Resources Featured Events Saturday, June 19, 2021 | 10:00 a.m. Ona Jude Highway Marker Dedication Ona Judge Highway Marker Dedication - The “Ona Judge” marker dedication ceremony begins at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 19, Juneteenth, at the marker’s location in Fairfax County across from the entrance to Mount Vernon, at 3500T Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy. (The marker technically is at the entrance to a U.S. Post Office parking lot.) The host is the county’s Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck and the event will be streamed live on Storck’s Facebook page. Among the speakers will be DHR State Archaeologist Dr. Elizabeth Moore, who will represent DHR. Ona Judge was born into slavery at Mount Vernon. After Geo. Washington became president, Judge escaped during one of Washington’s many extended residencies in Philadelphia to perform his presidential duties. She successfully resisted his attempts to recover her and ultimately married and raised a family in New Hampshire. The marker was one of ten + as a result of the Governor’s Black History Marker Contest in 2020. Contact for the event is Camala Speer (cc’d): [email protected]. Saturday, June 19, 2021 | 11:00 a.m. National Event: Freedom Flags, Breaking Chains Come join us as we celebrate Juneteenth with activities and information for all ages. There will be crafting stations, freedom discussions, and History talks. freedom flags: Flags can represent many different ideas, people, places. Come learn about the flags of Juneteenth and make your own. breaking chains: What does freedom mean to you? What did freedom mean to the enslaved? Come join our discussion and break symbolic chains! Unvaccinated guest please wear a mask and follow social distancing protocols. Location: Mason Neck State Park Saturday, June 19, 2021 | 8:00 a.m. Juneteenth-Hidden Histories Hike: Group Camp 7 Discover more about the once segregated portion of what is now Pocahontas State Park. with park staff and Black Girls Hike RVA. Group Camp 7 had a dining hall, several group cabins, and a small lake with a swim beach. The camp was built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and was used until the 1970’s. Often, churches would rent out the facilities and host summer camps for local youths, such as the Baptist General Convention did in the 1940’s when they developed Camp Carey for girls. Today, all that remains is the lake, a brick retaining wall, and some building foundations. The area is accessible via the Otter Lick Loop Trail. The hike to Group Camp 7 is about five miles. Wear sturdy shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. Registration in advance preferred. Saturday, June 19, 2021 | 10:00 a.m. Juneteenth: StoryWalk Pop Up StoryWalks are part of a national trend encouraging movement and reading. The concept is simple. Follow the pages of a storybook as you explore a trail. Begin at the Visitor Center to find out which trail will have the story and then begin your exploration and storytime at your own pace. When you’re finished, stop back in to let the rangers know about your adventure. Trails vary, but all will be less than a mile and stroller friendly. The selected book will be about Juneteenth and will be geared toward 5th grade and under. Location: Pocahontas State Park Saturday, June 19, 2021 | 11:00 a.m. Juneteenth Storytelling: A Conversation with Oney Judge Description: Oney Judge was the personal maidservant to Martha Washington from the time George Washington was elected to attend the Continental Congress until the end of his 2nd term of presidency. Oney has the infamous reputation of being one of the ones that “ran away” from Philadelphia, PA right before the end of President Washington’s term as President. Master Storyteller Sheila Arnold will tell stories of Oney’s life with the Washingtons, her home life and upbringing, her run for freedom, her attempt to negotiate with the first President of the United States and her new life once free. Reservations Required Location: Pocahontas State Park 2 Saturday, June 19, 2021 | 12:30 p.m. Juneteenth Storytelling with Sheila Arnold: Still’s Underground Railroad William Still, a prominent Conductor of the Pennsylvania Underground Railroad, wrote the definitive book about the lives of persons “stealing themselves” away to freedom. Some stories are familiar-Harriet Tubman, “Boxcar” Brown and Ellen Craft. However, other stories are new, compelling and shed light on family separation, education and various ways used to runaway. Master Storyteller Sheila Arnold will tell stories about William Still, the Underground Railroad, abolitionists, and runaway slaves from Virginia. Location: Pocahontas State Park Know Before You Go: Before your visit, find the most up to date health and safety information at https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/besafe Office of the Secretary of Education Featured Events Friday, June 18, 2021 | 7:00 p.m. Chase Fridays After Five: Dance After Work Iya Osunponmile joins Performing Arts Coordinator Robert Phanord for a deep look at the role African spirituality & dance play in American culture. Location: YouTube Friday, June 18, 2021 | 8:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Dirty South Outdoor Movie Event Showing of Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012; dir Benh Zeitlin; 93 min; PG-13) following the introduction with Valerie Cassel-Oliver $8 (VMFA member, $5) Limited tickets sold for limited seating Location: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Saturday, June 19, 2021 | 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Juneteenth Celebration Day at The Frontier Culture Museum This year’s activities will be conducted in partnership with the Shenandoah Valley Juneteenth Celebration Committee and will feature live interpretive demonstrations on many of the Museum’s exhibits highlighting the contributions made by enslaved West Africans to the evolving American frontier culture 3 here in Virginia. These contributions include foodways, music, architecture, and crafts and will be featured on the Museum’s West African Farm, American Farms, and Mt Tabor Church exhibits. The day will also include roots music performances, guest speakers, and an African-American history exhibit. Youth-oriented Arts and Afro-centric activities and games will be available as well. Community service organizations (e.g. voter registration, health services, etc.) will be present in the Museum’s main courtyard throughout the day. As part of the Juneteenth community event, the Museum will be hosting an Augusta Health pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic at our Octagonal Barn (walk-ins welcome). This event will supplement Augusta Health’s ongoing efforts to reach disproportionately affected populations throughout the Shenandoah Valley with lifesaving inoculations. Location: The Frontier Culture Museum Saturday, June 19, 2021 | 2:00 p.m. Juneteenth at Jamestown 90-minute outdoor program of performance, music and dance, meet African Americans from three centuries who fought against those laws until freedom came. Event included with Jamestown Settlement museum admission: $18.00 for adults and $9.00 for ages 6-12. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free. Residents of James City County, York County and the City of Williamsburg, including William & Mary students, receive free admission with proof of residency. Location: Jamestown Settlement Saturday, June 19, 2021 | 2:00 p.m. William & Mary’s Juneteenth Celebration The program will include: ● A performance of “Evolution of a Black Girl: From The Slave House to the White House” by actress Morgan McCoy ● Highlights from the groundbreaking for Hearth: Memorial to the Enslaved ● A reading of the names of the people enslaved by William & Mary and student artwork ● Music by The Gonzales Sisters, The Three Tenors and Matthew Willard ● Remarks from W&M President Katherine A. Rowe, Williamsburg Mayor Doug Pons, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation President and CEO Cliff Fleet, and President of the Let Freedom Ring Foundation Connie Hartshaw Location: Online 4 Saturday, June 19, 2021 | 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Juneteenth: Come Freedom, Come with Valerie Davis Gunston Hall is commemorating those who sought their freedom from the 18th century onward. We will be joined by Valerie Davis, who embodies the physical, historical, and spiritual essence of Martha Ann Fields, a 19th-century freedom seeker, through storytelling. Over the course of the program, we will hear the story of how Fields gathered up her children and crossed the Pamunkey River, and reached the Union lines to secure her family’s freedom. This 50-minute program will take place on the lawn in front of the Gunston Hall mansion, the home of an untold number of enslaved men, women, and children. Location: Gunston Hall Front Lawn Saturday, June 19, 2021 | 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Juneteenth Monarch Community Market on Monarch Way The Community Market on Monarch Way is a grassroots initiative featuring a market of local farmers, artisans, and musicians held weekly on Monarch Way at Brock Commons on the campus of Old Dominion University. This evening market will feature artisans, vendors, and musical performers of color to celebrate and highlight the contributions of the Black community. Location: Monarch Way and 47th Street at Brock Commons on the campus of Old Dominion University Saturday, June 19, 2021 | 7:00 p.m. Brewer’s Sessions x VMFA’s Dirty South This special Juneteenth edition of Brewer’s Sessions is presented by VPM at VMFA. Inspired by the exhibition The Dirty South: Contemporary Art, Material Culture, and the Sonic Impulse, this set by Bee Boisseau Project celebrates Black music—from jazz and blues to R&B and funk. At VMFA through September 6, the exhibition traces 100 years of African American cultural influence and artistic expression, exploring the visual and musical artistry that has shaped the South and the nation for generations.