8th Annual SJM Juneteenth Freedom Celebration
Our 2025 Theme
“HARAMBEE: Pull Together to Honor our Past, Build our Future, and Celebrate our FREEDOM”
Saturday, June 14th from 12-7 pm (Raindate June 21st)
Shady Rest Golf and Country Club, 820 Jerusalem Rd, Scotch Plains
Social Justice Matters (SJM) is planning their eighth community Juneteenth celebration, to be held on Saturday, June 14th, 2025. The theme for Juneteenth 2025 is “HARAMBEE” which means “all pull together” in Kenya’s Kiswahili language. Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War ended and that the enslaved were free – two-and-a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. That led communities to pull together to create new opportunities.
As we commemorate 160 years since the last enslaved Americans were finally freed, let us pull together and work towards the future that we wish for future generations to be proud of. Harambee is a call to help others regardless of race, creed, gender, or class. Harambee is an action of the individual who sees the value in helping the greater community that brings the spirit of this word to life. Juneteenth serves many purposes but none more important than reminding ourselves and making our community aware of the history and values we pass from one generation to the next.
The venue, Shady Rest Golf and Country Club, has a rich history and heritage and has been added to the NJ Black Heritage Trail. Shady Rest Golf and Country Club is the former home to John Shippen - the first International American golfer - first African-American professional golfer -and host to some of the era's most prominent musicians such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Billie Holiday! You can find out more about the legacy of Shady Rest at the preserveshadyrest.org website.
Our Opening Ceremony will be hosted by Marklyn “MisterDirect” Johnson. There will be an ASL interpreter during the opening ceremony with a special seating area for the deaf.
Our DJ Jason Summers will provide music through the day. Performers include Carrie Jackson, who will be singing with the band Amani; the Nubian Messengers, featuring African percussion infused with contemporary instrumentation; an interactive drumming workshop led by Kojo Ayinde Johnson, who will teach about the history and techniques of the djembe and other African drums; and a West African dance performance by Kcydiima Zahir and her dancers.
Over 45 information booths, local nonprofits, service organizations, local Black authors, Black-owned businesses and vendors.
Fun and games: putting contest and instruction given by Derrick Garret, mini golf on the Shady Rest course, skee-ball, corn hole toss, bubbles, face painting, balloon art, chalk drawing., readings and book signings of local Black authors.
Food provided by Savory Selections, Gramps Kitchen, Bite Me Bakery and Grandma Emma’s.
There will be no admission charge. The event venue is accessible to people with disabilities.
Tours of the Shady Rest Golf and Country Club Museum and Educational Displays of John M. Shippen Jr.provided by the Preserve Shady Rest committee.
In addition there will be a special display of the history Kramer Manor. The Kramer Manor neighborhood envisioned as an “ideal colored development” by builders Harry and Hyman Kramer, Kramer Manor offered buyers a rare chance to attain a toehold towards the American Dream.
Schedule of Event
12:00 PM - Opening Ceremony with ASL interpreter (on main stage)
12:30 PM - Children’s story time with Renaee Smith (inside Shady Rest)
1:00 PM - Afternoon Jazz with Carrie Jackson and Amani (on main stage)
2:40 - 4:20 PM - Children’s story time with local children’s authors (Nicole Neal, Candace Waller, Thaddeus Expose) (inside Shady Rest)
Nicole Neil - “Seize the Day: Leila's Big Adventure" - reading and talk-back
Candace Waller - “Frankie and the Peanut Butter and Jelly Fiasco” - reading and craft
Thaddeus Expose - “Catch Me If You Can” - reading
2:40 - 4:20 PM -Tours of John Shippen Shady Rest Museum provide by the Preserve Shady Rest committee (inside Shady Rest)
2:40 - 4:20 PM - Putting Contest and instruction given by Derrick Garret (Shady Rest golf course)
4:30 PM - Nubian Messengers (main stage) - local band featuring African percussion infused with contemporary instrumentation
5:15 PM - The Rhythm Spark Sankofa drum program led by Kojo Ayinde Johnson (inside Shady Rest) - An interactive djembe workshop where participants will learn about the history, construction, and techniques of the djembe and other African drums.
6:15 PM - West African Dance Performance by Kcydiima Zahir and her dance team (on main stage)
HARAMBEE: Let’s pull together for economic justice in our communities.
HARAMBEE: Let’s pull together for educational justice in our communities.
HARAMBEE: Let’s pull together for health justice in our communities.
HARAMBEE: Let’s pull together for social justice in our communities.
HARAMBEE!
