3rd Annual Cook County Juneteenth Illinois Celebration to Be Held June 16th & 17th

Scholarship Reception and All-day Panels and Activities Celebrating Black Liberation and Equity in Education, Entrepreneurship, Criminal Justice, and Health Care

3rd Annual Cook County Juneteenth Illinois Celebration to Be Held June 16th & 17th

Scholarship Reception and All-day Panels and Activities Celebrating Black Liberation and Equity in Education, Entrepreneurship, Criminal Justice, and Health Care

CHICAGO (June 1, 2023) – A celebration and community recognition event is planned for Cook County’s Juneteenth IL 2023, which takes place Friday and Saturday, June 16 & 17, as a part of “Juneteenth Illinois,” an initiative commemorating the official June 19 date. This year marks the 3rd annual celebration of the day by the county since it became an official holiday in December of 2020.

Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer (2nd District) and Barbara Deer (Juneteenth IL Executive Director) are heading up the effort this year. Juneteenth Illinois is a collaboration between The Office of Cook County Commissioner Deer, Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry (3rd District), Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore (4th District), Rep. Lakesia Collins (9th District), Alderwoman Monique Scott (24th Ward), Cook County Juneteenth Joint Planning Committee, State of Illinois and the City of Chicago. The day-long panel activities will be held at Malcolm X College June 17, located at 1900 W. Jackson Boulevard, Chicago.

The Juneteenth Scholarship Reception is being held on the evening of June 16. $10,000 in scholarships will be awarded to students. The scholarships will be awarded to 10 newly selected students with additional monies given to returning students. The program includes a showcase of youth leadership in the arts with African dance, a drumline, soulful music, the annual “Divine 9 roll call”, and great food. The sold-out event will be held at the 540 Madison rooftop.

On June 17, Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle will offer the welcome and opening remarks to the conference. Juneteenth IL runs all day and will provide a varied slate of programming including panel discussions, resource fair, blood drive and entertainment. Entertainers include Kells the Artist, Bobbi Ponder, Sean Black, D’Moment and others.

All access to Juneteenth Illinois 2023 panels and activities is FREE to the public, although pre-registration is strongly encouraged for this popular event.

“Last year’s celebratory event was a major success and educated many Chicagoans about the work being done in this city around justice and the people doing it,” said Commissioner Dennis Deer. “We plan to continue that tradition this year, building community and awareness.”

Here is the schedule for June 17 at Malcolm X College:
Saturday, June 17, 2003
8:00-10:00am Panel #1 Health Breakfast and Panel: Health & Wellness - Equity in Healthcare
10:15-11:15am Panel #2: Justice Panel: Understanding the Safe-T Act
11:30am-12:30pm Panel #3: Economic Development Panel: Black Entrepreneurship
1:00-2:00pm Panel #4: Education Panel: Investing in Educational Institutions & Global Opportunities
3:00-4:00pm Family Entertainment

Additionally, as a part of Juneteenth Illinois 2023, the www.JuneteenthIllinois.com website provides resources and events information from across the state. It serves as a unified, one-stop portal
for the public to learn about how Illinoisans are celebrating Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day. “It is a clearing house for all things Juneteenth in Illinois,” said Deer. “The site showcases myriad commemorations of Juneteenth throughout the state under a single hub.”

Ongoing updates are added to the website regularly and organizations and businesses are encouraged to submit their information to be included in the resources and/or events page.

To add an event, simply complete the website’s online form.
Additional Juneteenth Illinois sponsors include: PepsiCo, Aetna, Gift of Hope, Chase, Malcolm X, Chicago Federation of Labor 360, Superior Ambulance, Habilitative Systems, Inc., Wyn-Win Communications, New Covenant, Real Freedom, Chicago Family Partnership, Black Remembrance Project, PMM, North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council, Hire 360, 540 West Madison, Stearns Family Foundation, Beyond Catering, Prestige Health, and Evolent Health.

For more information about Juneteenth Illinois, visit www.Juneteenthillinois.com.
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