Today was absolutely amazing.

More than 250 people came out to Fischer Park in New Braunfels for this year’s Juneteenth Celebration, and the energy felt like something our community needed. There was music, food, education, family, laughter, and a real sense of people coming together with purpose.

Soul Sessions brought an incredible performance and filled the park with the kind of sound that makes people stop, smile, and stay a little longer. They performed with so much heart, and it added something special to an already meaningful day.

Donald and I want to personally thank Emerald Vaughn, Vice President of the New Braunfels MLK Association, for the care and leadership she poured into this event. We also want to thank the full crew from the City of New Braunfels Parks and Recreation Department for helping organize such a thoughtful and welcoming community celebration.

Juneteenth is not only a date on the calendar. It is a reminder of delayed freedom, hard truth, endurance, and the responsibility we carry to keep telling the full story. Seeing those stories shared here in New Braunfels was powerful, especially in a place where the stories of the Black community have not always been centered, protected, or celebrated the way they should be.

Today filled my heart with joy.

As board members of the New Braunfels MLK Association, Donald and I are grateful to be part of work that helps create space for education, culture, and community. Days like this remind us that growth is possible when people show up with open hearts and a willingness to learn together.

We are already looking forward to next year. We hope to see this celebration continue to grow, reach more families, and become an even stronger tradition in New Braunfels for many years to come.