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Sunday, April 27, 2025 | Special Advertising Section 14the community and celebrate the end of slavery. In the past thesecommemorations have includededucational lectures, historicallyrelevant performance art and museumdisplays of artifacts. You can alsoattend exhibits by local artists, craftshows and more.No matter where you live or workin the region, there are sure to be a variety of local events supporting and honoring this critical and historicmoment, Terry says.Juneteenth also offers opportunitiesfor organizations to collaborate withother community groups. Connections made that day could lead to conversations and partnerships in thefuture that benefit even more residentsand community members, she says.Working in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation and the RainierBeach Community Center, ASC hasbig, vibrant plans for this year%u2019s revelryon June 18 from 5 p.m. %u2013 8 p.m. Theseevents will be held at RBCC.Terry says she%u2019s expecting more than300 community members and over 60 vendors and volunteers to be present. In addition to free food from localvendors, musical performances, andcommunity resources, ASC%u2019s AnnualJuneteenth Celebration honors current trailblazers in the community thatembody and uplift Black and diverse voices with the Legend Awards. Pastrecipients include CouncilmemberLarry Gossett, Detective Cookie, EddieRye, Aaron and Elmer Dixon, as well asother local changemakers.These resources at the Celebrationpromote ongoing civil engagement, health and social wellness and asense of community for all, includingopportunities for attendees to registerto vote. ASC continues work in the spirit ofJuneteenth and community supportyear-round. One example is their EarlyLearning Program. This free service pairs toddlers and their parents withan early learning specialist who makeshome visits. The child receives freebooks and learning toys to help them engage with letters, numbers andsocial skills while also preparing theparents on how to be their child%u2019s firstteacher.A 3-year-old girl, Abby (not her real name), and her mother joined theprogram recently. After her first homevisit from ASC, Abby started learningEnglish, talking more and speakingnew words. Abby%u2019s mother shares thatsince they began this program, themother-child bond has strengthenedSPONSORED CONTENTPROVIDED BY ATLANTIC STREET CENTERJuneteenth is the nation%u2019s newestfederal holiday, established in 2021.The name blends the two words %u2013%u2018June%u2019 and %u2018nineteenth%u2019 %u2013 that marks theday, June 19, 1865, that commemoratesthe final stop, in Texas, of soldiersmaking their way across the countryto spread news of Abraham Lincoln%u2019s1863 Emancipation Proclamationfreeing enslaved people held in the U.S.Juneteenth (also referred to as %u201cFreedom Day%u201d) celebrations varyby community. In Seattle, there are anumber of ways to honor FreedomDay, and some of these have beengoing on for decades. AtlanticStreet Center (ASC) holds one of thelongest running and most diverseobservances of Juneteenth. In 2024,the Metropolitan King County Councilproclaimed June 19 as Juneteenthin King County and also recognizedAtlantic Street Center, Arte Noire andthe Urban League of MetropolitanSeattle for their celebratory events and their impact on the local community.%u201cThe ways that local communitiescelebrate and honor Juneteenth arebeautifully diverse and now becomingmore widespread across Seattle andKing County,%u201d says Dr. Pela Terry, executive director of ASC.Most events are free and showcaseAfrican American contributions toA look at how Seattle celebrates JuneteenthAtlantic Street Center supportsfamilies and communities with raising healthy, successfulchildren and youth through direct services and advocacy for socialjustice and equity. Our programsinclude behavioral health, earlylearning, youth development andeducation, and gender-basedviolence support. Learn more atatlanticstreetcenter.org.Atlantic Street Center's Juneteenth includes local performers like dancers, musicians and drill teams. (Atlantic Street Center)Atlantic Street Center%u2019s annual Juneteenth event includes family-friendly activities and performances anyone can dance to. (Atlantic Street Center)and the girl%u2019s love for books has grownso much that she%u2019s always asking forthe next one. Abby%u2019s mother says, %u201cThe EarlyLearning Program inspired me tofurther my own education, so I signedup for early learning college courses.Eventually, I want to work with families in an elementary school setting.%u201dNow in its 115th year of service, ASCwants to continue providing accessto success and sustainability for theirparticipants.%u201cNow when so many resourcesare on the line for the most in-needchildren and families in our area, theservices provided by ASC are morevital than ever,%u201d says Terry.