Juneteenth Legacy Event with Ancestral Bridges

Blog Post: Juneteenth Legacy Event with Ancestral Bridges

On Sunday, June 14, 2026, the team at Amherst Innovative Living participated in Ancestral Bridges’ 6th Annual Juneteenth Legacy Celebration. We were honored to take part in a day of remembrance, reflection, and celebration for Black and Afro-Indigenous members of our community. 

Remembering Those who Came Before Us  

The event began at noon at West Cemetery, where we reflected on the return of Black and Afro-Indigenous soldiers from Amherst who served in the Massachusetts 54th Regiment and the 5th Cavalry during the Civil War, many of whom were never recognized for their service and sacrifice. The event honored their legacy by uplifting generations that have come after them and creating a space that reflects the kind of community we want to be today. 

Homecoming Celebration

After the remembrance at West Cemetery, we then moved to a homecoming celebration at Ancestral Bridges to honor the soldiers on the 161st anniversary of their walk home. The celebration featured Avery Sharpe with a Juneteenth jazz set in tribute to jazz musician Gil Roberts and American composer Dr. Fred Tillis. 

About Ancestral Bridges

The Ancestral Bridges Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to uncovering the obscured, erased, and lesser-known histories of Black and Afro-Indigenous roots of Amherst, Massachusetts by revitalizing archives with oral histories, artifacts, and research from the original inhabitants and their descendants. The foundation also celebrates the arts, history, and culture of Black and Afro-Indigenous communities in Amherst and the broader Connecticut River Valley. 

By collaborating closely with residents, historians, culture bearers, descendants, organizations, and government officials, Ancestral Bridges ensures that the stories they share reflect the authentic voices, humanity, and experiences of the people who lived them. They honor historical achievements that link our past to the present, paving the way for future progress.

We were honored to be a part of Ancestral Bridge’s Juneteenth Legacy Celebration and help uplift such an important piece of Amherst’s history and community. To learn more about the organization or to explore ways to support its cause, please visit their website!