Family-friendly Juneteenth celebration in Victorville this Saturday, June 18 | Local News

A Juneteenth Community Day Celebration in Victorville has been scheduled to take place this Saturday, June 18, just one day before the federally recognized holiday.

Why do we celebrate Juneteenth?

The day is to commemorate the emancipation of slaves in the United States. On New Year’s Day, January 1, 1863, President Lincoln freed slaves by formally issuing the Emancipation Proclamation. It took 2 and a half more years before the last African-American slaves, located in Galveston, Texas received word that they were freed. It happened on June 19, 1865, almost two months to the day since Lincoln was assassinated by a Confederate sympathizer. Juneteenth got its name because it combines June and the number nineteen together, June-teenth.

The family-friendly community event will include live entertainment, vendors, and free backpacks for the first 300 kids who register. The event will run from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, located at 16138 Molino Drive in Victorville and will be put on by the Community Health Action Network.

An event like this has never been put on before in the High Desert so HD Daily News wanted to learn a little more about the organizers:

What can you tell the High Desert Community about your network?

Our mission is to provide health education, information and referral services and special events that increase the awareness of health disparities for minorities in San Bernardino County.  The purpose of the organization is to help improve health outcomes among at-risk populations.

Since its inception in 2008, Community Health Action Network (CHAN) has served vulnerable populations with various services such as health education and promotion activities and events, nutrition education, basic needs for mothers with children (0 to 5 years), GED instruction, food distribution services, health advocacy, outreach and education activities and our newest program to include emergency assistance services for children and families affected by COVID19. 

What’s the most difficult part of getting people, regardless of immigration status, to understand healthcare?

Getting people to trust you and/or your organization due to fear of immigration status.

Is most healthcare affordable? What’s the lowest cost a person might expect to pay?

Yes.  Depending on income and the updated Coverage California rates it could be somewhere around $300 per month per person. 

Some people may say that they have had negative experiences in healthcare and that’s why they are not signing up. How can you try and convince them otherwise?

Medi-Cal is the least expensive coverage with care and Dr’s. visits.  Unfortunately, most people who qualify don’t realize that it is free and could be covered. In essence, by educating them with the facts of Medi-Cal.

What sets your program apart from similar programs?

We are a “one-stop” organization. With our vast presence in the community, we can meet many needs as they come up.

On your website you have educational resources, can you briefly explain some of those to the High Desert?

We have four layers to our organization: (1) Health & Wellness education (2) Advocacy work in the community (3) Nutrition/Diabetes Campaign (4) Health coverage now “Medi-Cal”.

People in lower-income situations may need guidance or assistance of some kind when it comes to life and family, how do you assist them with that?

Providing the families with currently available referrals and also helping them with food vouchers and utility assistance.

If someone is new to the community, how can you invite them to see what C.H.A.N. is all about?

We introduce them to our services via our website ( www.chanhd.com ) and through social media and word of mouth with other community partners.

For more information from the Community Health Action Network, please call 760-241-9900 or go to ChanHD.com