Port St. Lucie Juneteenth Celebration Initiative 2025
Shannon Martin
Mayor
Stephanie Morgan
District 1 Councilwomen
Jolien Caraballo Vice Mayor
District 4 Councilwomen
David Pickett
District 2 Councilman
Anthony Bonna, Sr.
District 3 Councilman
The initiation of Port Saint Lucie's 2025 Juneteenth celebration demonstrated how to engage with city government for a desired outcome. The Brotherhood of Forerunners noticed no events were planned for the Juneteenth holiday. They addressed this with Mayor Shannon M. Martin and the City Council on June 24, 2024. The group presented a memorandum seeking approval, support, and sponsorship for the celebration, including educational events, resulting in positive actions.
· The Mayor and City Council established a City Staffing Committee to conduct a feasibility study on the Juneteenth Initiative. The City Staffing Committee returned a positive response to the study.
· Following the positive response from the City Staffing Committee, a Citizen Committee, including the Brotherhood, was established. This committee was tasked with canvassing the Port Saint Lucie community to determine their expectations concerning a Juneteenth celebration.
· The Citizen Committee completed its task successfully. A Planning Committee was formed to ensure that three events could be conducted and recommended to the City Council.
· Recommendations were presented to the Council for review and approval. The Council endorsed and approved the recommendations. A Plan of Action was implemented, and the need for follow-up meetings was established. The Brotherhood participated in establishing the Plan of Action as well as in all follow-up meetings.
With the Plan of Action in place and completed, the City of Port Saint Lucie announced that three events would be held for the Juneteenth Celebration: the inaugural Juneteenth 5K Run/Walk, sponsored by the Treasure Coast Black Chamber of Commerce; a Juneteenth Celebration of Unity, sponsored by the City of Port Saint Lucie; and the final event, the Let Freedom Ring Celebration and Concert held at Tradition Square, sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club of Port Saint Lucie. The City also proclaimed June 19, 2025, as a day of Unity and Celebration of Juneteenth.