Residents as well as visitors from out of town and out of state came to Centralia this weekend to join the Juneteenth Celebration honoring the abolition of slavery in America.
Plenty of vendors and organizations were set up in and around the park to participate in the event. Juneteenth committee vice president Malaya Downey said during the welcome ceremony that Centralia’s Juneteenth celebration serves to boost local businesses and support community development.
“At the local level, our committee’s mission is to enhance economic development—these are small businesses, big businesses and nonprofit organizations alike. My vendors report to me that Juneteenth is their most profitable event of the year. Community development: If you take some time and walk around Laura Leake Park, you will see some improvements. It is our mission, and we fundraise with this event every single year, to make improvements to this park.”
Downey also talked about the event’s role in bringing people together and fostering discussion.
“It’s very important that we come together as a community and have conversations. Conversation changes culture. We hear so many times that people complain about their situation being from a small town, but if you want to take the steps to change it, it starts with a conversation. It starts with supporting a local business. It starts with supporting a local nonprofit. That’s where the change begins.”
As part of the event, Laura Leake Park was officially dedicated in honor of Laura H. Leake, a post-Reconstruction Baptist missionary and advocate for the poor in Centralia. Many of Leake’s descendants were present and recognized at the dedication, which included the unveiling of a new plaque next to the park sign describing Leake’s life and legacy.
Other activities throughout the day included a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, bounce houses, dance fitness, a beer garden, carnival games, bingo, a prize walk, and a performance from band The J Sound.
The weekend celebration concluded on Sunday in Laura Leake Park.
