Even after one person was killed and 28 people were injured in a June 2 shooting just blocks away, organizers of a Juneteenth celebration planned at East Akron's Joy Park remained determined to push forward with their June 15 event.
Akron Mayor Shammas Malik, however, pulled the plug on that plan June 14 after hearing safety concerns from eight City Council members in the wake of the still-unsolved shooting. Malik canceled events planned at city-owned sites for that entire weekend despite acknowledging there were no credible threats.
On Saturday, planners are hoping to recoup the spirit of the thwarted East Akron event — with previously scheduled vendors lined up to try again at Joy Park Community Day. The community center at 825 Fuller St. will host festivities from noon to 5 p.m.
Joy Parms and Brittany Bell were among the vendors affected by the abrupt cancellation of the Joy Park gathering. Both took part in the city's hastily arranged Juneteenth celebration on June 19 at the John S. Knight Center downtown, and both plan to be at Joy Park on Saturday.
Parms runs Parm's Pounds , a home-based bakery that makes pound cakes, cheesecakes and more.
Bell runs a business called The Juice Hive that deals in freshly squeezed, cold-pressed juices.
The vendors' scramble after the June event cancellation "was very, very stressful" Parms said, and she took in lower-than-expected profits.
"Fortunately, I was able to reach out to a couple people that I know, and they let me come to their business, and try to make my sales versus what the original plan was," said Parms. "I still didn't do as great as I would have done. But again, it wasn't a total loss."
Bell said she took a loss, albeit a small one. She, too, was able to get some help that day selling her wares by turning to social media.
Bell made a post saying that Akron's Juneteenth events were canceled, and asked "can I bring my juices here?" she said. "I had so much support from different people off on social media where I was able to go ahead and sell some of my juice, not all."
Both Bell and Parms are optimistic about Saturday.
Parms said that in addition to putting vendors in front of the community, it also "gives you an opportunity to make new connections with other vendors and maybe collaborate and then those businesses grows together and, you know, separately," she said. "It gives you a chance to be more present in the community, you know, and be more involved in what's going on in these different events. On top of that is fun, of course."
"I think it's gonna be great," Bell said, "it's gonna be fun. So, even though we missed out Juneteenth, it's OK. The show must go on, on a different date."
What's happening at the Joy Park Community Day?
The Joy Park Community Day is organized by former Ward 5 Councilwoman Tara Mosley Weems, who said she fully expects the event to revert back to the annual Juneteenth celebration in 2025.
"We are building something really big for next year," she said.
In addition to featuring many of the vendors originally scheduled for the June 15 celebration, Mosley Weems said there will be live musical performances by The Afterparty and DJ Chaka, line dancing, a pickleball tournament, aerobics and more.
Some social service organizations also will set up at the event, including Minority Behavioral Health and Summit County Job and Family Services.
"I think it's important that we have those social services on the ground so people can have a conversation with them and see, in fact, there's actually help out there," Mosley Weems said. The police department will be there as well, she said, conducting community outreach and providing security.
Mosley Weems said activities for kids will include an Akron firetruck demonstration
In addition to The Juice Hive and Parm's Pounds, vendors will include Big Dzz Food Truck and PT's Pretty Treats.
Mosley Weems said all are welcome regardless of where in the city they live.
"This is Akron; we are one community, and I just want people to know that this is a time for us to come out and celebrate community and celebrate each other," she said.
Contact reporter Derek Kreider at Dkreider@Gannett.com or 330-541-9413
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Joy Park Community Day aims to embody spirit of canceled Juneteenth celebration
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