City Announces 2024 Immigrant Heritage Month and Juneteenth Celebration Events

This year the city’s Human Relations Fund (HRF) and Office of Arts and Culture have provided support to several organizations hosting events and celebrations that recognize Immigrant Heritage Month and Juneteenth. All events are free and open to the public.

Immigrant Heritage Month events and celebrations honor the immigrants who have shaped the city for generations. These events celebrate the successful integration of immigrants into the civic, economic and cultural life of the Boulder community. Events celebrating Immigrant Heritage Month include:

• Monday, June 3 through Friday, June 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. - Bilingual Summer Camp
  • Where: Museum of Boulder (2205 Broadway, Boulder, CO)
  • Details: The Museum of Boulder, in partnership with Luna Cultura, present this Spanish/English bilingual summer camp where participants will embrace diversity and honor immigrant heritage month. Participants will learn mixed media art, explore everyday uses of science, and integrate technology into their creations: painting, pottery, electronics, cooking, dance, yoga, and more! Recommended for ages 8-14.
  • Registration is closed.
• Saturday, June 15 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. - Motus Theater presents: Law Enforcement Leaders Read "Women of Resolution"
  • Where: Dairy Arts Center (2590 Walnut Street, Boulder, CO)
  • Details: "Women of Resolution" weaves the stories of four Colorado women — Ingrid Encalada Latorre, Sandra Lopez, Rosa Sabido, and Araceli Velasquez — who took sanctuary to prevent the separation of their families through deportation. Guest readers include Boulder County Sheriff Curtis Johnson, District Attorney Michael Dougherty, and Longmont Police Chief Jeff Sautur. Featuring award-winning photos of Joel Dyer and musician Teresita Lozano.
• Sunday, June 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Ancestral Wisdom and the Right to Care
  • Where: Abrams Lounge, C4C CU Boulder (2010 Willard Loop Dr, Boulder, CO)
  • Details: Join Luna Cultura and the CU Boulder Environmental Center to celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month. This is an event for community connections and learning from art, wellness, the care of Mother Earth, and Culture. The program includes breakfast and music, an interactive presentation, an art activity and a make and take wellness kit.

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, is an important part of American history as it commemorates the official end of slavery on June 19, 1865. Juneteenth celebration events honor and raise awareness of the independence this holiday represents for African Americans. Events celebrating Juneteenth include:

• Monday, June 17 from 3 to 6 p.m. - 2024 Juneteenth Freedom’s Path - Growing Our Next Generation: Finale Celebration
  • Where: Dairy Arts Center (2590 Walnut Street, Boulder, CO)
  • Details: The Executive Committee African American Events (ECAACE) presents the Juneteenth Finale Celebration featuring a banned books panel discussion and dialogue with audience participation. Reiland Rabaka Ph.D. Founder & Director, Center for African & African American Studies (The CAAAS I The Cause) is the featured guest and Ron Ivory Band will provide entertainment.
• Wednesday, June 19 from 6 to 11 p.m. - Roots Music Project Juneteenth Celebration
  • Where: Roots Music Project (4747 Pearl Suite 3VA, Boulder, CO)
  • Details: Roots Music Project presents a night of soul-stirring tunes and powerful performances celebrating freedom. Experience the talents of Rex Peoples and Xfactr, Jack Hadley, Wellington Bullings, Kid Astronaut, Zivanai Masango, and Blessing Chimanga as we honor this historic milestone.
• Wednesday, June 19 from 4 to 10:30 p.m. - Mi Chantli Juneteenth Celebration
  • Where: Mi Chantli (1750 30th St., Unit 22, Boulder, CO)
  • Details: Join Mi Chantli to liberate yourself through music! Mi Chantli aims to celebrate the country's second Independence Day, marking the end of slavery in Texas at the end of the Civil War by activating their space with Black music, history and culture. This event will celebrate Black joy and resiliency through various workshops including a drum ensemble, storytelling and poetry.
• Thursday, June 20 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. - Juneteenth Rooftop Poetry Bash & Celebration
  • Where: Museum of Boulder (2205 Broadway, Boulder, CO)
  • Details: This Juneteenth, Rocky Mountain Equality (formerly Out Boulder County) is celebrating the liberation, resilience, and perseverance of the Black community here in Boulder, CO. The event will feature an amazing DJ, drag performers, spoken word artist, and organizational resourcing.
• Thursday, June 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. - Deneishia LeArtiste "Origin Story" Screening, Workshop, and Artist Talk
  • Where: East Window & Gallery (4550 Broadway, Ste C-3B2, Boulder, CO)
  • Details: Deneishia LeArtiste joins East Window this June to share the personal pathways she has walked in this life with her film “Origin Story.” In collaboration with Melissa Ivey (the Musical Doula), "Origin Story" became a ballad, a soundtrack. Both a reflection and a statement, this film brings together powerful imagery with poignant spoken word and music directed, composed, and produced by Melissa Ivey. To celebrate the birth of "Origin Story" into the world, LeArtiste simultaneously released Fu*k the Fairy Tale: The Art of Living Happily Ever After. She will share a short reading from this book during her time at East Window in June. There will also be a short workshop and artist talk during the event.

The HRF supports community-initiated activities that focus on or raise awareness of civil rights, human rights, or equity issues and problems in Boulder; facilitate interaction, understanding, collaboration and civic participation among diverse communities; or enable communities that experience marginalization to celebrate events significant to them while providing learning opportunities to the general population.

The Human Relations Fund is accepting applications for future events through Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. Learn more and find application information on the city’s website.

Looking for more ways to celebrate? Join the city for a Juneteenth flag raising and remarks from local leaders.

The City of Boulder invites the community to join in a celebration and recognition of Juneteenth. On Friday, June 14, the city will raise a Juneteenth Flag at the Penfield Tate II Municipal Building at 3 p.m. Remarks from local leaders, including representatives from Boulder City leadership, Boulder City Council, NAACP, the University of Colorado Boulder and others, will follow the flag-raising. The event will also feature live entertainment by Selasee and the FaFa Family band.