15 June 2024 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Outdoor Area of the Main Building
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on 19 June in the United States. The day commemorates the day in 1865 when Union Army General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that all enslaved people in Texas were free, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
The celebration of Juneteenth has roots in African American communities and has been observed since the late 1800s. It is a day to remember and honor the struggles and sacrifices of African Americans in their continued fight for freedom and equality. In 2021, President Joe Biden declared it a federal holiday in the US.
This year Eton School is honored to host the second annual Juneteenth Community Celebration designed to center, celebrate, and support Black voices and businesses. Free and open to the public, this event is on Monday, 19 June, from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the greater outside area of the Main Building.
2023 Juneteenth Celebration
2023 Entertainment
Danae Howe
Danae Howe grew up surrounded by music, playing piano, string bass and singing. In addition to playing in school ensembles, she played in the Capital Area Youth Symphony (Olympia) and was selected for the Washington All-State and All-Northwest Choirs and Orchestras. She went on to the University of Washington on scholarship to be in the symphony, chorale, and jazz choirs there, while also singing and playing pop, jazz, and gospel music around Seattle. For over a decade, Danae lived in Los Angeles working as a studio musician, performer, vocal coach and music instructor. She wrote a book about vocal improvisation and currently sits on the Seattle Symphony Board of Directors.
Kouyaté Arts
Kouyaté Arts is an interactively intriguing and amazing experience of the arts, music, dance, culture , and life of the people of West Africa. https://www.kouyatearts.com/
Kevin Gardner
Kevin Gardner started playing piano at the age of 12 playing soul, jazz, and gospel. As a lead vocalist, he has performed in several of Seattle's best clubs and festivals. He is a 3x platinum producer mostly known for working with E-40, B-Legit Feat featuring Daryl Hall (of Hall and Oates), and the R&B group, The Eriam Sisters. Kevin's music as an artist and producer has also been featured in major films and television such as: Antoine Fuqua’s The Replacement Killers, Ice Cube’s Dangerous Grounds, Marlon Wayans’s Senseless, Tom Green’s Road Trip, and the TV show So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD).
Mpanist
Stanley Alleyne started playing Steel Drums at a young age in his native island of Tobago. While in Tobago he played with The Our Boys Steel Band. He moved to Seattle in 1976 where he played with Tropical Rainstorm, Caribbean Superstars and The Islanders. Since living in Seattle he has played in the Northwest, Oregon, California and Canada. He is one of the Northwest's premiere steel drum soloist.
2023 Food Truck
Swagg-n-Wagon
Swagg-n-Wagon is a family-owned business by husband and wife Cliff and Monique Gatterson. They have been in business for six years and to serve the community the "best fried chicken in the Northwest."
Fun Fact: Swagg-n-Wagon was voted in the top 5 must-try food trucks in Western Washington in 2023 (King 5).
Swagg-N-Wagon | FOX 13 Seattle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBrGahLgz2s
2023 Vendors
Our list of vendors continues to grow so please check back frequently.
Are you a Black business owner or do you know of who is that would like to participate during the celebration? If so, let us know by completing our Vendor Form.
April Showers Gift Baskets & Flowers
April Gill-Davis is a Seattle Native, founder, and creative director of April Showers Gift Baskets and Flowers. She has owned and operated her business for over 20 years. April began her journey in the floral industry by providing what she calls "A Beautiful Arrangement of Sticks" for her local church. She then pursued an education in floral design.
Black Coffee Northwest
Black Coffee Northwest Café and Community Hub is a locally owned Black business. Through thoughtful programming, we bring the community together for networking and collaboration while providing work experience for Black youth in Shoreline. Featured programs include a Black marketplace that promotes and sells Black-owned products, youth barista job training programs, after-school study hours, and a wide variety of services and programs such as our internship, mentorship, and music program. This is also the official home of the award-winning Northside Step Team, Drill Team, and Drum Line which have been providing opportunities for youth since 2000.
Habit Apparel by TLLC
The strength of a nation comes from standing on tall shoulders. We can only stand tall when we look back to our foundations, honoring our legacy and making changes for future generations. Reconciliation prompts us to pursue peace as a beacon of hope.
https://habitapparelbytllc.storenvy.com/
Mama Sambusa Kitchen
In 1996, Marian Ahmed took a considerable risk and left Somalia alone to provide a life for her children. When moving, she was forced to leave everything dear to her behind in the hopes of creating a better life for her family. Mama Sambusa Kitchen was established in 2002 and came to Seattle in 2009. Mama wasn't welcomed in the male-dominated industry, but that didn't stop her from creating something for her daughters to carry on for generations. We are a woman-owned black Muslim business. We have provided the community with delicious fresh food showcasing our culture for years. We are known for our sambusa. Visit the Mama Sambusa Kitchen booth at the Juneteenth Community Celebration to enjoy house-made cheesecake and craft lemonade!
Moon Muse Studio
Rebecca (Moon Muse Studio) is a biracial mom of two teens, a musician, and an artist.
Writing about her experiences as an Afro Latina for music translated into channeling that identity and exploration through the paintbrush. Her first series: Afro Galaxy, speaks to the search for and discovery of self and the infinite in earth-toned skin and natural hair and hints of the life lived on the border between cultures and identities.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/MoonMuseStudio?ref=shop_sugg_market
Nefertiti Holistic
A metaphysical boutique specializing in crystal carvings and semi-precious gemstone jewelry. We offer a fun and exciting variety of crystals and metaphysical tools to help you to live more intentionally, manifest the life you want, raise your vibrations and the vibrations of those around you. These stones have been cleansed and charged for optimal metaphysical healing...not to mention these gifts will last a lifetime. Whether you believe in the power of stones or just admire their beauty, we have something for everyone. Heal yourself with a gift from Nefertiti Holistic's today.
The Popcorn Shop
The Popcorn Shop chooses to vend at purposeful and culturally supportive events. The owner of the Popcorn Shop, Malena, hopes to grow her business fiscally to support her calling to adopt Black foster teenagers.
Sunflower Soul Apothecary
Sunflower Soul Apothecary, carries a diverse range of handcrafted natural soaps, organic herbs, healing crystals, and aromatic essential oils and incense. Our products are thoughtfully made and curated to nourish your body, and uplift your spirit.
https://www.instagram.com/sunflowersoulapothecary2/
Sunrise Books
A children’s bookstore that seeks to build an inspiring and playful space for the growing reader.
Tea Moss Shop
Tea Moss Shop LLC is a Sea Moss business that was birthed during the 2020 Pandemic. Sea moss is said to contain 92 of the 102 vitamins, minerals, and elements that benefit the body. We as a company strive to provide delicious and impactful products that are beneficial to the entire family. All of our products are infused with Sea Moss and provide benefits that assist in boosting the immune system, providing a natural form of energy, aiding in digestion, reducing inflammation, improving hormonal health, and providing a good source of vegan collagen. We source our Sea Moss from the clean and beautiful waters of St. Lucia in the Carribean and pride ourselves in direct farm to table relationships. One sip of our drinks and taste of our gels will have you reaching for more!
2023 Community Resources
Are you a community organization dedicated to supporting Black and other underrepresented children and families that would like to participate during the celebration? If so, let us know by completing our Vendor Form.
Africans on the Eastside
Africans on the Eastside (AOE) is a grassroots organization that was established to actively address the impacts of institutional racism and racial inequity, particularly on the eastside of Seattle. We strive to reinforce the TRUTH that English Language Learners, immigrants, BIPOC students and community members are valued partners in our communities and schools and need to be included in this work of building inclusive, anti-racist society. The absence of these voices is a loss to the entire community.
AOE’s mission is to serve students' diverse needs and their families, as a unit, through outreach and engagement, education, advocacy training, leadership opportunities and development.
We strive to cultivate greater respect for the language and culture of every member in our communities.
Bridging Legacies Across Campuses
The mission of Bridging Legacies Across Campuses is to foster connections, revive relationships, and bring together Students Of Color with their alma maters in a manner that is compassionate, empathetic, and embracing.
Looking forward to connecting.
https://www.bridginglegaciesacrosscampuses.org/
People of Color in Independent Schools (POCIS) Seattle
POCIS Seattle is a consortium of NWAIS independent schools, and it exists to help people of color thrive in independent schools. POCIS Seattle believes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are foundational building blocks for successful 21st-century independent schools. Children, families, and educators deserve to have the resources available to reach their highest potential. Their website is a hub where people of color can find DEI-focused programming, admissions information, job postings, community events, and networking opportunities within independent schools.
