Beyond Words Count Us In Chicago

Join us for the Imagine Justice Juneteenth 2.5 - Mile Commemorative Walk

📅 Friday, June 19, 2026
📍 31st Street Beach, Chicago
⏰ 8:30am

Together, we honor the legacy of Juneteenth while uplifting our community. A portion of each registration supports the National Museum of African American History & Culture.

Walk with purpose. Stand for justice. Be part of the movement.

Participant Registration:
Tinyurl.com/IJWalk2026

Sponsorship opportunities are available!
Align your brand with impact and help us make this event unforgettable.

🔗 Sponsorship Information:
https://www.thejja.org/juneteenth

iMAGINE JUSTICE Juneteenth Commemorative Walk

**Join Us On Juneteenth**

Dear Community Partners, Families, and Friends,

You are invited to stand with us in celebration, remembrance, and action at the iMAGINE JUSTICE Juneteenth Commemorative Walk—a powerful gathering that honors freedom while advancing the work of justice today.

📅 Date: June 19, 2026
📍 Location: 31st Street Beach, Chicago
🕢 Check-in: 7:30 AM | Walk Begins: 9:00 AM

This 2.5-mile walk, hosted by the Justice Journey Alliance Leadership Foundation of Chicago, brings together individuals, families, and sponsors who are committed to building stronger, more just communities.

Why Participate?
Juneteenth marks a pivotal moment in American history as we acknowledge, educate, empower, and unite all Americans by celebrating freedom and honoring the legacy of enslaved people in the United States known as Juneteenth. Enslaved people were declared free under the terms of the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation.

✨ For Individuals & Families:
Honor the legacy of Juneteenth in a meaningful way
Connect with community members across Chicago
Enjoy a family-friendly, purpose-driven experience

🤝 For Sponsors & Partners:
Demonstrate your commitment to equity and community impact
Gain visibility alongside respected organizations and leaders
Directly support initiatives advancing justice and opportunity

💡 Giving Back:
A portion of every registration will support the National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington, D.C., helping preserve and share vital stories of our nation’s history.

Registration Details:
$35 for adults
$15 for teens (ages 13–18)
👉 Secure your spot today:
https://tinyurl.com/IjWalk2026
Register by June 5th

Whether you walk, sponsor, or bring your family, your presence matters. Together, we can honor the past while actively shaping a more just future.

We hope to see you there.

With purpose and partnership,

Justice Journey Alliance, Leadership Foundation of Chicago

For more information, please contact [email protected].

Celebrate freedom, heritage, and progress this Juneteenth

Join us for the Imagine Justice Juneteenth Commemorative Walk—a powerful gathering rooted in unity and purpose.

📍 31st Street Beach, Chicago
📅 June 19, 2026
🚶🏾‍♂️ 2.5 Mile Walk for Justice

Together, we honor the legacy of Juneteenth while uplifting our community. A portion of each registration supports the National Museum of African American History & Culture.

Walk with purpose. Stand for justice. Be part of the movement.

Participant Registration:
Tinyurl.com/IJWalk2026

Sponsorship opportunities are available!
Align your brand with impact and help us make this event unforgettable.

🔗 Sponsorship Information:
https://www.thejja.org/juneteenth

Join a powerful, purpose-driven dialogue that calls us forward. ✊🏾

JustUS Conversations is more than a series—it’s a sacred space to reflect, engage, and act on what justice demands of us right now.

🗓 Part 1: Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | 7:00–8:15 PM (CST)
🔗 Register: tinyurl.com/jjajustus1

🗓 Part 2: Tuesday, April 14, 2026 | 7:00–8:15 PM (CST)
🔗 Register: tinyurl.com/jjajustus2

Leading the conversation will be
Rev. Alvin C. Bibbs, Sr., President | CEO of the Justice Journey Alliance, LFOC. This two-part virtual experience will challenge and equip us to carry the work forward—together.

Let’s show up. Let’s lean in. Let’s move justice forward.

A Tribute to Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.

Today, we mourn the passing of a towering icon and civil rights legend – the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. A man who embodied humanitarian greatness and answered, without hesitation, the enduring call for equal justice for all. His life was a living testimony to courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the brokenhearted and the marginalized particularly within urban communities across our nation.

Rev. Jackson knew no boundaries in the pursuit of justice. When many chose silence in the face of national crisis and moral uncertainty, he chose voice – a voice of reason, advocacy, and prophetic clarity. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. so powerfully reminded us, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Rev. Jackson refused silence. He stood, he spoke, and he acted.

Beyond the public figure and fearless advocate was a gentler, deeply compassionate servant whose heart for children and young people did not always receive the recognition it deserved. Rev. Jackson was steadfastly devoted to the next generation of leaders, particularly those attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). He worked tirelessly to ensure that critical funding and institutional support reached HBCU campuses year after year – because he believed our future depended on it.

His life’s work cannot be contained in a single tribute. Quite honestly, one could write volumes attempting to capture the full scope of his impact on humanity. Yet, even then, words would fall short.

This past summer, I was honored to speak at the Rainbow PUSH Saturday Morning Forum, with Rev. Jackson in attendance. It was one of the few times I can recall standing before an audience and truly feeling nervous – his presence alone commanded reverence. Still, by God’s grace, I gathered myself and shared a message on “Unity in the Midst of Crisis.”

At the conclusion of the forum, Rev. Jackson reached out, took my hand, smiled, and affirmed the moment with a simple gesture of approval. That sacred exchange is etched permanently in my heart – a moment I will carry for the rest of my life.

Now, two of my lifelong heroes: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., have made their way to other side and received their wings. Yet their work is not finished. Their legacy now rests in our hands. Their voices still echo, their vision still beckons and their unfinished work still calls us forward. As Rev. Jackson often declared, “Keep hope alive.” That is not merely a slogan – it is a mandate.

Together, we are called to carry forward their mission:

to advocate for Justice,

to stand for Righteousness,

and to Labor faithfully for such a time as this.

Will you join me?

The time is now…Amen.

~Rev. Alvin C. Bibbs, Sr.
President & CEO
Justice Journey Alliance
Leadership Foundation of Chicago
📷: History.com