Commission will promote fatherhood, community service as tenets of Juneteenth event
DuShun Scarbrough, Spokesman
Little Rock-The mission of the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission is to promote and preserve the life and legacy of Dr. King in the State of Arkansas. The AMLKC is guided by Dr. King’s mission and philosophy of love, tolerance, and nonviolence. It strives for social improvement in Arkansas, helping communities and organizations achieve new leadership and public service levels. The AMLKC works directly with youth and others, encouraging them to embrace alternatives to violence and discover their common humanity. Through activities that stress racial and cultural diversity, the AMLKC offers Arkansans a new understanding of their important roles in the communities, now and in the future.
The Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission announces it Juneteenth Food Giveaway, Juneteenth, Monday, June 19, 2023, 11:00 AM-2:00 PM, Jacksonville Community Center, 5 Municipal Dr, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076, 11:00 AM-2:00 PM. The Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission will distribute more than 10,000 pounds (about half the weight of a school bus) of protein and food items free of charge to the community to commemorate the federal observance of the Juneteenth holiday. The volunteer base will be comprised of fathers from across the state as part of the Commission’s statewide initiative with Arkansas Better Dads to promote fatherhood’s importance. Food items will be distributed on a first come, first served basis while supplies last. Arkansas Better Dads helps men become better dads by inspiring them, providing instruction, and creating opportunities for interaction with their families. The outreach will kick off at 10:30 AM with opening reflections from Daryl Bassett, Secretary of Labor, and “Broadway” Joe Booker, Power 92 Jams.
“The Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission will observe Juneteenth as a day to give back and promote the importance of families and service," says DuShun Scarbrough, Executive Director. Through this one single event, we can directly and indirectly serve thousands of families, many who are facing food insecurity. It is important to celebrate this milestone in history, and equally important to model the Juneteenth spirit which was geared towards community building and working towards a sustainable future.
Known as America’s second Independence Day, Juneteenth is a special celebration for communities around the United States. A combination of “June” and “nineteenth,” Juneteenth is a holiday that recognizes when slaves were informed that they were free two years after the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. On June 19,1865, two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger, rode into Galveston, Texas with news the war had ended and the slaves in Texas were now free. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. In 2021, the President declared Juneteenth a federal holiday.
