“I have lived in this neighborhood my whole life, right next to this park, but I have never been to this part and I had no idea about the history here. I love this stuff, and can’t wait to come back to explore more!” ~Juneteenth Participant

This past June, two IPC led events celebrated both the holiday of Juneteenth and the coming of the Solstice. On a hot June 19th on the Eastern Shore, the Value-Aligned Partnership and other partners organized a “Liberation & Light” Juneteenth and Solstice event, which took place at Pemberton Historical Park. In Leakin Park in Baltimore City, people of faith gathered to reflect on the meaning of the Juneteenth holiday and its juxtaposition to the Solstice. 

In Baltimore, the highlight of this year’s celebration came from an unlikely source- the cemetery tours with interpreters in period dress. Thanks to Dana Chou,* the volunteer reenactors “haunted” the woods as spirits while they told the stories of people who were laid to rest there. Some of the deceased date back to the Civil War era, where married couples had divided sympathies between the Union and Confederate armies. Participants found it fascinating. But more importantly, as stated in the quote above, we accomplished one of the goals of this event, which is to bring more people into this gem of a park to appreciate the beauty of nature and history here. Mission accomplished!

The program began with some enlightening words from Mr. Charlie Dugger, a beloved retired Baltimore City teacher about the need for knowing your people’s history and of social justice activism. This was followed by a brief interfaith prayer offered by our new friend, Pastor Mary Robinson from Martin Luther King United Methodist Church.

Then we were treated to an extremely moving presentation of the Haudenoesauneee Thanksgiving Address-Greetings to the Natural World offered by Peter Brooks, representative of the Piscataway Nation.  Everyone present came away with a better appreciation of all of the gifts of Creation-as recognized by the original peoples. The prevailing theme of the day was gratitude. Gratitude for our ancestors who celebrate the earth and its bounty but also for those who suffered and persevered through slavery.

We appreciate the blessings shared of African drumming by Wellington Darrell and Peter’s native drumming as well. We were delighted by: the storytelling of “BiBi” Tanwa Suma, Yarabee Yoga offered by Jamila Keita*, arts and crafts by Regina Spencer* from Mount Lebanon Baptist Church (MLBC), fishing instruction by Darin Crew and  "Bunni" Kelle Pressley from One More One Less, native plant garden tours by Peggy Cummings*, bug hunt by John Marra from Blue Water Baltimore, forest therapy walk by Ted Martello* from Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, Archery and Yield Camp Jamil Mott* and Aaron Sorak from Maryland Community Solar. Tremendous thanks also to our other planning committee members including Bev Anderson from MLBC, Pastor Brenda White from Allen AME Church, Raquel Bailey from the Franklintown Community Association, Bridget McCusker* and Zach White* from Friends of Gwynn Falls Leakin Park.

At the “Liberation & Light” in Salisbury, participants were able to plant Black-eyed Susans donated by Williwaw Farm with Future Harvest and Young Men of Distinction, heard stories of Black history at Pemberton and took part in poetry readings with Amber Green, founder of Fenix Youth Project, and centered themselves with the land through a drumming and ceremony circle, led by the Delmarva Free School and artist Brock Kalim. The day ended with a touching, interactive water ceremony and blessing by Reverend Margaret Brack, from St. Alban’s Episcopal Church and Faith Lutheran Church. The Lower Shore Land Trust kindly donated a Catawba Tree for planting; and Wicomico Environmental Trust supplied children’s activities for the day.

Both events show the power of the One Water Partnership in bringing people of faith together in their communities to celebrate the spirit and power of these two wonderful holidays-ringing in the joy of exploration of the natural world and freedom.

*Served on the Event Coordinating Committee