Woburn’s 6th Annual Juneteenth Celebration Welcomed 900 Unique Visitors

“Black Power: a Path to Liberation for All” was the theme of Woburn's 6th Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 20, 2026, held at the Woburn Public Library and on the Library’s Front Lawn. Over 900 unique visitors took part in a day filled with culture, education, music, and powerful messages of freedom and remembrance. The event ran from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, transforming into a space for celebration and community learning.

Inside the library, guests explored the Featured Artist Exhibit by Colgan Johnson of 1981andCo Photography, participated in crafts and activities in the Children’s Room, and viewed the Juneteenth informational displays. The Program Room featured a presentation on unmarked graves of locally enslaved people from Library Archivist, Jena Saul, and recent Woburn Memorial High School graduate (WHMS ‘26) and SCI Intern, Girmari Francois. Following in the Program Room was Black Comics Creator panel, featuring Brittney Bourne, Ingrid Pierre, Gabriel Joy Reid, and moderated by Cagen Luse.

The Library Front Lawn featured musical performances by Britnie McDaniel-Roberts (NIE) as well as original poetry read by youth leaders from Winchester A Better Chance, Eyitayo Owolabi (Winchester High School ‘27) and Maxwell Apostadero (WHS ‘28), and Rosebelle Asimawe (WMHS ‘27), Woburn Woburn Black Student Union (BSU) Member. Following the performances, the speaking portion of the event commenced with welcome remarks by Philip Gordon, SCI Managing Director and lead organizer for Juneteenth Woburn 2026.

Presenting remarks rooted in the event’s “Black Power” theme were adult and youth community leaders including Mike West, Deacon, Saint John’s Baptist Church; Eyitayo Owolabi (WHS ‘27), Winchester BSU President; Carson Sarpong (WHS ‘26), former Winchester BSU President; Rosebelle Asimawe (WHMS ‘27), Woburn BSU Member; and Renatha Clairsaint (WMHS ‘27), WMHS Freshman Mentor and SCI Intern.

Keynote speaker Malia Lazu, author of From Intention to Impact and CEO & Founder of The Urban Labs, closed out the spoken remarks. Her message addressed both those in the audience who identify as Black and also those who identify as supporters of the Black community. Lazu noted that after the murder of George Floyd the Black community wanted police reform, not the holiday of Juneteenth. Lazu closed by encouraging supporters of the Black community to use her “three Ls” framework of “Listen”, “Learn”, and “Loving Action” as a way to be an ally.

Juneteenth Woburn 2026 wrapped up with a concert by Crocodile River Music on the Library Front Lawn.

About Juneteenth Woburn 2026

The Juneteenth Woburn 2026 celebration is in partnership with Social Capital Inc., Woburn Public Library, Saint John’s Baptist Church, Network for Social Justice, Mystic Valley Area NAACP, Woburn Memorial High School Black Student Union, and Winchester High School Black Student Union.

Juneteenth Woburn 2026 is financially supported by Eversource; a grant from the Woburn Cultural Council (a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency); Winchester Hospital; FreddyLive Fitness; Peridot Family Law; Reading Cooperative Bank; the Woburn Democratic City Committee; Maria Teresa Nagel, Woburn School Committee Member; and State Representative Richard M. Haggerty. Major support for SCI Programs provided by Cummings Foundation.

Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans, marking the day—June 19, 1865—when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news of freedom, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Massachusetts recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday in 2020, and it became a federal holiday in 2021.

About SCI

SCI’s mission is to strengthen communities by connecting diverse individuals and organizations through civic engagement initiatives. SCI's goal is to develop 1,000 youth + adult Social Capital Cultivators™ by 2028 who will increase social connection through civic engagement initiatives to build thriving, inclusive communities. Visit socialcapitalinc.org to learn more.