Many Faces of Freedom: A Juneteenth Look at Revolutionary America
Many Faces of Freedom: A Juneteenth Look at Revolutionary America
Hosted by the Elizabethtown Social Center in partnership with the North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association, this special panel discussion and community conversation invites residents and visitors to reflect on the meaning of freedom in America — past, present, and future.
Held in conjunction with the celebration of Juneteenth and the approaching 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the program creates a space to explore how the ideals of liberty have shaped the nation while also recognizing the struggles and contradictions that accompanied those ideals.
As the United States prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War and the signing of the Declaration of Independence, communities across the nation are reflecting on the promises of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Yet the same period that inspired a movement for independence also existed alongside slavery and the denial of freedom to many people, including African Americans, Indigenous communities, women and others whose voices were often left out of the nation’s founding story. This discussion will thoughtfully examine how the revolutionary spirit of freedom inspired generations of Americans to continue pushing the nation toward a broader understanding of equality and human rights.
The program will also connect these national conversations to the history of the North Country and Lake Champlain region. Community panelists will share stories, perspectives, and historical insights that highlight the region’s connections to abolition, the Underground Railroad, military service, and the ongoing pursuit of justice and freedom. Audience members will be encouraged to participate in an open and welcoming dialogue about how history continues to influence our communities today.
Presented as part of the broader Juneteenth celebration, this event honors June 19, 1865 — the day enslaved African Americans in Texas finally learned of their freedom more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth serves as both a celebration and a reminder that freedom has often been hard fought, delayed, and unfinished. By connecting Juneteenth with the upcoming America250 commemoration, this program encourages meaningful reflection on the nation’s history and the continuing responsibility to preserve freedom, civic engagement, and community understanding for future generations.
All are welcome to attend this engaging evening of history, conversation, reflection, and community connection.
Panelists include:
Jacqueline Madison, North Star Underground Railroad Historical Association
Peter Slocum, Adirondack History Museum
Moderated by Laurie House, Elizabethtown Social Center
Wednesday, June 17
6:30pm
Children Welcome! We’ll hold a simultaneous cooking class, where kids can make and serve Juneteenth snacks.
Location: Elizabethtown Social Center, 7626 US Route 9
Free
Outdoors unless rainy. (indoors with AC if hot)
Many Faces of Freedom: A Juneteenth Look at Revolutionary America
Hosted by the Elizabethtown Social Center in partnership with the North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association, this special panel discussion and community conversation invites residents and visitors to reflect on the meaning of freedom in America — past, present, and future.
