NEWSLETTER
Saratoga Springs, NY: Following the celebration of Juneteenth, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation will present an evening virtual program "Galveston’s Juneteenth Story: And Still We Rise" on Tuesday, June 24, at 7pm. The evening virtual program will be presented by historian Tommie D. Boudreaux in collaboration with the Galveston Historical Foundation.
The program gives an in-depth look at the Juneteenth story, beginning on June 19, 1865, when General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and announced that all enslaved people in Texas were free. This moment, now commemorated as Juneteenth, Freedom Day, or Emancipation Day, is one of the most significant in Galveston’s history and has been honored with celebrations for more than 150 years, as Boudreaux reminds us, “Understanding the past offers an opportunity to be an advocate for a better life for all mankind.”
Tommie D. Boudreaux is a lifelong resident of Galveston Island and a retired administrator with the Galveston Independent School District. A graduate of the historic Central High School, she has served on the Board of Directors of the Galveston Historical Foundation and chaired its African American Heritage Committee. She is also a board member of the Old Central Cultural Center and the Coastal Community Federal Credit Union. A Golden Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Tommie serves as the Galveston chapter’s historian and chairs its Heritage & Archives Committee.
Her published works include “African Americans of Galveston,” “Lost Restaurants of Galveston’s African American Community,” and “Galveston's Juneteenth Story... And Still We Rise,” along with numerous articles on community history and cultural events.
The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is proud to share the history of Juneteenth, rooted in Galveston, the birthplace of the holiday, which stands as a powerful symbol of freedom and resilience. Juneteenth is a time for reflection, education, and celebration of African American culture and history.
The virtual program will have a suggested donation of $10 and will be hosted via Zoom. To register, please visit www.saratogapreservation.org or call (518) 587-5030. All registrants will receive a Zoom link in advance, as well as access to the program recording.
Founded in 1977, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that promotes preservation and enhancement of the architectural, cultural, and landscaped heritage of Saratoga Springs.
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CONTACT:
Sydney Hedge, Preservation & Programs Coordinator
Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation