5 minute read
Events: Pride Week and Juneteenth
603 HAPPENINGS Events
THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
To submit multicultural or changemaker events for the next issue, send them to editors@603diversity.com.
CELEBRATING PRIDE MONTH IN UNLIKELY PLACES
In this small, affluent New Hampshire town, families are the common denominator. Parents are heavenly involved in the school system and they are not shy to voice their opinions when it comes to topics like academics and sports.
Windham, a southern town of less than 16,000 residents, has not been much different from other places in the state. Conversations in the area traditionally revolve around jobs, politics, the next vacation destination, but… social issues? Well, mostly in a conservative manner.
The social environment is changing now though. Windham is slowly becoming a reflection of the rest of the U.S. prompting a group of concerned parents, teachers, and residents in general, to ensure its population does not become numb to the realities of our times.
The Windham Citizens for DEI, a volunteer-led organization, has a mission of supporting and uplifting the most vulnerable. The group is developing initiatives seeking to bring “uncomfortable” conversations to town with the purpose of spreading education and generating much needed empathy.
“Pride events, Black Lives Matter rallies, any and all opportunities to support marginalized groups are just as important in smaller communities as in big cities. Diverse populations exist everywhere, so creating a safe, inclusive and affirming environment is the goal of organizations like ours,” explained Jackey Bennett, Co-Chair of Windham DEI, also leading the 2022 Pride event.
This will be the second year Windham hosts a celebration bringing families and the local LGBTQ+ community together. “We were all pleasantly surprised with last year’s attendance and support from the local community and beyond. We had considered that we might face backlash, but that wasn’t the case at all,” says Bennett.
Games, food trucks, performances and family-friendly activities will all be present on Sunday, June 26th from124pm at Windham High School.
“The response from the community was truly amazing and showed that even in a town of varying political ideology, respect and support of the diversity of residents exists”, she concluded. — Carolina Valenti
READY TO CELEBRATE PRIDE?
Events are taking place all over New Hampshire in June!
NASHUA
The Gate City will resume its in-person celebration on Saturday, June 25 at the Nashua Public Library. There’s also a parade taking place on Main Street.
nashuanh.gov/1217/ Nashua-Pride-Festival
MANCHESTER
Queen City Pride Parade will take place on Saturday, June 18th at 10am. It starts on South Commercial St. It will be followed by the festival at 12pm on Arms Park.
queencitypridenh.org
JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS TAKE SHAPE IN THE GRANITE STATE
Three years ago, us young bloods, pulled off Manchester’s first mayorally officiated Juneteenth. I still have the letter from Mayor Joyce Craig’s office somewhere in my studio. I also remember the strife between young bloods and established Black and African leaders in our community. “Why didn’t Black Lives Matter Manchester check in with their elders?” was a whispered sentiment. “Who advised them before they coordinated these marches?” the whispers continued. Who in fact needed to weigh in on a movement led by the city’s young adult population?
Nonetheless,we got together with BLM Manchester and Kenny Frasch generously gave his family’s Hop Knot restaurant to the effort and the event popped off! That first year we had keynote speakers, a singer, poetry, we live streamed the event and had a modest treasure hunt and art show. It was very low key, but it had presence and impact. Frasch decided to coordinate a second Juneteenth at 1000 Elm St, right in the heart of Manchester. Last year, the event grew and attained more support, more viewership. BLM Manchester led a march into Pride which held itself at Arms Park where we had coordinated the new location and look of Queen City Pride. The cross-pollination played out beautifully!
— Yasamin Safarzadeh
MANCHESTER
This year we have a rich committee of individuals consisting of peeps from NAACP, MCAC, West High, local government offices, BLM Manchester and the city library! This year’s Juneteenth feels like it is standing on its own and we are feeding the fire, breathing life into the endeavor. We have subsidized vendor fees for Black vendors, so that they can stand in the spotlight and be recognized for their skills, without the financial burden. We are working with the mayor to coordinate free transportation from low-income residencies throughout the community to the festivities and back. An array of insightful people on our committee will display their dedication to Manchester with vaccine vans, a bookmobile, displays and samples of local Black and African foods — plus a portion of the proceeds will go to benefit black operated organizations which benefit our communities.
Festivities will take place on June 19 from noon to 7 p.m. at 1000 Elm St.
GET A JUMP ON JUNETEENTH
There are other events happening all throughout the state. Below are a few, if you have any more information and want to utilize our networks to broadcast your events, DM phat_riot on Instagram.
NASHUA
“Juneteenth is a time for joy and celebration. For the last few years, our community has gathered in Nashua to commemorate the liberation of Black people from American enslavement on June 19, 1865. We’re in the midst of organizing another great event this year, and we’re looking forward to seeing you there!” says Jordan Thompson, ED of BLM Nashua.
For more information visit facebook.com/BLMNashua.
PORTSMOUTH
Out of everything happening statewide for the month of June, the Black Heritage Trail is hosting one of the most laudable, well researched and invested series of events for Juneteenth celebrations, ranging from artists talks in Manchester, to live art making in Portsmouth.
blackheritagetrailnh.org/ juneteenth-celebration-2022/
HOPKINTON
Reverend Dawn Berry, of the Racial Justice Team at Brookside Congretional Church says they will focus their Juneteenth celebration on Black poetry and music and an educational segment. Please look to their Racial Justice tab under Peace & Justice for more information
