Brooklyn Movement Center

Today is Juneteenth, a day to commemorate when freedom came to enslaved Texans in 1865 - more than two full years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Since then, our communities in Texas and across America have honored those ancestors and the continued pursuit of freedom for all Black people with gatherings, learning events, music and more.

The design of the flag illustrated above was a community effort with Ben Haith of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation and illustrator Lisa Jeanne Graf created in 1997, but Jubilee Day/Juneteenth Day celebrations have existed for a century.

Haith told CNN the idea for the design “just came through me”. As word from the ancestors often does.

The star represents Texas and the freedom of Black people; the burst represents a new beginning; and the arc represents a horizon representing the opportunities and promise ahead for Black people.

In honor of Juneteenth and those who came before, let’s work to build a better now and a brighter future for us.

Central Brooklyn, we outside all summer!

We’re looking for volunteers to help us connect with Black Central Brooklynites at events across the borough. You’ll collect contact information and speak with potential supporters at our table or by canvassing event attendees.

This month we’ll be at Brooklyn Pride in Park Slope on June 13, Stoop Set on Franklin Ave on June 20, and at the Juneteenth Celebration at Fulton Park on June 26th.

Volunteers will get a free t-shirt and BMC swag while supplies last. Register at the link in bio or visit the BMC website to sign up! ☀️✊🏾

📢Central Brooklyn! 📢

Our first visioning session is tomorrow! This virtual session will be available on Zoom and begins at 6:30 PM! Visit the link in our bio to register and receive the link.

Join us and share your ideas and experiences as we revitalize BMC and rebuild our work and programming. If you’re a former BMC member or a Bed-Stuy, Croen Heights or Brownsville resident who cares about building more resources and power for Black communities , we want you to come through!

If you can’t make our virtual event tomorrow, join us at the Macon Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library on Saturday, May 2nd, for our in-person visioning session. And bring a friend or loved one!

We need your help to build the future of Brooklyn Movement Center and to ensure our work meets our communities' needs, creating strong programs and solutions that help us live, create our own safety, thrive and be well. 

Come to one of our upcoming BMC Visioning Sessions to share your voice and ideas about what BMC’s future work looks like and how we can best organize toward an even bolder, brighter future. 

Our Virtual Visioning Session will be on Wednesday, April 29th, at 6:30 PM. Register to receive the link to attend. 

Our in-person Visioning Session will be on Saturday, May 2nd at 12 PM - register for the address. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Sign up for either event at the link in bio - we hope to see as many of our BMC family come through as possible and come together to build what’s next.

Last weekend’s events were a whole mood! Powerful drumming by Sky, amazing beats by Deja Sol, inspirational words from movement leaders, a packed house of community and great food and vibes. 

Thank you to everyone who made our homecoming event special, helped us pack and move, and shared their memories of the Mansion and BMC throughout the weekend.

Our next events are coming at the end of April and early May. Stay tuned for an RSVP link to our upcoming visioning sessions: April 29th, virtually from 6:30-8 PM, and May 2nd, in person from 12-2 PM. 

You won’t want to miss what we have planned next!

We have a great event planned tomorrow to celebrate our time at The Mansion beginning at 6 PM! Join us for a night of memories, music and community with a delicious dinner provided by Zaca Cafe.

First, we’ll meet at the front of The People’s Mansion for a brief program. Jean Menesky Magloire, aka Sky, will lead us in a drum processional to Akwaaba Mansion at 347 MacDonough Street at around 6:15.

Chauvet Bishop, Massage Therapist, Reiki Practitioner, Organizer and Poet, will lead a healing and grounding ceremony during the program, and DJ Déjà Sol will bring the beats to keep the party going until 8:30.

RSVP now at the link in bio and come celebrate with us tomorrow!

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!

We still need a few volunteers to help us pack and move on Friday and Saturday!

You’ll be helping BMC, GrowHouse and Freebrook collect and organize items to prepare for movers over the weekend.

Sign up for a shift at the link in bio!

And don’t forget about the People’s Mansion Homecoming Celebration on Saturday from 6 PM - 8:30 PM.