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Celebrating our 20th Anniversary!!!
Our
‘Vicennial’ Theme:
Iowa Families: Guardians of Freedom, Liberty & Citizenship
Welcome to
the Iowa Juneteenth Observance Website!
2010 will
mark 20 years of the Iowa Juneteenth Observance as we continue our work
to educate and entertain Iowans on the historical significance of July 4th
(Independence Day) and its inseparable relationship to June 19th
(National Juneteenth Freedom Day or Juneteenth) as the only dates in
United States history that unite all of our citizens with the blessings
of freedom and self-determination.
2010 also
marks the third and final year of our theme,
Iowa Families: Guardians of Freedom, Liberty &
Citizenship, as we continue to call attention to the importance
of engaging our youth in preparation for their roles as future leaders
of our communities. The Iowa Juneteenth Observance organization is
pleased to work with our sponsors, volunteers, and others to use our
collective resources to reverse some of the disturbing trends that
impede the vigorous development of youth particularly, but by no means
limited to, African-Americans, in education, health, volunteerism, and
other areas critical to insuring a strong Iowa for our future
generations. We are especially pleased with our Urban Scouting Project
in collaboration with the Mid-Iowa Council of the Boy Scouts of America,
the Eastside Ministerial Scouting Initiative (EMUSI), and the
newly-formed Cub Scout Pack #1 Committee. Together, we have successfully
planted the seeds that are beginning to produce results as we are
returning urban youth to traditional church-based scouting activities
that provide our ‘future’ leaders will the moral, physical, and other
life skills necessary for their successful development.
As you
scan this web site, please envision what role you would like to
assume with regard to: 1) making the Iowa Juneteenth Observance’s
vicennial (20th) anniversary a success that instills pride in
every Iowan; and/or 2) volunteering to make your contribution to a model
for our youth to carry on the Iowa Juneteenth holiday tradition for the
next 20 years!
Ask your
employer, church, and charitable organizations that you support to get
involved with preserving an important part of American history, the Iowa
Juneteenth Observance. Do it for our children, do it for our state, but
just as importantly---- do it for you!
Gary
Lawson, Founder and General Chair
Iowa
Juneteenth Observance
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