Elon University to honor Juneteenth with variety of activities – Elon University

By Michaela Zeno, staff
June 13, 2025
With programs scheduled for June 19 that include a walking tour and a lunch-and-learn, organizers answer questions about the historical roots and impact of a national observance that commemorates the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans in the United States.
Juneteenth will be observed on June 19 with online resources and main campus programs throughout the day that reflect on the significance of the holiday and the history of Black achievements, activism and influence at Elon University.
Freedom Footprints Self-Guided or Virtual Tour 
All Day | In-person and Online 
Elon community members are invited to explore Black history, activism and more at the university through a self-guided walking tour—in person or online accessible beginning on Juneteenth.
Juneteenth Reflection Hour 
9:30-10:30 a.m. | McBride Gathering Space of the Numen Lumen Pavilion
Come as you are for a quiet, interactive, reflective hour with light refreshments. A short remembrance will be offered by the Rev. Donna Vanhook ’07.
Juneteenth Lunch and Learn Conversation 
12-1 p.m. | Oaks Commons 212 | Register HERE 
Join us for lunch and a guided conversation on the significance of Juneteenth, past and present.
Freedom Footprints Guided Tour 
1:15 p.m. | Meet outside Oaks Commons 
Led by Assistant Professor Amanda Kleintop, a member of the Committee on Elon History and Memory, this walking tour will offer more context and broader stories of Black activism and contributions at Elon.
Commemoration events are sponsored by the Black Lumen Project, Elon University Archives and Special Collections, Committee on Elon’s History and Memory, HealthEU Initiatives, and the Office of Inclusive Excellence Education and Development.
In honor of Juneteenth, two members of the Elon University community – Assistant Librarian Shaunta Alvarez, a member of the Committee on Elon History and Memory, and Carla Fullwood, director of inclusive excellence education and development – share personal reflections, historical insights, and perspectives on the significance of the holiday.
Both answered questions they hope will provide a deeper understanding of the holiday’s legacy and its relevance in both academic and community spaces today.
What does Juneteenth mean to you? 
Carla Fullwood: Juneteenth represents the ongoing journey toward liberation. It commemorates the delayed emancipation of enslaved people and reflects how Black and African American communities continue to fight for equity in our society.
Shaunta Alvarez: Juneteenth is a grand and uplifting moment in the history of Black people in the United States. It’s a time for both celebration and embittered reflection.
Why should Juneteenth be celebrated and recognized? 
CF: Juneteenth should be observed because it represents a significant part of American history. When we honor Juneteenth, we acknowledge the value, contributions and culture of Black people. These narratives and lived experiences were not fully recognized on July 4, 1776, and deserve to be uplifted as part of a more complete American story.
SA: Commemorating Juneteenth offers opportunities for education about the nation’s history and to acknowledge the significance of freedom for all Americans. We take this time to study the history of Black people at Elon to remember that working toward freedom and inclusion is ongoing and that emancipation from enslavement was just a beginning.
What are some of the benefits of raising awareness and understanding about Juneteenth? 
CF: Raising awareness about Juneteenth creates space for truth-telling, racial healing and solidarity. As an educator, I see this as a meaningful way to live out our Elon values, particularly our commitment to respecting human differences and inclusive excellence.
SA: While I’m a fan of personal or individual study and reflections, community recognitions and discussions create safe spaces to ask questions like “What was it like when…?”,  “How did they feel about…?”, or “Why did it happen that way?”  and discuss what we know and don’t know about.
What is something you learned while celebrating Juneteenth? 
CF: I’ve learned that Juneteenth is not only about resisting inequitable systems, but this day is also about rest and restoration. These practices have long been part of Black liberation and civil rights movements. The fight for liberation can coexist with moments of physical or mental rest, meditation, storytelling, music, food, fellowship, or engaging in physical activity that helps restore the body and spirit for the continued work ahead.
SA: The most important thing I’ve learned is that I must make time to study the complexity of historic events such as Juneteenth and how both the events themselves as well as the narratives about them shape our experiences. What I was taught about was limited; Juneteenth was simply the day all the enslaved people in the U.S. were freed. Over the years, I’ve learned there is so much more to that period that includes what the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 meant up to the ratification of the 13th Amendment in December 1865.
Members of the Elon University communities are invited to share your thoughts and reflections by submitting them online for a possible feature on the Elon University Instagram page.
Posted in: Events
Tagged: Belk Library Black Lumen Project History & Memory Inclusive Excellence at Elon
People in this article:
Carla Fullwood
Director of Inclusive Excellence Education and Development
Shaunta Alvarez
Digital Collections and Systems Librarian and Assistant Librarian
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With programs scheduled for June 19 that include a walking tour and a lunch-and-learn, organizers answer questions about the historical roots and impact of a national observance that commemorates the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans in the United States.
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