Latest news with #MissJuneteenth
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant in Milwaukee, kids 'open up'
The Brief The Northcott Neighborhood House presented its Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant. The event aims to "showcase the best of the city's African American youth." Milwaukee is home to the nation's longest-running Juneteenth celebration. MILWAUKEE - Juneteenth is still two weeks away, but Milwaukee has already begun celebrating. Local perspective The Northcott Neighborhood House on Saturday presented its Scholarship Pageant. The event, held at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center near 17th and Vliet, aims to "showcase the best of the city's African American youth," crowning a Miss Juneteenth, Mister Juneteenth, Little Miss Juneteenth and/or Mister Juneteenth Jr. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android "Our kids have an opportunity to let the world see who they are. It takes a lot to get on stage, to open up, to do a poem, to do a dance," said Tony Kearney, Northcott's executive director. "They've got to let you know who they are as they're doing this – there's no hiding – and that's extremely important. It makes me very proud of them." The backstory Milwaukee is home to the nation's longest-running Juneteenth celebration, having held its first in 1971. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. On June 19, 1865, soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War was over. The holiday observes the date "the people of Texas were informed all slaves are free." In 2021, after decades of lobbying, Juneteenth became a federal holiday. The Source FOX6 News attended Saturday's pageant and gathered information from organizers for this report.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Honoring Black History: Catching up with Peoria's Juneteenth Queens
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Peoria's Miss Juneteenth Alynceia Boyce and Miss Teen Juneteenth Ameana Monet came to WMBD News at 4 to share what has been rewarding about their experience during their reign and how they're working to leave a legacy in the community. Monet is currently pursuing a healthcare career. 'I currently work at a nursing home. I enjoy seeing them and seeing that I can make their day by the little things that I do,' she said. 'Healthcare is really easy. You just have to have a passion for it.' Boyce runs a mentoring program called Sunflower Mentoring Services. The focus is to empower individuals through mentorship. 'Really focusing on finding our divine purpose in this world and learning to come together with other young women and embrace each other,' Boyce said. 2024 Miss Juneteenth Peoria Pageant Winners | Good Day Central Illinois Monet and Boyce hold the inaugural titles for Peoria's Miss Juneteenth pageants. They have found their reign to be gratifying as they look to inspire people in their community. 'I'm a community servant at heart,' said Boyce. 'Just being able to use the Miss Juneteenth platform to bring awareness and to encourage younger individuals and middle-aged women to run for Miss Juneteenth.' 'Being the age that I am, I just want to be a role model to everyone around me. It's also helped me gain my confidence,' said the teen queen. Applications for the 2025 Miss Juneteenth Pageant open on March 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
