Juneteenth 2022

Jun 7

| Juneteenth in Downtown Tempe | June 2022 | Tempe, Arizona

Finding a way to celebrate Black Joy in a former sundown town, as an implant, made me feel like a superhero. It also turned out to not be that hard…

I held the titles of Event Manager and Marketing Manager at Downtown Tempe Authority in 2022 and I will always stand by my dual experience allowing me to craft what I believe to be one of the best Juneteenth events for the setting and history involved in the area. Understanding how to tell a story is also understanding how to cause disruption in a way that leads to change. While little about Juneteenth in Downtown Tempe was tumultuously disruptive, I made a point to put Black artists, creatives, vendors, and people first; then I left the door open for everyone else.

Until the early 1960s, Tempe was a sundown town where African Americans were permitted to work but “encouraged” to live elsewhere.

The 2022 event in Center Plaza (pictured above) was the first standalone event of its size and structure for Tempe, AZ. Previously, an event held indoors and during the day by Tempe History Museum was the only available option for those looking to celebrate.

I’d hoped to create an event that fostered joy and community rather than one that regurgitated the same stuffy sentiments year after year. I wanted to see people cut loose and just be.

I was able to witness hopes come true in Center Plaza that evening, and I was beyond grateful for the opportunity to craft it alongside the incredible team at Downtown Tempe.