Juneteenth + Pride
By Canton Citizen
CDEI members and guests celebrated both Juneteenth and Pride on Saturday. (Jay Turner photo)
A modest but supportive crowd of residents and local leaders came together on the patio of Northern Spy last weekend for a first-of-its-kind “Juneteenth + Pride” celebration hosted by the Canton Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.
While CDEI has hosted individual events for both the Juneteenth federal holiday, which commemorates the formal ending of slavery in the United States, and Pride Month, which celebrates LGBTQ+ culture, history and the ongoing fight for equal rights, it had never previously combined the two events into a single celebration.
CDEI Chair Naomi Akan, who emceed the festivities, said the decision to join the two events was driven by the committee’s primary objective, which is to foster a community where everyone feels they belong. “Juneteenth with Pride challenges us to consider how we build environments where everyone feels valued, and everyone feels respected and empowered to succeed,” Akan said. “It calls us to listen, to learn, and to work together to create a more equitable and inclusive future.”
The celebration featured music and dancing, poetry readings, and reflections on the significance of both holidays by CDEI members as well as guest speakers Shirronda Almeida and Divyne Freedom.
See this week’s Citizen for a full recap and event photos by Jay Turner. Click here to order your subscription today.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=134335
Posted by Canton Citizen
on Jun 25 2026. Filed under Featured story.
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