EMBRACE IDEAS FESTIVAL 2024

Tuesday, June 18, 2024 6 pm-10 pm

Massachusetts College Of Art & Design

The Juneteenth Embrace Honors Awards are presented in tribute to the tireless work of remarkable individuals who are committed to a more equitable city for all. Embrace Boston will commemorate exemplary civic, business, and community leaders at the Juneteenth Embrace Honors on the evening of June 18, 2024. Join us in your all-white attire for an evening of performances rooted in spiritual and gospel music. And celebrate the spirit of freedom lifted through these art forms as we kick off our weeklong celebration of the Juneteenth holiday.

Our Juneteenth honorees include:

Deborah Jackson & Duane Jackson
Angela Motley & Dr. Keith Motley
Charlotte Wagner & Herbert Wagner, III
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Our Embrace Honors MLK honorees:

Dr. Kia & Demond Martin
Sandy Edgerley & Paul Edgerley
Dr. Yndia Lorick-Wilmot & Damian Wilmot

10am-10:30am

10:30am-10:45am

Thursday, June 20, 2024 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

MassArt Design and Media Center

To open our annual festival, MIT Senior Associate Director of Belonging & Culture, Austin Ashe and John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Social Sciences at Harvard, Brandon Terry share their experiences in centering Black culture in education, civic engagement and campus life.

12:00pm-1:00pm

Jean Dolin, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Boston LGBTQ+ Museum of Art, History & Culture discusses the interconnectedness of the queer and the Black liberation movements. 

Thursday, June 20, 2024 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

MassArt Design and Media Center

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Isabel Wilkerson will discuss her book Caste: The Origins of our Discontent, which has been called "the keynote nonfiction book of the American century so far," as well as its film adaptation Origin, directed by Ava Du Vernay and hailed as the director's "most ambitious and accomplished movie."

Our keynote speaker Isabel Wilkerson will be joined in conversation by Lee Pelton, President and CEO of the Boston Foundation, and Lisa Simmons, Artistic and Executive Director of the Roxbury Film Festival.

Thursday, June 20, 2024 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

MassArt Design and Media Center

Panel Discussion with Dr. Ibram X Kendi, Colette Phillips and Malia Lazu. Moderated by Elizabeth Tiblanc

10:00 am - 10:30am

10:30 am - 10:45 am

Friday, June 21, 2024 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

MassArt Design and Media Center

People, Places and Culture: Building Capacity for Cultural Exchange

Panel Discussion with Seneca Scott, DJ Real P, Sheena Collier and Thaddeus Miles. Moderated by Andres Holder

Friday, June 21, 2024 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

MassArt Design and Media Center

Jeneé Osterheldt brings A Beautiful Resistance to Embrace Ideas Festival once again as she sits down with world renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson to discuss his calling to preserve and uplift African American food, music and culture and educate the masses about the richness of food across the Black Diaspora.

Friday, June 21, 2024 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

MassArt Design and Media Center

Head Chef of Zazi Bar, Chef Siddiq, defends his title as the Embrace Chef Versus Champion against a contending local chef. This annual tradition of a three course lunch tasting includes each chef’s take on staple dishes across the Black diaspora and will be judged by Embrace Ideas Festival Attendees.

Friday, June 21, 2024 3:00 PM

Roxbury Community College Parking Lot 1

The Juneteenth Block Party will close out our week-long celebration of Juneteenth with love and joy. Get ready to dance alongside your friends and family and make new connections with people across the city as we come together to celebrate the spirit of liberation and freedom. The event is free and open to the public and we strongly encourage you to register.