India Ingram (center from left) dances with Jada and Tonisha Williams during a Juneteenth celebration put on by the Malone Center in Woods Park on Saturday. Families gathered in Woods Park on Saturday afternoon to celebrate Juneteenth with the Malone Center. Formally celebrated on June 19, the holiday marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.
The Malone Center’s annual event brings the Lincoln community together to celebrate with food, live entertainment and games. The greenspace in Woods Park was lined by tents with community organizations giving out swag and showing their support. “Everything’s been going pretty well,” said Kwajuan Mensah, a partner with Visionary Youth who was volunteering with the event.
“I’ve been cooking and helping out. It’s nice being able to give back to the community and see people celebrate the holiday.” Malone Center ribbon dancer Alayshia Nimox (right) performs alongside other dancers during a Juneteenth celebration put on by the Malone Center in Woods Park on Saturday.
Pastor John Harris of Encouragement Kingdom Outreach came out to open the event with a prayer and honor the holiday with his community. “It’s been a great, beautiful day in Lincoln, a great day to be celebrating something so significant,” Harris said. “Young people today don’t realize that the freedom they have now is not something that was given in the past.
It’s important that we still come t.
