The Chester County Opportunities Industrialization Center invites the public to join it for an afternoon of food, fun, and jazz on Sunday, June 27 at East Goshen Township Park.

From 2-5 PM at the park’s Veterans Pavilion, the Chester County OIC, a Coatesville-based nonprofit that serves the community through programs specifically designed to meet the job-training and employment needs of low-income or disadvantaged individuals, will host a Juneteenth Celebration featuring musician Shamika Byrd and her band, Musek.

Gourmet Jerk Shack, a caterer based in Coatesville and renowned for its Caribbean fare, will be serving up Red Snapper, Brisket, and Smoked Plantain, among other delights. Rita’s Italian Ice will top it off with cool treats. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Chester County OIC, an independent agency affiliated with the Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America (OICA).

OICA was founded in 1964 in Philadelphia by the Reverend Dr. Leon Sullivan, a well-respected and beloved minister who fought for social justice his entire life. Self-reliance was Dr. Sullivan’s adage, and it remains the goal of OIC affiliates internationally.

As a leader in improving the lives of local, disadvantaged adults, the Chester County OIC continues Dr. Sullivan’s battle against injustice and discrimination through education and job-skills training.

Juneteenth, which commemorates the Emancipation Proclamation and is annually celebrated on June 19, is now a federal holiday after President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act earlier this month. It is our nation’s 11th federal holiday and the first to obtain legal observance as a federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was designated in 1983.

Tickets are $55 for adults and $35 for children (ages 13 and under). They will not be available for purchase at the event. Get yours now.