Two Juneteenth events were held Wednesday in Akron to mark the official Juneteenth federal holiday, established in 2021. It commemorates when the U.S. Army arrived in Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation, passed into law two and a half years earlier, that freed enslaved peoples in the United States.

Downtown at the John S. Knight Center, the Akron Urban League and the City of Akron consolidated their events, partially intended to help make up for the events canceled last weekend due to security concerns.

The 5th Annual East Akron Juneteenth Festival, one of the previously canceled celebrations, was rescheduled and held at the B&V Family Community Resource House on 7th Ave.

Talisa Sims Taylor takes down an order inside the Lady T's Soul Food and Southern Cuisine food truck.
Talisa Sims Taylor takes down an order inside the Lady T’s Soul Food and Southern Cuisine food truck during the Akron Urban League’s Juneteenth celebration. The Urban League partnered with the City of Akron to hold the event after three Juneteenth celebrations were canceled last weekend because of security concerns. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)

(Left ro right) Ron Watford and William Calhoun take a break from collecting signatures.
(Left ro right) Ron Watford and William Calhoun take a break from collecting signatures for a ballot initiative to make the minimum wage $15 per hour. The two work for One Fair Wage and were at the 5th Annual East Akron Juneteenth Festival held Wednesday at the B&V Family Community Resource House. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Jehovah Jones Jr. gets a kiss from his dad, Jehovah Jones Sr. as his mom Mary reaches for him.
Jehovah Jones Jr. gets a kiss from his dad, Jehovah Jones Sr., as his mom Mary reaches for him. The 6 month old was attending the Akron Urban League’s Juneteenth celebration Wednesday. The Urban League partnered with the City of Akron to hold the event after three Juneteenth celebrations were canceled last weekend because of security concerns. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
(Left ro right) Tara Mosley Weems laughts as Yolanda Parker from LINKS accepts the Community Service & Outreach Award.
(Left ro right) Tara Mosley Weems laughts as Yolanda Parker from LINKS accepts the Community Service & Outreach Award at the 5th Annual East Akron Juneteenth Festival held Wednesday at the B&V Family Community Resource House. At right is Robert DeJournett, senior pastor at St. Ashworth Temple COGIC. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Vendor and informational tables crowd the hallway inside the John S. Knight Center.
Vendor and informational tables crowd the hallway inside the John S. Knight Center Wednesday during the Akron Urban League’s Juneteenth celebration. The Urban League partnered with the City of Akron to hold the event after three Juneteenth celebrations were canceled last weekend because of security concerns. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Mary White, who is the national princess and a "daughter" of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World (IBPOEW),
Mary White, who is the national princess and a “daughter” of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World (IBPOEW), fixes her granddaughter Majiezty,’s hair. The IBPOEW Daughters were founded by Emma V. Kelley in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1902. The organization is officially recognized and encouraged by the IBPOEW, which is the world’s largest Black fraternal organization. They two were at the 5th Annual East Akron Juneteenth Festival held Wednesday at the B&V Family Community Resource House. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
(Left to right) LaDonya Williams and Juliette Streeter use fans to help with the heat.
(Left to right) LaDonya Williams and Juliette Streeter use fans to help with the heat as they wait in line to order food at the Akron Urban League’s Juneteenth celebration Wednesday at the John S. Knight Center. The Urban League partnered with the City of Akron to hold the event after three Juneteenth celebrations were canceled last weekend because of security concerns. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
State Rep. Veronica Sims looks on as Jeron LeGrair accepts the James Ingram Legacy Award.
State Rep. Veronica Sims looks on as Jeron LeGrair accepts the James Ingram Legacy Award during the 5th Annual East Akron Juneteenth Festival held Wednesday at the B&V Family Community Resource House. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Tiffany Cotto from Tees Creations, left, paints Jenesis Williams' face.
Tiffany Cotto from Tees Creations, left, paints Jenesis Williams’ face during the Akron Urban League’s Juneteenth celebration at the John S. Knight Center Wednesday. The Urban League partnered with the City of Akron to hold the event after three Juneteenth celebrations were canceled last weekend because of security concerns. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Canopies to help beat the extreme heat are set up across the back yard of the B&V Family Community Resource House.
Canopies to help beat the extreme heat are set up across the back yard of the B&V Family Community Resource House during the 5th Annual East Akron Juneteenth Festival held Wednesday. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Lena Young dances in the middle of East Mill Street in front of the John S. Knight Center.
Lena Young dances in the middle of East Mill Street in front of the John S. Knight Center downtown during the Akron Urban League’s Juneteenth celebration Wednesday. The Urban League partnered with the City of Akron to hold the event after three Juneteenth celebrations were canceled last weekend because of security concerns. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Lamar Lewis, 10, swings as he attempts to return a badminton birdie.
Lamar Lewis, 10, swings as he attempts to return a badminton birdie during the 5th Annual East Akron Juneteenth Festival held Wednesday at the B&V Family Community Resource House. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.