Bay Area

Juneteenth ‘Round the Bay.

Juneteenth is upon us, and it seems that since it achieved status as a federal holiday, the celebration is being held in different places, and where it’s been well established, activities have expanded from one day in length to two or three. Below are just few of the places that will be celebrating. Take your pick!

Published

2 months ago

June 11, 2024

Oakland Post

The 2022 Richmond Juneteenth Parade passes through the Juneteenth Freedom Underpass Mural at S. 37th St. en route to the festival grounds at Nicholl Park. Richmond Standard photo.

Oakland:

Established by Hella Creative, the Oakland Museum of California is hosting Hella Juneteenth: The Cookout. This year’s theme, the cookout, was chosen because of the significance “the cookout” holds in Black culture. Tickets are $10 for people over 12 and you can pre-purchase a cookout plate for $25 on the OMCA website.

Day: Wed., June 19

Time: 1 p.m.to 5 p.m.

Place: Oakland Museum, 1000 Oak St.

Price: $10

For more info, go to https://museumca.org/event/hella-juneteenth-the-cookout/

Fallen Heroes, Rising Stars: A Juneteenth Celebration Through Dance is hosted by the Grown Women Dance Collective in Old Oakland. The Dance Collective will also host community classes from Thursday June 20 through Saturday June 22

Day: Sat. June 22

Time: 3 p.m.

Place: Ninth and Washington streets

FREE!

For more info, go to https://www.grownwomendance.org/juneteenth-2022-1

Oakland’s 17^th Annual Juneteenth Street Festival will have gospel, rap, R&B, jazz performances, a martial arts demonstration, motorcycle club display, exhibits and more

Day: June 22

Time: 11:30 a.m. t-6:00 p.m.

Place: 3233 Market Street

FREE!

Berkeley

The 37^th Annual Berkeley Juneteenth Festival will feature The Dynamic Miss Faye Carroll, Samba Funk! And Boss Tootie among others.

Day: Sat. June 16

Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Place: 3271-3299 Adeline St, Berkeley, CA 94703

FREE!

For more info, go to: https://berkeleyjuneteenth.org/

Vallejo

Vallejo’s 34^th Annual Juneteenth Festival and Parade, sponsored by African American Family Reunion Committee, features a Pop-Up Paint Party and art contest for school-aged youth from grades TK to 12 and more. The festival, including entertainment, wares for sale by vendors and information from community resources follows the parade.

Day: Sat. June 15

Time: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Place: Barbara Kodylis Waterfront Green

301 Mare Island Way in Vallejo.

FREE!

For more information, go to VallejoJuneteeth.com

Richmond

Enjoy live music, dance performances, cultural displays, local vendors, delicious food, and family-friendly activities throughout the day at the Juneteenth Parade and Festival.

Day: Sat. June 22

Time: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Place: Nicholl Park in Richmond, CA from 10- 6 pm.

3230 Macdonald Ave, Richmond

For more information, go to https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/4665/Richmond-Juneteenth-Festival

San Francisco

San Francisco will hold its ‘Decades’ Juneteenth Festival, marking 48 years of holding the celebration. For eight blocks in the historic Fillmore District, something will be going on, from food, to music to fun!

Day: Sat. June 15

Time: 11a.m. to 6 p.m.

Place: On Fillmore Street from Geary Boulevard to Fulton Street.

FREE

For more info, go to https://juneteenth-sf.org/

Marin:

Marin City will hold its Eighth Annual Juneteenth Festival. This year’s theme is Umoja wa Jumuiy, meaning ‘Communities United.

According to the web site, the festival “highlights local vendors and small businesses who come together in an African Marketplace.”

Supervised childcare is provided in a gated playground. A jumping tent, face painting, arts and crafts, and horse rides.

Date: Sat. June 22

Time: 10:30 a.m. -6 p.m.

Place: Rocky Graham Park, 830 Drake Ave., Marin City, 94965

FREE! VIP tickets are available for meal voucher, waited service & valet parking, go to https://juneteenthcommunityfestival.info/ola/services/vip-ticket-to-the-festival.

For more info, call 415-299-7571, or go to https://juneteenthcommunityfestival.info/

San Rafael’s first Juneteenth will be hosted by Christ Presbyterian Church. The church “invites Marin County to celebrate and remember the contributions of African Americans who advanced the development of Marin County.”

Day: Sat., June 15

Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Place: Christ Presbyterian Church

620 Del Ganado Road

San Rafael, CA

FREE!

For more information, go to https://www.cpcinterralinda.org/juneteenth

Mill Valley will hold a Juneteenth featuring, food, music, and fun including a basketball tournament.

Day: Sat. June 15

Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Place: Mount Tamalpais High School

700 Miller Ave. Mill Valley

FREE!

For more info, go to: https://www.cityofmillvalley.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=2464&month=6&year=2024&day=1&calType=0

South County

Hayward

Hayward’s Juneteenth will feature a Blues Festival!

Day: Sat. June 22

Time: 12p.m.-6 p.m.

Place: Hayward Heritage Plaza

835 C St., Hayward

For more info, go to https://www.juneteenthhayward.com/

San Leandro

Join us for a Juneteenth Holiday celebration with a presentation by Chef Wanda Blake, of Wanda’s Cooking. Delve into the rich culinary traditions tied to this meaningful holiday while enjoying light refreshments. Discover the stories behind the flavors and celebrate the spirit of Juneteenth!

Day: Tues. June 18

Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Place: San Leandro Public Library
300 Estudillo Ave., San Leandro

For more info, https://www.sanleandro.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=215

Stockton

The San Joaquin Juneteenth Foundation will hold its 48^th annual event with the theme: Love, Respect, Honor. It will feature community awards, health, education, and history expos; free Father’s Day photos; small business assistance; food and merchant vendors, food and exercise demonstrations.

Day: Sat. June 15

Time: 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Place: Weber Point Events Center

221 North Center St.

Stockton 95202

FREE! Reserve a spot at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/san-joaquin-juneteenth-foundation-inc-presents-2024-stockton-juneteenth-tickets-907998837967

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Op-Ed Senate Bill 966 Threatens Health Equity in East Bay

My East Bay community is struggling to get by. A proposed State Senate bill would set us back even further. Serving the East Bay community has been my life’s work and my greatest joy. After leaving the Bay Area to complete my seminary, I returned home to found The Community Church in Oakland. From the outset of my time as the church’s pastor, I have been guided by the belief that my service must extend beyond the pulpit, because the health and economic needs of my community are so great. Our church has organized free food banks, COVID-19 testing clinics, and a housing and re-entry program for those suffering from addiction.

Published

1 week ago

July 19, 2024

Oakland Post

Rev. Dr. Lawrence E. VanHook

By Rev. Dr. Lawrence E. VanHook

Special to the Post

My East Bay community is struggling to get by. A proposed State Senate bill would set us back even further.

Serving the East Bay community has been my life’s work and my greatest joy. After leaving the Bay Area to complete my seminary, I returned home to found The Community Church in Oakland.

From the outset of my time as the church’s pastor, I have been guided by the belief that my service must extend beyond the pulpit, because the health and economic needs of my community are so great. Our church has organized free food banks, COVID-19 testing clinics, and a housing and re-entry program for those suffering from addiction.

Through my service, I have seen the challenges that our community members are facing. Oakland, my hometown, has the third-highest rate of violent crime in the state. The local economy is strained. Oakland-based businesses are leaving our community because they’re struggling to get ahead.

Both East and West Oakland has disproportionately high rates of respiratory illness due to heavy air pollution. While our local efforts have brought some aid to those in need, we are also counting on our state elected officials to help us address the systemic health disparities afflicting the community.

Chief among the health concerns of community members is having reliable and affordable access to prescription drugs. Equitable access to medications gives us the peace of mind that we can keep ourselves and our families healthy and safe. Our community should not have to choose between paying rent or purchasing prescriptions.

Unfortunately, rather than taking action to combat soaring prescription drug prices, some California lawmakers are pushing legislation that could raise patient costs at the pharmacy counter.

The Legislature is currently considering SB 966, a bill backed by special interests that would undercut the few tools we have to keep prescription drug costs contained, letting big drug companies increase their prices, profiting on the backs of working families – some of whom already live paycheck to paycheck.

SB 966 would target the fundamental programs through which small businesses, unions, and government health programs are able to offer their employees and members quality and affordable healthcare. Millions of Californians rely on these plans to obtain essential medications at the lowest-possible cost.

The bill would make it illegal for employers and unions to incentivize the administrators of their prescription drug plans to negotiate for the lowest possible cost for prescriptions. Right now, small businesses and unions can choose to pay these administrators more for taking on big drug companies and securing discounts – a choice that will be outlawed under this bill.

As a result, employers will have no leverage to stop big drug companies from setting sky-high prices, disproportionately impacting working families.

As these health costs quickly add up, employers will have little choice but to pass the increases down to their employees. That means California patients will see higher healthcare costs and co-pays.

From my perspective, most concerning is that the bill would exacerbate the health disparities impacting my community and other underserved populations. If SB 966 becomes law, the most vulnerable may be forced to skip prescription doses, stop filling their prescriptions, and avoid essential care.

By rejecting this cash grab by big drug companies, our state elected officials can send a clear message that they stand with the community, patients, and working families.

We cannot afford SB 966.

Rev. Dr. VanHook is the founder and pastor of The Community Church in Oakland and the founder of The Charis House, a re-entry facility for men recovering from alcohol and drug abuse.