Juneteenth Event Celebrates Legacy and Liberation on SIUE’s East St. Louis Campus
On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, the Learning Resource Center on SIUE’s Wyvetter Younge Campus hosted a powerful Juneteenth celebration titled “We Are East St. Louis: Stories of Legacy and Liberation.” Organized by Learning Resource Center Coordinator Amber Davis, LSW, in partnership with the East St. Louis Historical Society and community activist Ms. Hattie Hayes, the event brought together residents to honor the city’s rich history and continued pursuit of justice.
Co-hosted by Davis and Jaye Willis, Executive Director of the East St. Louis Historical Society, the program featured storytelling from community members who shared personal reflections on growing up in East St. Louis. A highlight of the event was guest speaker Ms. Hattie Hayes—a well-known local activist—who shared powerful accounts of her experiences protesting for civil rights both locally and nationally. Hayes’ stories drew a clear connection between the past and the present, emphasizing the ongoing need for peaceful resistance.
Willis reflected on Hayes’s courage: “When I asked Hattie Hayes was she afraid to participate in civil rights protests back in the ‘60s as a teenager, her response was indicative of other civil rights activists I've interviewed. Paraphrasing her response—‘We were trained on how to react to physical and verbal abuse, but most importantly I believed that God was with me and that was a moment He wanted to use me. I was not afraid!’”
The event was a moving tribute to the spirit of Juneteenth and the enduring legacy of East St. Louis, honoring voices of the past while inspiring future generations to continue the fight for equity and liberation.
PHOTOS: Amber Davis, LSW, Learning Resource Center Coordinator, community activist Ms. Hattie Hayes and Jaye Willis, Executive Director of The East St. Louis Historical Society
