We Outside: A Brooklyn Juneteenth
By Nina Flowers
(Brooklyn, NY – May 21, 2025) – For its fifth annual Juneteenth Celebration, 651 ARTS – Brooklyn’s premier institution for the African Diasporic performing arts – will once again team up with The Soapbox Presents, the popular performing arts platform celebrating the brilliance of Black and brown people, for the third year to mark the national holiday with “We Outside: A Brooklyn Juneteenth, Vol. III.” Held in partnership with the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, this special commemoration of Freedom Day will celebrate culture and community and will take place outdoors at The Plaza at 300 Ashland in Downtown Brooklyn, on Saturday, June 21st from 2pm – 8pm.

Curated with The Soapbox Presents as part of their Juneteenth activations, this year’s “We Outside…” event centers the theme of building coalitions to build community –
drawing inspiration from the legendary Harlem-born artist Faith Ringgold whose art centers around expressions of Blackness and womanhood through a firm anti-racist, feminist lens.
With live performances, food truck offerings and a host of family and community engagement experiences, this celebration will include The Soapbox Presents’ signature Stoop Sessions.

Originally popularized on the stoops of Harlem, this performance will takeover “the stoop” at Ashland Plaza located in front of 651 ARTS’ new home in Downtown Brooklyn. With the music of Frankie Beverly, Earth Wind and Fire, and many more, led by Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Gordon Chambers and featuring vocal powerhouses YahZarah and J. Hoard, this Stoop Session will explore liberation and celebrate the genius of soul classics.

Additional programming highlights for the day are:
Young, Gifted & Black: A Celebration of HBCU Culture – Inspired by HBCU culture, YG&B celebrates the traditions born out of necessity at educational institutions made for African Americans by African Americans and the young people continuing the legacy. This segment will showcase a mix of marching bands, drumlines, and majorette squads.

Featured talent includes: Brooklyn United’s marching band and danceline, the majorette squad Brooklyn Gatorettes; Big Apple Leadership Academy for the Arts’ marching band and danceline; the ICE Cold Experience Drumline; Untouchable Movement Dance Company’s majorette squad and X-Factor Drumline. And this year we’re proud to feature presentations from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Additionally, “We Outside…” will once again host a unique Black Artisan Market – curated especially for this event by Brooklyn Pop-Up – showcasing Brooklyn’s finest Black makers and entrepreneurs. The marketplace will feature contemporary fashion, accessories, home goods, beauty and wellness and handmade jewelry.

Said 651 ARTS’ Executive Director Toya A. Lillard, “this year, it was really important for us to double down on the intent of creating an event commemorating Liberation Day for Black people in America by really reinforcing the ideals of unity, resilience and perseverance that continue to push us forward as a people through the lens of music, dance and community gathering as a generative way to respond to this moment in our nation’s history. We look forward to welcoming all to ‘come outside’ and join us for this special celebration.”

“As so many things shift for each and every person who calls this country home, it is of the utmost importance that we gather to collectively manifest freedom! It is our mission to create safe spaces where we can actively practice being liberated. Here, at “We Outside: A Brooklyn Juneteenth”, we will commune in the name of Black joy and freedom for all!” said founder and executive director of The Soapbox Presents Marija Abney.