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Juneteenth Jubilee

Kent State University will commemorate Juneteenth with a community celebration that combines the rich history of Black Americans with an assortment of festivities.

 Juneteenth Jubilee will be held on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, from 11 a.m– 1 p.m. on the Kent Campus, Student Green/Risman Plaza. Enjoy live performances, music, great food, vendors and more. This event is free and open to the public. View a map of campus. 

ABOUT

On June 19, Americans across the country celebrate Juneteenth, the commemoration of the day in 1865 when enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, got the news that the Civil War had ended, and they were now free. Slavery in states engaged in rebellion against the Union had ended a full two years before, when President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation became official on Jan. 1, 1863. And it wasn’t long before Black Americans began to celebrate Juneteenth, the name derived from combining June and 19th.

In 1980, Texas began recognizing Juneteenth as an official state holiday, and in 2020, a total of 47 states and the District of Columbia recognizes the date as well. In 2021, the U.S. Senate and House passed measures to recognize Juneteenth National Independence Day as a federal holiday. President Joe Biden signed the legislation on June 17, 2021.

Kent State’s Student Multicultural Center hosted the 2021 Juneteenth Jubilee and Kent State students were integral in planning the event.

 

PERFORMANCES

Sonya Williams, Executive Director of the Office of University Outreach and Engagement, will serve as the emcee for this event. Sonya Y. Williams is a native of Toledo, Ohio. Upon graduation from high school, she attended Kent State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Rhetorical Speaking and Communications in 1989, then moved to Akron where she began her career, meeting her husband and starting a family. In her current role as the Executive Director, University Outreach and Engagement, Office of the Provost at Kent State University, Sonya provides leadership, coordination and supervision for departmental-level projects and initiatives to support university outreach and engagement for the Kent State campus-system and surrounding community, including oversight of a host of pipeline initiatives: Akron Public Schools (APS) University Liaison for College and Career Academies, TRIO Upward Bound & Education Opportunity Center programs, Kent State Prison Reentry Program and First Star Academy. Additionally, Sonya leads all the communications, human resources, and fiscal management for the unit.

DJ Smoov is one of America’s most in-demand DJ talents, performing all over the country as one of the most sought after DJ’s for private events and hottest nightclubs. The Smoov brand is known for his amazing open format sets that he delivers night in and night out, always pushing the bar, evolving creativity and skill set to maximize the “Smoov experience”. Smoov has spun private events for some of the most prominent celebrities, brands, and companies including LeBron James (NBA), Jimmy Fallon (late night host), 50 Cent (artist), Nicki Minaj (artist), James Harrison (NFL), Rockmond Dunbar (actor), Audio Technica (usa) NBC Network, 5/3 Bank, Victoria’s Secret, Next Clothing, Macys, just to name a few. His talents have also earned him the opportunity to perform on Grammy award-winning Bruno Mars 24k Magic World Tour on select tour dates. 2014 Smoov won Spinfest DJ Competition against 25 other DJs based on mixing, scratching and creativity. He also donates his talents to multiple charities, helping organizations raise money for a variety of worthy causes. 

Barefeet Dance Tribe will provide an interactive dance workshop for attendees. Barefeet Dance Tribe is a uniquely combined traditional and modern African dance movement group. Kent State student Rumbidzai Mupinga established the group in 2010 and solely focuses on trying to educate others about different cultures and dance forms other than their own and to have fun while doing it. Barefeet targeted elementary students in the Kent area and has vastly attracted crowds of different ages. It now consists of elementary-aged children to college students from around the Kent, Ohio, area, and in doing so Barefeet also promotes education and the social aspect of the continent of Africa.

Berhane and Sowande Okantah are renowned percussionists known for their engaging and educational drumming that celebrates African cultural heritage and rhythms. Professionally trained in African music and arts, Berhane and Sowande Okantah have nearly two decades of expertise in music performance and instruction. They showcase their talents by captivating audiences and engaging listeners to experience music live in its ancient form. Their work emphasizes the importance of community, history, and the power of music to bring people together.

 

VENDORS

Below is a list of vendors and organizations at the event. Please contact people@kent.edu if you are interested in a vendor table. 

Contact Us

email: people@kent.edu

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