Community Voices is a series featuring reflections and perspectives from members of our community. Today, Renee Dunn shares what Juneteenth means to her.
About the Author
Renee Dunn is the founder of Turnt Kidz, Dubuque’s first Black-owned dance organization and a community advocate dedicated to celebrating culture, creativity, and opportunity. In this reflection, she shares what Juneteenth means to her and why preserving and celebrating Black history remains important today.
Over the past few years, Juneteenth has become much more than a holiday—it has become a powerful reminder of the resilience, strength, and sacrifices of our ancestors. While many celebrate it as the day freedom finally reached all enslaved African Americans, I also recognize that true equality and justice have been an ongoing journey that continues today.
As a proud Black woman, I am deeply grateful for every ancestor who endured unimaginable hardships so that generations like mine could dream bigger, live freer, and create opportunities that once seemed impossible. Their courage and determination paved the way for me and so many others to pursue our passions, build businesses, lead organizations, and make lasting impacts in our communities.
Living in a predominantly white community like Dubuque, Iowa, has taught me the importance of intentionally celebrating and preserving our culture. If we don’t honor our history, traditions, and achievements, future generations may never fully understand who they are or where they come from. Our culture deserves to be seen, celebrated, and passed on with pride.
As the founder of the first Black-owned dance organization in Dubuque, Iowa, celebrating Juneteenth is especially meaningful to me. It provides an opportunity to showcase the beauty, creativity, and richness of Black culture through dance, music, and community. It also brings awareness to my organization while inspiring young people to embrace their identity with confidence and pride.
Juneteenth reminds me that because of those who came before us, we now have opportunities to become entrepreneurs, educators, artists, inventors, elected leaders, business owners, and change-makers. Although the fight for equality is not over, this day serves as a celebration of progress, perseverance, and possibility.
I don’t celebrate being Black only on Juneteenth—I celebrate it every single day of the year. Juneteenth is a powerful reminder of where we’ve been, how far we’ve come, and the responsibility we have to continue building a brighter future for the generations that follow.
I celebrate my Blackness 365 days a year, and Juneteenth is the day I celebrate our freedom, our resilience, our culture, and our future.
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Community Voices is a space for neighbors across Dubuque County to share their experiences, reflections, and ideas. We may not all have the same story, but we all have something to learn from one another.
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