Medina preparing for fifth annual Juneteenth celebration

Organizers are seeking sponsors and vendors for Medina’s fifth annual Juneteenth Celebration, with a deadline of April 15.

The event will take place Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on the Medina Square. FOX 8’s Kenny Crumpton will return as emcee, and WKYC’s Danita Harris will serve as keynote speaker. Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital will again be the title sponsor.

Steering committee members include Pastor Arthur Ruffin of Second Baptist Church, Tracey Ruffin of Sister Circle Medina, Pam Miller of the Medina Diversity Project, Medina Mayor Jim Shields, Angela Mansier of Main Street Medina and other community partners.

The celebration will include entertainment, food, vendors and Main Street Medina’s Farmers Market.

“As we mark the 250th birthday of our country this year, our mission for this celebration,” said Tracey Ruffin, “is to bring all Americans together to celebrate our common bond of freedom through observance, education, and recognition of Juneteenth in America.”

Organizers are encouraging businesses — especially Black-owned businesses — along with entertainers, artists and community organizations to participate.

First recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, announcing the end of the Civil War and the freedom of enslaved people.

“Our Juneteenth Celebration,” said Pastor Ruffin, “is an opportunity for our community to challenge racism, to reflect on the fact that four million people were enslaved in our country for more than 250 years. We want to celebrate African American freedom and achievement, to promote appreciation of African American history and culture. It’s more important now than ever before, for us to come together in solidarity, to acknowledge our past, and commit to a future that recognizes the contributions of all Americans regardless of the color of their skin.”