SWF Hosts Its Fifth Annual Juneteenth Celebration at The Commonwealth

On Saturday, June 18, SWF hosted its Fifth Annual Juneteenth Celebration at The Commonwealth. More than 400 people of all ages and from across the country converged at The Commonwealth to create, build, and celebrate freedom + community. Every inch of The Commonwealth was buzzing with energy as we filled our bodies and souls with farm fresh food and engaged in arts + crafts, local vendors, workshops, live music, and performances.  Read more and see pictures from our Fifth Annual Juneteenth Celebration at The Commonwealth. 

The Commonwealth came alive as we welcomed our extended Sweet Water Family from across the City of Chicago and beyond to celebrate Juneteenth. This year, we shared a delicious meal of farm fresh greens, cornbread, mac & cheese, potato salad, and fried chicken prepared by SanJustins Kitchen and served by SWF team members and volunteers. 

In the Arts + Crafts area, visitors of all ages were invited to create Freedom Flags, Nature Mosaics, Nature Prints, and Finger Crocheted bracelets and necklaces. The Playground adjacent to the arts + crafts area became a play space for kids and families complete with soccer, tag, and the perfect summer treat - freeze pops! And in the Community Garden, children ran through sprinklers for pure summer fun.

In the Thought Barn and Community Garden, live music and DJ’s kept the energy up throughout the entire day with drummers, dancing, and live music presented in partnership with the Music Moves program of Old Town School of Folk Music. Performances featured the Azania Drum Core, Shon Dervis, Jeremiah Collier & the ReUp, Corey Wilkes' Improvised Soul Projekt featuring Meagan McNeal, and Modular Music Workshop with AFRORACK.

The main event this year was Sweet Water Foundation’s first Intergenerational Fashion Show entitled “Walking in the Wisdom of Our Elders.” The main aisle approaching the Thought Barn transformed into a runway for elders of the SWF community to proudly showcase their vibrant style as they radiated with wisdom and beauty amidst the community.

This year, Juneteenth participants represented more than 400 community members, neighbors, local residents, and visitors from across the Chicagoland area. SWF was also joined by 80+ Values-Based Partners from across the country (Boston, Camden (Maine), Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Tucson, Querétaro (Mexico) and Wayne (West Virginia)) who attended SWF’s first national convening of the Values-Based Partners Network at The Commonwealth.

SWEET WATER FOUNDATION EXTENDS GRATITUDE TO ALL THOSE WHO JOINED IN THE CELEBRATION AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU! TO THOSE WHO MADE SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EVENT, INCLUDING:

• THE SWF TEAM: Lucero Flores, Alysse Hines, Courtney Hug, Kate Mytty, Emmanuel Pratt, Jia Lok Pratt, Mike Reynolds, Sam Scardefield, David Snowdy,  Rudy Taylor, Jr., Knowledge Theodore, and Dr. Derise Tolliver (Mama Afua).

• SUMMER FELLOWS + VOLUNTEERS who cooked, captured photo/video, teaching artists, vendors, and much more:  Naomi Adams, Jada Cannon, Darren Cole, Donasia Gray, Endiya Griffin, Phoenix Lewis, Sandy Mitchell and chefs at SanJustins Kitchen, Michelle Nordmeyer, Aashka Patel, Leslie Ponce-Diaz, Daniel Salomon, Taj Richardson, and Aissatou Whitney Bey. 

• PERFORMERS: Juneteenth Celebration Music was presented in partnership with the Music Moves program of Old Town School of Folk Music.

  • Fashion Show Participants | Mama Agnes, Mama Aissatou, Mama Erma, 

  • Shon Dervis |  Shon Dervis is a DJ, musician, and producer who has been on the local and national scene for more than 20 years. His knowledge and love of music, along with his ability to seamlessly blend genres and cultures, has elevated him amongst Chicago’s music selectors. In high demand, Shon Dervis is your favorite DJ’s DJ. 

  • Azania Drum Core | Azania Drum Core represents leadership, dedication, and a willingness to learn and work as a team through West African music. Started in 2000 by Baba Meshach Silas and Mama Ann Ward, and housed at Betty Shabazz International Charter School, Azania added an entirely new element of culture, creativity, and history to Chicago by catering to children who want to learn how to play djembe and dunduns. 

  • AFRORACK™ | AFRORACK™  is an audio arts organization that aims to help the community develop and thrive through technology resources. They are committed to providing youth and young adults of color access to modular synthesizers and sound design tools.

  • Jeremiah Collier & the ReUp | Jeremiah Collier has been playing a full set of drums since the age of two. He has now been playing around the Chicagoland area professionally for the past 10 years, and is a part of the Stanley Clarke Band. Having been mentored by musicians such as Ari Brown, Robert Irving III, Ernest Dawkins, Charles Heath, Bobby Watson, and the late great Mr. Willie Pickens, Collier has been blessed to play alongside other amazing artists as well, including Antonio Hart, Sean Jones, Don Braden, and Kamasi Washington. His band, JC & The ReUp, is working on an EP that will be released soon. 

  • Corey Wilkes | Improvised Soul Projekt featuring Megan McMeal

Thank You!

Juneteenth Celebration music was presented in partnership with the Music Moves program of Old Town School of Folk Music.