Victory Outreach Antioch presents Unleashed, A Community and Family Event on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Enjoy a custom car show, free haircuts, live hip hop music concert featuring artist EGR and a food giveaway. The event will be held at Antioch City Park on the corner of A and W. 10th Streets from 1:00-5:00 p.m.
Enjoy live music from headliners The Main Ingredient and Slave
This year’s Juneteenth Celebration presented by Grace Arms of Antioch will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2024 and feature a Kids Corner, food, games, vendors and live music with headliners The Main Ingredient and Slave.
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Though the Emancipation Proclamation was given by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, the beginning of the end of slavery wouldn’t be recognized until sometime later – June 19, 1865.
Early celebrations date back to 1866, at first involving church-centered community gatherings in Texas. They spread across the South amongst newly freed African American slaves and their descendants and became more commercialized in the 1920s and 1930s, often centering on a food festival. Participants in the Great Migration brought these celebrations to the rest of the country.
The day was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. Juneteenth became the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was adopted in 1983.
Start of Juneteenth Celebration
When the American Civil War ended, the Union Army arrived in Texas led by Major General Gordon Granger who was given command of the District of Texas on June 10, 1865. On June 19, in the city of Galveston, one of the first orders of business was to post Granger’s General Order No. 3 to inform a reluctant community that President Lincoln over two years earlier had freed the slaves and to press locals to comply with his directive. His order began with:
“The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection therefore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.”
This set off joyous demonstrations by the freed people, originating the annual Juneteenth celebration, which commemorates the abolition of slavery in Texas. The celebration’s name is a blend of the words “June” and “nineteenth”.
Why did it take so long for the news to get to Texas?
There is no one reason why there was a two-and-a-half-year delay in letting Texas know about the abolition of slavery in the United States, according to Juneteenth.com. The historical site said some accounts place the delay on a messenger who was murdered on his way to Texas with the news, while others say the news was deliberately withheld.
Due to the delay, slavery did not end in Texas overnight, according to an article by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. originally posted on The Root. Gates said after New Orleans fell, many slavers traveled to Texas with their slaves to escape regulations enforced by the Union Army in other states.
Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe invites the public to join him for the first Antioch Salutes Ceremony that honors high school graduates who have chosen to serve our nation in the United States Armed Forces and become part of the 1% of Americans who serve in military uniform.
The ceremony will include entertainment and refreshments. Several elected city officials, military officers and Armed Forces veterans will be in attendance.
Student enlistees will be sworn in, receive a special Certificate of Commendation from the mayor and a special Thank You for their service to the nation.
The event will be held at Noon on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at 101 Waldie Plaza across from City Hall in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. To register for the free event visit Antioch SALUTES Tickets on Eventbrite.
For Antioch residents or AUSD students; deadline Aug. 30
The YOCH Internship program is designed for teens ages 12-15 and is a unique opportunity offering a chance to engage in meaningful work while gaining valuable skills and experiences. Some participants may even qualify for a stipend based on their age, making it both rewarding and financially beneficial.
At present, our internship focuses on tutoring younger Antioch youth in Math & Reading, serving as mentors and role models to support academic growth. To ensure the success of this initiative, applicants must have a GPA of 2.9 or higher when applying for the internship. This program is open to both AUSD students and Antioch residents, providing a platform for local youth to make a positive impact in their community while furthering their own educational development.
32nd annual event brings communities together outdoors to celebrate and give back to trails
Take the 2024 National Trails Day® Pledge by June 8 to be entered to win premium gear prize packs.
East Bay Regional Park District offers variety of trails to hike
By American Hiking Society
The nationwide celebration of National Trails Day® on Saturday June 1, 2024, will bring together people from across the country, Puerto Rico, and beyond, to celebrate, enjoy, and give back to the trails. American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day®, is an annual event aimed at advocacy, trail service, and encouraging local communities to connect in the outdoors.
Trail users, including hikers, cyclists, horseback riders, paddlers, trail clubs, federal and local agencies, and various organizations, unite on National Trails Day® to improve the trails and outdoor community. This is accomplished through collective efforts toward advocating for, maintaining, cleaning up, and celebrating trails and nature. By working together, this diverse coalition can ensure that these outdoor spaces remain accessible, safe, and enjoyable for everyone now and in the future.
Source: American Hiking Society
National Trails Day® is an event that people of all ages, abilities, and lifestyles can celebrate by participating in a local trail event. Participants can also take the National Trails Day® pledge to commit to leaving the trails and the outdoor community better than they found them. Additionally, individuals can share their trail experience by tagging #NationalTrailsDay and @AmericanHiking on social media.
Last year, more than 700 sites across the U.S. brought people together for various recreational and volunteer opportunities. More than 7,044 trail volunteers built and maintained more than 558 miles of trails as part of the festivities.
The East Bay Regional Park District offers multiple trails to hike this Saturday. See list, locations and maps, here: www.ebparks.org/trails.
“National Trails Day® provides a unique opportunity to bring community members of all walks of life together in the outdoors, all with a common goal of enjoying nature and preserving it,” said Heather Klein Olson, Executive Director of American Hiking Society. “This is our 32nd annual celebration of National Trails Day®, and it’s incredible to see how the trails unite us and remind us of the power of our collective action and passion. Spending time on the trails offers us time to reflect on nature’s positive impact on our physical and mental well-being and the positive impact we can have on it, too. This annual event reminds us to appreciate the beauty of the great outdoors and commit to doing our part to protect it for generations to come.”
2024 National Trails Day® Pledge
“In honor of #NationalTrailsDay, I’ll leave the trails and the outdoor community better than I found them.” Take the pledge by June 8 to be entered to win premium gear prize packs.
Corporate & Federal Sponsors
American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® is made possible by the generous support of Corporate Sponsors – Exclusive Beer Sponsor Athletic Brewing, Aflac, AKHG by Duluth Trading Company, REI, Osprey Packs, Fjallraven, GORE-TEX Brand, Zevo Insect, and GOES Health. Federal Partners include: National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau Of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Federal Highway Administration.
Founded in 1976, American Hiking Society is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering all to enjoy, share and preserve the hiking experience.
Not all based in the city; one Antioch-based organization receives $85,000
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, the Antioch City Council unanimously approved funding of a total of $307,275 of awards for Fiscal Year 2024-25 to the following community-based organizations (CBOs) and non-profits providing essential services to youth and young adults in Antioch.
Before the vote, District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker asked for explanations on some of the grants from Department of Public Safety and Community Resources Director Tasha Johnson in addition to the information included in the meeting agenda.
CASA of Contra Costa County – $5,000 – Academic Support/Mentorship: CASA Contra Costa County seeks funding to expand and strengthen its trauma-informed tutoring program, which is specifically designed to support foster children and youth in Antioch and throughout the county.
RR Transitional Housing (Fall) – $5,290 – Academic Support/Mentorship: The tutoring program operates on a structured schedule, convening twice a week for two hours each session during the summer months.
RR Transitional Housing (Fall) – $16,050 – Academic Support/Mentorship: The tutoring program operates on a structured schedule, convening twice a week for two hours each session during the fall months.
RR Transitional Housing (Spring) – $16,934 – Academic Support/Mentorship: The tutoring program operates on a structured schedule, convening twice a week for two hours each session during spring months.
RR stands for Rey de Reyes Ministries, and is a church on W. 2nd Street in Antioch which provides tutoring services to youth, Johnson shared.
Richmond Community Foundation, now known as RCF Connects – $50,000 – Civic and Social engagement: youth will cultivate a deep sense of civic engagement and social responsibility among the youth, especially focusing on those from underserved communities.
RCF President and CEO Jim Becker, an Antioch resident, offered additional information about the organization and program.
One Day at a Time (ODAT) – $40,000 – Civic and Social engagement: Youth will understand privilege, racism and intersectionality in a welcoming and encouraging environment. ODAT is based in Brentwood.
Bridge Builders to the New Generation (Summer) – $65,000 – Personal Enrichment: This is a highly engaged camp experience for Antioch youth, who will participate in an interactive, dynamic, and transformational learning cohort. Each day is themed to reflect the day’s learning objective during summer.
Bridge Builders to the New Generation (Spring) – $10,000 – Personal Enrichment: This is a highly engaged camp experience for Antioch youth. They will participate in an interactive, dynamic, and transformational learning cohort. Each day during spring break is themed to reflect the day’s learning objective.
Bridge Builders to the New Generation (Fall) – $10,000 – Personal Enrichment: This is a highly engaged camp experience for Antioch youth. They will participate in an interactive, dynamic, and transformational learning cohort. Each day during fall break is themed to reflect the day’s learning objective.
Bridge Builders is based in Antioch.
Antioch Unified School District – $20,000 – Physical Health: This program promotes physical activity and teaches foundational skills to students in grades K-6. It helps bridge the equity gap and ensures that every student has access to the benefits of physical activity.
On that funding, Torres-Walker said to Johnson, “be careful or you might have your desk end up on a roof,” referring to the recent accusations of bullying in the school district’s Maintenance Department.
J6 – $24,000 – Physical Health: Youth are engaged in and assisted in personal growth, academic success, and avenues for future advancement through basketball and broader professional arenas.
Trade Jobs for You – $25,000 – Workforce Development: The new innovative leader in the beauty industry is an apprentice program in cosmetology and barbering. It includes training and placement.
Questions were sent to Johnson, Acting City Manager Kwame Reed and Acting Assistant City Manager Brad Helfenberger asking about the latter two organizations as no information about them could be found from an internet search. Please check back later for any updates to this report.
6/3/24 UPDATE: In response, Johnson wrote, “J6 is…an organization with a program and platform for empowering our future leaders through a basketball program and engagement in a transformative manhood development program. Through mentorship, skill development, and instilling essential values, they aim to shape confident, responsible, and successful community members.
Trade Jobs 4 You is a comprehensive organization whose programs include funding, training, access to necessary tools and equipment, and connections to employment opportunities. They empower and guide individuals toward success in their chosen trade. Their ultimate goal is to create a ripple effect of positive change in the lives of our program graduates, ultimately leaving a legacy of fulfilled dreams and thriving communities.”
However, no websites or Facebook pages for the organizations were provided by Johnson. She was then requested to provide that information and if they don’t have an internet presence, to provide the groups’ contact information.
Please check back later for any additional updates to this report.
Before the city council heard public comments about and discussed a ban or moratorium on more gas stations and additional fossil fuel dispensers at current gas stations in Antioch, City Attorney Thomas L. Smith explained it would require a General Plan amendment. It would then be sent to the Planning Commission for a recommendation before a council vote, he added.
City Clerk Ellie Householder then announced District 1 Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker had to leave the meeting at 9:53 p.m. With her absence, the council stalemated with two in favor, Mayor Pro Tem and District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson and Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe, and two opposed, District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica and District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock.
Public Comments
During public comments on the agenda item, a woman who said her name was O.G. Stargatz (spelling?) who said she was a volunteer with 350 Contra Costa spoke in favor of the moratorium saying, “I’m here to offer our full support.” The Pinole City Council passed an urgency moratorium ordinance last month, she shared.
“I don’t think we need more gas stations in our city,” said resident Devin Williams. “I don’t think we’ll be around in another 40 years if we keep going at this rate with the climate.”
A resident named Lou spoke about the mayor’s pledge towards a fossil-fuel free Antioch government and said the gas station moratorium dovetails in with it. He then quoted a sentence from the mayor’s press release about his pledge published in the Herald, that, “The average global temperature on Earth has irreversibly risen by at least 1.9 degrees Fahrenheit since 1880, with most of this increase occurring since 1975” as an argument in support of the ban.
Frank Sterling also spoke in favor of the proposed moratorium.
Nicole Errington said, “I like hybrids. Hybrids are great. No, we don’t need any more gas stations. My biggest concern is benzene as a cancer survivor.”
Resident Harry Thurston said, “I see many more gas stations. Our city doesn’t look very good with them. I’d like to see them go away or reduced.”
Wilson was the first council member to speak as she made the proposal. She said, “I feel I need to advocate for a healthy community. Climate change is real. We’re talking about the 24 gas stations in our city. We need to end our reliance on fossil fuels. I’m in the process of converting to a hybrid car or electric car. I relooked at our Climate Action Plan which was done in 2020…we do state we need to prepare for Climate Change.”
“I really want to see a ban on the development of new gas stations…and a ban on more pumps at our existing 24 gas stations,” she continued. “We really need to start thinking about the future and be proactive. This is one step toward how we can be sustainable. Going green isn’t sometimes affordable. We need to make it affordable for low-income residents.”
“I believe the open market will flush this out. If we switch over to electric vehicles by 2035 this will work itself out,” said Barbanica. “But if we go out to our parking lot, right now…99% of the vehicles operate on gas.”
“We don’t ban new businesses coming into our community,” he continued. “Will we say, ‘no, you’re not coming in?’ It’s a case-by-case basis. We said no, last year, to a 24-hour station right next to residential homes. As the EV market continues to grow, you’ll see less and less demand for these coming into our community. The council still has the ability to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’.”
“I’m not for the ban. I think it’s a case-by-case. There will be some areas that will need a gas station,” Ogorchock said.
“You all know where I stand,” Thorpe said. “We’ve actually already said ‘no’, twice. But I am for the policy. I am for the ban. There isn’t consensus for this to move forward but we can bring it back in the future and see how Councilwoman Torres-Walker stands on the issue.”
The matter died on the two-two split of council members.
