In 2026, Monica Tucker and Tondaleya Shamley dreamt of having Black El Paso Voice as a Community Event… the rest…
About
Juneteenth El Paso
A community initiative rooted in education, celebration, and lasting change.
How it came together
2022
The founder of Black El Paso Voice gathered supporters to establish the official Juneteenth El Paso Initiative — with a clear purpose: to actively and effectively observe Juneteenth.
Reaching out to Pablo Caballero at El Paso Parks & Recreation propelled the movement toward a citywide, educational, and memorable event — reflective of how Juneteenth was celebrated in Galveston in 1865. District 2 City Representative Alexsandra Annello was engaged to help actualize a more inclusive, multicultural observance.
2023
Then Deputy City Manager Dionne Mack informed founder Monica Tucker that the City of El Paso had added the Juneteenth celebration to the official city budget — a landmark acknowledgment of the initiative's impact.
2026 & Beyond
Now in its third official year as a city partner — and fourth year of the initiative — Juneteenth El Paso stands as proof of what consistent community effort produces. The rest is history, and the beginning of what we believe to be the example of community unity embracing Black American culture in the borderland.
Our mission
As residents of this great border city, our goal is to educate, celebrate, and uplift the history and progress of Black people in the United States — specifically the American Descendants of US Chattel Slavery.
We embody the founder's mission to unite Black El Pasoans and demonstrate that we are stronger together as we strive for inclusivity within our community. We thrive, united in collective growth, as we empower and uplift each other.
The challenge
The work of educating the community about Black history is often met with derision and scorn. Including these stories in the broader American narrative has become increasingly difficult — but we will continue to change that.
The path forward
Achieving this requires the support of local community and government. We aim to advance unity and understanding among all citizens — moving our city and country forward through education, not assumptions.
A note on language: Rather than referring to non-Black community supporters as "allies," we prefer the term champions — those who, alongside us, embrace equality, equity, and the elevation of all people, while ensuring Black Americans and our experiences are not forgotten or minimized.
Juneteenth is not merely a one-day event but an ongoing observance of realized freedom.
The fight for equality and justice is continuous, and we must remain vigilant in upholding these principles. Defying ridicule, we illuminate Black history's profound significance — and will forever humanize slavery.
Juneteenth El Paso · JuneteenthEP
WHERE IT STARTED
JUNETEENTH EL PASO | 2022 - 2023 - 2024
FOREVER OUR JUNETEENTH EL PASO FOUNDING SUPPORTERS
