Celebrate Juneteenth under the sun in Lawrence, MA!Groove to live music, savor delicious bites from food trucks, and immerse yourself in history with vendors showcasing artifacts. Engage with captivating live monologues featuring Frederick Douglas and SojournerTruth, and enjoy vibrant performances that honor the spirit of freedom. Join us on Saturday, June 22, for an unforgettable outdoor extravaganza!
Our mission is to launch Lawrence, MA’s first-ever Juneteenth “Arts & Awareness” festival, a dynamic event highlighting our shared connection through the African diaspora. Through engaging vendors, historical reenactments and shared historical artifacts we aim to showcase the diverse cultural heritage embedded within Lawrence, MA. Additionally, we are committed to supporting three to five local nonprofits/businesses, empowering their missions and fostering community resilience. Together, we embark on this historic endeavor to honor, educate, and unify our community in celebration of Juneteenth.
Michael Bastien is a first-generation Haitian American who grew up in Lawrence, MA, a predominantly Hispanic city in New England.Overcoming challenges such as being a minority and struggling with a speech impediment, Michael has emerged as a resilient leader and advocate for change in his community. He organized the largest Black Lives Matter street mural in Lawrence, MA, and Co-founded a men’s mental health nonprofit (Brothers in Arms Men’sSupport Circle) aiming to serve 1 million men & youth nationwide and de-stigmatize the views on men’s mental health.
Driven by his own struggles with mental health, Michael is deeply passionate about promoting mental wellness and resilience. Through Brothers In Arms Men’s Support Circle his team has already served over 100 men and youth ages 13 – 60 across the Merrimack Valley and hosted two retreats. Michael believes in the power of self-belief and faith to overcome obstacles, exemplifying this through his commitment to personal growth and improvement. He spends his days working out, reading, studying, and journaling, striving to be 1% better every day. Michael’s mantra, “If you don’t believe in yourself, how do you expect others to?” reflects his unwavering determination to make a positive impact and inspire others to achieve their fullest potential.
Website: www.biacircle.com
Lisa Miller-Gillespie is originally from Denver, CO, but has called MA home for the past 24 years. Lisa studied jazz, modern, ballet dance while living in Colorado. Her personal style can be described as a fusion of the various disciplines she has studied. Some theatrical productions have included: August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” at the Vokes Theater, Lynn Nottage’s “By The Way, Meet Vera Stark” at the Quannapowitt Theater, Rinde Eckert’s “Highway Ulysses” at the ART, as well as “The Full Monty” and “The Crucible” at Acting Out Theater.
She has also directed “Court Martial at Fort Devens” at Arlington Friends of the Drama and “A Long Trip” “Being Unreasonable” and “The Wedding Story” at Acting Out Theater. Lisa had the honor of curating American Dream with Paula Estey of the Paula Estey Gallery for Arts and Activism. She recently spoke to a group of young girls at Esperanza Academy for International Women’s Day. Lisa is also executive director and co-founder of the Greater Lawrence Fellowship of the Arts,
