Salina Juneteenth Celebration Committee

My name is Shelly Collier. I was born and raised in Salina KS;

except for 15 years, I have lived here the biggest portion of my life.

I have a grandson Paxton, who is the love of my life and

2 daughters that are now beautiful women. I work for Catholic Charities

as their Office Coordinator, and I really enjoy my work there.

Juneteenth for me is a day of celebration because I feel it is such a great opportunity

to keep our history alive! The Celebration provides another way to not only share our culture;

but to also educate our children and our community about our past.

I am originally from Kentucky and moved to Salina with the love

of my life in 2004. I have 2 sons, 2 daughters, 6 grandsons,

1 granddaughter, and another another granddaughter due 

August 2022. I decided to get involved with local event and have

been on the committee for 7 years. I am also involved with the 

Order of the Eastern Stars- PHA, Order of the Golden Circle-PHA, Altrusa International of Salina,

and Salina Area United Way. Juneteenth is important to me as it reminds

us of the struggle that our people came through and is also a way for us to 

remember and celebrate how far we have come

and how much we still have to accomplish.

Lydia Robinson is a wife, mother, and grandmother of 2;

Amyah and Maliyah. She has been a Librarian for

25 plus years. The Juneteenth Celebration is important

to me because it is important to the preservation of our culture.

A lifelong resident of Salina, I have worked on

the Juneteenth celebration since 2008.

I feel it is an important remembrance of where we

as a people have come from and provides us with the

opportunity to come together and move forward .

Vickie has served on the Salina Juneteenth Celebration Committee

since its origination. Juneteenth is important to me because

it reminds me of what we as a people came through

and what we can achieve.