Flossmoor Juneteenth celebration continues to grow in fifth year

Richton Park's Destiny Watson is a person who likes to look ahead.
Watson, 27, is the founder and CEO of You Matter 2 and one of the goals is to make the future better for youths in the Southland with programs and initiatives.
But on Thursday morning, she had a chance to look back both figuratively and literally.
You Matter 2 is the group that does the heavy lifting for the Juneteenth celebration in Flossmoor. Watson and You Matter 2 held its fifth celebration overall and fourth parade through the village.
It was a chance for people to look back as Juneteenth celebrated June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, announcing the end of the Civil War and reading the Emancipation Proclamation that President Abraham Lincoln signed two years earlier.
Watson appreciates looking back on the history but as she marched at the front with the You Matter 2 group, she couldn't help but feel good about looking back and seeing 19 more groups and 450 people behind her as more than 1,000 people lined Flossmoor Road to cheer them on.
'To look back and see the line and groups of people — it was huge,' Watson said. 'The parade keeps growing every year. This was definitely our biggest one.'
The parade stepped off at the Western Avenue Elementary School and went along Flossmoor Road until it reached Parker Middle School, where a block party continued the celebration.
The parade featured dancers, cheerleaders and drums as well as groups coming out to celebrate and distribute candy to the younger parade watchers.
Toward the end of the route, Calumet City's Deneen Holmes held a sign celebrating the holiday.
'It's a happy thing,' Holmes said. 'I love being Black and it's a celebration of freedom and a celebration of culture and we love that we can have this in the south suburbs for everyone to support and celebrate.'
Holmes said she came last year with her family and loved the parade and the dancers.
'I love seeing the kids dance and the younger people get involved. It was a pleasure to watch,' she said.
One of the groups marching was the Alpha Phi Alpha Theta Mu Lambda organization. Its members didn't dance or cheer, but it has been a presence in the south suburbs. Like You Matter 2, Alpha Phi Alpha promotes academic excellence and service in the area.
Andre Sutton, the corresponding secretary for the chapter, sits on the executive board and said it benefits young people from Homewood, Flossmoor, Harvey, South Holland and other areas.
'We develop leaders and have a mentorship program where we mentor young African American men,' he said. 'We have members as young as 18 to members who are in their 60s and 70s.'
Sutton said the Flossmoor Juneteenth celebration keeps growing.
'It's good to see families and it's good to see local people out here,' he said. 'It's great to see children out here having a great time and doing something positive in the community.'
Watson helped get the ball rolling in 2021 with a festival in the parking lot at Homewood-Flossmoor High School days after Gov. J.B. Pritzker declared June 19 a state holiday and then-President Joe Biden signed legislation to make it a national holiday.
'It started with a vision, honestly, to bring our community together and celebrate Juneteenth,' Watson said. 'To see it grow every year and to see the turnout, it's a good feeling to see that people still want to come out and support it.'
Watson, Kalyn Victor, Matthew Hill and Nicholas Amuh are the four running the show for You Matter 2 and put in a lot of work with the celebration.
Watson said it's worth it to make people aware of the past plight of African Americans.
'I think there is more learning but with us having this presence, it gives people a chance to ask questions and learn more,' she said. 'And it gives us a bigger platform to reach the community.'
Holmes said progress is being made with the holiday.
'I definitely think that it's more widespread,' Holmes said. 'A lot of Black culture is not necessarily celebrated nationally, but it's celebrated within our homes and within our families.
'So, it's nice to see that we can come and connect with the community.'

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