Juneteenth
June 21, 2025, noon to 4 pm

Juneteenth 2025
The Academy Art Museum (AAM) invites the community to come together on Saturday, June 21, 2025, from noon – 4 pm for the 14th Annual Juneteenth Celebration—a block-party style event located on South Street in front of the Museum. This celebration promises a full day of music, art, food, and family fun. This year’s theme, “Our Freedom! Our Story!”, centers on the power of storytelling to honor African American history, culture, and resilience. For additional inquiries about Juneteenth @ AAM, contact Jennifer Chrzanowski at jchrzanowski@academyartmuseum.org.
FOOD & VENDORS: Juneteenth fan favorite Spanky’s Soul Food will be back to serve their delicious food again this year. Juneteenth food vendors will be located on the corner of Harrison and South Streets.
To learn more about the Junteenth Essay Contest and submit your essay, click here.
To apply to be a vendor at Juneteenth, click here.
To support Juneteenth, click here.
Juneteenth Committee Members
Devon Beck
Jennifer Chrzanowski
Lauren Dwyer
Brenda Fike
Jazmine Gibson
Shelton Hawkins
Carolyn Hayman
Lance Morris
Deborah Short
Tyniece Savoy
Jessica Taylor



Devon Beck, Juneteenth’s MC, is a leader, builder, and connector who has held leadership roles in education, community development, and the music business. After receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Devon began working in the school system, mentoring and leading young students with those very lessons. Currently, he is the Facilitator of Recruitment, Retention & Equity for the Talbot County Board of Education and guides leaders and organizations to remove barriers to inclusion. As the owner of Beck Excellence LLC, Beck continues to make strides to leave a positive impact on the community.


Howard Barnett, Jr, professionally known in the business by the name DJ E-Shore, is a Talbot County native from St. Michaels, and longtime resident of Easton, MD. Howard has been working with music for more than half of his life. His love for music started when he convinced his parents to sign him up for drum lessons as an elementary student. Howard has always been enamored by the local DJs of his early adult years and marveled at their skill to mix, scratch and blend songs by way of vinyl records on the turntables. DJ E-Shore is also many things outside of being a DJ: he is a human resources professional for the United States Government with over 35 years of tenure, a loving husband and father of 2 sons.


Ayla is a soulful, vibrant, seventeen-year-old who has the phenomenal gift of song. She has been selected to be a part of The Voice and currently working with Tena Clark. Ayla recently made a guest appearance for UNICEF and has also worked with R&B Singer Patti LaBelle for a JCPenny commercial. She is a local talent from Easton, MD who has been raised by a single mother who pushes her to use her gift. Look for Ayla’s performances in festivals and venues across the Eastern Shore.


Ruby Fisher is a sophomore at Saint Michaels High School. Fisher has had seven years of voice lessons and four years of choir and has performed in many musicals.


Mid Shore Voices United is a group of enthusiastic singers from several different religious denominations who cover an enormous amount of territory throughout MD, DE, and PA. The choir was founded in November 2023 when the Covenant Gospel Choir, Friends for Christ, and the Second Generation Community Chorus of Federalsburg, MD, came together to participate in a benefit for a local cause. This group brings together singers from St. Michaels, Wittman, Neavitt, Royal Oak, Bellevue, Easton, Federalsburg, Hurlock, Preston, Denton, Salisbury, and Cambridge, MD; Dover, Middletown, Milford, Millsboro, Seaford, Laurel, and Wilmington, DE; and Philadelphia, PA. The combined choir is under the joint direction of Leroy Potter (Covenant Gospel Choir), who is currently a music teacher in the Caroline County Public School System and Ambia Hooper (Second Generation Community Choir), who is a retired music teacher from The Talbot County School System.

Sponsors
The Academy Art Museum raises funds to support the mission of the Museum and the Juneteenth Celebration. To sponsor Juneteenth at AAM, please email the Development Office at development@academyartmuseum.org.
Sponsors
Lead Sponsor:
Morgan Stanley
Lisa Hunter & Shane Hatfield at Morgan Stanley
Lead Media Sponsor:
Maryland Public Television
Additional Support:
Catherine Collins McCoy
Bette S. Kenzie
Bay Imprint
Susan and Richard Granville
Talbot Arts
Easton Utilities