On Sunday afternoon, the Crispus Attucks Community Center was filled with something you don’t often find all in one place music, history, community, and joy rooted in purpose. The School District of Lancaster was proud to take part in the Crispus Attucks Community Center’s Juneteenth Cultural Mixer, a celebration that honored both the journey and the ongoing work of Black freedom and intergenerational legacy.
More than a day off, Juneteenth is a living story. It marks the moment in 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the end of slavery for the last remaining enslaved African Americans. It reminds us that freedom, even when promised on paper, must be delivered through action.
Hosted by Crispus Attucks Community Center, a space that has uplifted Lancaster’s Black and Brown residents for over a century, the Cultural Mixer was more than a gathering, it was a space for connection, education, and celebration. From youth dancing to live music by ClubKng and Blind Date Band to elders enjoying a meal and reflecting on Lancaster’s rich Black history, the event invited the community to pause, gather, and celebrate the power of presence.
This year’s mixer also marked a significant centennial: 100 years since the Harrisburg Giants, a Negro League baseball team, played their first official game in Lancaster County. During an era of exclusion from Major League Baseball, Black players, coaches, and fans created their own leagues, built on talent, determination, and community support. On April 26, 1925, the Giants took the field at Rossmere Base Ball Park. That legacy of Black excellence despite systemic barriers resonates deeply within the story of Juneteenth and serves as a reminder that liberation is not a single moment, but a continuous effort.
At SDoL, we believe deeply in honoring that effort not just with words, but with how we show up for our students and families. Education doesn’t exist in isolation. It is shaped by the communities we serve, the histories we carry, and the spaces we create for belonging. Events like the Juneteenth Cultural Mixer are part of that educational journey. They invite us to learn beyond the classroom, to celebrate culture, and to listen to the voices and stories that shape our city.
We thank Crispus Attucks Community Center, CAP Lancaster, and all the community partners who helped bring this celebration to life. And we thank every student, parent, educator, and neighbor who came out not just to commemorate a date in history, but to keep building toward the future it calls us to imagine.
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