On Saturday, June 11, join The Heritage Society’s Juneteenth educational program experience “From Plantation to Emancipation”. Speakers include descendants of Reverend Jack Yates and Roscoe A. Cavitt, the Executive Secretary of National Negro Chamber of Commerce. The event is from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at 1100 Bagby Street.

“Attendees will enjoy a red punch and tea cake reception, gospel songs, poetry, and hear family knowledge about the Jack Yates House, the Pilgrim Temple, and some amazing accomplishments of African American suffragists,” The Heritage Society’s executive director, Alison Bell said. “We also plan on highlighting how three of the city-owned historic houses on our Juneteenth tour are designated as Sites of Memory for UNESCO's Slave Route Project.”

“We are fortunate to have board members Devaron Yates and Martha Whiting-Goddard who will be speaking about how their ancestor, Jack Yates, shaped Houston,” The Heritage Society’s president, Minnette Boesel said. Boesel shared that Whiting-Goddard is heading the program and will be sharing the history of Juneteenth.

Rae Bryant, a lead genealogist from the Houston Suffragist Project, will have a large display of photos of women who were trailblazers of the 1920s. Other special parts of the program include tea cakes from Uncle Honey’s Homestyle Desserts, entertainment by members of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, and poetry by Dr. Don Williams.

Visitors who book a Black History tour purchase on June 11 at 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., or 2:30 p.m. will receive free admission to the reception and the empowering speaker series from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Please see www.heritagesociety.org for ticket information.

More about The Heritage Society: Founded in 1954 by a number of public-spirited Houstonians to rescue the 1847 Kellum-Noble House from demolition. The Heritage Society has since saved, restored, and moved an additional nine historic buildings to Sam Houston Park. These 10 buildings, along with the museum gallery, serve as historic reference points and exhibition spaces for more than 23,000 artifacts that document life in Houston from the early 1800s to the mid-1900s. For more information about Houston history tours, programs, and venue rentals, please see www.heritagesociety.org or call 713-655-1912, ext. 114.