ddawkins3434 Art, Festival, People

Juneteenth on the Ave 2022

Location: Mt. Vernon Avenue, between N. 17th St., and St. Clair Ave.

Sidebar:  In order to shorten this article, I posted the interviews with Black Women Rise Poetry, Sole Classics, Black Out and Proud, The Royal Oak Initiative, Damika Withers, and Artist J. Travis. Click on their names to go to those articles.  

Queen Brooks and Shelbi Toone, Juneteenth on the Ave 2022, www.shel10.com, #juneteenthontheave, #jota, #junteenth, #junteenth2022, Instagram: @juneteenthontheave
Queen Brooks and Shelbi Toone, Juneteenth on the Ave 2022

Tell me about the event.

Juneteenth on the Ave. Meaning the history of Mt. Vernon Avenue. This is significant to the black community That is why we are here today.

We have several art stations. Today, we have Queen Brooks doing a community remembrance stick. This is important so we can have activities and keepsakes that are a collaborative of the community. The Amos Lynch stage is focusing on poetry and storytelling, the Mayme Moore stage is focusing on jazz, and MAG (Maroon Arts Group) stage that has Hip Hop. The area is blocked off with vendors and history activities.

Is there anything that I didn’t ask you that you think I should have asked you? If so, go ahead and answer that question.

Today was a collaborative between hosting organizations: Ohio History Connection/ Poindexter Village Museum, COAACC(Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce), MAG (Maroon Arts Group), Columbus Urban League, Black out and Proud, and Sole Classics. These six organizations have come together to host this event. I think it is awesome that we were able to work together.

Volunteers, Juneteenth on the Ave 2022, #juneteenthontheave, #jota, #junteenth, #junteenth2022, Instagram: @juneteenthontheave
Volunteers, Juneteenth on the Ave 2022
The Mack family (Khalilah, Connie, and D.J.), Juneteenth on the Ave 2022,
The Mack family (Khalilah, Connie, and D.J.), Juneteenth on the Ave 2022
The game of chess, The Royal Oak Initiative (ROI) at Juneteenth on the Ave. 2022, #juneteenthontheave, #jota, #junteenth, #junteenth2022, #chess, Instagram: @theroichess, @juneteenthontheave www.theroichess.org
The game of chess, The Royal Oak Initiative (ROI) at
Juneteenth on the Ave. 2022

Live Art:

Shameaca Moore, Cynthia Amoah, Tifani Kendrick, Black Women Rise Poetry at Juneteenth on the Ave. 2022, #juneteenthontheave, #jota, #junteenth, #junteenth2022, #bwrpc, #poet, #poetry, #poetrycommunity, #spokenword, #artmakescbus, Instagram: @blackwomenrisepoetry, @poetesscynthia, @juneteenthontheave
Shameaca Moore, Cynthia Amoah, Tifani Kendrick, Black Women Rise Poetry at Juneteenth on the Ave. 2022
Live painting, Juneteenth on the Ave. 2022, #juneteenthontheave, #jota, #junteenth, #junteenth2022, #bwrpc, #artmakescbus, Instagram: @juneteenthontheave
Live painting, Juneteenth on the Ave. 2022
J. Travis, Juneteenth on the Ave. 2022, #juneteenthontheave, #jota, #junteenth, #junteenth2022, #artmakescbus, Instagram: @juneteenthontheave, @inspiring.canvases
J. Travis, Juneteenth on the Ave. 2022
Shoe customization, Juneteenth on the Ave. 2022, #juneteenthontheave, #jota, #junteenth, #junteenth2022, #artmakescbus, #volunteer, Instagram: @juneteenthontheave, @sole.classics
Shoe customization, Juneteenth on the Ave. 2022
Volunteers Damika Withers and Kelsy Mitchell, Franklin County Board of Commissioners Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion at Juneteenth on the Ave. 2022, #juneteenthontheave, #jota, #junteenth, #junteenth2022, #volunteers, Instagram: @damika.withers
Volunteers Kelsy Mitchell and Damika Withers, Franklin County Board of Commissioners Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion at Juneteenth on the Ave. 2022
The people’s Circus, Juneteenth on the Ave. 2022, #juneteenthontheave, #jota, #junteenth, #junteenth2022, #artmakescbus, #thepeoplescircusofficial, Instagram: @juneteenthontheave, @thepeoplescircusofficial
The people’s Circus, Juneteenth on the Ave. 2022

Sidebar: It is possible to see just about anything at a festival… This, I would not try. The older lady in me thought of all the things that could go wrong trying to walk on stilts at a crowded festival.

Attendee Leah Lambert enjoying Juneteenth on the Ave. 2022, #juneteenthontheave, #jota, #junteenth, #junteenth2022, #artmakescbus, , Instagram: @juneteenthontheave, @crazyfuncolumbus
Attendee Leah Lambert enjoying Juneteenth on the Ave. 2022

My Take Juneteenth on the Ave 2022:

It was like going to an event not knowing if you were going to see anyone you know. Once you arrive, you feel at home. Everyone I talked to and observed seemed positive and friendly. To be able to connect with people who are passionate about what they do and the comradery was inspiring. Observing positive people walking in their purpose was rewarding. I loved it!