On June 21, 2025, North Hennepin Community College became a powerful gathering place for remembrance, resilience, and celebration. The fourth annual Juneteenth in the Brooklyns brought together the communities of Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center for a day filled with history, culture, and community pride. With the Minnesota CHILL Foundation honored to serve as a key sponsor, the event was grounded in purpose and alive with energy, drawing hundreds to reflect, connect, and envision a future rooted in freedom.
The day’s program honored the significance of Juneteenth—the moment in 1865 when the last enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. As genealogist Micah Anders reminded attendees, freedom was delayed then, and justice still requires our collective work today. That message was woven into every aspect of the celebration: from captivating performances and moving storytelling to vibrant wellness activities and a community mural reflecting this year’s theme, Planting Seeds of Freedom. Local vendors, artists, and leaders came together to create a space where heritage was honored, community was strengthened, and the vision for a liberated tomorrow was actively nurtured. Thanks to the dedication of partners, volunteers, and supporters like Minnesota CHILL Foundation, those seeds are not only planted—they are already taking root.
