© 2026 WGCU News
PBS and NPR for Southwest Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Photo Essay of Saturday's Juneteenth Community Festival in Fort Myers

Kinfay Moroti

Finding faith on Juneteenth...

Kinfay Moroti

Faith Butler found something special while walking Saturday along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Fort Myers.

The music and laughter coming from Roberto Clemente Park raised her curiosity. She followed it, and saw more than 200 people celebrating Juneteenth — the federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans.

The Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved persons in 1863. However, the news didn't reach enslaved African-Americans in Texas until June 1865.

The Juneteenth Community Festival on Saturday featured motivational speakers, live dance and musical performances, and local students received awards.

Kinfay Moroti

As Butler walked through the park, she met members of the Sisterhood in Christ. She shared her struggles. They prayed over her.

Butler found her faith.

Kinfay Moroti

Travell Oakes was among more than 200 people attending the Juneteenth Community Festival on Saturday at Roberto Clemente Park in Fort Myers.

Kinfay Moroti

Julissa Jean-Bart performs a dance on Saturday at the Juneteenth Community Festival at Roberto Clemente Park in Fort Myers.

Kinfay Moroti

Jamesha Barnes performs a praise dance on Saturday at the Juneteenth Community Festival at Roberto Clemente Park in Fort Myers.

Kinfay Moroti

Vincent Barnes performs on Saturday at the Juneteenth Community Festival at Roberto Clemente Park in Fort Myers.

Kinfay Moroti

Trusted by over 30,000 local subscribers

Local News, Right Sized for Your Morning

Quick briefs when you are busy, deeper explainers when it matters, delivered early morning and curated by WGCU editors.

  • Environment
  • Local politics
  • Health
  • And more

Free and local. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

More from WGCU
  • Animals in south Florida don’t have to worry much about winter cold – and indeed many migrants from areas farther north find suitable living conditions here. But, a trip to the beach or on a rare blustery day sometimes makes one wonder. How do ducks, herons, egrets, and other birds tolerate wading or swimming in cold weather? Aquatic birds, for example, have bare skinny legs with leg muscles placed among insulating feathers.Blood vessels going to and from the very few muscles in the legs and feet lie right next to one another, and cold blood going back into the body is warmed by warmer blood coming from the body – and is nearly the same temperature as the blood circulating in the well-insulated body.
  • Jim Atterholt is retiring after swerving six years on the Fort Myers Beach Town Council, effective at the end of the year. First elected in March 2019, Atterholt's tenure included navigating the Town through the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple major storm events, including Hurricane Ian.
  • It hides in plain sight in Sarasota, but within the confines of the Marietta Museum of Art and Whimsy, lies a treasure trove of unique and quirky art.