The local commemorations of Juneteenth included three events of note. Dio Mass held its Juneteenth service at St. Stephen’s Church, Lynn, with the Rev Bernadette Hickman-Maynard presiding. At Old South Church. The Reverend June Cooper, Theologian in the City of Boston and alum of the United Boston Sankofa Cohort, preached. Her reflection on the holiday, and the unfinished work of repair, appears in this blog post, Juneteenth, and the Unfinished Work of Freedom.

Juneteenth at Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters was held on June 22, 2025. The accompanying video, Who are my ancestors? highlights the reflections of the descendants of Cuba and Darby Vassall, who lived at the house.

Christ Church Cambridge’s journey toward reconciliation with the descendants of Cuba and Darby Vassall has been an ongoing learning experience. The video’s final minutes include the story of the connection between the parish and the Vassalls.

The family of the descendants of Cuba and Darby has established The Slave Legacy History Coalition to continue their attention to repair and social justice. The Coalition
has recently formed an alliance with the Partnership of Historic Bostons to extend its outreach to communities interested in their work.

June 24, 2025 –Mary Beth Clack, Mary Blocher, Cindy Coldren, Pat Krol, Liz Levin