You can celebrate Juneteenth at this Puyallup park. Here’s how to volunteer, donate
Kickball, live music and spoken word poetry are among the things people can expect to find at a park in Puyallup in late June.
The Two-Way Racial Healing Project (TWRHP), a local nonprofit based in Puyallup, will be hosting its second annual Juneteenth event Sunday, June 19 at Clark’s Creek Park South at 1710 12th Ave. SW from 3-8 p.m.
The nonprofit focuses on “dismantling systems of oppression and racism,” according to its website. Puyallup resident Davida Sharpe-Haygood is the founder of the nonprofit.
“It’s free, public and not just public to the Black community — it’s public to everybody,” Sharpe-Haygood said. “Sometimes … there’s an assumption that it’s only for the Black community, but everyone can come out and celebrate with us.”
This year’s event will feature local musician Kim Archer, DJ Diph as well as the Vision Step Team. People will also perform spoken word poetry, and there will be a kickball competition for kids.
Representatives from the Pierce Conservation District will also be present. They will host an informational booth about gardening and farming.
Sharpe-Haygood said there will also be a station for families who foster or adopt children of color to help them get support for hair- and skin care-related things.
TWRHP member Colette Demonte said they are hoping to have more vendors for this year’s event, showcasing BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) businesses. As of Thursday, May 5, they are still working to finalize vendors.
Last year’s event was “an amazing experience,” Demonte said. They had a DJ, live music and a lot of dancing. A total of 233 people attended. It was held in DeCoursey Park at 2101 Seventh Ave. SW.
Demonte said she heard positive feedback from attendees about the proximity of the event. They did not have to travel to Tacoma or Seattle to celebrate Juneteenth, she said.
“It was an amazing experience to see the community come together,” Demonte said.
Sharpe-Haygood said Juneteenth is not only a significant part of Black history — it is American history. It celebrates liberation and commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Immersing oneself in another culture is a way to become more culturally responsive, she said.
TWRHP member Crea Forrest said people can expect to be surrounded by love and togetherness at the event. Attendees will feel as if they are home and that they are at a birthday party in someone’s house, she said.
“You’re getting an invite to the cookout, so come out to the cookout and come celebrate with us,” Sharpe-Haygood said.
Those interested in volunteering at the Juneteenth event can fill out a form online at https://bit.ly/3N4gNh8. There’s also a form for those interested in being a vendor, https://bit.ly/3vUQcxA.
Donations can be made on the Two-Way Racial Healing Project’s website, https://www.twowayracialhealing.org/.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to clarify what the station focused on hair care and skin care at the Juneteenth event will entail.
This story was originally published May 8, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
