Written by Tanya Terry, with Dr. Tiffany Quinn
With photos provided by Dr. Quinn
Juneteenth Healing Circle participants gather in front of a tree stump, which Tiffany Quinn (front) gave an analogy about concerning Flint.
The Traditional Flint Juneteenth Celebration once again featured the Juneteenth Healing Circle, aimed at healing not only individuals within the community, but the city as a whole.
The circle was scheduled to take place on June 10 at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Garden, on the west side of Martin Luther King Avenue, between McClellan and Genesee streets.
Though rain ended up changing the location, it didn’t dampen the spirits of those who came to take part in the dynamic community event. Instead, partakers in the impactful spiritual activity moved to the Neighborhood Engagement Hub, at 3216 Martin Luther King Avenue, nearby.
DeWaun Robinson, chairperson of the 2025 Juneteenth Celebration and president of Black Lives Matter Flint, offered words of welcome and encouragement, followed by prayer from local clergy and an affirmation and grounding meditation.
The powerful history of Juneteenth was shared, as well as a tribute to Dr. E. Hill-DeLoney, mother of Juneteenth in Flint, Michigan. There was even a Rock Garden Memorial Dedication Dr. DeLoney, which touched the hearts and lives of Healing Circle participants.
“Take a moment to notice the tree stump in this garden,” said Dr. Tiffany Quinn, organizer and facilitator of the Juneteenth Healing Circle.
Quinn added: “It once stood tall a mighty tree full of life and strength. Now, it looks like nothing but a stump. But me and Dr. E. Hill DeLoney didn’t see death when we looked at it. We saw Flint. Though it’s been cut down, its roots are still in the ground. And just like that tree, Flint is not finished. New life can grow again when we care for the roots.”
After being blessed to hear the tree stump analogy, “Flint is Still Rooted,” attendees were asked what change they wanted to see in their city.
They were excited to also take part in interactive healing activities and story sharing.
After the participants discussed their individual takeaways, the event ended with a discussion of the community’s next steps towards collective and total healing, starting from the roots.
For a complete Traditional Flint Juneteenth schedule of events, visit https://sloanlongway.org/events/juneteenth/
