Health fair, talent show part of Wichita’s Juneteenth celebrations

This year’s Juneteenth will kick off with the annual Health Fair and Gospel Under the Stars talent show, celebrating diversity, unity and freedom in the Wichita community, organizers say.

Juneteenth is a celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Texas announcing that the war had ended and that slaves were free.

“It’s like a holiday and celebration for the freeing of slaves,” said E. Jean Carter-Boniface, founder, CEO and president of H.O.P.E Inc., a local nonprofit.

Juneteenth celebrations will be held at New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, 1625 N. Madison.

On Saturday, the annual Health Fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Local health care providers Hunter Health Care Clinic, Health Core Clinic and Medical Service Bureau will provide health care screenings.

“We were the original free health care screening for youths and families,” Carter-Boniface said. “If you don’t have good health and nutrition, there’s no point in having anything else.”

On June 18, the Gospel Under the Stars talent show will take place at 6 p.m. The show will feature mimes, choirs, vocalists, dancers and more.

The show gives those with a lack of resources an opportunity for exposure, Carter-Boniface said.

“We have a lot of our ethnic children who have talent,” she said.

This year, there will be a new event. Rusty Eck Ford will host a raffle for a chance to win a new truck or car. The tickets will be $10 each, and there is no limit to the number of tickets that can be purchased. The proceeds will go to H.O.P.E.

This story was originally published June 11, 2017 at 3:34 PM with the headline "Health fair, talent show part of Wichita’s Juneteenth celebrations."