“Rooted in Resilience, Rising in Joy.”
A sacred space to honor ancestral strength, move through embodied healing, and celebrate Black joy, freedom, and unity.
AGENDA
- Opening Blessing provided by Olabayo Julius Ogunrinola.
- Liberation Flow Yoga Class (All Levels) with Kimberly
- Cultural Celebration and Nourishment presented by Chef Sede Clark
- Healing Sound Bath and Journaling with Amanda
- Closing Circle and Affirmation Ceremony
Featuring
Artist Love
Plus more to be announced
Sponsored by Flourish
EnhanceYourFlourish.com
Opportunities to support local Black heritage programs through donations will be promoted at the event.
About Juneteenth
The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act (Congress.gov) was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in June 2021. The bill was signed by President Joe Biden on June 17, 2021, which officially made the day a federal holiday.
The federal holiday known as “Second Independence Day,” marks the day the last African American slaves were notified that they had been freed from their masters in Texas.
The origins of Juneteenth date back to June 19, 1865 – more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation – when the Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger (Tsha Online) arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.
This delay and the enforcement of the emancipation in Texas was due to a lack of enforcement until this general arrived.
Then Juneteenth thus became this kind of powerful symbol of freedom and the long struggle for civil rights.
Later that same year, in December 1865, the ratification of the 13th Amendment formally abolished slavery in the United States. It read (Archives.gov):
“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
Today, Juneteenth is celebrated across the country (NY Times Article) Black families and friends with festivals, parades, concerts, and more. Jubilant annual celebrations also take place where it began (NY Times Article), in Galveston, Texas. Because of the holiday’s Southern roots, barbecue is a must, and red foods like strawberry soda and red velvet cake are traditionally served; crimson is “a symbol of ingenuity and resilience in bondage.”
Juneteenth was established as a federal holiday, opening it to symbolic and global interpretation and providing a better understanding of the evolution of our nation and its people. Juneteenth celebrations then, like now, recognize the ongoing fight for human rights and equality and are commemorated through family cookouts, faith services, musical performances and storytelling. Today, Juneteenth celebrates African American resilience and achievement, while preserving history and community traditions.
Collected and compiled from multiple sources. A special thanks to Manuel Jones, President of the Dorothy T. Johnson Branch (located in Central Florida) of ASALH (Association for the Study of African American Life and History)
About THE PRACTITIONERS
Kimberly
Lemon Drop Co. is a wellness facilitation company founded by Kimberly, focused on helping individuals reconnect with their mind, body, and soul through intentional movement, mindfulness, and community support. With the motto “Be the Squeeze,” Lemon Drop Co. encourages people to put in the work to reach their personal goals and lead balanced, fulfilling lives. Through group fitness classes, private sessions, pop-up events, and accountability coaching, Lemon Drop Co. creates safe and empowering spaces for growth and transformation. Kimberly launched her fitness journey in 2019 at LA Fitness, quickly moving from the front desk to teaching Aqua Aerobics and Senior Fit classes. She went on to serve as Operations Manager and Lead Instructor at iLoveKickboxing’s Aloma location, where she led group fitness and accountability programs for over three years. She currently teaches at Warrior Studios in Lake Baldwin and holds certifications in Mat Pilates and RYT200 Yoga, with her RYT500 underway. Kimberly’s wellness philosophy is deeply shaped by her athletic background—including time as part of UCF’s undefeated Women’s Rugby team (2015–2017) and a competitive bodybuilding career, where she won 1st place in the Wellness Novice category at the 2022 Klash Bodybuilding Show under the guidance of IFBB Pros Ty Pope and Nicolette Burton. Outside the studio, she applies her operational strengths as a Customer Care and Operations Manager for a real estate investment firm in Winter Park, FL. Kimberly brings a holistic, no-fluff approach to wellness, making Lemon Drop Co. a reflection of her belief that real transformation starts from within.
Amanda Alston
Amanda Alston is a yoga teacher, sound guide, and facilitator of consciousness devoted
to curating intentional spaces for clarity, embodiment, and inner alignment. Her offerings
weave movement, sound, and presence to open portals of insight, remembrance, and
spiritual alignment. Amanda creates experiences that invite depth, softness, and intriguing self-inquiry.
Whether guiding a class, playing sound bowls, or sharing reflective language, her work
encourages sovereignty and a return to the wisdom of the heart & body.
Chef Sedemae
Chef Sedemae is a dynamic culinary artist, educator, and entrepreneur from Philadelphia. A proud graduate of Johnson & Wales University North Miami and former Chef Assistant at Disney, she now leads her own catering business and
serves as a chef instructor for youth across Central Florida. Passionate about creativity, culture, and community, Chef Sedemae inspires the next generation through hands-on cooking experiences that blend flavor, technique, and fun.