Atlantic City, N.J. — Stockton University’s Multicultural Center celebrated Juneteenth a couple of days early on Wednesday, June 17 with an event focused on education, reflection and community.

The center hosts an afternoon of programming that brought together students, faculty, staff and community members in the quad of Kesselman Hall on the Atlantic City campus.

The event featured keynote remarks from members of the Stockton community, including speakers who shared personal reflections on the importance of Juneteenth and its continued impact today.  

Juneteenth honors the day enslaved people in Texas learned they were free on June 19, 1865, nearly two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. The day recognizes the end of slavery in the United States, while also celebrating Black history, culture, resilience and the ongoing pursuit of equality. 

“This celebration has taught me that Black history is not the story of struggle, it is also a story of leadership, resistance, achievement and sacrifice,” said Jalynne Smith, a senior Africana Studies major from Piscataway.  

The celebration also featured remarks from community leaders, including Elaine Hawkes, the co-founder of WEHA Gospel 88.7 and 100.3 FM in Pleasantville, along with performances highlighting Black culture and history. Attendees enjoyed a musical performance by recent Stockton graduate Lillian Nickens and a special tribute honoring former Stockton President. Vera King Farris, presented by Donnetrice Allison, professor of Africana Studies, and Multicultural Center Director Jovin Fernandez.  

Also, Dianne Stalling, the assistant director of the Multicultural Center, was presented with the 2026 Vera King Farris Legacy Award by the Africana Studies program for more than 40 years of service to Stockton.

For those involved in the celebration, Juneteenth serves as both a moment to recognize the struggles of the past and an opportunity to celebrate progress, connection and community.  

“Together, let’s redefine what is possible and continue to shine brightly as beacons of hope and inspiration,” Hawkes said.  

Through events like the Juneteenth celebration, Stockton’s Multicultural Center continues to create opportunities for dialogue, learning and connection across the university community. 

— Story and photos by Abbigail Erbacher