Celebrate the vibrant, rich Juneteenth Cultural Arts experience by gathering with the Vince Jetter Community Center on Saturday, June 15, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm for a free festival in Clinton Park by the Central Fire Station in Clinton, IA!
The Juneteenth Cultural Arts Festival is a family-friendly event filled with art, music, dancing, games, giveaways and community to embrace the present and honor the future.
Tamra Jetter, Director, further explains the purpose of the event. “We at the Vince Jetter Community Center understand the importance of creating opportunities to celebrate diversity. When we create those new cultural experiences it allows us to break down stereotypes and prejudices. . by allowing an opportunity for us all to learn and participate in other traditions and customs of other cultures.”
Mujaahid African Drum Ensemble is a group of some of the premier Master Drummers in Chicago. This ensemble is composed of dynamic, energetic and exciting griots (African tribal storytellers) that seek to convey the spirit and tradition of African heritage. Founded in 1990 by Muntheru Shah, rhythm djembe drummer and storyteller, the ensemble shares African history passed on from generation to generation. Tyehimba Mtu is one of three African drum carvers in the U.S., and plays polyrhythms on several drums. Horace Brown, conga drummer, is a singer and dancer with the West Indian Dance Company. Kelvin Strong is the lead djembe drummer of the group. Paul Cotton, djun djun and djembe drummer, is talented in many styles of traditional, African drumming.
Dina White, sister of Vince Jetter, relates the importance of the festival in the following, “As a minority born and raised in Clinton, I never had opportunities to learn about black history. It wasn’t on the agenda.” And she emphasizes, “So I believe this is one of the best diverse programs the Vince Jetter Community Center is putting on to educate and increase awareness in a great learning opportunity.” Dina continues with an invitation, “And I hope that parents bring their children out to the park, so they can learn from artists brought to the community to educate them. Support Vince Jetter Community Center’s Juneteenth as we celebrate Juneteenth and share our great rich history and bring unity to our community!”
Isaiah “Zay” Williams, of Zay Creatives in Rock Island, will lead live additive painting in the park throughout the festival where children and youth in attendance will be able to paint with him. The paintings will be on display later this summer at the Vince Jetter Community Center. Zay creates art using numerous types of media: canvas, clothing, shoes, and through relationships with musicians. He has done live visual art demonstrations in the Quad Cities, Chicago, Dubuque and elsewhere, and led a R & B paint-n-sip event at the Lyons Depot in April 2023, sponsored by the Vince Jetter Community Center. Zay has an engaging personality and brings out the best in artists of all levels of experience.
Ebony Illusion dance team, under the direction of Tiffany Harris, has been active in Clinton since 2016 as a competition dance team. According to Tiffany, “Ebony Illusion dance team provides an alternative outlet for young girls and boys as a social activity, a form of physical fitness and the means of expressing cultural heritage.” Tiffany adds, “Ebony Illusion also teaches youth about teamwork, responsibility, dedication, camaraderie, time management and the development of their self-esteem, while boosting their self confidence.”
The Juneteenth Cultural Arts Festival is sponsored by grants from Kwik Trip and Casey’s, and is supported by Quad City Arts re-granting program Arts Dollars, supported by the Illinois Arts Council Agency, the Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, and the Quad Cities Community Foundation – Isabel Bloom Art Education Endowment.
For further information, please contact the Vince Jetter Community Center, vincejettercc@gmail.com.
