Residents across Western New York came together to honor Juneteenth with celebrations that amplified community voices and strengthened neighborhood bonds.
In Buffalo’s Masten District, the sound of drums echoed through Martin Luther King Jr. Park as community members gathered for a combined Juneteenth celebration and “Masten Family Reunion” event.
“Just create and build family, that’s what our communities need to be,” said Council member Zeneta Everhart of Buffalo’s Masten District. “I tell people all the time — I’m an ’80s baby, I was raised by my parents, but I was raised by my village — which is my neighborhood and that’s what we have to get back to. We have to make sure that our young people know that their neighborhood is there for them.”
Everhart organized the event alongside community members, bringing neighbors together despite weather challenges. The celebration highlighted the importance of community connections and creating spaces where everyone feels welcome.
For volunteers like Rogerleen Williamson, the event represented the strength of the Masten community…