Catalyst Grant Final Report
“Juneteenth Celebration”
Please provide a brief narrative explaining your project and its outcomes.
The Old Forge Library hosted a community-wide Juneteenth celebration, the first in the West Central Adirondacks. The celebration consisted of a blues concert, a cookout, and a reading of “Juneteenth for Mazie” by Floyd Cooper, with a free book for each attending family.
What is the most remarkable accomplishment or finding of your project?
How much everyone liked it was surprising. It felt really good. When you write a grant, you don’t consider feelings as outcomes, but they are the most memorable ones.
How did your project differ from what you originally proposed?
We did not serve chicken wings and legs or baked beans, but did have hot dogs, sausages, and better desserts than we planned.
Please provide a brief summary of your evaluation activities and/or results, if available.
The number of attendees and their feedback are the primary metrics we use to gauge the celebration’s success. We reported 85 happy people.
Anything else you’d like us to know?
We borrowed grills from our neighbors. Everyone just spontaneously read from the book all over the lawn; someone would just start reading the new page, and it was like magic. I told everyone that Jen Bolton was making potato salad, so I could get them to come. People brought their good lawn chairs. 85 folks came out and learned and loved it.
Linda Weal
Director, Old Forge Library – Mid York Library System
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